Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

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A no bake dessert that the perfect combination of salty and sweet. These Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are a deliciously easy homemade candy!

Looking for a simple, delicious chocolate and peanut butter dessert? These homemade peanut butter cups are even better than the store bought ones, and are healthier too.

My kids are always craving candy. This is a nice and simple, no bake dessert that is perfect for a tasty treat when that craving hits. The sweet and salty combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a classic you’ll know and love!

3 peanut butter cups stacked

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • only 4 ingredients
  • no bake dessert
  • perfect for kids to help
  • that classic sweet and salty chocolate peanut butter flavor!
  • make large or small peanut butter cups
ingredients for homemade peanut butter cups

What you need to make peanut butter cups:

  • Smooth peanut butter. You can use chunky if you’d like, but your peanut butter cups will not be as smooth.
  • Butter. I use salted butter, but unsalted works too! I recommend avoiding using margarine as it is often too soft.
  • Milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is a great substitute for any dark chocolate lovers! You can even use semi-sweet or a mix of all three. Use a high quality chocolate for the best look and texture.
  • Powdered sugar.

You’ll also need a freezer-friendly muffin tin, either mini-muffins or standard size. Pick up some muffin cup liners of whatever size tin you choose. Parchment paper liners or paper liners work well, but reusable silicone muffin liners are especially great for this. You can just pop the homemade candy right out.

Can I use natural peanut butter?

Unfortunately natural peanut butter will not harden enough to make these peanut butter cups.

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

There are two parts to this recipe: the melted chocolate and the peanut butter filling. These two steps are easy, just make sure you melt the chocolate slowly. If the chocolate gets too hot it will seize up and get hard.

  • Pour the melted milk chocolate evenly into the muffin cups, tapping the pan on the counter to level the chocolate.
  • Place the muffin tin in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
  • When the chocolate has hardened remove it from the freezer.
  • Evenly distribute the peanut butter mixture on top of the set chocolate in the muffin cups, once again tapping the pan on the counter to flatten.
  • Return the pan to the freezer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the freezer and evenly distribute the melted chocolate into the muffin cups, covering the peanut butter. Tap the pan on the counter to flatten as you go. The chocolate will harden quickly on the cold peanut butter.

Because the pan and candies will be cold, it shouldn’t take long for the chocolate to set.

How long do these peanut butter cups keep?

These peanut butter cups should to be stored in the fridge if you want to prevent melting. They will last for about 4 days in the fridge or up to 1 month in the freezer.

closeup of half of a homemade peanut butter cup
closeup of homemade Reese's cups
closeup of homemade Reese's cups

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

5 from 1 vote
A no bake dessert that the perfect combination of salty and sweet. These Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are a deliciously easy homemade candy!
Servings 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours

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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tablespoon salted butter (softened)
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips (divided)
  • ½ teaspoon table salt (divided)
  • ½ teaspoon coconut oil (divided)

Instructions
 

  • Line 6 standard-size muffin tin cups or 24 mini-muffin tin cups with paper liners.
  • Place 1 cup of the milk chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Melt the chips in the microwave in 20 second intervals stirring well between each until the chocolate is smooth.
  • Stir in half the salt and half the coconut oil.
  • Pour the melted milk chocolate evenly into the muffin cups, tapping the pan on the counter to level the chocolate.
  • Place the muffin tin in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
  • While the chocolate hardens, whip the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
  • When the chocolate has hardened remove it from the freezer.
  • Evenly distribute the peanut butter mixture on top of the set chocolate in the muffin cups, once again tapping the pan on the counter to flatten.
  • Return the pan to the freezer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, prepare the chocolate for the top layer. Once again, melt the remaining cup of milk chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring often. Stir in the remaining salt and coconut oil.
  • Remove the pan from the freezer and evenly distribute the melted chocolate into the muffin cups, covering the peanut butter. Tap the pan on the counter to flatten as you go. The chocolate will harden quickly on the cold peanut butter.
  • Allow the chocolate to set completely. This may take an hour or two.
  • Store in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature, but they might be slightly melty when you picky them up. If you store them in the fridge, allow them to sit out for about 5 minutes before eating one.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe making 6 large cups, with 1 serving being 1 cup. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 476mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 61g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 614
Keyword chocolate dessert, easy homemade candy, no bake
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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