Peanut butter.
I’m guessing it’s time for homemade peanut butter cups?
What amazes me most about homemade peanut butter cups is how easy they actually are to make.
When I was younger I used to just grab a spoon filled with peanut butter and then sprinkle it with mini chocolate chips and WOW!
Those 2 ingredients together were a really great combination.
In fact, it was my way to a ‘Reeses’ cup without having them in the house!
So, I guess you would call that a ‘wannabe’ peanut butter cup?
Now, what I can tell you, is that it does not take long to make the recipe for the peanut butter cups I am about to share.
However, my chocolate on the outside is crisp chocolate, which I so prefer.
The chocolate pieces snap and collide into a fusion of peanut butter and a few other ingredients.
When they combine, it’s a total moment of, “where have you been all my life” flavor even though it was always just ingredients in my pantry!
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
First and foremost, this part of my post is about what you need to make my homemade peanut butter cups.
Honestly, you don’t need many kitchen essentials, so let’s go over this list.
You will want a glass mixing bowl that is microwaveable.
Alternatively, I’d also suggest a glass measuring cup to use instead of a bowl, a big one like this one, it’s what I use.
Plus a silicone brush, you’ll see why!
Additionally, these molds are my favorite.
However, I also own peanut butter cup molds and I use these when I want a real store-bought looking cup.
Since everyone prefers my sphere mold I go with those more often than not!
A great spatula can go the long mile, so get a firm rubber scraper, not one that bends.
Now your kitchen is in order, so let’s get some other stuff out of the way.
Peanut Butter
We could go back and forth about peanut butter all day long.
Which brand is best?
Why is it best?
Does it matter which peanut butter brand I purchase?
Do I buy crunch peanut butter?
Maybe I should buy smooth peanut butter?
Can I use nutless butter?
What about adding in other ingredients to my peanut butter?
Let me cut to the chase here to keep this simple.
Buy any brand that makes you happy.
Use the peanut butter that tastes good to you.
Store brand, big brand, it does not matter.
Why?
It’s all in the peanut butter you are used to.
What Peanut Butter Do I Use?
Very honestly, I use whatever peanut butter I have in the house.
However, on the recipe you will see prepared today, I went to Target and purchased a CRUNCHY Peanut Butter.
Someone in the house requested that.
Additionally, I used nut-free butter as well to create the second set.
The world of homemade peanut butter cups is your oyster.
Now, let’s get to the recipe because it’s easy to make and you have plenty of time!
In about 1/2 hour the recipe will be ready to eat, which means, there’s very little waiting time between you and this great taste.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- 16 ounces of chocolate bark melted and stirred smooth**Read Notes Below
- 18 silicone spheres (or use a tray of 6 3x, but your time will increase for prep.
- A Tablespoon of Butter melted
- 3/4 C Confectioner's Sugar
- 3-4 Tablespoons of Peanut butter crunchy or plain***
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt your butter, just enough that it's melted, do not COOK the butter.
- Next, add in the confectioner's sugar.
- Then the peanut butter.
- Combine well.
- Scrape down the sides to incorporate all the ingredients.
- Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt your chocolate (8 ounces at a time), following melting directions on your selected product.
- Once out of the microwave, stir until smooth.
- Begin by dropping about a teaspoon of chocolate into each sphere.
- I'll warn you now this is not an exact science refer to notes about chocolate and thickness below.
- Using a silicone brush, working from the middle, spread the chocolate up the sides of the walls of each sphere.
- Then, make sure there are no bare spots.
- If there are, just drag chocolate from the bottom to the bare spot.
- Then transfer the spheres to the refrigerator to set which will be just about 5 minutes.
- Grab your cookie scoop and you can prepare 18 scoops, or you can wait.
- Now, since your peanut butter mixture had the chance to sit for 5 minutes while you prepared the chocolate spheres, how does it look?
- If it looks too creamy, the scoop won't work.
- You may need to add a few tablespoons more of confectioners sugar and combine it well.
- Look at my photos, mine turns out like this every time and is perfect for scooping with the cookie scooper.
- I like it this way because it is not sticky but tastes delish in the end,
- Additionally, I can pack it down, as you see me doing before I drop the chocolate top on to seal.
- Therefore ensuring me, without sticking to it, I can pack it down, and seal it without chaos.
- After 5 minutes in the refrigerator, your molds should be set.
- Pull them out.
- What does the set mold look like?
- Check out the photo, it's no longer shiny (No worries, the outside will be super shiny!)
- Now, drop by the cookie scooper full of the peanut butter mixture.
- Push down gently, so that you will be able to get that chocolate topping on there without it spilling about (no worries, if you over-packed the mold, just scrape some out with a spoon, or leave it and you will just have to crack it when you take it out of the mold, I promise this works perfectly!
- Microwave chocolate again (8 ounces) following the package directions.
- Stir to smooth.
- Then, (I use my silicone brush) drop a 'splotch' of chocolate atop each of the peanut butter cups.
- Using your brush, spread it side to side across each individual cup.
- This is where the non-sticky peanut butter is perfection.
- You can drag your brush without dragging your peanut butter in each cup.
- So, now for a word of advice.
- I never worry if there is an 'overhang' of chocolate and you can see that when I paint mine.
- If you are looking for perfection, do not drag the chocolate beyond each cups' edge.
- I do this because I know I can break that chocolate off, plus other than the photo's for you, my family is just happy to have the candy. So, if you prefer, just stay within the boundaries of each cup when you spread the chocolate.
- Now transfer each to the refrigerator, and let it set.
- Usually 5 minutes, 10 max.
- Remove from the refrigerator.
- Pop-out of the spheres and enjoy!