Homemade Peanut Butter Cups (Dairy Free)

These homemade peanut butter cups are easy to make, dairy-free, and as good, if not better, than Reese’s peanut butter cups. They are made with dairy free chocolate, peanut butter, and more. You can also add jelly to them to make them the most delicious peanut butter and jelly dessert!

When my husband requests a dessert you can bet chances are good he will request these. I never mind making them because they are the perfect easy treat for kids to help make and my toddler and I love to make them together. She stays busy licking every container and spoon clean while I’m busy throwing them together. It is a win for everyone!

They are a great treat that can be kept in the freezer and pulled out one at a time when you need a sweet treat (how we always like them) or gobbled up quickly if you can handle the sweetness.

I’ve posted many times over peanut butter and chocolate sweets and this one is just as amazing as all the others. Be sure to check out some of my other peanut butter and chocolate sweet treats like these homemade granola bars.

How to Make Homemade Dairy Free Peanut Butter Cups

To make these delicious homemade peanut butter butter cups you will need to prepare a muffin pan with cupcake liners ahead of time.

You will begin by melting half of the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments in a glass bowl or measuring cup. I like to add 1 tbsp of peanut butter when I melt it to ensure it comes out smooth and a bit softer when eating the cups.

Scoop melted chocolate into each prepared cupcake liner until the chocolate is gone and all 12 muffin liners are filled up. You will need 1-2 tsp full of melted chocolate in each one. Bang the muffin pan on the counter once or twice to help the chocolate spread out and cover each cupcake liner completely. Then put the whole pan into the freezer while you prepare the next step.

Add the softened vegan butter (our favorite kind is Country Crock Plant Butter), powdered sugar, and peanut butter to a glass bowl and stir together until smooth. Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and spoon and divide the peanut butter mixture evenly into each cupcake line. You will need to use a spoon to push the mixture down and spread it to cover the chocolate and cupcake liner completely. Put the muffin pan back into the freezer.

*If you decide to make the peanut butter cups into a peanut butter and jelly dessert this is where you would add a layer of jelly on top. Simply spoon 1/2 tsp of jelly on top of the peanut butter mixture and spread it all around. Then stick it in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate for on top.

Repeat the melting chocolate process with the remaining chocolate and tbsp peanut butter. Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and pour the chocolate over the top of each muffin cup. You will need to spread the chocolate out with a spoon immediately after adding it to each cup to ensure that it doesn’t harden too quickly. Once all 12 cups have the chocolate filling on top put the muffin pan back in the freezer.

How to Store Dairy Free Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

These dairy-free peanut butter cups should be kept in an air-tight container in the freezer. They are the perfect treat to make a batch and just pull one out when you have a craving for something sweet. They will begin to melt and really become a soft mess if left out too long or not kept in the freezer.

When you are ready to eat one simply pull it out and let it sit for about five minutes. This will ensure that the chocolate isn’t too hard that you can’t bite into it but also isn’t too soft and messy.

Peanut Butter Cup Variations

These peanut butter cups are delicious on their own. However, you can add different items to create all-new flavors or looks. Here are some suggestions on things to add-in:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups:

Add a layer of jelly in between the peanut butter and the top chocolate layer. Tastes just like peanut butter and jelly.

Sea Salt Peanut Butter Cups:

After adding the last chocolate layer, sprinkle sea salt on top before the chocolate hardens.

Holiday Peanut Butter Cups:

After adding the last layer of chocolate, sprinkle holiday sprinkles of choice on top of the peanut butter cups before the chocolate hardens.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Cups:

Sprinkle a handful of crushed pretzels on the top layer of chocolate before it hardens.

Peanut Butter Oreo Cups:

Sprinkle crushed gluten-free Oreos on the top layer of chocolate before it hardens.

Gluten and Dairy Free Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand)
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp non-dairy butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup jelly of choice (optional)

Directions

1. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set to the side.
2. Combine 1 cup of dairy-free chocolate chips and 1 tbsp peanut butter in a glass bowl or measuring cup. Microwave, stirring in 30-second increments until melted completely.
3. Pour chocolate into the bottom of the cupcake liners until it covers the bottom of each one. Gently hit the pan on the table/counter to spread the chocolate out in the liners.
4. Stick the pan in the freezer while preparing the peanut butter mixture.
5. In a separate glass bowl or measuring cup stir together 1/2 cup peanut butter, powdered sugar, and softened dairy-free butter until smooth.
6. Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and spoon the peanut butter mixture on top of each muffin cup. Spread around evenly with a spoon.
7. (Optional step if PB and Jelly cups are desired). Spoon a tsp of jelly on top of the peanut butter and spread around with a spoon.
8. Insert the pan back into the freezer.
9. Combine the remaining cup of dairy-free chocolate chips and 1 tbsp peanut butter in a glass bowl or measuring cup. Microwave, stirring in 30-second increments until melted completely.
10. Remove the muffin tin from the freezer and layer chocolate on top of each cup, spreading it evenly after each cup as it will harden fast.
11. Insert the muffin pan into the freezer and freeze for an hour (or more).
12. When eating, remove from freezer and let sit for 5 minutes before eating to let the chocolate soften a bit.