• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Simple Green Recipes
  • Home
  • RECIPES BY CATEGORY
    • Breakfast
    • Breads
    • Brownies & Bars
    • Cakes
    • Chocolate Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Donuts
    • Glass Desserts
    • Ice Cream & Frozen Treat
    • Muffins & Cupcakes
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Savory
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Vegan Basics
  • RECIPES BY DIET
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
    • Grain-free
  • CONTACT
    • Content & Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Nutrition Disclaimer
  • ABOUT
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes By Category
  • Recipes By Diet
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Chocolate Desserts » Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Published: May 18, 2020 · Modified: Jun 21, 2023 by Natalia · This post may contain affiliate links .

    897 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    four peanut butter and chocolate cups on a muffin cup against a white surface
    three chocolate and peanut butter cups placed on a white muffin cup
    chocolate and peanut butter cups placed on a white paper
    four chocolate and peanut butter cups stacked against a white surface
    chocolate and peanut butter cups stacked on a white surface
    chocolate and peanut butter cups stacked on a white surface

    These quick and easy Vegan Peanut Butter Cups are creamy, chocolatey and made with a few healthy ingredients! Love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? Then, these bite-size sweet treats are just for you!

    Stack of Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Hi there! You may be wondering if peanut butter cups are vegan. And the answer is pretty simple. Yes, they are, as long as they have no dairy in it. In fact, to make vegan peanut butter can’t be easier. It calls for just 5 basic ingredients and the only one that might contain dairy is the chocolate.

    Making vegan peanut butter cups, easy, right? Just choose non-dairy chocolate and that’s it. As for the peanut butter, almost all peanut butter is vegan. Just check it doesn’t contain any honey, to be on the safe side.

    Overhead shot of Dairy free Peanut Butter Cups

    Ingredients for the Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Chocolate. I use non dairy semi-sweet or dark chocolate bars and chop it into small chunks. I’m a chocolate lover and, as you can imagine, I never run out of chocolate bars. Chocolate chips are also a great option too, since they’re very convenient. They come in little pieces so don’t need to chop and they melt evenly. Feel free to use any chocolate you like.

    Coconut Oil. The coconut oil is optional, you can totally make the recipe without it. I use it to harden the chocolate faster.

    eye-level shot of Peanut Butter Cups on a photography backdrop

    Vanilla Extract. Optional too, although I always add it as it enhances the chocolate flavor.

    Organic Sugar. Cane sugar or coconut sugar are my go-to organic types of sugar. I also add some maple or agave syrup, they add such a unique flavor to these peanut butter cups.

    Peanut Butter. The majority of peanut butters are vegan. They are made from peanuts, salt and oil. The healthiest peanut butters are the “all natural” variety and they only contain peanuts and salt. 

    Overhead shot of a halved Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    How to Make Peanut Butter Cups

    Chop the chocolate if you’re using chocolate bars. Try to chop it in small, uniform pieces, it will melt faster and more evenly. I use a chef’s knife, more useful here than a serrated knife.

    Melt ⅓ of the chocolate. In a glass or ceramic bowl, microwave the chocolate at 50% power for 1 minute. Remove and give it a stir. Then, keep heating the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, until almost melted, stirring after each time. Chocolate burns easily, so it’s safer to melt it slowly.

    While the chocolate is melting, prepare the cup liners and the muffin pan. Fill the base of your cup liners with the chocolate. Let it set until the chocolate is firm. To speed the process you can place the liners into the fridge or freezer until hardened.

    high-level shot of a stack of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

    Prepare the peanut butter filling by mixing the peanut butter, the sugar and the maple syrup. Stir well to combine. All natural peanut butter tends to be a bit runnier, the solids naturally separate from the oil. You can stir to mix the oil back in, and refrigerate the peanut butter for half an hour before using it.

    Add around a table spoon of peanut butter mixture to each cup liner and. Then melt the rest of the chocolate, cover the peanut butter with it and chill 20 minutes to firm up.

    Wait until the chocolate is set to remove the peanut butter cups from the liners.

    overhead shot of Chocolate peanut butter cups

    How to Store Peanut Butter Cups

    I never have this problem unless I double the recipe 😉 They are gone in the blink of an eye!

    Anyway, if you are making them in advance or just want to store some leftovers, keep them in the fridge. You can store them refrigerated for up to two weeks in an airtight container.

    Making a double batch and freeze half the peanut butter cups is a great way to have a healthy bite-size dessert every time you crave for a chocolate treat. They will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

    eye level shot of a small stack of Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups

    RECIPE

    stack of Delicious Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

    NATALIA @ SIMPLE GREEN RECIPES
    These quick and easy Vegan Peanut Butter Cups are creamy, chocolatey and made with a few healthy ingredients! Love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? Then, these bite-size sweet treats are just for you!
    5 from 43 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Servings 9 cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups 12 ounces chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
    • 2 teaspoons coconut oil
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
    • 1 tablespoon maple or agave syrup
    • ½ cup all natural peanut butter

    Instructions
     

    • First, cut the chocolate into small and even pieces. The smaller the faster it will melt. 
    • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt ⅓ of the chocolate. Microwave it at 50% power for one minute. Stir and repeat. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, until looking almost melted. Give it a final stir until smooth. Chocolate burns easily, so it’s safer to melt it at low heat and stir after each 30-second interval.
    • Then, line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Pour around one tablespoon of chocolate in each liner. Let it harden in the freezer for 10 minutes. 
    • Meanwhile, prepare the peanut butter mixture. Add the peanut butter, sugar and maple syrup to a bowl and stir well to combine. 
    • Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and place 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture in the center of each cup liner. 
    • Melt the rest of the chocolate and pour around 1 tablespoon over each cup, or enough to completely cover the peanut butter layer.
    • Refrigerate the cups until set, store in an airtight container, and enjoy!

    Additional Info

    Course Chocolate Desserts
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you liked this recipe don’t forget to Pin and share with your friends!

     

    Did you make this recipe? Tag @simplegreenrecipes on Instagram


    More chocolate desserts from Simple Green Recipes:

    Sweet Potato Chocolate Mousse

    Raw Vegan Chocolate Tartlets

    Easy Raw Vegan Chocolate Tartlets

    Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake

    Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake

    Natalia's Signature
    « Vegan Apple Tarte Tatin
    Vegan Lemon Brownies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mikayla

      August 17, 2023 at 6:55 pm

      5 stars
      I must say these were a delicious treat and no one even guessed they were vegan. The salt on the tops made the feel extra special.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 19, 2023 at 4:46 pm

        Woohoo! Glad to hear that. Thanks a ton for the comment. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Claire

      June 25, 2023 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      These vegan peanut butter cups were SO good and one of the easiest things I’ve made in a while. Definitely plan to keep a bag of these in the fridge this summer!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        June 26, 2023 at 2:08 pm

        Thanks for the inspiration, Claire, I’m going to do the same! And thanks so much for coming back to comment!


        Reply
    3. Amy Liu Dong

      June 25, 2023 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      Oh, I love this recipe. It is so easy and delicious. Once finished making these peanut butter cups I couldn’t stop licking the spoon. They were so good! My vegan friend loved them!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        June 26, 2023 at 4:43 pm

        I’m so glad to hear that you loved them. That’s great to hear! Thanks a bunch for leaving your feedback.

        Reply
    4. Katie Crenshaw

      June 13, 2023 at 4:56 pm

      5 stars
      These turned out delicious. I can’t stop eating them. Peanut butter and chocolate are my favorite combination.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        June 14, 2023 at 4:45 pm

        And mine, it’s so addictive! Thanks so much for coming back to comment!


        Reply
    5. Ann

      March 25, 2023 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      These tasted like a true Reese’s peanut butter cup! I don’t think I will ever need to buy these again, since I can make at home!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        March 26, 2023 at 4:44 pm

        Hi Ann, I agree, nothing beats homemade treats! Thanks for your feedback!

        Reply
    6. Madelyn

      January 16, 2023 at 8:46 am

      5 stars
      Turned out wonderful made with dark chocolate chunks. I did not use coconut oil, but used unrefined coconut sugar. They tasted great.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        January 17, 2023 at 4:37 pm

        I’m glad you enjoyed them, Madelyn. Thanks for your feedback! And coconut sugar is a great idea.

        Reply
    7. Kristina

      November 20, 2022 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      These were absolutely delicious! I have a lot of almond butter I need to use soon…do you think almond butter would work as well as the peanut butter?

      Reply
      • Natalia

        November 21, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        Hi Kristina, I haven’t tried almond butter in these cups yet. It can work as well if it’s not too thin. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!

        Reply
    8. Kim

      October 13, 2022 at 8:21 am

      5 stars
      These peanut butter cups were so easy to make and they are so delicious! Love having a homemade version around the house!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        October 14, 2022 at 4:32 pm

        I agree, they’re super easy, Kim! And I’m super happy to hear that you enjoyed them! Thanks for leaving a comment.

        Reply
    9. Jamie

      September 29, 2022 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      Oh my, these Vegan Peanut Butter cups look amazingly delicious! An awesome idea of combining chocolate with our favorite peanut butter! A perfect treat for everyone, especially for kids! They will gonna love it!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        September 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        Thank you for stopping by, Jamie. I hope you’ll give them a try.

        Reply
    10. Jacqueline Debono

      March 19, 2022 at 2:52 am

      5 stars
      These vegan peanut butter cups are the perfect treat. My chocoholic hubby would have gone through the whole lot if I hadn’t hidden them from him!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        March 20, 2022 at 4:27 pm

        I’m glad you enjoyed them, Jacqueline. They don’t last long here, either 🙂 Thanks for your feedback!

        Reply
    11. Colleen

      January 22, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      These peanut butter cups are so easy to make. Delicious little treats, they didn’t last long!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        January 23, 2022 at 4:06 pm

        Thank you for sharing your review, Colleen! I’m glad the butter cups were a hit!


        Reply
    12. veenaazmanov

      November 21, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      These are so creative and the combination of Peanut Butter and chocolate sounds super delicious. Perfect for a kids party.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        November 22, 2021 at 4:07 pm

        They are super easy to make and delicious, Veena! I hope you’ll get to try them out.

        Reply
    13. Petro

      September 15, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      These look incredibly delicious, I can’t believe they’re vegan! Thanks for sharing this, I’ll try them this weekend!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        September 19, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Petro, I’m super glad to hear that you love it! Thank you for letting me know.

        Reply
    14. Sara L

      September 07, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      These look completely decadent! Move over Reese’s! If I made these for the holidays how long do you think I could store them (assuming I have the willpower to not devour them all myself)?

      Reply
      • Natalia

        September 08, 2021 at 3:09 am

        Hi, Sara, you can store them for 1-2 weeks, mine never last so long ;)) I keep them in the fridge, mainly if it’s hot. Hope it helps! XO

        Reply
    5 from 43 votes (30 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    author profile picture

    Hello and Welcome to my blog! I’m so excited to have you here! I’m Natalia and I’m a recipe developer and food photographer with a passion for healthy, delicious and pretty food. Read More…

    Subscribe

    for your weekly updates.




    Content & Privacy Policy

    FALL RECIPES

    • Vegan Banoffee Pie
      Vegan Banoffee Pie
    • Stack chocolate brownie pecan bars on a cooling rack
      Vegan Pecan Pie Brownies
    • Paleo Sweet Potato Chocolate Mousse
      Sweet Potato Chocolate Mousse
    • Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
      Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

    COOKIE RECIPES

    • three chocolate chip cookies on a parchment paper
      Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Over head shot of the cookies iced and decorated with sugar pearls, placed on a wooden white surface.
      Vegan Sugar Cookies
    • stack of peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips, on a white wooden cutting board
      Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • split vegan oatmeal cookie on a white board, surrounded by more cookies
      Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    AS SEEN IN

    feed feed logo
    Foodgawker logo

    Footer

    Subscribe

    for your weekly updates.

    Content & Privacy Policy

    STAY IN TOUCH

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    My Favorites

    sliced apple galette on a white surface, halved apples, bowl with ice cream and ice cream scoop.
    Stack of cookies next to a halved lemon, placed on a parchment paper over a cooling rack.
    Chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting and placed in a muffin pan.

    Copyright © 2025 Simple Green Recipes

    Privacy Policy

    NUTRITION DISCLAIMER

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
    Privacy & Cookie Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    897 shares
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Twitter

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.