This is a variation of my Almond Butter Fudge recipe. People really enjoy it!

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter (you can use any type of nut butter)
½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or other type of milk)
½ cup coconut sugar (or other unrefined sugar)
Pinch of salt (if using unsalted peanut butter)

Put peanut butter into medium-size bowl. Stir well and set aside. In a medium-size saucepan, combine almond milk, sugar and salt (if using). Cook on medium–high heat, stirring constantly, for 5–10 minutes. Heat to soft-ball* stage (235–240 degrees F). It will thicken and get bubbly as it cooks down. When done, quickly pour into the peanut butter and stir to combine. Mix well. When cool enough to touch, press onto wax or parchment paper. Cool thoroughly. Cut into squares. Makes 10–12 bite-size pieces. Enjoy!

* At this temperature, sugar syrup dropped into cold water will form a soft, flexible ball. If you remove the ball from water, it will flatten like a pancake after a few moments in your hand.

Health Benefits of Peanuts

1. Rich in Energy: Peanuts contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients and anti-oxidants and thus are rich energy sources.
2. Cholesterol: It lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the body. Peanuts contain mono-unsaturated fatty acids especially oleic acid that prevents coronary diseases.
3. Growth: Peanuts are rich in proteins. The amino acids present in them are good for proper growth and development of body.
4. Fights Stomach Cancer: Poly-phenolic anti-oxidants are present in the peanuts in high concentrations. P-Coumaric acid has the ability to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by reducing the productions of carcinogenic nitrous-amines.
5. Fights against Heart Diseases, Nerves Diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Infections: A poly-phenolic anti-oxidant, Resveratrol present in peanuts prevents heart diseases, cancers, nervous diseases and viral or fungal infections efficiently.
6. Reduces the Chances of Stroke: The anti-oxidant, Resveratrol in peanuts prevents heart strokes by increasing the production of nitric oxide.
7. Anti-oxidants: Peanuts contain anti-oxidants in high concentrations. These reduce the damage done by free radicals produced in the body.
8. Protects Skin: Vitamin E in peanuts helps in maintaining the integrity of cells of mucous membrane and the skin. This protects them from free radicals which cause great damage.
9. Vitamins: Peanuts contain B complex, vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, pantothenic acid etc.
10. Minerals: Potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc are some of the minerals present in peanuts. These play an important role in many different body functions.
11. Gall Stones: Just an ounce of peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter each week can save you from gall stones or gallbladder diseases with 25% reduced risk. This amazing health benefit of peanuts keeps all the diseases at bay.
12. Low Risk of Weight Gain: Women who eat peanuts or peanut butter at least twice a week are less likely to be susceptible to obesity than those who don’t. If you eat peanut butter every morning with bread slices, you have less chances of gaining weight.
13. Colon Cancer: Peanuts can reduce colon cancer especially in women. Eating at least 2 spoons of peanut butter twice a week can reduce the risk of colon cancer in women by up to 58% and in men by up to 27%. This is one of the best benefits of peanuts for women.
14. Helps in Fertility: If taken before and during early pregnancy, the folic acid lowers the risk of baby being born with serious neural tube defects reduced by up to 70%.
15. Regulates Blood Sugar: Manganese in peanuts helps in calcium absorption, fats and carbohydrates metabolism and sugar level regulation in blood.
16. Fights Depression: Low Serotonin levels leads to depression. Tryptophan in peanuts increases the release of this chemical and thus helps you fight depression.