Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Delight in the comfort of making your own peanut butter cups with this straightforward recipe that balances sweet and salty flavors.
Ingredients
Chocolate Layer
- 2 ⅓ cups milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet For sweetness and meltability
- 2 tsp shortening For smoothness
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter For texture and flavor
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar For sweetness and structure
- ¼ cup salted butter, room temp For richness and moisture
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract For flavor enhancement
- 1 tsp salt For balance
Instructions
Preparation
- Begin by preparing a baking sheet. Line it with cupcake liners to create a base for the peanut butter cups.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the milk chocolate chips and shortening. Heat in short bursts of 30 seconds, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
- Spoon a small amount of the melted chocolate mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner to cover completely.
- Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
- In a mixing bowl, blend together the creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, salted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
Assembly
- Retrieve the baking sheet and add a dollop of the peanut butter filling on top of the set chocolate layer, spreading it evenly.
- Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator for another 10 minutes.
- Using the remaining melted chocolate, spoon it over the peanut butter layer until the cups are filled to the top.
- Place the baking sheet back in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate has fully set.
- Once set, remove the peanut butter cups from the refrigerator and peel the cupcake liners away.
Notes
Use a microwave-safe bowl and stir chocolate frequently to avoid overheating. Allow adequate setting time for each layer to ensure structure.