A birthday treat for the man who could eat endless amounts of steak, guacamole, and dark chocolate—I wish I could celebrate with you today, but each passing day is one day closer to your homecoming!
Happy Birthday to my husband and best friend! Thank you for encouraging to to pursue my dreams and passions and always putting a smile on my face. You are the strongest person I know and I am grateful to your service and dedication! Know that despite the distance, you are being celebrated and treasured in my heart! Come home soon 🙂
These peanut butter cups will be messing and melt-in-your-hands deliciousness! Coconut oil melts at 76 degrees which is much lower than the average body temperature. Keep these fudgy cups in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Bon appetit!
Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
makes 10 large peanut butter cups
Chocolate Sauce
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup +2 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Filling
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter*
- 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
*sea salt, for sprinkling on top of cups
Directions
- Line a muffin pan with baking cups and place in the refrigerator.
- Under low heat, slowly melt coconut oil. Stir in cacao powder, maple syrup, and sea salt. Continue to stir until chocolate sauce is completely smooth.
- Using a tablespoon, pour 1 scoop chocolate sauce into baking cups.
- Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- While chocolate sauce is hardening, use a nut grinder to chop peanuts.
- In a small bowl, mix peanut butter and nuts together.
- Scoop 1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter on top of hardened chocolate shell.
- Drizzle remaining chocolate sauce on top to create layered peanut butter cups.
- *Lightly sprinkle tops of cups with sea salt.
- Place in refrigerator for an additional 20 minutes before enjoying!
*I used unsalted peanut butter and dry roasted peanuts to make these as these ingredients are the most natural and unprocessed. My favorite peanut butter is Arrowhead Mills as their peanut butter contains one ingredient—organic dry roasted peanuts. Watch out as most peanut butters contain hydrogenated oils, added sugar, and heavily refined salt. If you are using salted peanut butter or peanuts, then I would eliminate the extra salt.
Great Peanut Butter Options—
- Organic Peanut Butter with a hint of sea salt
- Crunchy Peanut Butter
- *Can substitute almond butter for those who are allergic or eat a paleo diet.
Deployment Friendly Treats
Because I can’t sent these treats in the mail, here are some great natural peanut butter cups and other healthy snacks that frequently find their way into deployment treat boxes. *Although many of these contain lots of sugar, they are still good options compared to other processed, chemical filled snacks!
These look in incredible!!!!