Homemade peanut butter cups are a delicious treat for anyone looking to indulge in something sweet, that is not full of sugar. These can easily be made at home with a few simple ingredients, allowing you to tailor them to your nutritional needs and flavor preferences.
For those on a keto diet, these homemade peanut butter cups can be a dream come true, offering the decadent combination of chocolate and peanut butter without the high carb count of traditional options.
Why Homemade?
Making homemade peanut butter cups offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it allows for complete control over the ingredients. Commercially available peanut butter cups often contain preservatives and additives that aren’t ideal for everyone.
By choosing to make your own, you can select high-quality ingredients and avoid unwanted chemicals. Additionally, homemade peanut butter cups can be customized in terms of size, sweetness, and even peanut butter to chocolate ratio—tailoring each batch to your personal taste.
Choosing the Right Ingredients
For the low-carb follower, these can easily fit into everyday macros. The chocolate used should be a darker chocolate, preferably sugar-free. The sweetener should be keto-approved, like Wholesome Yum Monk Fruit Sweetener With Allulose. The peanut butter should be natural and unsweetened, free from hydrogenated oils and sugar.
The Perfect Texture
Texture is crucial in homemade peanut butter cups. The goal is to achieve a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate coating with a creamy peanut butter filling. Temperature plays a crucial role here. Ensure that both the chocolate and peanut butter are at room temperature.
Additionally, the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter can greatly influence the final texture, with equal layers typically providing the most satisfying mouthfeel. This is certainly an area that you can play around with, however.
Substitutions
Adapting recipes is always fun, and with homemade peanut butter cups, there are plenty of opportunities to experiment. Here are some substitutions that can help diversify your batches:
- Nut Butter Alternatives: If peanuts are off the table, almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter can be excellent replacements. Each brings its own unique flavor and texture to the cups. Alternatively, check out this keto almond butter cup recipe.
- Chocolate Choices: While dark chocolate is a popular choice for its health benefits, those who prefer a lighter taste might opt for keto-friendly milk chocolate alternatives.
- Sweetener Options: Sweeteners like monk fruit extract, erythritol, stevia, or allulose can substitute traditional choices. Each has its own sweetness profile and benefits.
Adding a Personal Touch
Innovating with flavors and additions can make homemade peanut butter cups even more special. Try adding a dash of vanilla extract, a sprinkle of Himalayan pink salt, or even a hint of espresso powder can elevate the basic recipe into a gourmet experience.
For texture enthusiasts, consider adding crushed pecans or a layer of coconut between the chocolate and peanut butter layers for an extra crunch.
Serving and Storage
Homemade peanut butter cups are best served chilled, as they can soften at room temperature. Storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator not only preserves their texture but also extends their shelf life. For long-term storage, freezing them is an excellent option. Simply thaw for a few minutes before enjoying to ensure the best taste and texture.
Keto Peanut Butter Cups
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Layers
- ½ cup lily’s baking chips
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
Peanut Butter Layer
- ⅓ cup low carb peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons low carb powdered sweetener
- 3 tablespoons almond flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line the sections of a mini muffin tin with mini cupcake liner.
- Place the baking chips and coconut oil into a microwave safe bowl. Heat the chocolate mixture for 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate is completely melted and the ingredients are combined.
- Place almost a full tablespoon of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of each mini cupcake liner. Put the tray into the freezer to set for 30 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine the peanut butter, sweetener, almond flour and vanilla extract. Stir to combine well.
- Fill the sections of the mini muffin tin about ⅔ of the way full with the peanut butter mixture.
- Return the tray to the freezer for another hour.
- Place the rest of the chocolate back into the microwave and heat at 15 second intervals until it is completely melted and smooth again.
- Top each peanut butter cup with another layer of chocolate.
- Put the tray into the freezer to set for 15 more minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Trina Krug is a Holistic Nutritionist, Integrative Health Coach and host of the Carbless Conversations Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, her single mission in life is to facilitate self-healing in herself and those around her through awareness, lifestyle shifts and low-carb eating. As a current Doctor of Science student, she continues her studies in functional nutrition.