If I had to choose 1 sweet thing to live on for the rest of my life, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups would be it. It is therefore unfortunate that I live in Australia as it’s an expensive addiction to feed. Fortunately, however, they are actually really easy to make yourself! So here it is: Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
The thing is, I actually don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Well, let me qualify, I won’t ever turn down something sweet if it’s placed in front of me. But if I had to choose between a Mars Bar and potato chips, I’d choose chips every time. I’m a savoury gal through and through.
However, peanut butter cups are another food group altogether. Is it weird for a Japanese-Australian to have an unhealthy addiction to peanut butter cups? When I travelled in the US, I was in peanut butter cup heaven. They were everywhere, in every corner store and so cheap! Well, at least, compared to Australia. Here, Reese’s are a treat. In the US, they became a staple part of my daily diet.
So a few years ago I decided to try to make them myself at home. Partly for cost reasons, mainly for addiction feeding reasons because you can’t pick up peanut butter cups on a whim here in Sydney. And you know what? It was pretty simple! Ridiculously so! The hardest part was figuring out the best way to make the peanut butter filling sit in the centre, surrounded by chocolate, as opposed to having an exposed layer of peanut butter.
The solution was to make the peanut butter filling “dough like” so you can roll it into balls then place it onto a base of melted chocolate. Then this needs to be refrigerated before pouring chocolate over the top, otherwise I found the weight of the chocolate pushed the peanut butter filling through the base. After the base and filling have set, you then pour more chocolate over the top to cover it. I tried multiple times to avoid the 2 step refrigeration process, but it simply didn’t work.
Enough on the technicalities! Here’s the recipe. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is!
- 1 cup / 250g smooth peanut butter
- 60g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup / 55g brown sugar
- 1 cup / 120g icing sugar (powdered sugar) (see notes)
- 500 g /16 oz chocolate (for melting, not eating chocolate)
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Line 3 x 12 hole mini muffin tins with paper patties.
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Combine peanut butter, butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until melted, stirring constantly, until it starts to bubble gently. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time, stirring vigorously to dissolve into the peanut butter mixture.
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Set the peanut butter filling aside to cool (refrigerate to speed up the process).
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Melt half the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between.
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Pour about 1 1/2 to 2 tsp of melted chocolate into each muffin cup.
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Scoop up one slightly heaped tsp of the peanut butter filling and roll into a ball then flatten slightly. The disc should be smaller than the muffin cup diameter as you want chocolate to cover the side of the peanut butter filling. Place into the centre of the muffin cup. Repeat with remaining peanut butter filling.
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Refrigerate for 20 minutes until the chocolate is set.
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Melt the remaining chocolate in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between.
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Pour about 1 1/2 to 2 tsp of melted chocolate into each muffin cup, covering the peanut butter filling. Gently bang the muffin tin on the counter top to even out the surface of each peanut butter cup.
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Refrigerate for 20 minutes until the chocolate is set.
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Remove paper patties and serve.
1. It is best to use a good quality icing sugar (powdered sugar) for this, not the cheapest ones sold, because the icing sugar needs to dissolve into the peanut butter filling. I find that cheaper brands are grainier and don't dissolve properly.
Hi Nagi, thanks for this recipe…coming from a fellow Reeses addict in India!
Was just wondering what the measurements for a cup are (in grams/ounces).
Thank you again!
Rudrani
Hi Rudrani! I will update it shortly 🙂 This is an old one, before I started using grams as well as cups!
Thanks for the update!
Yum I am definitely going try this…. I too am more into savoury but LOVE Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (I think its because I love the sweet and salty combination – I also love salted caramel)… I’m in Australia too (Adelaide) and though we can get them they are a bit expensive! This recipe looks so easy… think I might try it on the weekend! 🙂
Yum I am definitely going try this…. I too am more into savoury but LOVE Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (I think its because I love the sweet and salty combination – I also love salted caramel)… I’m in Australia too (Adelaide) and though we can get them they are a bit expensive! This recipe looks so easy… think I might try it on the weekend! 🙂
They ARE expensive, aren’t they!!! They really are easy!!
What type of chocolate should I use?
Hi Kia! Any melting chocolate is fine 🙂 I use Cadbury Milk melting chocolates!
Thanks, I will try to make it soon! 🙂
Just a heads up – according to an article I read earlier today May 18th is the official “I Love Reese’s” day. I don’t know who makes these “official” decisions, but any excuse to make and eat peanut butter cups is okay by me!! 🙂
That is hilarious! An official Reese’s day?? Gosh, I could have so much fun making up “official” days. When is potato day? I know there’s already a cheese day!!
Hi Nagi! “Potato chip” day is March 14th, “Tater” day is March 31lst, “National potato” day is October 27th. I went to information central – the internet and typed in official food day and up came a site listing a food day for each and every day of the year! A whole new food blog ?? 🙂
Potato chip day? It’s like a day dedicated to ME! Thank you for the tips, I will look it up so I remember each food day!! 🙂
When I make peanut butter cookies, I put a mini peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie before baking, smooshing it into the dough. You could cut yours into four pieces and do the same thing. They are really good! Love your blog!
OOOHH!!! YUM! I have to try that!! 🙂
Nagi I also have a recipe for a Reese’s peanut butter bar that you press into an 8X8 dish and top with chocolate which is not half bad – actually damn good!
I’ll bet it is damn good! If you are up for sharing it, I’d love to make it!! 🙂
Thank you so much Nagi, now my older son & friends are gona be thrilled to know I can make these delicious homemade recess peanut butter cups!
Awww, thanks so much for your kind note Jannie! I’m so glad this will help with your son’s peanut butter cup cravings!
This looks better than the original peanut butter cup! I love the thick layer of peanut butter in the middle. Thanks for the recipe, I have to try this sometime ~ it looks simple and delicious.
You’re too kind! But thank you!!
So clever and looks so delicious!! I noticed that you only have 1 photo in this post and I can see why. That 1 perfect photo says it all. This is a dangerously good looking sweet – able to make many weak at the knees. And I’m certain it tastes amazing too!! Yummmmm! 😀
“Weak at the knees” is my response too!! 🙂
Well Padaek, to be honest it’s because I wasn’t happy with the other shots!!
I know they are not the same as Reese PB cups but the Lindt PB balls are pretty good in a pinch
They are divine…..and if I let myself indulge, I would break the bank!!
I’m excited to see a sweet recipe here 🙂 These peanut butter cups look wonderful! I never thought I can make them at home, but with your instructions, this doesn’t sound too difficult 🙂
You’re right, I don’t often post sweet recipes! So it’s definately an easy one!
Here in Australia it is almost impossible to get my hands on Reeses pieces and I do really love eating them so making them from scratch is definitely something I need to do. Thanks for the great recipe Nagi!
That’s exactly why I made this! I’m in Australia too and have the same problem!!
Omg Nagi, I love you! I don’t have much of a sweet tooth either, but…like you, I won’t turn down a sweet treat if it’s in front of my face. Peanut butter cups on the other hand… are my addiction! I have an entire system of eating them – I bite the crimped edges off first and then I slowly work my way around and around until there’s just one small bite of the center left. I never knew these could be so easy to make! You are like my favorite person in the world!
You crack me up!! Your eating system is HILARIOUS!!
This is just too tempting….Why do you do this to me. I just finish salivating over the crack pull apart bread. See, I am slow at getting to recipes .
Ha! Love that we drool over each others food!!
I might have to try this recipe with dark chocolate. And I love that you tried this a million ways until you got it right! Can I put my hand up to help you eat any of your rejects?? 🙂
Can you move closer to me please? Then I would happily drop rejects off to you and your fam!
Where do you live at
Hi Sierra! I live in Sydney Australia 🙂