Healthiest No Bake Peanut Butter Cups

I have to admit, I’ve never tasted a Reese cup (the horror!) because I never cared for peanut butter before I met my husband. Now it seems like I can’t live without it! Although the only kind I inhale (um consume) is the all natural peanut butter, not the tons-of-icing-sugar-and-other-junk-they’re-allowed-to-stock-on-grocery-store-shelves kind.  Honestly, I don’t know how companies are permitted to make foods that aren’t the best for us to have. Especially foods that kids enjoy on the daily like peanut butter. I digress….

Although I haven’t had a peanut butter cup, I wanted to make something for my kids to enjoy should they request to have it at any time. I made my very first batch some time ago while vacationing at my sister-in-law’s in Calgary. It was a pure experiment that turned out to be a total hit! They were so good in fact, that I didn’t make them again until just recently because of fear that I would devour all of the cups!! Silly as that may be, I’ve realized my willpower has weakened over time so the best way to control it was to avoid making them all together. I know, quite sad. And my poor husband got to a point where he and Munsur would beg for me to make them. But I held on!

Then one day when I posted a picture of a failed cake which I had turned into a rolled cake slathered with delicious peanut butter and apricot jam, one of my dearest friends on social media (Instagram) gave me the happiest news that day, that her family was now able to introduce peanuts into their lives!

It was an emotional moment for me, and if you have food allergies in your household you would understand why; it’s one less thing you need to worry about when it comes to your child/children’s wellbeing. Every parent can attest to how much energy is exerted just worrying about them and ensuring they live a happy healthy life. Add to that food allergies, and your worries are multiplied by a ton. You have to constantly be aware of your surroundings and going anywhere where food is involved can be (and usually always is) a daunting ordeal. But because food is one of life’s simple pleasures and is necessary for one’s survival, it simply cannot be avoided. So you have to make due and make the best out of the hand you’ve been dealt in this life.

Enter these melt-in-your-mouth and not in your hand goodness. And the taste of the dark chocolate combined with naturally sweetened peanut butter is a match made in heaven. The honey isn’t detectable in this recipe but offers a hint of sweetness which is perfect because I don’t like my desserts overly sweet.

For anyone who is vegan and would like to make this recipe, substitute honey with agave or maple syrup and the taste should remain the same. And for anyone with a peanut allergy, substitute the peanut butter with Wow Butter (or the like) which is soy-based but has a similar taste to peanut butter. Also, if you don’t have silicone molds feel free to use cupcake liners or those tin tart liners too. Basically, there is no excuse not to make them!

This recipe I’m about to share with you can’t get any simpler than this. And these beauties are so healthy too (relatively speaking) because well, they technically are if you think about the ingredients used. Make these win-win, can’t get enough deliciousness today; your kids, family, friends, neighbours, and strangers will thank you! …and so will your weakened willpower too!!!

Instructions

1. Using a double-boiler, heat 2 cups chocolate until they begin to melt.

2. Stir chocolate until it melts. Then add coconut oil and stir until fully combined.

3. Remove from heat, and add reserved 1/2 c chocolate. Stir until fully incorporated and chocolate is silky smooth.

4. Place 1 teaspoon per silicone mold and swirl chocolate until you’ve achieved a nice base and about 1/2 inch of edge.

5. Place in the freezer to set for approximately 15 minutes.

6. In a bowl, mix together peanut butter and honey until fully combined.

7. Remove cups from freezer and add 2 tsp worth of peanut butter mixture into each cup.

8. Top peanut butter with 1 tsp of the melted chocolate and ensure a complete chocolate seal by swirling the cup until chocolate covers the entire surface.

9. Place back in the freezer to completely set, approximately 10 minutes.

10. Remove from freezer and gently pop out each peanut butter cup. Enjoy cold or allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Spectacular!!

I would store these peanut butter cups in the fridge or freezer. Especially with the warm weather, you don’t want your beautiful creations to melt in the heat!

Bon appétit! xo