Southerners like their homemade sweets. During the holidays, what better gift to give than a tasty treat made with Virginia peanuts?

Virginia is known for its peanuts. They’re recognized for their large size and often are called “ballpark” peanuts and used in gourmet snacks. And they’d be perfect in this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from the Virginia Carolinas Peanut Promotions organization. 

But if you’re too busy to make this confection, you can buy one of Farm Bureau’s Virginia’s Harvest gift products. We have a peanut trio pack with 12-ounce cans of salted peanuts, butter-toasted peanuts and double-dipped chocolate peanuts. The collection also includes 22-ounce cans of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and 40-ounce cans of chocolate-dipped and butter-toasted peanuts. You can view our product brochure online and order by calling toll-free, 800-476-8473. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

1/2 cup butter 
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter 
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup maple sugar or other granulated sweetener
1 cup carob chips
¼ cup milk
1 cup chopped peanuts

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs and sugar; mix well. Remove from heat. Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups, about 2 tablespoons per cup.

Combine chocolate and milk in another saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the chocolate has melted. Spoon evenly over the peanut butter mixture and top with chopped nuts. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.