September 30th marks the 95th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh and all of his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. To help start the celebration, I’m going to show you how to make Disneyland’s Peanut Butter Squares that you can only find at Pooh Corner. These treats are as simple to make as they are delicious. Grab your jar of honey (or peanut butter) and let’s get started!
Winnie-the-Pooh Turns 95!
Before we get to the recipe, why don’t we start with a little history of our favorite bumbly bear? The original Pooh Bear was purchased at Harrods department store in London and given by A. A. Milne to his son, Christopher Robin (the very same that’s mentioned in the books!) on his first birthday.
At first, the toy was named Edward (which is the proper form of Teddy) Bear. Later, Christopher Robin changed the name of the toy to Winnie, after a real-life bear he saw at the London Zoo. That particular bear shares very little resemblance between herself and Winnie-the-Pooh; the real-life Winnie was a female black bear that was from Canada (before her permanent residence was the London Zoo), whereas Winnie-the-Pooh is golden, male, and quintessentially British.
Although A.A. Milne is remembered as an accomplished author and playwright, he is most well-known for his works that include Winnie-the-Pooh. The first collection of stories Winnie-the-Pooh was first published 95 years ago in 1926! The beloved cast of characters has remained a central part of many childrens’ childhoods.
In 1961, Disney bought the licenses and rights to the Winnie-the-Pooh characters and stories and made a series of animated films about them. These early animations were based on several of the original stories and the distinctive artwork from Stephen Slesinger, Inc. during the 1930s-1960s. In 1977, Disney Animation released The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh which featured songs written by the famous Sherman Brothers. It still remains a timeless classic today, and inspired an attraction at Disneyland!
In 1995, Pooh Corner opened in Bear Country at Disneyland (the area now known as Critter Country).
And in 2001, The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh took over the spot previously occupied by The Country Bear Jamboree. Guests get to see Pooh Bear meander through the iconic stories and see what kinds of trouble he gets into.
This silly ol’ bear holds a special place in my heart. 27 years ago, I decorated my first baby’s nursery in Classic Pooh. I painted a giant honey tree behind his crib with lots of honey bees flying around.
For his first birthday, I had a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed party and I made a 3D honey tree cake.
His second Halloween costume was Winnie the Pooh from the Disney Store. My second son also had a Pooh-themed nursery and was Tigger for Halloween as well. My daughter’s favorite character is Eeyore and has untold amounts of stuffed Eeyores, pins and mugs.
It so happens that my oldest son’s favorite treat is the Peanut Butter Square that is exclusive to Pooh Corner at Disneyland. And now I’m looking forward to sharing that recipe with you. Since we’ve come full circle, I think it’s time to get cookin’!
Pooh Corner Peanut Butter Squares
This recipe makes 6 Peanut Butter Squares. These treats are easy to make and absolutely delicious. I hope you enjoy them!
Ingredients
- 3 graham cracker sheets, broken in half
- 2 cups dark chocolate melting wafers
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet with waxed paper. Place the crackers on the pan and set aside.
- Place 1 cup chocolate wafers in a microwavable bowl and then melt for one minute at 50% power. Stir and then microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between until melted.
- Dip the crackers (one by one) into the chocolate and cover both sides in chocolate with a spoon. Using a fork, carefully lift up the cracker and tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate. Set back onto the waxed paper once covered in chocolate.
- Place the crackers on the pan in the freezer for 5 minutes, or until hardened. Meanwhile, place the peanut butter in a medium-sized bowl. Microwave for 15 seconds. Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- Once the chocolate has hardened, place one scoop (I like to use a medium cookie scoop) on top of each cracker. Spread out with your hands or a spatula, so that the peanut butter comes all the way to the edge. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Melt the remaining chocolate and then dip the peanut butter crackers into the chocolate. Using a fork, carefully lift up the cracker and tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate. Place the Peanut Butter Squares in the freezer for 5 minutes to harden the chocolate.
- Drizzle any leftover chocolate over the top. I use a small ziplock bag with a small hole cut in the corner. Let the chocolate harden before serving. These treats are best eaten at room temperature.
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Let’s Hear From You
Did you know that Pooh Bear will be turning 95 this year? Do you have a favorite treat from Pooh’s Corner? I always love to hear from you in the comments.