Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Last Updated on June 5, 2025 by Heather Reseck

Belief Bakery #19

This recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts was published in Guide magazine’s July 13, 2024 issue, a weekly publication for children ages 10-14. It is number 19 in a series of 28 installments called “Belief Bakery,” which uses a hands-on cooking project to illustrate the 28 fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists.

This project is in collaboration with my husband, Greg Reseck, a retired educator specializing in project-based learning.

We emphasize the love of God and Biblical concepts and tie them into fun cooking projects with healthy plant-based recipes.

God’s Forever Guidelines

Did you know God loves you completely and unconditionally with His unfailing love? Love is the underlying principle of God’s government. The law of God is summed up in love. (See Romans 13:10.)

The Ten Commandments outline principles we will follow when we love God and love others. God wants us to love Him with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. (See Matthew 22:27.)

The first four commandments outline how we love Him back and demonstrate gratitude for His love.

1. Love and worship only the one true God. Put God first and best and give Him your full affection instead of idolizing money, pleasure, sports, movie stars, or anything else.
2. Worship only the living God. God wants you to worship only Him, not statues or anything that takes the place of Him.
3. Reverence God’s holy name. Say “Wow!” instead of OMG and other words and phrases that misuse God’s name.
4. Worship the Creator God on the Sabbath. Set aside the seventh day to nurture your relationship with God, spend time with God’s people, and spend time in nature. Worship instead of working, doing school work, shopping, or focusing on your own pursuits.

The last six commandments show us how we will treat people with love and respect when God’s love is in our hearts.

5. Respect and love your parents. Show respect by obeying, honoring, and helping your parents, grandparents, guardians, and mentors.

6. Value human life. Respect people by remembering God gives life and wants us to view each person as precious.

7. Respect the marriage relationship. God created the family. He wants a man and a woman to love each other and get married before they have children. He wants the husband and wife to be faithful to each other before and after marriage.

8. Respect other people’s belongings. Be mindful of people by respecting what belongs to them.

9. Tell the truth. Respect people by being honest.

10. Be content. Respect people and their possessions by being satisfied with what you have.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

In this cooking project, you’ll make delicious chocolate peanut butter hearts made with crispy rice. This easy one-bowl dessert creates a tangible way you can share your love with your family and friends…. and be reminded of God’s love.

Before you begin

Adult supervision is recommended for inexperienced junior chefs.

1. Read through the recipe, variations, and tips.
2. Arrange to buy any ingredients that you need.

Difficulty

• Easy

Steps to get ready to cook

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Gather the equipment.
3. Gather the ingredients.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Microwave-safe glass mixing bowl
• Spoon for stirring
• 8-inch square baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Rubber spatula
• Heart cookie cutter (about 2 inches across and 1 inch deep), optional
• Paring knife

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup honey
• 2/3 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)

Instructions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Pour the honey into a microwave-safe glass bowl. 
3. Microwave until liquified, about 30 seconds.
4. Stir in peanut butter until thoroughly mixed.
5. Stir in crispy rice cereal until thoroughly mixed.
6. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
7. Spread the mixture out evenly and press firmly with the back of a spoon. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl clean.
8. Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter into the now-empty microwave-safe bowl.
9. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat if needed until the chocolate is melted.
10. Spread the chocolate evenly over the crispy rice mixture.
11. Freeze for 15 minutes or refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.
12. Use the parchment paper to lift the crispy rice mixture out of the dish.

Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create chocolate-covered hearts. Or cut into squares.

Share with family and friends to demonstrate your love in a tangible way …and be reminded of God’s love.

Variations

• Peanut-Free: Substitute almond butter or cashew butter for the peanut butter.
• Nut-Free: Substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter.
• Carob Peanut Butter Hearts: Substitute carob chips for chocolate chips.
• Decorate with sprinkles before the chocolate sets up.

Tips

• Spray the measuring cup with cooking spray before measuring the honey to reduce sticking.
• Use a hot pad to cushion your hand when pressing down on the cookie cutter.
• If you don’t have a deep heart-shaped cookie cutter, use a sharp knife to cut into squares or other shapes.
• Don’t substitute maple syrup for the honey. The crispy rice cereal becomes soggy. Agave nectar may work, but I haven’t tried it. If you try it, let me know how it comes out.

Health Bite

A key principle of good health is temperance. That means avoiding what is harmful such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, and vaping. Temperance also means using moderation and self-control in good things out of respect for God, the Creator of our bodies.

Recipe Video