Homemade Almond Butter Cups

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Who’s got big plans? We certainly do not…but I am totally ok with that! I like the holiday as a fun little reminder to tell the people your loved ones that you, well, love them and as an excuse to enjoy some extra chocolate! It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or crazy, but just fun and sweet 🙂

I was strolling down the aisles at Target (dangerous, I know) and was so tempted by some of the delicious looking chocolates and sweets. I mean, heart-shaped candy? Totally almost got me. But I know that the ingredients in those chocolate covered peanut butter hearts are not the best for me, and that I could easily make a healthier version at home that doesn’t leave me feeling yucky. Not today, highly processed candy, not today! 😉

So that is what I did, and I figured I would share that recipe with ya’ll today! While these will definitely serve as a special treat on Valentine’s day, you better believe that I will be stashing the rest in the freezer for when the craving strikes (aka every night after dinner!)

So…these Almond Butter Cups are amazing for so many reasons. They are super versatile, and can be made with sunflower seed butter to keep them nut free, or peanut butter if you aren’t super into almond butter. The ingredient list is short and made up of things you probably already have in your pantry.

They are naturally vegan, gluten-free, and free of any refined sugar (the sweetener is pure maple syrup). All of that is to say that just about anyone can eat them! And I bet ANYONE will! They are perfectly sweet (and even that can be adjusted according to taste), creamy, and have the perfect chocolate to almond butter ratio. Dreamy, I tell ya!

They do contain coconut oil, so they will need to be stored in the fridge to avoid melting, or the freezer if you plan to take them to work in your lunch box (definitely doing that!)

Without further ado, my new favoritest and (and easiest) chocolatey dessert!

Ingredients

Makes 12 full sized Almond Butter Cups

For the Chocolate:

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 5 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 dash of salt

For the Filling:

• 2/3 cup almond butter (or nut butter of choice)
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Place 12 muffin liners in a muffin tin.
2. Heat the coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt over medium-low heat until totally melted and combined. 
3. Add about 1 1/2 Tbsp of the chocolate sauce to each liner. Then, place in the fridge and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. 
4. While the chocolate layer is cooling, prepare the filling. Simply combine the almond butter and maple syrup in a medium bowl and mix well.
   

   (I made 1/2 the batch almond butter and 1/2 peanut butter cups because I love both!)

5. By now, the chocolate layer should be cooled. Remove from fridge, and add about 1 Tbsp of almond butter to each cup. Gently spread it around the cup if necessary. 
6. Add the remaining chocolate on top of the almond butter (about 1 Tbsp each) until all of the chocolate is used up. 
7. Place back in the fridge, and then remove the cups from the tin when the chocolate has hardened. Store in fridge or freezer.

This homemade, totally healthier version of the ever so enticing name brand Peanut Butter Cups will leave you feeling totally satisfied without the sugar spike and hard to pronounce ingredients. They are super easy to make, use pantry staples, and can be stored for however long they last (I’m sure it won’t be long!)

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Homemade Almond Butter Cups

Prep Time

20 mins

 

A delectable, healthy, and satisfying homemade version of our favorite chocolate candy! 

Course: Dessert

Servings: 12

Author: Maggie @ Our Fine Day

Ingredients

For the Chocolate:

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 5 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 dash salt

For the Filling:

• 2/3 cup almond butter or nut butter of choice
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 dash salt

Instructions

1. Place 12 muffin liners in a muffin tin.
2. Heat the coconut oil, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt over medium-low heat until totally melted and combined.
3. Add about 1 1/2 Tbsp of the chocolate sauce to each liner. Then, place in the fridge and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
4. While the chocolate layer is cooling, prepare the filling. Simply combine the almond butter and maple syrup in a medium bowl and mix well.
5. By now, the chocolate layer should be cooled. Remove from fridge, and add about 1 Tbsp of almond butter mixture to each cup. Gently spread it around the cup if necessary.
6. Add the remaining chocolate on top of the almond butter (about 1 Tbsp each) until all of the chocolate is used up.