These healthy peanut butter cups are the best holiday candy! This easy and delicious holiday recipe only requires 4 ingredients.
Healthy peanut butter cups
The Healthy Peanut Butter Cups are one of the most popular recipes on my website. They're nutritious, easy to make, and taste better than a Reese’s! The recipe only requires 4 simple ingredients. The peanut butter cups are stored in the freezer for the best treat!
Holiday candy
To make the healthy peanut butter cups more festive, I made a holiday candy version! It's essentially the same process as the original peanut butter cups, but a final step of adding holiday sprinkles on top. This holiday candy recipe is my choice over Christmas cookies at any party!
What ingredients do I need?
This holiday candy recipe only requires 4 ingredients. The best part is that you probably have these ingredients in your pantry!
- Peanut butter – The peanut butter is the star of this recipe! When you bite into each peanut butter cup, you’ll definitely look forward to a generous amount of this ingredient. Peanut butter is packed with healthy fats and protein. I like to use a natural peanut butter (the kind with just peanuts and salt), but any kind of peanut butter will work great.
- Vanilla protein powder – The protein powder is combined with the peanut butter to make a protein-packed core for these healthy peanut butter cups. The amount of protein powder will vary depending on the kind of peanut butter you use. You want to use enough so that the peanut butter mixture can easily be rolled into balls.
- Coconut oil – The coconut oil is helpful for melting the chocolate chips. A scoop of this into the bowl with chocolate chips will create the top and bottom layer of the peanut butter cup.
- Dark chocolate chips – The dark chocolate chips are the key to the top and bottom layer of the peanut butter cups. These will be melted and surround the peanut butter to create the delicious combination.
- Holiday Sprinkles – This ingredient adds all the festivity to these candies!
What substitutions can I make?
Here are a few substitution ideas you can make to this recipe.
- Peanut Butter – Any kind of nut butter will work for this recipe! You can use almond butter, sunflower butter, or any kind of flavored peanut butter. You absolutely need to use some sort of nut butter!
- Protein Powder – I like to use vanilla protein powder but you could experiment with using another flavor. Adding protein powder really helps with the consistency of the peanut butter inside of the peanut butter cups. However, if you really didn’t want to use any, you could probably get away with just adding the peanut butter to the middle of each cup.
- Dark Chocolate Chips – I prefer dark chocolate chips because I love all things dark chocolate. However, you could use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even a dairy-free chocolate to match your needs and preferences.
- Sprinkles – Sprinkles are optional and you can leave them off if you prefer. You can also add sea salt!
Is this recipe healthy?
Each person has their own definition of healthy, and this recipe absolutely is healthy for me! This recipe has a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. The recipe uses simple ingredients and is better for me than an actual Reese’s. I love that this tastes so delicious and is something I can easily make right in my own home!
How long does this recipe take to make?
This recipe is quick and easy! It will take about 30 minutes total, including clean up and the time you are waiting for the chocolate to harden in the freezer. The great thing about these is that you don’t really need to worry about presentation so you can quickly roll through the steps of the recipe and know it’s going to turn out delicious!
How do I make this recipe?
Please don’t be intimidated by the number of steps in this recipe! It really is quick and easy.
How can I store these?
Store the peanut butter cups in an airtight container in the freezer. I’ve never let these last for more than a week (they're so good!), but you can store these healthy peanut butter cups in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When should I make this recipe?
You can make this recipe the night before you need it, at the beginning of the week, or at least an hour before you want them. They are INCREDIBLE.
Looking for more recipes?
If you’re looking for more healthy dessert recipes, I got your back! Here are some of my current favorites:
Ready for the recipe?
If you try this recipe and love it, please rate it and share it with your friends! Let me know if healthy peanut butter cups are also your new favorite treat!
Holiday Candy
Equipment
- muffin tin
- Muffin liners
- small bowl
- spoon
- Cooking spray
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder depends on the peanut butter you use
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Place 12 muffin liners in a muffin tin. Spray the liners with cooking spray.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Mix well until the chocolate is melted. Add additional time, if needed.
- Scoop a spoonful (about 1 tbsp) of melted chocolate into the bottom of each muffin liner. Use a spoon to press the chocolate up onto the sides a little bit. Set the remaining chocolate aside.
- Place the muffin tin in the freezer for about 10 minutes or until the chocolate is hard.
- In another bowl, prepare the peanut butter mixture. Start by adding all of the peanut butter and part of the protein powder. Mix well and continue adding protein powder until the peanut butter mixture isn't drippy anymore. You might need to adjust the ratios based on how drippy the peanut butter is.
- Use a small scoop or your hands to make 12 balls with the peanut butter mixture. Set aside. (Note: If you choose to make a drippy mixture, you can place the balls in the freezer to make them a little more firm.)
- Once the bottom layer of chocolate is frozen, take the muffin tin out of the freezer. Add one of the peanut butter balls on top of each chocolate bottom and gently use your finger to press the ball so it is smooth on the chocolate.
- Use the rest of the melted chocolate to place 2 scoops (about 1 ½ tbsp) over the peanut butter balls to make the top layer of chocolate for the peanut butter cup.
- Add holiday sprinkles on the top of each peanut butter cup.
- Place the muffin tin in the freezer for another 10 minutes until the chocolate is hard.
- Take out of the freezer and enjoy!
Katherine Powers
Wednesday 15th of December 2021
So so good!!!---a "healthy" reeses!!
Lydia Daigle
Thursday 7th of January 2021
These are so absolutely amazing!! I had some challenges because, lets be real, I am recipe challenged no matter the simplicity? . However, despite my incapabilities, they still turned out so absolutely amazing, and the portion size is perfect for dessert without being too much!
Lucinda Deily
Sunday 3rd of January 2021
Made a half batch of these just to see if I liked them. Verdict: Oh Yeah!!! Thought I was eating a Reese’s cup but better!
Laura
Saturday 19th of December 2020
Amazing treat! Made this already twice with dark chocolate and once with white chocolate! Best part is my husband loves them too!!!!
Chelsea
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
These are SO tasty! I brought them to my coworkers, and they wanted more! Instead of freezing the chocolate in the first step, I waited til I had the peanut butter in and the chocolate on top, which got rid of any “seam” between the two chocolate layers. I also molded the peanut butter to be as flat as possible in order to have pretty PB cups ;) go make them! A yummy, protein filled treat that does NOT taste healthy!!