These Healthy Peanut Butter Cups are easy to make with just 4 ingredients! Made without refined sugar, these make a healthy treat that will become a favorite recipe! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
For years, Meghan and Tim went on an annual Father-Daughter camping trip. I use the term “camping” lightly, as they slept in a cabin that was equipped with a bathroom, electricity, and even had a TV.
It was an organized trip with a group through the Y with a goal of strengthening relationships between fathers and daughters. The first year they went, the mom who introduced the group to us warned me that it would be candy-filled weekend. All the girls come to camp loaded with snacks and candy.
You know I cringed thinking about sending Meghan with store-bought candy that is filled with preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and unhealthy oils. I decided to make her some homemade treats that would lessen the toxic load, even if just a little.
Clearly, she was my oldest child. I wish I was still as optimistic about my abilities to shield the kids from all the ingredients in processed foods. I keep trying, but it only got more and more difficult as they got older!
No harm in trying, right?
These homemade peanut butter cups might not be as perfect as reese’s cups when you open the package, but you get the winning combination of chocolate and peanut butter in a much healthier way. This homemade version has much less added sugar than a store-bought version and no additives.
You can trust me when I say looking perfect is not what matters to Meghan when it comes to chocolate. She and Luke keep begging me to make more of these. I really should have a stash in the freezer at all times. I guess that means I did something right in trying to shield them from the “real candy” and consistently offering choices with real food ingredients.
I had been making different versions of homemade chocolate peanut butter cups for years now, and I always tried to make a peanut butter filling to mimic the texture of the peanut butter inside the reese’s peanut butter cups.
I finally tried it with just peanut butter and guess what? I love it with just pure peanut butter! You don’t need powdered sugar or anything else added to the peanut butter to make this healthier version of reese’s peanut butter cups.
Also, if aesthetics are important, don’t be lazy like me. Freeze each layer before you do the next layer. You can see the difference in the photos when I did and didn’t have time for that.
When I’m in a rush, I drop the chocolate into the paper cup, add the peanut butter, then add the final chocolate layer. My family doesn’t mind the little imperfections this causes and neither do I.
As you can see from the photos as well, I’ve made these in both mini muffin tins and regular-sized muffin tins. Both work well! Are you ready to make some homemade healthy peanut butter cups? Let’s go!
Recipe Ingredients–What You Need
What I love most about this recipe is that you only need a few simple ingredients you probably keep on hand or can easily find at the grocery store.
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- natural peanut butter*
*I just scoop straight from the jar–who likes measuring peanut butter?! For mini cups, I used about 3/4 teaspoon peanut butter per cup. You need more if you’re using regular sized muffin cups.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Instead of peanut butter, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter if you need these to be nut-free.
- You can use honey in place of the maple syrup if you don’t need these to be vegan peanut butter cups.
- You can make these into dark chocolate peanut butter cups by using dark cocoa powder.
How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
- In a small blender, blend together the cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup until it is creamy. If you don’t have a small blender, then you can whisk the ingredients together by hand. Just make sure you use a deep, medium bowl so the cocoa powder doesn’t go everywhere and you whisk it very well.
- Put your paper liners in a mini muffin pan or regular muffin pan*
- Using a teaspoon, drop 1 teaspoon of the chocolate mixture into the cups*.
- You can lift and drop the muffin tin on the counter to help the chocolate lay flat.
- Next, use a teaspoon or a 3/4 teaspoon to drop 3/4 teaspoon peanut butter on top of the chocolate. Finally, add an additional teaspoon of chocolate on top of the peanut butter.
- Again, you can lift and drop the cookie sheet to help the top layer of chocolate lay flat. Or you can use your finger. 😉
- Place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
- These need to be stored in the fridge or the freezer as they can start to melt when stored at room temperature.
*If you use a full-sized muffin tin, you will use more of the chocolate mixture and peanut butter for each cup, and you will get about 4 cups. If you use a mini-muffin tin, you’ll get about 9.
If you’re making these around Easter time, you should totally try these Healthy Peanut Butter Eggs! Homemade is always my preference. You, too?
I hope you and your family love these healthier peanut butter cups. They are a favorite candy over here!
You know I love healthy dessert recipes and am dreaming of ways I can make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies a little healthier. They look delicious! If you love chocolate and peanut butter as much as we do, you should also try these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars, these Chocolate Crunch Cookies, or these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Muffins.
If you try these healthy homemade peanut butter cups or any of my other healthy recipes, please let me know! I’d love to see a photo–share it on Instagram and I’ll feature you. Please leave a comment and star rating below. It really helps other readers know which recipes are tried and true!
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Healthy 4-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 9 1x
Description
These healthy, homemade peanut butter cups are a great way to get your chocolate fix!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- peanut butter*
Instructions
- In a small blender, blend together the cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup until it is creamy. If you don’t have a small blender, then you can whisk the ingredients together by hand. Just make sure you use a deep bowl so the cocoa powder doesn’t go everywhere and you whisk it very well.
- Put your paper liners on a cookie sheet.
- Using a teaspoon, drop 1 teaspoon of the chocolate mixture into the cups.
- You can lift and drop the muffin tin on the counter to help the chocolate lay flat.
- Next, use a teaspoon or a 3/4 teaspoon to drop 3/4 teaspoon peanut butter on top of the chocolate. Finally, add an additional teaspoon of chocolate on top of the peanut butter.*
- Again, you can lift and drop the cookie sheet to help the chocolate lay flat. Or you can use your finger. 😉
- Place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to allow the chocolate to harder.
- These need to be stored in the fridge or the freezer. Enjoy!
Notes
*I just scoop straight from the jar–who likes measuring peanut butter?! For mini cups, I used about 3/4 teaspoon peanut butter per cup. You need more if you’re using regular sized muffin cups.
**Â If you use a full-sized muffin tin, you will use more of the chocolate mixture and peanut butter for each cup, and you will get about 4 cups. If you use a mini-muffin tin, you’ll get about 9.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini cup
- Calories: 134
- Sugar: 7.5 grams
- Fat: 10.5 grams
- Saturated Fat: 7.3 grams
- Carbohydrates: 10.6 grams
- Fiber: 1.2 grams
- Protein: 1.5 grams
I originally posted this recipe in 2014, republished it in 2016 with updated photos. Most the the text is from the original post with more updates in 2022.
Thank you so much for this recipe! Love these clean eating goodies!!!
You’re welcome!
Can I skip the maple syrup all together? Is that just to hold it together better?
The maple syrup adds sweetness. They will be very bitter without it, but if you enjoy bitter chocolate, it might work.
Made these tonight and they were so awesome!!! Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that, Jen!
These are totally carb free and sugar free?
No, they are not carb and sugar free. 🙂
I have used your recipe before, and it is heavenly! However, I am on a keto lifstyle change. Can I use sugar free syrup? Or should I use another recipe? Say no! Lol thanks in advance!
I’ve never tried sugar-free syrup, so I don’t know the consistency. Is it similar to maple syrup? I’m sure it would work!
Could you use a piping bag rather than trying to get the liquid in the case with a spoon?
Sure!
Tried this today and loved it! ? thanks! What I love about the recipe is that it’s ĺess dense than one with melted chocolate but still freezes beautifully. Absolutely smooth and yummy.
Glad you loved this recipe! 🙂
Can you use honey instead of Maple syrup?
Yes.
This looks AMAZING! I can’t wait to try it! Now of ways to hide it from the husband and kids……. ??? ?
Haha! My problem exactly!
These are so delicious and super easy to make! I like the chocolate/coconut taste more than maple, so I used a little less than the recommended maple syrup the second time I’ve made them. These really are a great treat & I use cacao and all organic products so I feel like it’s a much healthier treat than storebought peanut butter cups.
I agree! Thanks so much for your feedback. 🙂
I use an ice cube tray and pop them in the freezer to set up. After set I pop them out and put them in a container and keep in the freezer for a quick fix.
Love that–great idea!
How many calories would you say one mini sized one was?
What is the serving size and calories? I’m wondering on the difference of regular and these! I wanna make them! 🙂
I made these in tiny cupcake patties about 15 minutes ago and just took one out of the freezer. Holy schamoly are they amazing! My boyfriend is raving over the chocolate alone, and he’s fussy!
So glad to hear that Ness!
is it possible to use an artificial sweetener instead of maple syrup?
I don’t ever recommend artificial sweeteners. 🙂 What about trying stevia? Or xylitol? Both are natural sweeteners but sugar-free!
Thanks for mentioning xylitol that’s all my mom uses when she makes herself snack so thought of making these for her with xylitol
Perfect!
I made these today, but I made some alterations:
1c coconut oil (melted)
1c organic maple syrup
1 + 1/3c cocoa powder
organic PB
I filled a large muffin tin with ½tbs chocolate, 1ts pb, 1ts chocolate. I only wish I would have done ½tbs pb as well.
(I froze the leftover chocolate mix in an ice cube tray, can’t wait to try them as well.)
Thank you so much for the recipe!
You’re welcome, Maddie! Thanks for sharing the alterations you made.
Is there anything you can use instead of the coconut oil? Thanks!
I had a friend try these with olive oil and said that it worked, but they were not as solid. You can try different oils, but I think it’d be best if you store them in the freezer to keep them firm until you want to eat them. I hope that helps!
HOOKED on these cups! I have made them several times and they don’t last long. So delicious!
Thanks for letting me know! 🙂 They don’t last long at this house, either.
How much peanut butter please?
I don’t measure the peanut butter. I scoop about 1/2-3/4 of a teaspoon of peanut butter for each cup. I hope that helps!
I’m addicted to the PB cups recipe from The Kind Diet but these look totally worth trying and delicious!
I’ve not tried the recipe from the Kind Diet. I love all things PB+choc though so I’m sure they are great! 🙂
Made these today and they are DELICIOUS!!!
Yay! Thanks for letting me know Kelli. 🙂
I made these today and used natural smooth peanut butter.. this not be so good as it doesn’t stay set for long enough unfortunately.
I use natural peanut butter! 🙂