Peanut butter-chocolate is one flavor combination we’ll never tire of. From peanut butter kiss cookies to classic peanut butter cups, it’s a timeless marriage of flavors that everyone adores.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve taken the time to hunt down the best peanut butter cups you can buy—but maybe you’ve wondered if you can replicate them at home. The answer is yes! The recipe for homemade peanut butter cups is easier than you think.
Our recipe requires nothing more than a few bowls, a microwave and a muffin tin with paper liners. Homemade peanut butter cups are the perfect rainy-day treat to make with your kids. Plus, they double as a giftable candy recipe everyone will enjoy receiving, no matter the time of year.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cups
- Peanut butter: A few scoops of your favorite creamy peanut butter is all you need. Most of the peanut butter goes into the filling, but a bit is melted right into the chocolate so the peanut-y flavor permeates every bite.
- Confectioners’ sugar: This sugar thickens the peanut butter filling while sweetening it, too.
- Butter: Softened butter provides a little extra fat to the filling, offering some added insurance that the filling will be smooth and creamy rather than coarse or crumbly. Splurge on the best butter you can for this one.
- Salt: Salt balances the sweetness of the filling and enhances the peanut butter flavor.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: This type of chocolate is the perfect balance between milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It’s just sweet enough.
- Milk chocolate candy bars: Candy bars melt smoothly and provide a level of sweetness that’s appropriate and expected for candy (but may not be ideal for baking).
- Colored sprinkles: These are optional, but add an easy way to make your chocolate candies colorful and bright—or themed for any seasonal party!
Directions
Step 1: Make the filling
Combine 1/2 cup peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, butter and salt until smooth.
Step 2: Melt the chocolate
In a microwave, melt the chocolate chips, candy bars and remaining peanut butter; stir until smooth.
Editor’s Tip: When it comes to working with chocolate, microwaving is just one way to get the job done. There are other ways to melt chocolate, like using a double boiler or a water bath.
Step 3: Assemble
Drop teaspoonfuls of the chocolate mixture into paper-lined mini muffin cups. Drop a scant teaspoon of peanut butter mixture into each cup, and top each with another teaspoonful of chocolate mixture. If desired, decorate with sprinkles.
Editor’s Tip: We used a mini muffin tin to make small peanut butter cups. However, you can use a larger muffin pan and liners to make larger peanut butter cups.
Step 4: Chill until set
Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container.
Peanut Butter Cups Variations
- Use other nut butters: While peanut butter is the classic choice, you can make peanut butter cups with any creamy nut butter you enjoy. Almond butter, cashew butter and hazelnut butter would all make delicious choices.
- Create crunchy peanut butter cups: For added texture and crunch, choose a crunchy peanut butter for your filling. However, keep in mind that you will want to use only smooth peanut butter in the melted chocolate. Otherwise, your peanut butter cups will have a rough and bumpy exterior.
- Swap out the chocolate: If you don’t enjoy the sweetness of milk chocolate, you can use an equal amount of dark chocolate instead.
- Add sprinkles and toppings: Dress up your cups with an array of colorful and textural decorations. Candy sprinkles, chopped peanuts and crushed chocolate wafer cookies are just a few possibilities to consider. Several edible cake decorations would also work for this peanut butter cup recipe.
How to Store Peanut Butter Cups
Store your peanut butter cups in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.
Can you freeze homemade peanut butter cups?
Yes! These peanut butter cups may be kept frozen for up to six months in an airtight container separated by layers of parchment. In fact, you can enjoy them straight from the freezer for an ice-cold treat in the summer. Otherwise, let them thaw in the fridge, and enjoy as desired.
Peanut Butter Cups Tips
What’s the best chocolate to use for homemade peanut butter cups?
The best chocolate for you will be your favorite, of course! While we find a blend of milk and semisweet to be best, you can use any combination of milk, semisweet, dark or white chocolate you enjoy. One tip to remember, however, is your homemade peanut butter cups will benefit from using high-quality chocolate, so be sure to source the best chocolate chips and best chocolate bars for this recipe. It’s worth it.
What is the best peanut butter for homemade peanut butter cups?
Choose any peanut butter you enjoy for your homemade peanut butter cups. While creamy peanut butter mixes best with the other ingredients, crunchy or natural peanut butter may be used in the filling, too. For a fun project, make your own homemade peanut butter. Otherwise, consult our list of the best peanut butter brands.
