Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Posted Oct 13, 2016, Updated Jul 14, 2024
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Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups with Vanilla Bean! An easy, two-ingredient recipe for chocolate & peanut butter lovers everywhere. Gluten-free & dairy-free.
This is not a copycat recipe. I repeat, these Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups with Vanilla Bean are not trying to imitate another well-known chocolate peanut buttery candy. These babies are originals. They are high-class with no need to imitate because they’re that good.
Yes, they look a little…let’s say…rustic. That’s because I am candy-making challenged. However, I must keep on keeping on because practice makes perfect, etc. (insert as many encouraging pithy statements as you’d like here). Plus, taste is always more important than looks. And these Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups definitely reign supreme in the taste department.
Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups: Ingredients & Substitutions
These Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are oh-so-simple to make, but so delicious I can’t even stand it. They contain only 2 ingredients:
- Melted chocolate chips ((choose a variety that matches your tastes (milk or dark chocolate) and dietary needs (dairy free etc.))
- This Honey Roasted Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter
Yes, of course you can substitute your favorite peanut – or any other nut or seed- butter. However making your own creamy dreamy filling loaded with vanilla beans and cocoa butter really takes these little treats to a whole new level.
How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Use a Mold
I obviously did not do that here (I used a mini muffin pan with mini muffin liners). But in this recipe I used these silicone molds and it made all the difference.
Also, Use a Paintbrush
Use a small, unused paintbrush to literally paint the chocolate around the sides and bottom of each mold. Once all 12 are painted, go back with the brush one more time and swirl the chocolate from the bottom up around the sides. This will ensure an even, and sufficiently thick coating to hold the peanut butter.
Freeze
As soon as the cups are lined with chocolate, toss them in the freezer to harden. While they’re hardening make the cookie dough.
Add Peanut Butter & Freeze Again
Add about 1/2 TBS of peanut butter to each of the frozen cups. Once all the cups are filled with peanut butter, put them in the freezer again.
Finishing Touches
Once the peanut butter filling has hardened, put the melted chocolate on the top and swirl it around with the paintbrush, making sure it touches the sides of the cup and seals the peanut butter in. If you’d like to sprinkle them with sea salt, sprinkles, etc. be sure to do so before they start becoming firm. Let these Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs
This recipe is the best peanut butter cup recipe. It is original and delicious!
I suggest making this Honey Roasted Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter.
You can use any mold (I use a mini muffin pan with mini muffin liners). But in this recipe I used these silicone molds and it made all the difference.
More Delicious Recipes
- These Chocolate Peanut Clusters are SO good.
- And these sea salt chocolate cashew clusters.
- Matcha truffles are a fun festive candy too.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups with Vanilla Bean
Ingredients
- ½ cup chocolate chips melted
- ¼ cup + 2 TBS Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter
Instructions
- Line a mini muffin tin with 12 liners. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave. Heat for 60 seconds, stir and warm for additional 30 second increments followed by stirring until the chocolate chips are completely melted and smooth. (You can also melt them on the stove using a double boiler).
- Add 1 tsp melted chocolate to the bottom of each muffin tin liner. Be sure to spread the melted chocolate around so that it covers the bottom and sides of the liner.
- Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to harden.
- Once hardened, remove from freezer and scoop ½ TBS of peanut butter into all 12 liners, making sure to smooth out the tops.
- Return to the freezer for 10 minutes to harden.
- Remove from the freezer and top each cup with an additional 1 tsp of melted chocolate, making sure that the chocolate on top touches the chocolate on the sides (to avoid holes in your cups).
- Smooth out the tops. Let them sit at room temperature until they are hardened or return to the freezer to set them.
- Serve at room temperature!
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Melted chocolate chips ((choose a variety that matches your tastes (milk or dark chocolate) and dietary needs (dairy free etc.))
- This Honey Roasted Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter
Storage
Refrigerate these in an airtight container for up to a week (if they last that long).Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This peanut butter cups so simple recipe but stunning look. This cake really delicious using very less ingredients. Cakes are always favorite item in my family that`s why I want to make it. Thanks for lovely sharing.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Don`t mention it. Really good recipe, keep it up.
I have made PB Cups like this before and yes, they are outrageously delicious!
Homemade is always the best!
I don’t know why I’ve never thought to combine vanilla bean and peanut butter – two of my favorite foods for dessert! I see these in my future.
Vanilla Bean and PB is a match made in heaven!
Love that vanilla! Lovely touch!
Yummmmm. I’m not sure I could make these. If I didn’t eat them all myself while pulling them out of the freezer, my husband would definitely over-indulge. And I think their rustic look is perfect, just shows they’re authentic 😉
Thank you Emily! There’s no harm in indulging every now and then right? Especially when chocolate and peanut butter are involved! 😉
2 INGREDIENTS? And that peanut butter sounds really really good; I don’t think it could quite be compared to regular peanut butter. 🙂 YES Ma’am!
It definitely is a step above regular PB! 🙂
What a great sweet to have! I love how you use the vanilla bean in these recipes. Looks amazing.