Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Mini peanut butter cups with an irresistible layer of peanut butter filling (including graham cracker crumbs!) sandwiched between layers of chocolate.

Homemade peanut butter cups are the perfect treat to make for any occasion. They’re simple to make and require only a few ingredients.

Plus, they’re always a hit with people of all ages. We’ll teach you how to make your very own homemade peanut butter cups. Including various options for forming them.

Full Size or Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Our recipe makes 24 miniature peanut butter cups. However you can use this same recipe to make full-size peanut butter cups; however, the quantity will depend on the liners and size you choose.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cups

Here’s a list of ingredients for the peanut butter filling and chocolate layers. Plus all the supplies and tools you’ll need.

Filling

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup finely ground graham crackers (4 full graham cracker sheets)

Chocolate

• 1 bag (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 squares vanilla candy coating or white almond bark (approximately 1/2 cup melted)

Type of chocolate: you can also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate – whatever your preference.

Almond Bark: the white almond bark is optional. You can use chocolate chips only if you’d like. However, we like to use it for the added vanilla flavor.

Decoration (optional)

• Sprinkles
• Extra coarse sugar

Supplies & Favorite Tools

• Mini cupcake tin
• Mini cupcake liners
• Food processor
• Medium bowl & mixing spoon (peanut butter filling)
• Medium bowl & mixing spoon (melted chocolate mixture)

Food processor: using a food processor to ground the graham cracker crumbs makes this step quick and easy. Of course, you could use a bag and crush the graham crackers by hand. Just make sure to aim for finely ground consistency.

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Follow these easy steps, and you’ll have delicious peanut butter cups in no time.

1. Prepare a mini cupcake tin with liners.
2. Chop 1 square of candy coating (or almond bark) into small pieces and melt with 1/2 of the chocolate chips. I find it is helpful to melt in 15-30 second increments, stirring in between until smooth.
3. Spoon a layer of chocolate on the bottom of each liner (fill a little less than 1/3). Tap the pan on the counter to level the chocolate.
4. Put the pan in the freezer to chill for 10-15 minutes until firm. While the chocolate is in the freezer, prepare the peanut butter filling.
5. Use a food processor to finely grind up graham crackers. Set aside.
6. Melt butter.
7. Mix melted butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar in a medium-sized bowl.
8. Add in the finely ground graham crackers and stir until well combined. The final mixture will have a cookie-dough consistency.
9. Press a layer of the peanut butter mixture on the next 1/3 of each liner.
10. Melt the remaining chocolate and candy coating (or almond bark). Cover the final 1/3 with chocolate and tap the pan on the counter again to level the chocolate.
11. Add sprinkles or coarse sugar to decorate if you’d like.
12. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.

These are best stored in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve.

This recipe makes approximately 24 mini peanut butter cups (depending on
the size of the liner, which can vary).

Other Ways to Prepare the Peanut Butter Cups

Here are a few other fun ways to form the peanut butter cups with this recipe. Use the original recipe instructions to make the peanut butter filling and melted chocolate.

The full recipe in this post explains how to form the peanut butter cups with a 1) Layered Look with peanut butter and chocolate layers visibly on the outside. Now read on for each additional method 2) Quick & Easy using peanut butter balls topped with chocolate, and 3) Traditional Peanut Butter Cups with peanut butter filling on the inside, surrounded completely with chocolate.

Quick + Easy Method

Roll peanut butter mixture into balls and place in liners. Spoon melted chocolate over the top. This method allows you to make many more peanut butter cups in less time.

Traditional Peanut Butter Cups

To make more of a traditional peanut butter cup, spoon a chocolate layer on the bottom 1/3 of each liner. Tap the pan on the counter to level the chocolate. Chill 10-15 minutes. Next, add a small amount of peanut butter mixture and press slightly, making sure to leave room around the edges. Finally, cover with melted chocolate on top and around the peanut butter filling. Tap the pan on the counter again to level the top.

Decorate for Holidays or Special Occasions

We love how versatile this recipe is. You can make these peanut butter cups for any occasion. Dress them up for Christmas or other special events like weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, anniversary parties, or milestone birthdays.

We added coarse sugar to half of the peanut butter cups and alternated it on a simple serving platter. You can also use tissue paper and holiday decor around the serving platter. You can also use festive sprinkles to match your event theme and colors.

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Final Thoughts

Peanut butter cups are one of those classic treats that everyone loves. This recipe is simple, and the results are delicious. I hope you’ll give it a try! If you do, be sure to come back and leave a review. We love hearing what you think about our recipes.

More Dessert Recipes

• Homemade Peanut Brittle
• Caramel Marshmallow Krispies
• Mini Almond Cakes
• Mint Chocolate Brownies
• Milk Chocolate Fudge

More Baking Tips

• How to Melt Chocolate with 3 Simple Methods
• How is Vanilla Extract Made?

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Homemade Peanut Butter Cups