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    Home » Desserts

    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Published: Sep 28, 2020 Updated: Mar 9, 2022 by Alison Andrews This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    The best vegan peanut butter cups ever! Rich and creamy peanut butter centers smothered in rich chocolate and topped with crushed peanuts.

    Vegan peanut butter cups in a stack with the top one cut in half to show the center.

    I just don’t even know what to say about these vegan peanut butter cups. Best thing ever? Could be!

    All I can say is that as I write this they are sitting in my fridge and all I am thinking about is when I can have another one. I’ve decided I’m definitely having one for dessert – as in – after dinner dessert. But I’m wondering if after lunch dessert is okay too.

    Like who says dessert is only a once-a-day thing?

    Yes, these are the kinds of arguments you’ll have with yourself when these are sitting in your fridge calling your name – and loudly too.

    The flavor is amazing (peanut butter + chocolate = love) and you’ll also love the texture contrasts. You bite into hard chocolate and encounter a smooth, creamy peanut butter center.

    They are also EASY and fun to make. So, just a good time all round. And if you love these then also check out our vegan almond butter cups too.

    Vegan peanut butter cups in a stack.

    How To Make Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.

    • Melt vegan chocolate for the bases: Melt some vegan chocolate to cover the base of your cupcake liners and work it up the sides a bit as well.
    • Using a brush for this is an awesome little trick I picked up somewhere along the way and makes this really easy to do. Put it into the freezer to set.
    • Make the filling: The filling is a simple mix of peanut butter and powdered sugar. Add to a bowl and mix together until well mixed. When the chocolate bases have set, add the peanut butter filling.
    • Melt more chocolate: Now melt some more chocolate and add it to the top of the peanut butter cups which closes them up on top. Place them into the freezer to set.

    And there you have it! Twelve gorgeous little treats that will try to get you to eat all of them at once. Which would be impossible – cos they are super rich – but you’ll want to give it a good try anyway.

    Step by step process photo collage of making vegan peanut butter cups.

    What Kind of Chocolate is Best? 

    You can use any good tasting vegan chocolate for this recipe, or vegan chocolate chips.

    If you use regular vegan chocolate then break it up into squares and measure it in cups the same way you would do if you were measuring chocolate chips, but go for more of a heaped cup in the case of chocolate squares, and a level cup if you are using chocolate chips.  

    If you tend to weigh your ingredients, then you don’t have to worry and just do everything by weight.

    A stack of two peanut butter cups topped with crushed peanuts.

    Storing and Freezing

    Keep them stored in the fridge, and pop them out for desserts, or snacks, or just whenever you like.

    They keep perfectly in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.

    Or you can keep them stored in the freezer and that way they will last 2-3 months.

    Vegan peanut butter cups in a stack with the top one cut in half to show the center.

    More Vegan Peanut Butter Desserts

    1. Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
    2. Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge
    3. Vegan Peanut Butter Bars
    4. Vegan Peanut Butter Pancakes
    5. Vegan Peanut Butter Balls
    6. Vegan Peanut Butter Pie

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

    Vegan peanut butter cups in a stack

    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    The best vegan peanut butter cups ever! Rich and creamy peanut butter centers smothered in rich chocolate and topped with crushed peanuts.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 376kcal
    Author: Alison Andrews

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Peanut Butter (250g)
    • ⅔ cup Powdered Sugar (80g)
    • 2 ½ cups Chopped Vegan Chocolate or Vegan Chocolate Chips (438g)
    • 1 ounce Roasted Salted Peanuts (28g) Crushed, for topping
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Line a cupcake tray with cupcake liners.
    • Place 1 and ½ cups (263g) of the vegan chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, bringing it out to stir every 30 seconds until completely melted. If the chocolate is a little thick then add in a teaspoon of coconut oil and stir it in, it will make the chocolate easier to work with.
    • Spoon chocolate evenly into the cupcake liners, lining the bottoms and then using a small brush to brush the chocolate up the sides of the cupcake liners. Place into the freezer for the chocolate to set.
    • While the chocolate bases are setting, add the peanut butter and powdered sugar to a bowl and mix together. It will be very thick, just keep mixing until the powdered sugar has all been mixed smoothly into the peanut butter.
    • When the chocolate bases have set, divide the peanut butter mixture evenly between them, using all of it. Then use a spoon to smooth the peanut butter mixture down evenly.
    • Melt the remaining 1 cup (175g) of vegan chocolate and then spoon it out over the top of the peanut butter centers, smoothing it out with a teaspoon, and then return the tray to the freezer to set. This will close off your peanut butter cups so they are entirely chocolate coated.
    • When the chocolate has set, sprinkle crushed peanuts over the top.
    • Keep leftovers refrigerated as once the chocolate has been melted it is no longer tempered and will melt easily once removed from the fridge.

    Notes

    1. You can use either vegan chocolate chips or any chopped vegan chocolate.
    2. This recipe was first published in August 2016 but has been updated with new photos and an improved method. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serve | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.5g | Protein: 8.4g | Fat: 29.3g | Saturated Fat: 12.9g | Sodium: 102mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 15g
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @lovingitvegan on Instagram and hashtag #lovingitvegan
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    About the Author

    Hi I'm Alison Andrews, I'm the voice and cook behind Loving It Vegan. I love making delicious vegan food and creating vegan versions of all your old favorites, so that you’ll never feel like you’re missing out. Find out more about me here.

    Loving It Vegan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site may contain some of these links to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase through one of those links, Loving It Vegan will receive a small commission from the purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Reenie says

      September 06, 2022 at 12:54 am

      Has anyone tried making this without the powdered sugar mixed into the peanut butter. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        September 06, 2022 at 12:44 pm

        Hi Reenie, I think you could do it that way if you prefer!

        Reply
    2. Janiah says

      October 07, 2020 at 2:58 am

      Do you recommend any specific vegan chocolates that you like to use? Any brand names or amazon links? I loveeeee your recipes by the way!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        October 07, 2020 at 10:01 am

        Hi Janiah, we have used various brands so I don’t have a specific recommendation. Usually it should contain cocoa butter in order to melt down well. And of course it should taste good! So glad you like the recipes, thank you!

        Reply
    3. Anna says

      September 30, 2020 at 3:30 am

      Mouthwatering! An excellent recipe and so easy!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        September 30, 2020 at 9:21 am

        Thanks Anna!

        Reply
    4. Barbara Carroll says

      September 28, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      Eyes rolling in the back of my head in utter contentment, Thank you Alison for bringing one of my favorite chocolates back into my life! Delicious and easy to make.5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        September 29, 2020 at 9:58 am

        Yay! I’m so happy to hear that Barbara!

        Reply
      • JILLIAN WILLIAMS says

        November 17, 2020 at 3:16 pm

        Hi… just a quick question.. are they full cupcake size?? Do I fill the whole wrapper??

        Reply
        • Alison Andrews says

          November 18, 2020 at 12:38 pm

          They don’t go all the way to the top no. But you just want to use enough chocolate on top to cover the peanut butter center properly and seal off the sides.

          Reply
    5. Diana says

      June 30, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      I’ve made these PB cups during Christmas for my boyfriends parents during the visit. I am not particularly skilled in preparing deserts but this was really easy to make. And you know what? Everyone LOVED it!!! They ate all 15 cups momentarily and talked about them for the next 2 weeks! I am extremely satisfied with this recipe and, in general, with your website, Alison. You inspire me and I thank you very much for your time and effort you invest into creating, cooking and sharing recipes with us! I wish you all the success you can get!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        July 01, 2020 at 10:33 am

        So happy to hear that Diana! Thanks so much for the wonderful review! xoxo

        Reply
    6. Jackie says

      April 20, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      To die for!! And so easy.5 stars

      Reply
    7. Karen says

      May 03, 2018 at 12:07 pm

      Insanely delicious! I would give this 10 stars if I could!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Alison Andrews says

      August 05, 2016 at 8:24 pm

      Hahaha! They are amazing! 🙂

      Reply
    9. Dylan Cutler says

      August 05, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      Mind. Blown.
      I love how few ingredients you used and they look like perfection. I have everything except the vegan chocolate so I see this happening very soon! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        August 05, 2016 at 8:23 pm

        Awesome Dylan! Let us know how they turn out if you make them. 🙂

        Reply

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