Purple Thumbs

Purple thumbs are an old-school after-school snack made from just two pantry staples, prunes and peanut butter. The contrast does all the work: sweet sticky fruit on the outside, creamy salty butter inside. Kids love them because they look like little finger foods, and parents love them because they pack fiber, healthy fat, and natural sugar without a drop of refined sweetener.

Steaming the prunes for five minutes is the small step that makes them shine. Dried prunes straight from the bag are tough and chewy, but a quick steam plumps them up tender enough to slit and stuff without tearing. Five minutes is enough, longer turns them mushy.

Use natural peanut butter for cleaner flavor, or stir a little coconut or sunflower seed in for crunch.

Kitchen Tips

• Pat steamed prunes dry with a paper towel before stuffing, otherwise the peanut butter slides off
• Use a small spoon or piping bag for neat stuffing. Fingers get sticky fast.
• Chill 30 minutes before serving so the peanut butter firms up inside
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week
• Pack two in a lunchbox for a quick energy boost mid-afternoon

Variations

• Stir a tablespoon of shredded coconut into the peanut butter for tropical crunch
• Roll stuffed prunes in finely chopped roasted peanuts for extra texture outside
• Sub almond butter or sunflower seed butter to make them nut-free for school lunches