Homemade Peanut Butter Cups (2024)

Make your own Peanut Butter Cups at home! They only require five ingredients and are quick and easy to make. If you are looking for a make-ahead option for a holiday treat these freeze great too. No one can resist that combination of peanut butter and chocolate so they are always a hit!

Homemade candy for you today! You know, because it’s the holidays and I can’t think of a better gift to give than these homemade peanut butter cups. Or keep them all to yourself – I won’t tell! I mean, it is tempting because once you try these chocolatey-peanut-buttery-treats you might find it hard to add them to all of those cookie and candy platters.

Are you in holiday baking and candy-making mode? I’m getting there and these peanut butter cups are definitely motivating me to make more treats. I’ll be making some sugared cranberries and my favorite microwave peanut brittle here soon, but I better get on it! The holidays snuck up on me this year.

We all know a peanut butter cup fan, don’t we? Maybe it’s us, but if it’s not I bet you have a few friends or family members who are crazy about them. I have a few in my life (and one of them is my older brother) and I love surprising him with a batch of these homemade treats. You only need five ingredients and the steps couldn’t be easier!

What I love about these is that they have a very similar filling to store bought ones, but they’re homemade and better if I do say so myself! That soft peanut butter filling is encased in milk chocolate and the whole thing is so much better than store-bought ones. I am so excited to show you how to make them everyone this year!

5 Simple Ingredients

Of course, these are simple! You know me, I would never suggest a complicated candy recipe that just adds to the stress of the season. So, before you get started, gather all of your ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Creamy peanut butter: I recommend using regular creamy peanut butter for this recipe and not a natural brand. You know, the ones you have to stir first? I’ve only tested this recipe with the regular kind and I don’t think the natural kind will work well.
• Butter:I used salted butter in the recipe
• Sifted powdered sugar: Grab your sifter and run your powdered sugar through it. It will prevent a gritty texture.
• Milk chocolate chips: If you’d like a softer chocolate then take a few extra steps and make chocolate ganache, but I just use chocolate chips!
• Shortening: The shortening is important so don’t leave it out. Adding it to the chocolate gives the chocolate a smoother texture and will create a more even chocolate coating for your peanut butter cups. I prefer to use butter flavored shortening

How to Make the Filling

The filling needs to chill for at least 30 minutes so you’ll want to make it first.

• Mix the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer until it’s light and fluffy.
• Divided the filling into three equal parts and form each into a log approximately 10 inches long. The width of each log should be the same size as your muffin molds so when you slice them the pieces will fit inside the molds.
• Wrap the logs in wax paper and chill them for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the filling will make it much easier to handle.

Melt the Chocolate

• First, melt one bag of chocolate chips with 1/2 of the shortening. It’s easy to do this in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Just check and stir them after each interval before adding more time. I like to start with 1/2 of the chocolate and melt the rest later so it doesn’t get hard while I’m assembling the peanut butter cups. Another trick is to warm it in a double boiler so it stays warm. You can also create a double boiler if you don’t have one.
• Line your muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
• I like to use a small cookie scoop to assemble them, but you can also use a teaspoon if you don’t have one.

Get Ready to Assemble!

Once the filling is chilled, the chocolate is melted and you have your muffin pan lined and ready it’s time to assemble the them!

• Spoon (or scoop) enough melted chocolate to coat the bottom of each cupcake liner. It should only take a couple of teaspoons to get a good layer.
• Slice your chilled filling into 1/2″ slices and place one in each cupcake liner on top of the melted chocolate.
• Melt the rest of the chocolate chips with the rest of the shortening like you did before. The rest of the chocolate will be used for the top layer.
• Once your second batch of chocolate is melted, spoon it over the top of the peanut butter filling.
• Work fast to smooth the tops of your peanut butter cups – the chocolate will harden fast! You can also gently rap the bottom of the muffin pan on the counter to even out the chocolate
• Refrigerate themuntil the chocolate is set.

How do you store homemade peanut butter cups?

• I like to keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will keep up to a month!
• If you keep yours at room temperature they might get a little soft, but you can always pop them in the fridge to firm them up.
• Or, keep them in the freezer for several months (in an airtight container, of course!). I like to do this and then I forget about them until I find them hidden behind the green beans! It’s always fun to find them in the freezer.

Can I use different kinds of chocolate?

Yes, you can switch up the chocolate! Dark chocolate, semi-sweet or even white chocolate (if you want to get crazy) will all work well.

More Candy Recipes

You guys know I’m all about the easy recipes so if you want more easy candy recipes you have to try some of these great recipes!

• It doesn’t get any easier than peanut brittle you can make in the microwave! It’s so quick and easy!
• I mean, is it even the holidays without a batch of homemade chocolate fudge? I also have an eggnog fudge recipe that’s perfect for the season.
• Rolo Pretzels are a simple 3-ingredient recipe – it’s great for a last-minute treat!
• If cookies are more your thing be sure to check out my BIG Christmas cookies round-up with more than 50 ideas!

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