Pumpkin and Raisin Peanut Butter Cups

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Just in time for fall, these no-bake, gluten-free peanut butter cups topped with pumpkin, raisins, and coconut “icing” are delightful bite-sized snacks/dessert both kids and adults will love.

{Disclosure: I was asked to participate in the California Raisins. Sweet. Naturally. campaign name as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I received free samples of California Raisins used in this post. I was compensated for my time.}

I’m a HUGE snacker. Always have and always will be. However, unlike the days of my youth when I possessed a ridiculously fast-acting metabolism, I’m making much. much wiser choices and keeping portion sizes in check. Because let’s face it, snacks can become a full meal if you don’t eat mindfully. And yes, they certainly can fit into a healthy diet.

Fortunately, there are much healthier snack options readily available out on the market these days. However, always be sure to read the ingredient list when choosing because even though the packaging may scream “HEALTHY,” it may come with a laundry list of artificial ingredients.

With California raisins, the ingredient list couldn’t be simpler – raisins. The end.

California raisins are not only an all-natural, sun-dried fruits, they make for a perfect on-the-go, wholesome snack. My daily allocation of “squirrel food” (a variety of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits) wouldn’t be complete without raisins. There’s absolutely no added sugar, fat, or cholesterol, and to top it off, they offer 9% of your daily fiber and potassium and 6% of your daily iron per 1/4 cup serving.

While these naturally sweet beauties can be enjoyed as is, they can easily be added to foods, tossing the need for artificial sweeteners. To showcase their versatility, I along with my fellow registered dietitians from the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network were provided pounds of California raisins (literally) to develop a healthy and delicious afternoon snack to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. You obviously don’t need pounds of them, but if you did, it wouldn’t break your bank, as they are one of the most economical dried fruits according to the USDA.

May I tempt you with these no-bake, Gluten-Free Pumpkin and Raisin Peanut Butter Cups?

Yes, they are certainly brown and probably wouldn’t be considered eye candy, BUT they are oh-so-delicious and filling!

Plus, this would be a super fun way to get your kids involved in a lil’ cooking. Not only does being in the kitchen bring families together, but also kids are more likely to try and like foods they’ve had a hand in making. I have a feeling they’ll especially enjoy “playing” with the sticky dough.

As for the topping or “icing” as I like to call it, the combination of pumpkin and raisins is one that I’ve always appreciated. But the addition of coconut makes this even more special. I was perfectly happy eating just this mixture by the spoonful.

I made many variations of these cups, and with the help of the Hungryman, we came up with a list of suggestions:

• Serve cold – Make them ahead of time and throw them in the fridge, preferably overnight so the pumpkin mixture has time to “harden” up a bit.
• Use canned pumpkin w/ a thicker consistency or puree fresh. Libby’s was a bit too “liquid-y” for this application. I tried 3 different brands (Libby’s, Trader Joe’s and Farmers Market), and of the three, Farmers Market produced the best consistency.
• Don’t over-process the pumpkin mixture – Chunks of raisins add a nice chewy texture.
• Top with chopped pumpkin seeds or nuts right before serving for some extra texture.

Because 1 recipe is never enough…

• Regan and Kylie from Healthy Aperture Blog – No Bake PB & J Thumbprint Cookies
• Meme – Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Dip
• Lindsay – Homemade Raisin Newtons
• Amanda – Oatmeal Raisin Yogurt Popsicles
• Alexis – Cinnamon Raisin No Bake Bites
• Diane – Frozen Banana Pops

The campaign runs till September 30th so stay tuned for delicious recipes from these ladies!

• Elle from According to Elle
• Anne from Fannetastic Food
• Alex from Delicious Knowledge
• Gretchen from Kumquat
• McKel from Nutrition Stripped
• Cristina from Begin Within Nutrition
• Anne from Craving Something Healthy

And finally, if you want more information, be sure to check out their homepage – www.loveyourrains.com or their Facebook at facebook.com/californiaraisins.

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