Peanut Butter

It’s back to school time, which invariably makes us think of peanut butter: peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and banana, peanut butter and . . .

* Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe: The most popular doughnut at this Westwood institution is the peanut butter pocket doughnut--the peanut butter is actually cooked with the doughnut. (Peanut butter doughnuts, $1.25 each.) Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe, 10948 Weyburn Ave., (310) 208-8660.

* Saladang: Thai cooking uses peanut sauces often made from peanut butter. We recommend the luscious “Saladang” salad: shredded green apple and chicken in a peanut butter dressing. (Salad, $6.95.) Saladang, 363 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, (626) 793-8123.

* See’s Candies: Add sugar--and chocolate--to peanut butter, and you have See’s just-salty-enough peanut butter patties. Also available are the long-lasting peanut butter suckers. (Peanut butter patties, $11.20 per pound; suckers, $.35 each or 30 for $9.) See’s Candies, throughout Southern California; for the store nearest you, call (800) 347-7337.

* Doughboys: The ultimate peanut butter cookie may well be the huge one made here with homemade chunky peanut butter--it’s rolled in chopped, toasted peanuts before roasting. They also have a hand-cut breakfast bar with cereals, seeds, nuts, raisins--and that chunky peanut butter. (Peanut butter cookies and breakfast bars, $1.50 each.) Doughboys Bakery and Cafe, 8136 W. 3rd St., (323) 651-4640.

* JiRaffe: Peanut butter and bananas are destined for each other, and in this bistro, they’re found paired in the caramelized banana cream pie with a peanut butter caramel sauce. (Pie, $7.) JiRaffe, 502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 917-6671.

* Cheesecake Factory: This efficient franchise manufactures at least two peanut butter cheesecakes: Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple cheesecake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie-Dough cheesecake. (Cheesecake, from $5.25 to $5.95 per serving.) Eight Southern California locations. To order or ship whole cheesecakes, call (800) 330-CAKE.

* Uncle Bill’s Pancake House: The kinds of muffins rotate every other day, but if you time it right, you’ll find the house-made peanut butter muffins available. And, if you’re so inclined, you can have peanut butter with your pancakes. (Peanut butter muffins, two for $1.50.) Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, 1305 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, (310) 545-5177.

* Pie ‘n’ Burger: And then, of course, there’s peanut butter pie. Our favorite is in Pasadena, where the tawny-brown, rich custard-type pie is topped with a fluffy meringue. (Peanut butter pie, $2.50 per slice; $13.50 per pie.) Pie ‘n’ Burger, 913 E. California Ave., Pasadena, (626) 795-1123.