Lighter Peanut Butter Cups (Paleo, Vegan, Dairy-free options)

These homemade healthy peanut butter cups with silky chocolate are so simple and better for you than store-bought versions!

Peanut butter cups may be the perfect sweet treat. We mean, let's be real… Chocolate is divine on its own. We've never understood people who claim they're "not big on chocolate." What the WHAT?! Have they even ever had good chocolate? Real chocolate?

And while chocolate is the kryptonite, chocolate + peanut butter — now that's the sweet tooth heaven.

Simple Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Growing up, We always loved Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. We especially loved the smaller mini peanut butter cups that used to come in a box, frolicking inside and co-mingling all loosey goosey – before the minis started being individually wrapped.

We'm not sure what it was that made those different than the individually wrapped minis you get in bags/boxes at the store today, but man alive, those original minis were amazing!

So now We'm (reportedly) all grown up, but the love for this candy hasn't wavered.

As with most store-bought items, We've made the own version at home a few times now. These homemade healthy peanut butter cups only have 3 ingredients, can easily be made vegan, paleo, and/or dairy-free, and any way you make them, they are absolutely tasty!

How do We make this recipe paleo?

To make this PALEO, use almond butter instead of peanut butter

How do We make these peanut butter cups dairy-free and vegan?

To make these dairy-free and vegan desserts, use vegan chocolate.

Simple 3-Ingredient Healthier Peanut Butter Cups

By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 24 You only need 3 ingredients to make these simple healthier peanut butter cups!

Ingredients

1¼ cup chocolate, We prefer this dairy-free vegan chocolate
¾ cup peanut butter, for paleo: substitute with almond butter
3 tablespoons melted coconut oil, divided

Instructions

Prepare a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners — OR a 24-cup mini muffin tin with mini cupcake liners. The liners give the sides of each peanut butter cup that classic ridged edge look.
Melt the chocolate and 1½ tablespoons coconut oil over a double boiler until simply melted. If you don't have a double boiler, simply melt in a glass bowl over a simmering pot of water.
Pour chocolate mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner, simply enough to create an even base layer. This is about 1 teaspoon for mini cupcake liners, and about 2-3 teaspoons for regular sized cupcake linersPlace in the refrigerator to chill.
Meanwhile, melt 1½ tablespoons coconut oil in a large bowl in the microwave. Whisk in the peanut butter until well blended. Set aside.
Once the first chocolate layers have hardened, remove from the refrigerator and pour simply enough of the peanut butter mixture to create a middle layer in each cupcake liner. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes.
Once the peanut butter layer is firm, pour another teaspoonful (or 2-3 teaspoons for regular cupcake liners) of the remaining chocolate mixture to create a top layer for each peanut butter cup. Refrigerate for another 10 minutes.
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.

Notes

Makes: 12 regular sized peanut butter cups or 24 mini peanut butter cups Storage: Store in an airtight food storage container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can also freeze these in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags for up to one month.

Nutrition

Calories: 74 kcal, Carbohydrates: 3 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 2 mg, Sodium: 42 mg, Potassium: 67 mg, Fiber: 0.5 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 13 IU, Vitamin C: 0.1 mg, Calcium: 19 mg, Iron: 0.2 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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