Homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (Halloween-Style!)

These Homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are easy-to-make goodies that you can make with your kids this Halloween. Three yummy ingredients combined to make an awesome treat that will make any sweets lover drool! No-bake, festive, and fun to customize- those ‘lil trick-or-treaters will go bonkers over them. 

Reese who?

If you are looking for a simple, no-fuss treat to give away to cute ghouls or mini pirates on Halloween night,  or a sweet treat to add to your dessert table for your spooky night bash, these from-scratch Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups will be perfect! You can use a bunch of creepy toppings to make them- Halloween festive sprinkles, edible googly eyes, gummy worms, M&Ms Halloween chips, candy corn, and more. 

Quick and Easy Halloween Specials! 

There are so many things happening on one of the year’s most exciting days, right? Costumes, parties, decorations- it can be so much fun yet dramatically frantic! So to keep myself productive and my sanity intact, I am armed with no-cook Halloween party ideas like my Deathly Hallows Snack Board and Hallow-Rita for the adults and these cute, 3-ingredient peanut butter cups for the kiddos. Team them up with a bunch of easy yet filling finger foods like Shakshuka Deviled Eggs, Chili Cheese Stuffed Peppers, and Pumpkin Honey-Ginger Baked Wings and you will find that you actually have time to really enjoy the festivities! 

What You Will Need

Chocolates and peanut butter are almost always guaranteed to be sitting in our fridge or pantry. If you don’t have them, make a beeline for the fun aisle at the grocery store and grab these three simple ingredients to get started! 

• Dark chocolate chips-  use good quality chocolate chips for best results. You can also use your fave dark chocolate bar or block. Just crush them into small pieces so it is easier to melt. 
• Creamy peanut butter- you can use any brand you like. You can also use chunky peanut butter if you prefer more crunch to these treats. 
• Halloween festive sprinkles- anything you like to be used for decorating. This is where you can have lots of fun! 

How to Make Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups at Home

It is really simple to put together but will take several chilling time to finish. But, hey, those are hands-free time that you can use to get other things done right? I advise making at least 2 batches because you’ll be craving them long after Halloween is over! 

Preparation:

• Line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners and set it aside

Steps:

1. Melt the dark Chocolate. Bring a medium saucepan filled with about 2 to 3 inches of water to a boil. In a medium mixing bowl, add 2 cups of dark chocolate chips. Set the bowl over the saucepan, making sure the bottom is not touching the water, and stir the chocolate until it has melted and is smooth about 1 minute.
2. Make the chocolate cups. Next, take 1 tbsp of the melted chocolate and place it into the bottom of each muffin liner. Using a pastry brush, brush some of the chocolate up the sides of the liner about three-quarters of the way. Once all the liners have been filled, place the muffin pan into the fridge to set for about 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Add the peanut butter filling. Take the muffin pan out of the fridge and place it on the countertop. Next, take 1 tbsp of the peanut butter and place it into the center of each chocolate cup. Press down on the peanut butter making sure it’s flat and smooth. Place the muffin pan back into the fridge for another 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Close the cups with more chocolate. While the peanut butter sets, melt the remaining 1 cup of dark chocolate chips. Once it’s melted, remove the bowl from the saucepan and set it aside. Next, remove the muffin pan from the fridge. Pour a tablespoon of melted chocolate over the peanut butter. Repeat the process until all the cups have been covered. Place the muffin pan into the fridge again and let the chocolate set for about 15 minutes.
5. Decorate and enjoy! Once the chocolate is set, remove the muffin pan from the fridge. Remove the muffin liner from the chocolate cup, and decorate with festive sprinkles!

Helpful Tips

• You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate. Just place the chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them in 30-second intervals while stirring them along the way. 
• When making the chocolate cup, the sides will look thin as you spread it, but once the chocolate sets it will look just right.
• If the peanut butter is too thick, you can pour a bit of honey or coconut oil and mix to give it a better consistency. 
• The chilling time may vary depending on how cool you set your fridge. You can take them out as long as the layers are firm and set. If you are in a hurry, you can place them in the freezer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make it vegan? Sure you can. Just use dairy-free chocolate chips to make them. 
2. How do I make it nut-free? If you are allergic to nuts, you can always use seed butter as a replacement. 
3. Are these freezer-friendly? Absolutely! So you can make as much as you can so you can grab one when you feel like it. 

Storing Notes

Place them in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag and store them in a cool area of your kitchen for up to 7 days. If it is too hot in your kitchen, place them in the fridge instead and you can keep them there for weeks and in the freezer for up to 3 months. If frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before eating so you don’t hurt your teeth.