Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are even better than Reese’s! Creamy peanut butter filling with a rich chocolate coating.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
I’m a huge chocolate peanut butter fan! It’s my favorite combo, as you can see from the many peanut butter chocolate treats on my site, like chocolate peanut butter muffins and chocolate peanut butter pie. My kids know that after trick-or-treating, they have to share at least one of their Reese’s with me. But as a lifelong fan, let me tell you—homemade is even better than anything you can get on the shelves!
When you make your own, you can pick the chocolate, tweak the peanut butter-to-chocolate mix, and add a bit of sea salt or a drizzle of white chocolate.
My kids are obsessed with these! They even brag to their friends, “Guess what? My mom makes Reese’s that are even better!” Haha, so cute!
Ingredients
- Creamy Peanut Butter: For a creamy filling, use smooth peanut butter. If you’re using natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it well.
- Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter to control salt.
- Light Brown Sugar: Pack the sugar to get the right amount. Make sure to use fresh, soft sugar.
- Salt: A small pinch brings out more flavor and helps balance the sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds extra flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: If your sugar is lumpy, sift it first!
- Chocolate Melting Wafers: Use good-quality wafers for smooth chocolate and the best possible flavor.
- Coconut Oil: Helps the chocolate stay smooth and creamy.
Variations
Switch It Up
- Try Different Nut Butters: Try switching out peanut butter for other nut or seed butters like almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter.
- Change Up the Chocolate: Try using different kinds of chocolate, like white chocolate.
- Top With A Sprinkle Of Salt: For a salted chocolate flavor, sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt on top of the final layer of chocolate before it sets.
How To Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
- Line the Tin: Add paper liners to a mini muffin tin.
- Make Filling: Heat peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and salt until melted. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Chill.
- Melt Chocolate: Heat chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave, stirring often.
- Add Chocolate: Spoon melted chocolate into each liner.
- Add Filling: Shape the chilled filling into discs and place them on the chocolate.
- Top with Chocolate: Pour more melted chocolate over the filling. Chill until set.
- Enjoy: Remove the liners and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Chill Filling: Chill the peanut butter mixture fully. This makes it easier to scoop and shape.
- Tap the Pan: Tap the pan to help chocolate spread evenly and remove air bubbles.
- Use Good Chocolate: Choose good-quality chocolate wafers for best flavor.
- Don’t Overheat: Heat chocolate in short bursts in the microwave and stir often to avoid burning.
Storage
Store homemade peanut butter cups in an airtight container in the fridge. For longer storage, you can also freeze them; just layer them between parchment paper to prevent sticking.
More Peanut Butter Treats:
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with a chocolate topping
- Peanut Butter Pie with a chocolate Oreo pie crust
- 45 Best Keto Recipes with tons of chocolate peanut butter ideas
- Buttercrunch Candy with a chocolate topping
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies soft and chewy!
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Equipment
- Mini Muffin Tin
- Mini muffin liners
Ingredients
Filling
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter like Skippy
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Chocolate
- 2 cups chocolate melting wafers, separated
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil, separated
Instructions
- Line a mini muffin tin (24 cavities) with paper liners. Set aside.
- In a small pot, combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until melted and the mixture starts to bubble gently. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the powdered sugar, stirring vigorously until fully incorporated and smooth. Press out clumps with a spatula until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl and place in the fridge until chilled through.
- Melt half of the chocolate wafers with half of the coconut oil in the microwave, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring between each interval until smooth.
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon of melted chocolate into the bottom of each prepared liner, just enough to coat the bottom. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to level the chocolate.Scoop a teaspoon of the chilled peanut butter filling, roll it into a ball, and flatten it slightly into a disc smaller than the muffin cup’s diameter. Place the disc in the center of each liner on top of the chocolate layer. Repeat with the remaining filling. Pour about 1-1/2 teaspoons of melted chocolate on top of each peanut butter disc to cover it completely. Tap the pan again to level the chocolate. If needed, melt the remaining chocolate and coconut oil.
- Refrigerate the peanut butter cups until the chocolate is set. Once set, remove the paper liners and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious peanut butter cups! Thanks for the recipe 😋
These sound amazing!
This recipe looks yummy! I can’t wait to try this out.
Hope you love it!
Yay!! I’m soo happy to hear you loved this! And thanks so much for your awesome tips! 🙂
So yummy!
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
These are the perfect sweet treat to keep my cravings in check. Love them!
I’m making these ASAP! I always like to have reeses in the freezer and this recipe sounds delicious!
Nothing quite like the combination of chocolate and peanut butter! These will make a great snack in between meals and satisfy my sweet tooth, too!
I keep them in the freezer. They are refreshing in the upcoming summer months!
They are such a fun summer treat! Thanks! 🙂