Homemade Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb)
#CookingWithIsabelle
Craving Reese’s cups but not the calories and sugar? Well, my homemade chocolate peanut butter cups perfect for satisfying those chocolate and peanut butter dreams! They're not only decadently delish, but also super nutritious: these peanut butter cups are vegan, keto-friendly, low carb, gluten-free, and clock in at only 100 calories! What are you waiting for? Let's get cooking!
As a kid I used to hate peanut butter - I didn’t even enjoy the childhood classic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Peanuts were my worst enemy… until during one Halloween celebration at school, my teacher shared out some Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Out of that child-like fear of missing out (and wanting to try anything sweet) I stuffed them in my mouth not knowing it had peanut butter. BUT, for whatever reason, it was love at first bite. I fell in love with Reese’s peanut butter cups. That chocolate and sweetly salty peanut butter was a combo I couldn't get enough of!
Since that day Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have become a tradition and iconic Halloween candy for me.
Making Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups
In fact, I have a fun fact for y’all:
It turns out Reese's Peanut Butter Cups aren’t just popular at Halloween for me!
Polls have shown that roughly 36% of Americans say Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are their favorite Halloween treat.
So, as we head into fall and Halloween season, thoughts of peanut butter cups have become a common thing in my mind!
But, the problem is, while I maybe a big fan of peanut butter cups, what I’m not a fan of is how processed and sugar laden those lil’ candy cups are.
Can the much loved iconic chocolate peanut butter cups be made sugar-free and still be just as good, if not better? YES! It’s seriously true!
After trying different methods and combinations of ingredients I have created a sugar-free and healthy candy with the same most divinely, rich, tantalizing combo taste of chocolate and the sweet, nutty taste of peanut butter as the classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. That flavorful power couple of salty and sweet taste so good in this recipe that it’s not even Halloween yet and I’m already gorging - luckily it’s all guilt free y’all!!
Plus, it turns out that making your own homemade sugar-free chocolate peanut butter cups is super easy.
Simply said, it’s a smart combo of ingredients that only require some melting of chocolate, mixing of peanut butter and layering together, then boom, refrigerated.
Oh... and if you can’t get enough of these at Halloween, I would say these make a perfect addition to your holiday cookie trays that the whole family will love.
Goodbye sugar free artificially made candy that’ll cause your stomach to hurt and goodbye artificial processed candies that wreck your health, because we don’t need you anymore!
Sugar free peanut butter cups: they’re keto friendly and vegan?
My homemade chocolate peanut butter cups are not only decadently oh so yummy, but nutritious by being less than 100 calories and filled with fiber and protein. No this is not a dream!
And if you’re on keto, these actually make great peanut butter cup fat bombs. Intensely satisfying and keto, wow!
Oh, and these peanut butter cups are also vegan!
Feel free to use parchment paper muffin liners or candy molds for this recipe. Also, I recommend making these when you have something else to also do in the kitchen, since you have to wait for each part to solidify before partaking in the next step.
Now what are you waiting for? Allow your taste buds to enjoy this dreamy contrast of salty and sweet flavors!
Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
Isabelle McKenzie | Feb 2020
- prep time: 5 minute
- cook time: 25 minutes
- total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6-12
INGREDIENTS:
For the chocolate layers::
- 1/2 cup and 1 tbsp of good quality cocoa powder
- 5 tablespoons cacao butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
- 15-20 drops liquid stevia, to taste
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)
- Pinch salt
For the peanut butter layer:
- 3 1/2 tbsp tablespoons unsweetened creamy peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons almond meal, peanut flour or plain flour
- 15-20 drops liquid stevia, to taste
- 2 tsp Coconut oil or butter
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 pinch of salt (optional, to taste)
HOW TO MAKE IT:
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together all of the chocolate layers ingredients, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure that everything is incorporated.
- In another bowl mix blend together the peanut butter ingredients, stirring until smooth.
- To assemble line a small muffin pan with paper liners (or use a candy cup mold). Fill the bottom of the lined cups or molds evenly with chocolate (about 1-2 tsp). Leave it to set for about 10 minutes in the fridge. Now spoon and center, roughly 1 teaspoon of the peanut butter layer mix onto each bottom filled chocolate layered cup. It should spread without reaching the edges. Top with another teaspoon of chocolate mix, to cover the top and edges.
- Allow it to set at room temperature for 15 minutes, then place it into the fridge, allowing it to set completely.
- Store in the fridge until you're ready to eat it!
(Note: using coconut oil will mean the cups will be slightly meltier at room temp.)
Nutrition:
- Serving: 1/12 recipe
- Fat: 9.6g
- Calories: 96
- Carb: 3.2g