4/2/09

dark chocolate peanut butter cups

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy were these delish. My stars, these were good! I am a HUGE fan of anything peanut butter and chocolate. These homemade peanut butter cups were some of the best I've made in years. I have to thank Pete over at Pete Bakes for this one. I've made peanut butter cups before and they were ok, but I never thought to use high cacao chocolate (60-70% cacao); it made all the difference, it truly did. The dark chocolate really melded perfectly with the salty peanut butter (I added in some sea salt to the peanut butter mixture). These are the perfect little treat to make for family, friends or special clients for the upcoming Easter holiday. Trust me, those Reese's peanut butter cups have nothing over these. These are frutto di Dio (fruit of the Gods), heavenly.

That center is salty, creamy, peanut buttery goodness.

dark chocolate peanut butter cups
adapted from pete bakes
print recipe

12 oz dark chocolate 60-70%
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (I added in an extra 1-2 TB) Note**1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup crushed graham crackers (finely, but not a powder, but not chunks either)(I added in 1 tsp salt to peanut butter mixture)
In a bowl, mix together the peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, salt, and graham crackers. I put mine in the fridge to harden up a bit as it’s easier to form into balls.
In a double boiler, carefully melt the chocolate (set a metal bowl on top of a saucepan with boiling water).
Use regular or mini cupcake tins and line them with cupcake liners. It is best to use 3 to 4 liners per each compartment as this will help hold the structure of the pb cup.
Using a pastry brush, brush the melted chocolate on the bottom and sides of mini cupcake liners; when in doubt, add more chocolate, since this will be the base for your candy. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
While those are in the freezer get out the peanut butter mixture and form into teaspoons or tablespoon balls depending on what size peanut butter cup you are making.
remove the cupcake tins from the freezer, and place about one teaspoon (1 tablespoon for larger size) of the peanut butter mixture in each cup, make sure to put it in the middle, not touching the sides of the cup. Spoon more melted chocolate on top of each cup, make sure to get filly in around the sides too.
Place the peanut butter cups back in the freezer for another 15 minutes to set. Let them sit at room temp before devouring. Should make 12-16 mini's or 8 big ones.
Note** I used Whole Foods 365 Organic creamy peanut butter.

91 comments:

  1. Wow these look like killer pb cups! thank god you don't post the calories of each. what i would do to take a bite of one of those right now!

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  2. O man, those look incredible! Graham cracker crumbs seem like a great addition.

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  3. Oh my gosh- Josh LOVES PB cups. I want to make these for him as a special treat! I def need to pick up a mini tin. Saving this for a special occasion (maybe our anniversary!)Thank you!

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  4. These PB cups were really great!!! I mean hello, they had Reeses beat hands down!

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  5. I am trying to cut down on my sugar intake and you are just killing me. What i would do for one of these!

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  6. You need to start a candy shop, those look PERFECT!!!

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  7. Oh my GOD! Dawn, though I think you're one of the coolest people I know, I think it's better we're not neighbors. hehehe! They look incredible!

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  8. These have my name on them :)

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  9. And they go just perfect under that blog header photo :) Move over Reeses!

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  10. Natural peanut butter or regular? Was the PB already salted? I've been gathering tips on making these for a while so when I do get around to it they will be perfect, but I think you've done it!

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  11. Nick, never natural pb, too runny. I used whole foods 365 organic creamy pb, salted. I love that brand, never too oily and never needs mixing. I bet the crunchy kind would work too.

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  12. Drooling. You have me drooling over these.

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  13. Oh my those look good! My son is allergic to peanuts, but I'm thinking maybe I could try it with some almond butter. Yum yum!

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  14. Peanut butter cups are my favorite candy. I've made them before but was only a little bit happy with how they turned out. I will have to try this recipe the next time I give them a go. You have such fun stuff Dawn. You must have a blast in the kitchen.

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  15. Wow, those look too good! I would loooove one right now! Yum!

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  16. That's what I'm talking about! Bring on the peanut butter cups! I had a buddy whose girlfriend made them. It was the only thing I liked about her...

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  17. EEE-YIKES! What an amazing looking peanut butter cup. Dawn-you're SO right....Reece's has NOTHING on these! Oh my gosh this is not gonna make the scale happy......maybe I'll just avoid it for a week or so..........
    Your photos are over the top, like always.....

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  18. oh girl! lol, these are amazing. the pics are fantastic!

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  19. Dawn, these look incredible! You and I are definitely on the same page when it comes to dessert. I wonder how these would be with almond butter, I'm guessing really good. Thanks for the ideas!

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  20. I just saw your comment, looks like we were commenting on each other's around the same time. I've never taken a decorating class, but how fun would that be! I'll keep my eye out for anything that sounds interesting!

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  21. drooollll......drooollll.....these looks freaking amazing. I could never make this recipe because they would be gone in less than 10 minutes. Awesome job!

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  22. I'm such a fan of PB and chocolate. These are so great.

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  23. You are KILLING me. This is my very favorite candy - they look awesome Dawn.

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  24. I made these one time when I was VERY young...but didn't add graham crackers! I want to make this!

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  25. Peanut butter cups are my best friend. Sigh. Yours look so delicious that I must make these soon but after I eat the tub of Trader Joe's peanut butter cups that I have hidden in my pantry.

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  26. Looks great! I love how the peanut butter is a nice glob in the center. =)

    I want one right now.

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  27. Serious food porn. I can't get enough of this espeicaly at Easter time!

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  28. I think those are the perfect diet food. They're small and probably very satisfying. I'd rather eat a small serving of something like a peanut butter cup than a larger serving of something healthful and not-go-great.

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  29. Oh this is just not fair! Those look amazing!!!

    Thanks for the mid-afternoon eye-sugar rush.

    Will
    momentumoffailure.wordpress.com

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. these look amazing. i think i'll be making some soon.

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  32. I made some at christmas time and they were soooo good! fancy chocolate all the way!

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  33. I just made some of these today too, but using a different recipe! Your's look amazing! :)

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  34. Those look just like the store bought ones, well done!

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  35. OMG, if I learn to make these I will never leave home!

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  36. Why can't you have exceptions with the the chocolate? I'm not sure my kids will like these if they are dark chocolate. Why can't you use a lesser % kind of chocolate? What's wrong with milk chocolate-that's what Resees uses.

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  37. Oh my gosh.
    Utter perfection.
    Michelle
    http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/

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  38. These look so amazing! My mouth is watering just looking at them :)

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  39. I don't even have words to describe how happy I am to see such a beautiful recipe! They are gorgeous and out right sinful! I'll take a dozen, OK make it 2 dozen!

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  40. oh.
    my.
    goodness.

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  41. these look so super tasty...i love anything pb and chocolate too! and the sea salt was probably a perfect addition...well done lady!

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  42. OMG those look wonderful, like i wish i lived next door to you fantastic:)

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  43. I did these a couple weeks ago. They are really too good arent they. I had to put them in my freezer to last until Easter for my kids.

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  44. Heck, who need a chocolate bunny in their easter basket when you cold have these?

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  45. I was eating Reeses yesterday and thinking about how I could make my own. These are amazing!!

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  46. OMG! You'd put Reese out of business! You're killing me Dawn!!!

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  47. These look amazing, peanut butter cups are my favorite candy!

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  48. There are no words!....sigh

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  49. do you want my address?? :) holy moly batman i'm drooling!!!!

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  50. The salt and graham crackers are the way to go! That's a home run. We couldn't have them around. Nope!

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  51. These are absolutely gorgeous! Bookmarking!!

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  52. Dawn, I am diabetic and my blood glucose has risen dramatically...

    I love all you recipe ideas and have adapted some for my use, keep up the good work.

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  53. These look amazing! Way more peanut butter than Reese's, they're fantastic.

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  54. Beautiful - I love the high PB to chocolate ratio!!

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  55. Sweet Lord Almighty! Are you trying to kill me? I'll be printing this one off at home and trying it VERY soon.

    I think I gained back all the weight I lost just looking at the picture...... :(

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  56. Wow just saw these on another blog, yours look terrific too - now I really have to make these.

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  57. For the "anonymous" person: these are "dark" chocolate pb cups. Typically when you use dark chocolate in making candies or baking you want to use a higher percent cacao bean because the taste, texture, and level of cacao is so much better. So when I put in 65 or 70% or higher must be used it's because it's a dark chocolate. A bittersweet or semisweet with a lesser percent of cacao bean won't taste as good. We want that deep dark chocolate taste. If you want to make "milk chocolate" pb cups then go right ahead, but these are dark chocolate pb cups. Hope that answers your question?

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  58. OMG, these PBC are to die for! I've made some at home lately and they all disappeared within a matter of hours...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  59. This is my husband's favorite candy! I can't wait to make these for him...maybe for Father's Day!

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  60. WHy do all these anonymouse people leave such mean messages. Instead of berating someone, they should experiment with the &*%^&^@%# milk chocolate on your own. But chances are they think soooo inside the box, that they have to go up to go underground... GOOD GOD! Sheesh These candies were really good. Had I brought any into work to share, I wouldn't have made it past the front door........

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  61. Wow, these look so awesome.

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  62. put fleur de sel on top next time right before you let them cool

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  63. They look perfect!! I have to find time to whip up a couple in egg shapes with sunflower or cashew butter.

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  64. Those look like he real thing. They turned out perfectly!

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  65. what a treat!!! you really got me here... :)

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  66. These look so sinfully delicious, better than the real thing. I wish I could try one, bet I couldnt stop at one!

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  67. diet shmiet--these are luscious! and without all the goobly-gunk that reese's adds to theirs. :)

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  68. These look AMAZING! I gave up chocolate for Lent, so I'm definitely making these next Saturday night, right in time for Easter! I'm from Hershey, and I know these will kick Reese's butt! =)

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  69. Oh, Dawn, we must be girls of the same heart. PB and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations. And I just adore that you added some sea salt to the PB mixture. How delicious!! I can't wait to try these. I bet they're a million times better than Reese's, which is saying something (because Reese's are my favorite candy). Can't wait to try them out!

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  70. OMG these look fantastic!! Dawn these look like you bought them girl, you did a fantastic job!!Bookmarking!!

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  71. will my Easter Basket be filled w/these!!! Ooooh I hope so!! Dawn, just amazing and of course the perfect paring!

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  72. You are killing me with these cups. You're evil! Pure evil. :)

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  73. These look fantabulous! Great job.

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  74. WOW, those DO look fabulous - I love how much PB in in the center. Yummo...need to save these for later though, as I am trying to watch my weight post trip. ;)

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  75. You tapped in to my fave here with these. They look absolutely perfect!!

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  76. Hey we all deserve a treat! These look so so good!

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  77. Those peanut butter cups look great!

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  78. Made some of these for Easter, since I needed a small chocolate treat to complement my caramel rolls--yum! Also made an almond-butter version for my husband, who can't digest peanuts.

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  79. Nice to see you're still spreadinf sweet evil all around! lol

    Please keep up the good work!

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  80. i so love CHOCOLATES and PEANUT BUTTER!! this made me drool! =]

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  81. i so love CHOCOLATES and PEANUT BUTTER!! this made me drool! =]

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  82. these look amazing!! i came by to "borrow" your recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies but then I found your Morning Muffins.. and your Raspberry Scones and now PB Cups! Your blog is great! :D

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  83. I have an obsession with chocolate-and-peanut-butter-together too. These things look scrumptious. I'm definitely gonna try these soon.

    Great blog!

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  84. i have had long standing plans to make a pb cup but am scared of eating them all myself. LOVE the addition of graham added to the pb filling!!

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  85. Oh my, those look good. I love the addition of graham crackers...off to add a box to my grocery list! ;)

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  86. Made 'em. I got one...CD ate the rest. Must make more!

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  87. Those look amazing. I have been dying for peanut butter cups since I went vegan (2 years ago). Definitely going to make these!

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  88. drooling... these look amazing! now to figure out how to add salted caramel and I would never need another desert recipe again!!

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