Peanut butter cups are a favorite here, however, this easy recipe is versatile and there are several kinds of candy cups you can transform with a basic recipe guide.
We have filled them, left them solid topped with nuts, coconut, or dried fruits and we also have placed the melted chocolate into fancy molds for special events.
These are not only great for parties, fundraisers, weddings, and showers but mainly they're fantastic to eat and the skies the limits of possibilities.
We love experimenting with using these mini muffin tins and liners which makes the whole candy-making process a breeze.
If you have a peanut butter cup lover, this is the easiest way to make them not to mention economical.
Scroll through all our tips, substitutions, and filling ideas, these are fun to make and everyone will rave about them!
Step by Step for Making Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Line a mini muffin pan with paper liners for around 24 chocolate candy cups
- Measure out the chocolate and melt it in the microwave with vegetable shortening
- Add a teaspoon of melted chocolate
- Fill in the many options and refer to the below suggestions
- Top with more melted chocolate and refrigerate
Other Mix-In Substitutions
- any kinds of nuts
- crushed candy bars
- chopped caramel or caramel bits
- funfetti or other colorful sprinkles
- crushed peppermint or another hard candy
- crushed toffee chips
- any kind of chocolate chips
- marshmallow cream
- plain coconut toasted or shredded
- dried fruits like raisins or another you prefer
- use almond butter
- use carob instead of chocolate
- any kind of chocolate can be used milk, white, dark, semi-sweet
How to Melt Chocolate in the Microwave
- Place chocolate in a small microwavable bowl
- Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening per 2 cups of chips.
- Microwave for 45 seconds, remove and stir.
- Continue microwaving until completely melted and smooth every 30 seconds stirring until smooth
Must-Have Tools to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Candy Cups
- mini muffin pan
- mini muffin paper liners
- teaspoon
- candy molds optional
- microwavable bowl
- zip lock bag for the peanut butter for easy filling the cups
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Holiday Ideas for Chocolate Candy Cups
- Easter: tint white chocolate into pastel colors with food coloring
- Christmas: add crushed peppermint or tint white chocolate red or green
- St. Patrick's Day: tint white chocolate green and add gold glitter on top
- Patriotic: make solid chocolate cups sprinkled with red, white, and blue funfetti candy
- Birthday: add a favorite chopped candy bar to the chocolate sprinkle with the theme funfetti on top
- Baby Showers: for a baby reveal tint white chocolate the color of the new arrival sprinkled on top coordinating colorful sprinkles
- Weddings: make solid white chocolate cups sprinkled with bridal party-themed colors or white pearl candies
- Gift Giving: Make an assortment of chocolate for the holiday season by adding nuts, candy bars chopped and other ingredients to the chocolate
- Fund Raisers: these can be made into a mold for fundraising events in the shape of whatever the theme is
Yield: 24
Peanut Butter Cups
This is a simple way to make homemade peanut butter cups
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 2 MinInactive time: 40 MinTotal time: 47 Min
Ingredients
- 2 cups of good quality chocolate (dark, white, milk)
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
- Filling:
- 1 cup or more of creamy peanut butter
- zip-lock bag
- for mix-ins and substitutions refer to our notes below
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate of choice with shortening in the microwave.
- Using a teaspoon add some chocolate to each paper liner.
- Fill the ziplock bag with peanut butter, and snip the end.
- Note: any filling can be used or you can even make solid chocolate cups adding whatever you like just on top or into the chocolate itself.
- Fill each cup squeezing a little in each cup using the ziplock filled bag.
- Top with more chocolate to cover all the filling ingredients.
- Refrigerate around 45 minutes to an hour and they are ready to eat.
Notes
Other Mix-In Substitutions
- any kinds of nuts
- crushed candy bars
- chopped caramel or caramel bits
- funfetti or other colorful sprinkles
- crushed peppermint or another hard candy
- crushed toffee chips
- any kind of chocolate chips
- marshmallow cream
- plain coconut toasted or shredded
- dried fruits like raisins or another you prefer
- use almond butter
- use carob instead of chocolate
- almond butter
- any kind of chocolate can be used milk, white, dark, semi-sweet
How to Melt Chocolate in the Microwave
- Place chocolate in a small microwavable bowl
- Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening per 2 cups of chips.
- Microwave for 45 seconds, remove and stir.
- Continue microwaving until completely melted and smooth every 30 seconds stirring until smooth
Must-Have Tools to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Candy Cups
- mini muffin pan
- mini muffin paper liners
- teaspoon
- candy molds optional
- microwavable bowl
- zip lock bag for the peanut butter for easy filling the cups
Holiday Ideas for Chocolate Candy Cups
- Easter: tint white chocolate into pastel colors with food coloring
- Christmas: add crushed peppermint or tint white chocolate red or green
- St. Patrick's Day: tint white chocolate green and add gold glitter on top
- Patriotic: make solid chocolate cups sprinkled with red, white, and blue funfetti candy
- Birthday: add a favorite chopped candy bar to the chocolate sprinkle with the theme funfetti on top
- Baby Showers: for a baby reveal tint white chocolate the color of the new arrival sprinkled on top coordinating colorful sprinkles
- Weddings: make solid white chocolate cups sprinkled with bridal party-themed colors or white pearl candies
- Gift Giving: Make an assortment of chocolate for the holiday season by adding nuts, candy bars chopped and other ingredients to the chocolate
- Fund Raisers: these can be made into a mold for fundraising events in the shape of whatever the theme is
Nutrition Facts
Calories
147.55Fat (grams)
11.55 gSat. Fat (grams)
4.29 gCarbs (grams)
11.21 gFiber (grams)
1.32 gNet carbs
9.89 gSugar (grams)
8.64 gProtein (grams)
2.99 gSodium (milligrams)
48.49 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mgThese are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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