Description
These homemade chocolate peanut butter cups are a delicious, easy-to-make treat combining creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate. Perfect as a snack or dessert, they feature a smooth peanut butter filling encased in a glossy chocolate shell, made with simple ingredients and minimal preparation time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate
- 16 ounces chocolate chips (divided; approximately 2½ cups of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate)
- 3 teaspoons coconut oil (divided, optional)
Peanut Butter Filling
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter (shelf-stable is best)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Line a 6-cup muffin tin with silicone or paper liners, or use a 12-cup mini cupcake liners if you prefer smaller peanut butter cups.
- Assemble Chocolate Base: Place 1 cup of chocolate chips into a small heat-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until mostly melted but with a few chunks remaining. Stir continuously off heat to melt completely. Add 1 teaspoon coconut oil and stir until glossy.
- Form Chocolate Base: Spoon about ½ tablespoon of melted chocolate into each muffin cup, spreading it thin and even. Chill in fridge or freezer for 5 minutes to harden.
- Prepare Peanut Butter Filling: In a medium bowl, mix ½ cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt using a handheld mixer on medium speed until smooth and combined. For natural peanut butter, add 1-2 tablespoons more powdered sugar for firmness to shape like soft cookie dough.
- Shape Peanut Butter Discs: Remove muffin tin from fridge/freezer. Use about 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture per cup, shaping into small discs slightly smaller than the chocolate base. Place each disc on top of hardened chocolate layer in the cups.
- Melt Remaining Chocolate: Place remaining 1½ cups chocolate chips into a clean heat-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until mostly melted with few chunks left. Stir off heat to melt fully. Add remaining 2 teaspoons coconut oil and stir until smooth and glossy.
- Cover Peanut Butter: Pour about 2 teaspoons of melted chocolate over each peanut butter disc, smoothing with back of spoon, allowing excess to drip down sides to fully encase peanut butter.
- Harden Peanut Butter Cups: Return tray to fridge to harden for about 1 hour, or place in freezer for 10-15 minutes to speed up setting.
- Store and Serve: Once hardened, remove peanut butter cups from the tin and liners if desired. Store airtight in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before eating for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use shelf-stable creamy peanut butter for best results; natural peanut butter may require extra powdered sugar for firmness.
- Silicone liners are reusable and help prevent sticking better than paper liners.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less powdered sugar to the peanut butter mixture as preferred.
- Store peanut butter cups in the refrigerator to maintain shape and freshness.
- Warm peanut butter cups slightly before eating to soften the chocolate and enhance flavors.
