A homemade version of your favorite treat, these Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are easy to make and use only 4 ingredients: chocolate chips, peanut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup.
Why This Recipe Works
Combining salty and sweet is always a winning combination, so dark chocolate cups with nut butter inside make for a great treat.
I like that this recipe works with whichever kind of nut butter you like best, and I add a little bit of maple syrup to the nut butter filling to get a smooth consistency, and a little kick of added sweetness to balance out the bitterness in the dark chocolate.
Also, a little coconut oil in the chocolate shell helps the chocolate melt and get that smooth chocolate surface. This recipe is a homemade version of store-bought nut butter cup that skips all those additives and preservatives!
Ingredients & Substitutions
dark chocolate chips – this recipe works with milk chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate chips, and even white chocolate chips, so pick your favorite and go from there. You can even use vegan chocolate chips to make this recipe vegan.
maple syrup – I use maple syrup as the sweetener in this recipe, but you can substitute it with agave nectar, honey, and even monk fruit syrup.
peanut butter – I have used both unsalted creamy and unsalted crunchy peanut butter to make this recipe, depending on what I have in the pantry. Both work, but creamy yields a more classic texture.
How to Make this Recipe
Start by lining a muffin tin with paper or silicone cupcake liners. Then, mix 1/2 cup of nut butter with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup in a bowl. Freeze for 20 minutes.
Keeping your hands wet (so it doesn’t stick as much) roll the nut butter filling into 12 ~2 tsp balls. Freeze for 5 more minutes.
In the meantime, melt your 2 cups of chocolate with the 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. You can do this in a microwave for 30 seconds at a time, mixing in between, or in a double boiler.
Add 2-3 tsp of melted chocolate to each muffin tin cup. Tap the muffin tin so the chocolate settles. You want to make sure there is enough to fill the bottom of the muffin liner.
Tip: To add the 2-3 tsp, use the tbsp measuring spoon. If you fill the tbsp and pour, there is chocolate still stuck to the spoon… just the right amount.
Now, the peanut butter in the freezer is ready to come out. Flatten each ball into a disc as you gently add one to each cup. Then, top with another 2-3 tsp of melted chocolate and tap the tray on the countertop to help the chocolate settle flat.
Freeze the peanut butter cups for 20 minutes. Then, store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks…if they last that long.
More Decadent Chocolate Treats
Satisfy your chocolate craving with these delightful desserts.
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Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Print Recipe SaveIngredients
Nut Butter Filling:
- ½ cup unsalted peanut butter or natural almond butter
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
Chocolate Coating
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Line a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
- Mix the nut butter filling ingredients well in a bowl. Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Keeping your hands wet (so it doesn't stick as much) roll the nut butter filling into 12 2-3 tsp balls. Freeze for 5-10 minutes.
- In the meantime in a double boiler melt the chocolate chips and oil. You can also do this using a mircowave*.
- Add 2-3 tsp of melted chocolate to each muffin tin cup. Tap the muffin tin so the chocolate settles. (Tip: To add the 2-3 tsp, use the tbsp measuring spoon. If you fill the tbsp and pour, there is chocolate still stuck to the spoon… just the right amount.)
- Gently add one nut butter disc to each cup.
- Top with 2-3 tsp of melted chocolate.
- Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks…if they last that long.
Hi Is one cup 247 calories? Also can you taste the coconut? Or can another oil be substituted. Thanks is much
Hi Tiffany,
Yes, the serving is per cup.
You can’t taste the coconut, and a good substitute would be vegetable oil.
Enjoy!
Seriously! These are genius and so satisfying! Love that they are only 4 ingredients that we already have in our pantry, which makes them super easy to make!
That makes me so happy to hear, Justin… glad you like them and always have the ingredients on hand!
Hi, wondering why do we need to add oil to the chocolate ?
Great question, Shivangi. It isn’t necessary, but it helps keep the chocolate shiny instead of getting dull. I hope this helps!
I always wondered how they could be made at home! Thank you for a special,tasty treat! Great directions and photos.
Glad you enjoyed watching these.. definitely fun to make at home!