Peanut Butter Comfort Cookbook Review Plus Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

Oh Averie Sunshine . . .  where do I even begin?

She wrote an entire book dedicated to peanut butter.  

I have been following Averie's blog, Averie Cooks, for just a little while and I am drawn to every single post and I actually read every word she types.  She has a remarkable talent at describing food in so much detail that it basically has you tasting the food without actually tasting it.   You know what I mean?  There is only one other food blogger I know that describes food like that.  

Not to mention, she takes beautiful photographs.  Never have I seen a super shiny melted chocolate chip look as mouthwatering as it does in her pics.  Her food looks "real" and it really makes me want to eat it.

This book is so well put together.  

Here are some of the reasons why I love it:

1. Every single recipe includes a picture.
2. Every single recipe includes a perfect description of the treat.
3. The majority of ingredients are things I always have in my pantry and fridge.
4. The instructions are easy to follow.
5. The recipes make smaller batches (which is absolutely perfect for "The Mr." and me), but you can also double the recipes, if needed for larger groups.
6. She explains the science behind things.  Like using baking powder vs. baking soda.
7. You can open the book and it stays open and flat.
8. I love the size of the book, it is not big and bulky at all.  The only downside is the font is a little small for my eyes.  If I am holding the book normally, I can read it just fine, but when I set it down on the counter to make a treat, I have to put on my glasses to see the words.

Every recipe includes peanut butter.  Some showcase it as the main flavor, while others include it as more of a binding agent.

Did I mention this book is AMAZING.  I started at the beginning searching for a recipe to post in this review.  I found so many I can not wait to try.  Each one, I said "oh, this is the one I am making first", then I would turn the page and say "no, this is the one I am making first".

Here are some of those yummy recipes:
No Rolling Buttered Up Biscuits
Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Marshmallow Butterscotch Fluffernutter Bars
Banana Bread Pudding Cake
Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Chip Blondies
Peanut Butter Cocoa Krispies S'mores Bars
Butterscotch Cream Peanut Butter Cookies

See how hard it was to pick one?

I finally narrowed it down to the Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze.  Um, yum!

They turned out good.  This was my first attempt at donuts since I picked up my donut pan.  As long as you have a glass of milk nearby, I think you will enjoy them.  I actually liked them better the 2nd day.

The donut is dense and moist and the peanut butter glaze is pretty much the best thing and you better bet I licked that bowl clean :)

Overall, I really like this book and I know any peanut butter lover will too.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts

adapted from: Peanut Butter Comfort
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. cinnamon, opt.

2 Tbl. unsalted butter

2 Tbl. creamy peanut butter

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 large egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

1 Tbl. unsalted butter

2 Tbl. creamy peanut butter

1/3 c. powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. cream, milk or buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa.  Add the sugar, baking powder and cinnamon.  In a small bowl, combine the butter and peanut butter; microwave for 30 seconds or until melted.  Stir together until smooth.  In a third bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and vanilla.  Whisk the melted peanut butter mixture into the buttermilk mixture.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir together just until combined.  Do not overmix or donuts will be tough.  Using a spoon, fill each donut cavity 2/3 full with batter.  If any batter gets on the middle of the donut cavity, wipe away with a paper towel.  

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.  Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool.  While donuts are cooling, make the glaze.  

For the Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze: combine butter and peanut butter and microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Stir until smooth.  Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and stir together.  Gradually add in milk, as much as needed, to reach a glaze consistency.  Dip the the top of each donut into the glaze.  Yield: 6 donuts.

Jenn's Notes: I thought these were great, but next time I will omit the cinnamon.  My donut pan must have been smaller than hers, because I got 8 donuts.  They were perfect at 9 minutes.  I also made a little extra glaze, so I would have enough for 8 donuts rather than 6.  

The publisher provided me with a copy of this cookbook for the purpose of this review, but all opinions expressed herein are my own.