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This homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups recipe will satisfy your peanut butter cravings in just minutes, and they taste just like the real thing!
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We love peanut butter cups in our family, and take them quite seriously. This homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups recipe came from my grandma, who made them for years. The layer of peanut butter filling has the same creamy texture as the candy you buy at the store, with rich, sweet chocolate on the outside. But these taste even better, because they’re homemade! They’re perfect as a special Halloween treat, or to keep on hand in the freezer for when your sweet tooth hits.
Key Ingredients
- Peanut butter – The creamy center of every bite. Use smooth or crunchy depending on your texture preference.
- Graham cracker crumbs – Adds a little crunch and helps hold the filling together.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens and firms up the peanut butter mixture.
- Butter – Used in both the filling and the chocolate layers for richness and smooth texture.
- Chocolate chips – Melted down for the top and bottom layers—semi-sweet works great, but feel free to use dark or milk chocolate too.
How to Make Peanut Butter Cups
- Make the Filling
Mix together graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, melted butter, and peanut butter until smooth and well combined. - Melt the Chocolate
Microwave chocolate chips with butter in short bursts, stirring until completely smooth. - Create the Bottom Layer
Spoon a little chocolate into lined muffin cups and brush it slightly up the sides. Chill to set. - Add the Peanut Butter Filling
Press a layer of the peanut butter mixture over the hardened chocolate base. - Top with More Chocolate
Cover the peanut butter layer with more melted chocolate and gently tap to smooth the tops. - Chill and Enjoy
Refrigerate until the cups are firm, then remove the liners and dig in!
A Quicker Method
If you don’t have a lot of time or patience to create the “cups” in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you can make things a bit easier on yourself. Here’s how:
- You can make these “fondue” or “buckeye” style by first rolling the peanut butter mixture into balls.
- Next, dip them directly into the melted chocolate.
- Then, place them on wax paper to cool and harden. You will get the exact same taste and it’ll only take you about five minutes!
Recipe Variations
- Dark Chocolate: Use dark chocolate for the outer layer.
- White Chocolate: Switch to white chocolate for a sweeter and creamier version.
- Cookie Dough Filling: Incorporate edible cookie dough for a delicious cookie-candy hybrid.
- Salted Caramel: Add a layer of salted caramel on top of the peanut butter filling and sprinkle the top with some coarse sea salt.
- Coconut: Mix shredded coconut into the peanut butter for a tropical twist.
- Nutella Filled Cups: Swap peanut butter for Nutella for a hazelnut-chocolate twist.
- Toffee Crunch: Mix crushed toffee bits into the peanut butter for added crunch.
- S’mores Peanut Style: Layer peanut butter with marshmallow whip and crushed graham crackers.
- Mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces Filled: Add Mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces to the peanut butter filling for a crunchy (and delicious) surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve only used chocolate chips for homemade peanut butter cups, but you can substitute with chocolate melts instead. Follow the same melting process according to the package.
I only refrigerate the peanut butter cups to harden them, but after they set, you can store them at room temperature. If you love cold chocolate, you can store them in the fridge or freezer too.
Yes! I have a family member that doesn’t like peanut butter, so I’ve substituted with creamy almond butter and it was delicious. Cashew butter will also work as a good substitute.
Yes, just be sure to use gluten-free Graham crackers.
Reese’s peanut butter cups were created on November 15, 1928, by H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer for the Hershey company. These delicious, chocolate peanut butter cups were originally called “Penny Cups,” because they could be bought for one cent. Reese’s (along with its eponymous peanut butter cups) has over time become one of the top selling candy brands worldwide, with billions in annual sales. For several decades, Reese’s has used the tagline, “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s.”
More Reese’s Recipes
If you love the taste of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and candies, check out these delicious recipes!
- Really Reese’s Cookies – With three different types of Reese’s candies, these are REALLY REESE’S Cookies! Chocolate and peanut butter in every delicious bite.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl – This fudge is so easy to make and it is incredibly delicious! It tasted like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in fudge form.
- Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats – It’s so easy to turn a traditional Rice Krispie Treats into Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats. Creamy peanut butter and mini Reese’s cups make it an extra special treat!
- Candy Bar Hot Chocolate – You’ve got to try this Reese’s Hot Chocolate. It is amazing how a little peanut butter can give a creamier, richer taste to hot cocoa!
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cake – This cake is so fun! It is a round cake that looks and tastes just like a giant Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!
Homemade Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- ¾ cup crushed graham crackers
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 9 ounces peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
- 10 tablespoons butter, divided
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar until well blended. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe dish, combine peanut butter and 6 tablespoons butter. Cook in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring in between, until melted and combined. Pour over the graham crackers mixture. Continue to stir until well combined. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe dish, combine half of the chocolate chips (6 ounces) with 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring in between, until melted and combined. Set aside.
- Place cupcake liners in a cupcake tin.
- Using a paintbrush or pastry brush, paint each cupcake liner with melted chocolate. If using full-size cupcake liners, paint about one-third of the way up each cup. If using mini cupcake liners, paint halfway up each cup. Be sure to evenly coat the bottom and sides. You don't need to paint the chocolate super thick, just enough so you don't see any of the liner underneath. Place in the refrigerator to cool for about 5 minutes, or until chocolate hardens.
- Press about 1 tablespoon graham cracker mixture in each full-size cup (about 1 teaspoon for mini cups), making sure the top is somewhat flat. It doesn't need to be perfect; just make sure you don't go above where you painted the chocolate on the cup. Set aside.
- Add the remaining chocolate chips to the remaining melted chocolate in the microwave-safe dish. Melt with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, stirring every 15 seconds. Spoon a little chocolate over each peanut butter cup until the peanut butter filling is completely covered. You can lightly shake or tap the cupcake pan to even out the chocolate over the filling. You want the top of the peanut butter cups to look completely flat.
- Place in the refrigerator or cool area until chocolate hardens, about 20 minutes, or until the chocolate is no longer shiny, then serve!
Video
Notes
- The paintbrush I like to use is a roughly half-inch-wide flat brush.
- The amount of chocolate needed tends to vary each time, so keep a few extra chocolate chips on hand in case you need a bit more.
Is 9 ounces peanut butter about 1 cup?
Yes, about 1 cup measured. Hope this helps!
I just finished making these and will surprise my family with them on Thanksgiving. I can not believe how much they taste like Reece’s! Thank you so much!
I like to make my own homemade penut butter cup pie
Homemade is always best!
How many does the 1x size portion make approximately?
It makes about 36 cups!
Spot on!! Even better. The secret is the graham cracker crumbs. I will never feel the need to buy a Reese’s again
Can I use chopped chocolate instead of chocolate chips?
Sure!