Description
These Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are a delightful Christmas treat combining creamy peanut butter filling with a rich chocolate almond bark shell. Perfect for holiday gifting or festive indulgence, they are easy to make with simple ingredients and no baking required.
Ingredients
Scale
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
Chocolate Coating
- 1 pound chocolate almond bark (or vanilla almond bark)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare muffin pan: Line a muffin pan with 18 cupcake liners to create molds for your peanut butter cups.
- Make peanut butter mixture: In a large bowl, use a mixer to blend the creamy peanut butter and room temperature unsalted butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add flavor and sugar: Stir in the vanilla extract and confectioners sugar until fully combined. The mixture will be crumbly but hold together when pressed.
- Melt chocolate almond bark: Place the almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted.
- Coat bottom of cups: Spoon a small amount of melted almond bark into the bottom of each cupcake liner, spreading it slightly up the sides to form a chocolate shell layer.
- Shape peanut butter discs: Scoop heaping tablespoons of the peanut butter mixture, roll them into balls, then flatten each into a thick disc shape to fit inside the chocolate-lined cups.
- Place filling in cups: Put one peanut butter disc into each chocolate-coated cupcake liner, pressing gently.
- Top with chocolate: Spoon the remaining melted almond bark over the peanut butter discs in each cup, fully covering the filling. Add sprinkles immediately on top if desired for decoration.
- Set and chill: Allow the peanut butter cups to set at room temperature for about an hour, or refrigerate for 30 minutes, until the chocolate hardens. Then they are ready to serve or store.
Notes
- If almond bark is not available, you may substitute with good quality melting chocolate or chocolate chips.
- For firmer peanut butter cups, refrigerate rather than leaving at room temperature to set.
- Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth texture; natural or chunky peanut butter may alter consistency.
- Sprinkles are optional but add festive color perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Store peanut butter cups in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: peanut butter cups, homemade peanut butter cups, Christmas treats, holiday dessert, no-bake candy, chocolate peanut butter cups
