This simple vegan peanut butter cups recipe is made with 5 simple whole food ingredients. Healthier than store bought, and taste even better!
This post was originally published on January 30, 2014.
I'm all about eating store bought candy when I feel like it, but my belly is often left feeling yuck. So when I'm craving that peanut butter cup goodness, I like to whip up a batch of these and dig in!
Life is all about balance, and I love that I can 'balance' a few more of these in my mouth. Since they're made from whole food ingredients they're not only tastier, but also creamier and a little bit of a healthier alternative, to some of those store bought peanut butter cups.
Ingredients
Just a handful of simple whole food items is all you need to create these tasty treats! Here's what you need:
- Chocolate chips
- Coconut butter or oil
- Peanut butter
- Coconut sugar
- Vanilla extract
How To Make Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
It may not be quite as easy as tearing open a bag of store bought candy, but the little extra effort is so worth it! Here's what to do:
- Pour half of the melted chocolate chips and coconut butter/oil into a lined muffin tin and freeze for 5 minutes.
- Mix the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla and optional salt in a bowl until combined.
- Put a scoop of the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate.
- Melt and pour the remaining chocolate mix over the peanut butter, freeze for 5 minutes.
- Remove the liners and enjoy!
Flavor suggestions
I like these vegan peanut butter cups just the way the recipe is written, but there are a few adjustments you can make.
- Start with 3 tablespoons of sugar and taste before adding more, the more you add the sweeter they will be.
- If you don't have a huge sweet tooth you can also use less sugar or leave it out entirely.
- I like to use coconut sugar, but you can use any sugar you prefer.
- If you are using unsalted peanut butter, I suggest adding a pinch of salt to taste, but it's optional.
- For me, these are all about that classic chocolate peanut butter flavor combo, but if you have another favorite nut butter feel free to substitute it in.
Tips and tricks
For the absolute best peanut butter cups, follow these suggestions:
- To keep these plant based, make sure to use dairy free chocolate chips.
- I melted the chocolate in the microwave and it took about a minute, but you can also use a double boiler on the stove.
- Be careful not to overheat and burn the chocolate. The chips may not look melted but as you mix them they do melt more.
- The coconut butter or oil is optional but it helps with smoothing out the chocolate so it’s easier to pour.
- You can form the peanut butter mix into balls and freeze for a few minutes before placing in the chocolate to avoid peanut butter showing on the edges when finished for a cleaner presentation.
- Store the peanut butter cups in the fridge to stay hard. The longer they stay out the softer they will get.
- This recipe uses a mini muffin tin, you can use a standard size one but you'll end up with less individual cups.
Common Questions
Unfortunately no, as they contain dairy products. Luckily though, it's easy enough to make your own homemade vegan peanut butter cups!
Keep them in the refrigerator in order to keep them firm. The longer they sit out at room temperature the softer they will get.
Pour some melted chocolate in a lined muffin tin, add a small scoop of peanut butter mix, then top with more chocolate and freeze to set!
Store Bought Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
If you really don't want to make your own even after seeing just how easy it is, here are some store bought options for you:
- Justin's Organic Nut Butter Cups
- Missy J's Peanut Butter Carob Cups
- UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
More Vegan Chocolate Recipes
Satisfy that chocolate sweet tooth craving with any of these homemade plant based recipes:
- Gluten Free Chocolate Lava Cake
- Healthy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
- Easy Vegan Chocolate Truffles
- Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Easy Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
Healthy Vegan Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut butter , or 1 T coconut oil (see note)
- ¼ cup smooth peanut butter
- 3-4 tablespoons coconut sugar , or sub with any other sugar you prefer (see note)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt , optional and only needed if peanut butter is not salted
- 16 mini muffin liners
Instructions
- Melt half of the chocolate chips and coconut butter/oil in a bowl in the microwave or using a double boiler on the stove. I used the microwave and it took about a minute. Be careful not to overheat and burn the chocolate. The chips may not look melted but as you mix them they do melt more.
- Line a small muffin tin (or use regular sized if preferred) with the muffin liners. Pour the chocolate into the bottom, I used about 1 ½ -2 teaspoons in each.
- Put it in the freezer to set for about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla and optional salt in a bowl until combined.
- When the chocolate is set, put about 1 teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture in each muffin liner on top of the chocolate. You can put the mixture in the fridge to harden a bit if you want so you can form balls to avoid peanut butter showing on the edges when finished. It’s not needed for flavor, just presentation.
- Melt the rest of the chocolate and coconut butter/oil.
- Pour it over the peanut butter, it was about 1 ½ – 2 teaspoons over each again.
- Put it in the freezer to set for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from freezer, remove liners and enjoy! Keep them in the fridge to stay hard. The longer they stay out the softer they will get.
Notes
- This recipe makes 16 mini muffin sized cups. You can use regular sized if preferred but it will only make about 6-8.
- The coconut butter or oil is optional but helps with smoothing out the chocolate so it’s easy to pour.
- Start with 3 tablespoons sugar and taste for taste preference before adding more. You can also leave it out but the flavor is better with it.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Emily Kemp
Omg these sound dangerous haha can't wait to try them!
Amy
Ok...I don't know where to start. I just made the peanut butter ones and I am in HEAVEN!!! My grandma was a master baker and candy maker (ask Leyla!). She used to make all of her candies from scratch. I didn't have dates on hand so I made the peanut butter ones without the dates and they taste so much like my grandma's peanut butter cups. SO GOOD!!!! With Easter coming up I may have to buy some mini cupcake wrappers and make little candies for the kids. I wouldn't feel bad for letting them indulge a little in these. Thanks for all of your recipes, but especially this one! Not only tasty but reminds me of my grandma.
veggiesdontbite
That is one of the best complements ever!! I have no doubt your grandma was amazing. I'm so glad you liked them! You can play around with adding other stuff too, I added walnuts and almonds. And my sister added the chocolate hazelnut spread and said it was great! Definitely let me know how they come out for Easter. I bet they sell Easter shaped candy molds!
Kallie Tsoukas Tettenburn
Made these with Ev this weekend and they really were so easy and turned out delicious!! We didn't have a candy mold so I put them in mini muffin tin and used the paper mini muffin cups. They look like Reese's cups but are so much better! I ordered a heart-shaped candy mold and we will make more for Valentine's Day too. I also used a whole almond and a whole walnut in some of them.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you!!! Glad they were as easy as I said they'd be! The heart candy mold sounds adorable. Save me some so I can try it with the other types of nuts you used!
Kallie Tsoukas Tettenburn
These are definitely very yummy! I think I'll make some date paste this weekend...
veggiesdontbite
Thank you! Yes! Make some and let me know how it turns out!!
cloudthyme
Wow these are so cute and yummy-looking, can't wait to try them out!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you! Let me know how they turn out when you try them!
Dina
They are truly amazing, the best I ever had, especially the dark chocolate ones.
Mom
veggiesdontbite
Thanks mom 🙂
vegenista (@vegenista)
Hello Lover! Chocolate & PB candies, yes please! I have not experimented with date "carmel" yet, but must get on that STAT. Where did you get those candy molds?
veggiesdontbite
Oh my! Yes! You need date caramel in your life! It is amazing and makes you wonder why refined sugar even exists. I got the molds on amazon, but a friend just got adorable heart ones at Albertsons for $2. I know Micheal's carries them too. Let me know how they turn out! I'm sure you will never let date paste go once you've tried it 🙂