Peanut butter cups made from scratch are full of sweet peanut butter, surrounded by rich chocolate and are the perfect bite sized treat.
These simple homemade peanut butter cups are so easy to make and are perfect for the holidays or your next treat tray! Try them with other fun recipes like our biscoff truffles, Martha Washington candy, or pecan pie balls.
Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Cups
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 Fast and easy to make – perfect for a fun activity with the kids.
📌That delicious peanut butter cup taste in a homemade version!
📌Perfect for your next party or for the holidays.
Peanut Butter Cup Ingredients
- Chocolate – Semisweet and milk chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter – Creamy, not chunky.
- Powdered sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar.
- Graham cracker crumbs – Store bought crumbs or crushed graham crackers will work.
- Butter – Unsalted, softened.
- Vanilla – We recommend real vanilla extract for this recipe over imitation.
- Salt – Just a pinch.
How do you make homemade peanut butter cups? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, line a muffin tray with paper liners. Combine milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt half of them until smooth.
⭐ Next, drop some melted chocolate in each of the lined muffin cups spreading a little ways up the sides. Chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate has set.
⭐ Then, using an electric mixer, combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, butter, vanilla extract and salt until well mixed. Drop a spoonful of peanut butter mixture into the chilled muffin cups, tapping the pan on the counter to smooth it out. Chill to to firm up the peanut butter mixture.
⭐ Last, melt the remaining half of the chocolate chips and spoon over the top of the peanut butter, carefully spreading chocolate to the edges. Chill until chocolate is set and enjoy!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Do I need to line my muffin tin with paper liners?
The short answer is yes, if you want your peanut butter cups to be easy to remove and eat, using paper liners is highly recommended. Silicone liners will also work!
What kind of peanut butter should I use?
As long as it’s the creamy variety, any brand should work. Even natural peanut butter will work in this recipe. You can also use any other kind of nut butter for the filling.
What kind of chocolate should I use?
This recipe calls for chocolate chips but you could also use candy melts or chocolate bark. The candy melts won’t be quite as soft when biting into the cups but will still be delicious.
Make sure to use high quality chocolate for a creamy and delicious texture!
Storage and leftovers
How do I store homemade peanut butter cups?
The best option is to store in the fridge in an airtight container to keep the chocolate from getting melty. Store for 3-5 days.
Can I freeze homemade peanut butter cups?
Yes, these freeze really well. Make sure to seal them in an airtight container. You can store them stacked using wax paper between the layers as well. Store for up to 2 months.
Tips and tricks
✅ Be cautious while melting chocolate: When microwaving the chocolate chips, heat it in 20 to 30-second increments and stir well between each session. This helps to prevent overheating and ensures even melting. Avoid overheating as it can cause the chocolate to seize or become grainy.
✅ Change up the peanut butter to another nut butter to make a fun variety.
✅ Swap the brown chocolate for white chocolate, almond bark, or candy melts for a fun sweet treat!
✅ Add sprinkles or some coarse sea salt to the tops for a contrast of flavor and texture.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate for the peanut butter cups?
Absolutely! If you prefer a richer and slightly less sweet flavor, you can substitute dark chocolate for milk chocolate in this recipe.
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
While the recipe calls for creamy peanut butter, you can certainly use crunchy peanut butter if you prefer. Keep in mind that the texture of the filling will be slightly different due to the peanut pieces.
Can I make mini peanut butter cups instead of regular-sized ones?
Absolutely! You can use mini muffin liners and adjust the amount of chocolate and peanut butter filling accordingly to create bite-sized mini peanut butter cups.
Can I decorate the tops of the peanut butter cups with additional toppings?
Yes, you can get creative with the toppings! Consider adding crushed peanuts, coconut flakes, or drizzling melted white chocolate on top for an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal.
How can I make these suitable for people with nut allergies?
Unfortunately, these peanut butter cups are not suitable for individuals with nut allergies due to the use of peanut butter as the main ingredient. However, you can explore alternatives like sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter as a substitute for peanut butter.
Can I use a different type of mold instead of a muffin tin?
Yes, you can use silicone molds or candy molds in different shapes and sizes to create customized peanut butter cups.
What to eat with homemade peanut butter cups (serving suggestions)
Homemade peanut butter cups are one of my family’s favorite treats, they disappear quickly! Try throwing together a dessert tray with other favorites like lofthouse cookies, white chocolate covered oreos, cookie monster cookies, and oreo truffles.
More delicious peanut butter desserts
- Peanut butter fudge
- Buckeye balls
- Peanut butter pie
- Peanut butter mousse
- Peanut butter bark
- Check out all of our peanut butter recipes!
Other delicious candy recipes
Tools we love
- Wilton 24-Cup Perfect Results Mega Muffin Pan – these peanut butter cups go fast, make a double batch for the whole crowd with one of my favorite muffin pans!
- Muffin pan with lid – I am a sucker for anything that comes with a fitted lid. This is perfect for storing for later or bringing to a friends!
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How to Make Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Combine the milk chocolate chips and the semisweet chocolate chips. Melt half of them in a microwave safe bowl on high power in 20 second intervals, stirring between heat cycles, until smooth.
- Drop about a tablespoon of the melted chocolate into 12 paper lined muffin cups, spreading a little bit of the chocolate up the sides. Chill for about 10 minutes, until the chocolate has set.
- While chocolate is setting, use an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, butter, vanilla extract and salt until well mixed.
- Place about a tablespoon of the peanut butter mixture into the chocolate filled liners, then drop the pan a couple of times to help smooth it out. Chill about 10 minutes to help firm up the peanut butter mixture.
- Melt the remaining cup of chocolate chips and spoon another tablespoon full over the top of the peanut butter, carefully spreading it to the edges. Chill about 10 minutes, until fully set.
Notes
Nutrition
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Allyson Zea says
This was so flavorful and easy to make!
Kristen says
I love peanut butter cups so much so I had to make these and they did not disapoint, I could barely stop myself from eating them.
jess says
these are the best little treats and they are pretty easy to make! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!