Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

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Vegan peanut butter cups are a smooth and creamy dessert made with dairy-free chocolate chips and natural peanut butter. Think Hershey’s peanut butter cups, but if they were twice as healthy and just as sweet! What more could you ask for?

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe 

• Decadent: Is there anything better than a chocolate and peanut butter combo? Each bite is full of mouthwatering flavors and textures, from the chocolate shell to the creamy peanut butter filling!
• Copycat: Take a trip down memory lane with one of the most nostalgic treats made right in your very own kitchen.
• Diet-friendly: These peanut butter cups are vegan and do not contain any gluten, making them perfect for most dietary requirements.
• Environmentally friendly: This recipe requires very few ingredients, and it also saves you from using the oven. It’s a simple, quick, and no-bake snack to make with your little ones!

If you love vegan peanut butter cups, you should really check out our vegan brownies, chocolate gluten-free mug cake, homemade snickers bars, and vegan double chocolate muffins.

🍫 What are vegan peanut butter cups?

Vegan peanut butter cups start with a melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter filling, which is then encapsulated by a rich layer of dark chocolate.

Sounds a lot like Reese’s peanut butter cups, right?

Unlike the dairy ingredients found in Reese’s cups, this recipe is made from plant-based ingredients. If you’re trying to cut back on dairy but still want to enjoy a chocolatey peanut butter treat, vegan peanut butter cups are the answer!

You only need 4 ingredients — peanut butter, coconut flour, maple syrup, and chocolate chips. And the best part? There is no baking required!

These vegan Reese’s cups are our go-to choice whenever we’re craving something sweet yet healthy. We have a feeling they’ll disappear pretty quickly in your house too!

🌱 Are peanut butter cups vegan?  

Reese’s peanut butter cups are not vegan-friendly as their ingredient list contains a few milk-based ingredients. To make a vegan alternative to Reese’s cups, we just made a few simple swaps!

• Milk chocolate: Use dairy-free dark, milk, or white chocolate chips. There are so many options nowadays!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Dairy-free chocolate chips: Use dairy-free dark, milk, or white chocolate chips for the coating of the peanut butter cups. Some of our favorite brands include Enjoy Life, Hu Kitchen, and Lily’s. You can also try making your own vegan chocolate!
• Natural peanut butter: Use store-bought natural smooth peanut butter, or try making your own peanut butter from scratch. For a more traditional Reese’s flavor, use Skippy, Kraft, or Jif (though we prefer natural PB)! If you have peanut allergies, swap in almond butter, cashew butter, pumpkin seed butter, or sunflower butter.
• Coconut flour: Creates a tacky filling texture, which closely emulates Reese’s. You can also use almond flour or brown rice flour for a similar effect.
• Maple syrup: For a touch of natural sweetness in these vegan Reese’s cups. No maple syrup on hand? Use agave, coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan peanut butter cups 

Step 1: Prepare the muffin tin 

Insert parchment paper cups in a 12-cup muffin tin, or use a silicone muffin mold before setting it aside. This will prevent the peanut butter cups from sticking and avoid spilling. 

Step 2: Heat the chocolate chips 

Melt the chocolate chips using a double boiler, or by microwaving them in 15-second intervals. Set aside half of the chocolate, which will be used later to top the filling. Divide the other half evenly into the prepared muffin tins.

Step 3: Chill the muffin cups 

Using a spoon, spread some chocolate up the sides of the muffin cups to fully encapsulate the peanut filling. Place the muffin tin in the freezer to chill while you mix the filling.

Step 4: Combine the filling 

In a mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter, coconut flour, and maple syrup. Make sure to taste the filling to see if it’s sweet enough. You can always add a bit more maple syrup to suit your preferences!

Step 5: Fill the cups

Once the first layer of chocolate has set in the freezer, evenly dollop the peanut butter mixture over top. Spoon the rest of the melted chocolate over the peanut butter filling, making sure you’ve smoothed the tops.

Step 6: Set the peanut butter cups 

Now that the peanut butter cups are fully prepared, place the muffin tin back in the freezer to set for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making vegan peanut butter cups, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

For any leftover vegan peanut butter cups, follow these storage tips:

• Room temperature: Keep the cups in an airtight container, and they will last around 5-6 days at room temperature.
• Fridge: To keep them even more fresh, we recommend storing the cups in the fridge. They will keep for up to 1-2 weeks days this way.
• Freezer: You can store the cups in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 1 month. After this period, the cups’ quality will begin to decline.
• Reheating: If frozen, let the cups sit out at room temperature for 5-10 minutes for the optimal taste and texture.

♻️ Variations 

There’s always more than one way to enjoy your vegan peanut butter cups. Here are some ways you could spice them up to make them more unique and flavorful: 

• Different nut butter: If you don’t have peanut butter on hand, fill your vegan Reese’s cups with any nut or seed butter you prefer. Experiment with almond, cashew, sunflower butter, and even hazelnut butter! Whichever one you choose, Just remember to keep the ratios the same.
• Crunchy peanut butter cups: Instead of creamy or smooth peanut butter, swap in a crunchy variety for more texture! Also, sprinkle a few extra chopped peanuts on the top of your cups.
• White or milk chocolate: If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate or want to switch the flavor up, try making milk or white chocolate vegan peanut butter cups! 
• Green peanut butter cups: To add an amusing and kid-friendly twist to your vegan Reese’s cups, mix a little matcha powder into the white chocolate to turn the color green.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Salt the peanut butter: If your peanut butter is unsalted, add ¼-teaspoon of salt to the filling to enhance the chocolate flavor.
• Thin the peanut butter: If your peanut butter is dry, try mixing in a teaspoon or so of coconut milk.
• Smear the sides: Make sure the peanut butter filling is fully encapsulated by smearing the first layer of melted chocolate up the sides of the cups.
• Store cups in the fridge: For the best quality and flavor in your vegan peanut butter cups, remember to store them in the fridge.
• Keep the liners on the cups: You can remove the muffin liners from the peanut butter cups, but leaving them on makes storage easier.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More dessert recipes

If you enjoyed these vegan peanut butter cups, be sure to check out some more sweet desserts like these:

• Chocolate Chip Mug Cake: A smooth and rich chocolate chip cake with the simple twist of being baked in a mug.
• Tempura Ice Cream: Frozen ice cream balls wrapped in crispy tempura, creating the perfect balance between hot and cold flavors!
• Vegan Churros: Tender and crispy Mexican pastries flavored with cinnamon-sugar and paired with a side of chocolate sauce.
• Tamarindo Candy: Balls of tamarind coated with sugar, cacao or chile-lime seasoning to bring you the best combination of sweet and savory!

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.