Peanut Butter Yogurt Dessert Dip

I am a HUGE dip girl. Give me all the chips and guac, salsas, spinach artichoke dip, buffalo chicken dip, hummus…the list could go on forever. I will always argue that dips are THE best snack or appetizer, and I will always be the one lurking at the dip at a party. So I thought, why not turn the incredible invention of a dip into a dessert!? Sometimes after a delicious dinner all I want is to pick at something sweet while curling up on the couch watching a movie, anyone else? I actually created this recipe for this exact reason – My husband and I had a date night in and I was craving a snacky dip to pick at but also wanted something sweet after a yummy dinner and wine. My absolute favorite combination in the world is peanut butter and chocolate – It’s the ultimate sweet-savory marriage and has always been my go-to. The only candies I truly crave are Reese’s and peanut M&M’s because of my addiction of this combo, so in turn most of the desserts I like are also chocolate and peanut butter. My annual birthday cake is even a rich dark chocolate cake with a creamy peanut butter frosting…I told you, it’s a problem. Hence the creation of this delicious dessert dip for the times I’m feeling a little snacky after dinner but also need to satisfy my peanut butter-chocolate addiction.

A huge motivation I have both for my personal life and with this blog is to create and share recipes that not only nourish the body, but also nourish the soul too. I believe that foods should taste delicious and be enjoyed, but I also firmly believe that making something taste good does not have to sacrifice the nutritional value of the food. Because of these beliefs, I love experimenting in the kitchen to create nutritious foods made with whole ingredients that also taste incredible and make me happy. I especially love doing this with things like dessert since normally desserts are filled with tons of ingredients, added sugars, preservatives, and artificial things but they don’t HAVE to be! If you have a sweet-tooth after dinner every once and a while, you can satisfy this craving while also sneaking in some extra nutrients for your body. This dessert dip is a wonderful example. It is made out of greek yogurt and all natural peanut butter which are both foods that are packed with protein and healthy fats as well as an abundance of micronutrients and things like probiotics. It is naturally sweetened with a small amount of maple syrup and flavored with natural vanilla extract, making it low in sugar and artificial ingredients. Opting for dark chocolate also helps lower the amount of excess sugar, and pure dark chocolate also has tons of benefits including antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. I mean, all of this and this can be considered dessert!? Yup, and trust me once you start making your desserts with nourishment in mind, you’ll never want to go back to the overly sweet and processed things again.

There are so many ways to enjoy this dip and I would love to hear your favorite combinations in the comments! Personally, I love eating this dip with fruit like sliced apples or strawberries not only because it tastes delicious, but also because fruits are earth’s natural candies and are loaded with additional micronutrients to make this dip even more nutritious. If I need a little crunch I also love Simple Mill’s Sweet Thin crackers in both the Honey Cinnamon and Chocolate Brownie flavors. Simple Mill’s is a brand that creates more natural boxed goods such as crackers, cookies, and baking mixes that are made with minimal ingredients and with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. They are my go-to store-bought cracker brand and they have somehow made all their products taste amazing, I highly recommend! This dip is also great with a simple pretzel, giving that perfect sweet-salty combo we all need in our lives.

Nutrition Facts:

• Greek yogurt is an ingredient I have discussed before but it’s definitely worth mentioning again. This recipe calls for full-fat greek yogurt both for its delicious creamy texture and added savory flavor. In general, greek yogurt is a type of yogurt that goes through an extra straining process to rid of whey and extra liquids which concentrates the protein found in the milk, making it naturally higher in protein than regular yogurt. The milk goes through a fermentation process with live cultures and good bacteria which produces probiotics which are a good microorganism that helps balance out the gut microbiome. In addition to protein and probiotics, greek yogurt is also rich in calcium, B vitamins, selenium, vitamin A, and others. The fat percentage of greek yogurt typically ranges from full fat (5%), low fat (2%), and no fat (0%). Milk contains heart healthy fatty acids, also known as omega-3 fatty acids, as well as saturated fat which are fats that can help with cellular function, heart and brain health, and other bodily functions. Depending on your preferences, full-fat yogurt will be richer and creamier with more fatty acids than either low-fat or no-fat alternatives. Lower fat yogurts will have a runnier texture.
• Peanut butter is a nut butter made from peanuts. Natural peanut butters are exclusively only made with peanuts and are the better option to select due to having no added sugar, preservatives, or excess ingredients. When selecting a peanut butter at the store, try to select one that only has “peanuts” in the ingredients list for the most nutritious option. Peanuts are actually considered a legume and are very rich in both plant-based protein and healthy fats. They contain a variety of micronutrients including B vitamins, copper, vitamin E, manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium. Additionally, they are rich in plant-based antioxidants. 

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• ½ cup full-fat greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp dark chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp chopped peanuts

Instructions:

1. Mix together the yogurt, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla in a small bowl until well combined.
2. Fold the chocolate chips into the dip.
3. Top with chopped peanuts.
4. Enjoy! Here are some my favorite things to dip in this delicious dessert dip:
   1. Apples
   2. Strawberries
   3. Simple Mills Sweet Thins (both the Honey Cinnamon or Chocolate Brownie are amazing with it)
   4. Pretzels