Posted Oct 13, 2016, Updated Jul 14, 2024 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: 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.
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.
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