Homemade Peanut Butter Cups (Reese’s Copycat!)

What if I told you making your own peanut butter cups is EASY? Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this healthier treat will remind you of a childhood favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! All you need are some dark chocolate chips, peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. AND, it’s gluten-free and vegan-friendly!

Did you grow up on Reese’s peanut butter cups? Yes? Well, welcome to the club! Growing up, one of my favorite parts of Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas (you get the point) is the fact that I would always get a few (or a LOT) of chocolate candies! Hmm, hmm. Talk about my weakness! Of all the candies I received, Reese’s peanut butter cups were definitely high up there.

So of course, you can imagine my dismay when I finally accepted the fact (just a few years ago) that Reese’s cups were sugar-laden! While I still occasionally enjoy the “real thing” when I’m out and about, I’ve developed a foolproof Reese’s copycat recipe that is much healthier, yet JUST as satisfying!!

Ready for the recipe?

What Peanut Butter Should I Use?

Typically, I prefer crunchy peanut butter while my husband Evan prefers creamy peanut butter. In making homemade peanut butter cups, however, I’ve found that creamy peanut butter mixes better with the maple syrup and coconut oil. So feel free to use any natural creamy peanut butter from any grocery store – we like to buy ours freshly grounded from our local co-op!

Looking to make your Reese’s copycat even more epic? Try substituting the peanut butter for these fun high-protein nut spread flavors from Nuts ‘N More!

Not a fan of peanut butter? Not a problem! You can easily substitute the peanut butter with almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, coconut butter, and more! I especially like these keto-friendly nut butters from SuperFat (especially the Coffee + MCT flavor!)

What Chocolate Should I Use?

Here’s the good news: you can make these Reese’s copycat cups with virtually any kinds of chocolate! Whether that’s dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate, the process is the same!

For no sugar options, I recommend ChocZero’s sugar-free dark chocolate chips. They melt just like regular chips, but with no sugar! And right now, you can use the code “DWELL” to get 10% off your order.

Ingredients to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

For the Chocolate Layer

• 1 cup chocolate chips, milk or dark
• 1¼ tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

For the Peanut Butter Layer

• ⅓ cup peanut butter, sub other nut/seed butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup, sub honey or date syrup
• 2 ¼ tbsp melted coconut oil, sub butter

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

1. Line a muffin tin with 10 paper or silicone liners.
2. Heat chocolate chips, coconut oil, and vanilla extract into a small pot over medium heat. Stir until chocolate has melted and mixture is fully combined. Add 2 tsp of chocolate into each liner.
3. In another pot, heat peanut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil over medium heat. Stir until mixture reaches a pourable consistency. Add a dollop of the peanut butter mixture into 10 cups over the chocolate layer.
4. Top each cups with the remaining chocolate mixture evenly. Set the muffin tin into the freezer for at least 30 minutes, or until set. Once the cups have firmed up completely, remove from freezer and place in the refrigerator. ENJOY!

How to Store Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Since these peanut butter cups contain coconut oil, they will melt if kept at room temperature. But store them in the fridge, and you’re good to go! Homemade peanut butter cups will keep for 1 week in the fridge (if it lasts that long!)

You can also store these cups in the freezer, where it will keep for over 2 months. Just keep in mind that if you choose the freezer option, we recommend you take the cups you want to eat from the freezer about 5 minutes before serving for best consistency.

Want More Easy Dessert Recipes?

• Best Brownies (Thick & Fudgy) 
• Mom’s Famous Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie (DF, V)
• Super Moist Banana Date Bread (Refined Sugar-Free)
• Grandma’s Best Old-fashioned Apple Crisp (With GF/DF Options)
• Ridiculously Easy Maple Cinnamon Rolls
• M&M Cookies (DF & V Options)
• Simple Ube Ice Cream (GF, V)
• Dark Chocolate Coconut Granola (GF, DF, V)
• No-Bake Double Chocolate Bites (GF, DF, V)
• Balinese Milk Tarts (Pie Susu)
• Maple Pumpkin Oat Bars (GF, DF, V)
• Cinnamon Swirl Pound Cake
• Iced Cold Brew Latte (Healthy Starbucks Copycat)
• Berries & Cream Whole Wheat Crepes
• Vegan Mango & Vanilla Panna Cotta (GF, DF, V)

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If you make this Homemade Peanut Butter Cups recipe, please drop a comment below! I’d LOVE to know what you think! Or take a picture and share it on Instagram by tagging @dwellbymichelle so I can repost it on my stories!

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