Homemade Peanut Butter Cups made healthier and naturally sugar-free!
Can the classic peanut butter cup be made sugar-free and still be just as good, if not a bit better knowing it's sweetened naturally? YOU better believe it! Or don't believe me, but TRY this recipe and find out how seriously true this is! It's a simple recipe that really just requires some melting of chocolate and layering chocolate and natural peanut butter together then refrigerated. Perfect little gift idea to give during the holidays or to add to cookie trays. A special treat for the family with a recipe this easy can really be made anytime at all.
A creamy peanut buttery smooth center is unmistakable to the peanut butter cup. You can really add any sweetener you like, but making it with powdered or even liquid stevia is the way I enjoy these. My boys are allergic so they can't have them, but my hubby and daughter and I are peanut butter lovers! Using all natural unsweetened peanut butter is the better choice here so you can add your own sweetener and adjust as needed.
For me candy and Christmas go hand hand. Yes I know everyone loves the Christmas cookies, but I just want chocolate and good chocolate. Buying sugar free artificially made candy will cause your stomach to do relay races to the bathroom, how do I know? I've had the experience once in the past and never again will I buy that stuff. It's just as easy to make at home!
Filled with fiber and protein and less than 100 calories for one delicious decadent peanut butter cup! Make and freeze so you won't be tempted to eat more than one!
Notes on Substitutions:
- If you don't have powdered stevia packets you can use 2 teaspoons in the chocolate mixture or use liquid stevia, about 4 droppers full or taste and adjust to your liking.
- You can use already sweetened chocolate chips if you prefer, then you can eliminate the 4-6 packets of stevia in the chocolate mixture. A brand I like that is sugar-free from Whole Foods is called, Lily's sweetened with stevia. An allergy friendly chocolate chip is by Enjoy Life sweetened with evaporated cane juice. You may be able to find grain sweetened chocolate chips, but if gluten free be careful of the sweetener called barely malt syrup which is not gluten free.
- You could also sub honey or another sweetener in the unsweetened baking chocolate.
- If you don't have brown rice flour, you can sub another flour you have on hand, perhaps almond or just eliminate it. I would not recommend coconut flour as the taste will be distracting from the peanut butter flavor.
- I've not tried this with powdered peanut butter, but I think it will work, just not sure the taste will be as authentic here.
- Increase flour if using another liquid sweetener.
Homemade Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- 5 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate or unsweetened carob chips*
- 2 tablespoons butter divided or coconut oil
- 4 -6 packets powdered stevia
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons almond meal/ flour
- 2 droppers plain liquid stevia
Instructions
- In a microwaveable bowl or on the stove, melt together the chocolate or carob with 1 tablespoon butter in sauce pan.
- Add stevia packets to taste (if using carob you will not need any stevia).
- In another bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients and stir until smooth.
To Assemble:
- Place 1 teaspoon of chocolate into each mold.
- Spoon a heaping ½ teaspoon of peanut butter onto each chocolate sauce in mold.
- Top with one more teaspoon of chocolate on top to cover.
- Refrigerate until hardened about an hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Christmas Recipes you might like:
- Gluten & Nut Free Toffee Crunch Bark (Refined Sugar Free)
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies ( Gluten & Sugar Free)
- No Bake Sugar Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Cookies
- No Bake Sugar Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Truffles
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Nicole
I don't have packets of stevia so could I use Splenda and what would the conversion be in teaspoons or tablespoons? Thanks!
Laurie
Can you use another sweetener besides stevia, like monk fruit sweetner? Also where do I find the molds you used?
Brenda Bennett
here's the mold on Amazon https://amzn.to/43HSNKi
and yes you can use any sweetener to taste.
Hope Fakkema
I have just found your website - great news! Am interested it this recipe for chocolate covered peanutbutter cups but an ad came on and covered the first line advising of the unsweetened chocolate amount.
Would you please post that -- can't wait to try these.
Thank you so very much.
Brenda
Are you on mobile or desk top? It is 5 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate.
Kristen
So it calls for 2 Tb butter or coconut oil. Directions say one goes into the choc sobim assuming the other goes into the pb mixture?
Brenda
yes
maggie
If I am using Lillys dark chocolate chips, would i leave out the 2 dropper full of stevia?? That is a lot of stevia…. thanks for your help!
Brenda
Yep there's not need because the chips are all ready sweet.
maggie
ok, thank you, i wasn't sure if it was to sweeten the pb a bit. will try these soon, can't wait!
Cassie
I'm going to try these later, but I'm using the unsweet coco. I'm so needing peanut butter cups, but we've given up sugar, flour (wheat), and dairy. Oh, and splenda (Sucralose) and aspartame. It's a little overwhelming! Having a tiny bit of "sweet" makes me happy. We all know when mama's happy.... 🙂
Kathy Broadus
Where can I get brown rice flour?
Brenda
You can really sub with any choice of flour you like.
Kathryn
Could you tell me where you find the molds that you put the chocolate in? I can't wait to try these too!
Brenda
I found them at Hobby Lobby and also saw them at Michael's craft store.
Sabrina
I have tried this recipe 2x now. The first time I used unsweetened chocolate. I didn't add enough stevia to the chocolate and it was way too bitter. Today, I used the Lily's SF chocolate chips and mmmm mmm good! This recipe is super easy and quick. The Lily's melts well in the microwave. I would love to share this with my readers as well, and I will be sure to link them right to you! Thank you so much.
Ellen
I used almond butter and it worked quite nicely
Vanessa Alfaro
Hi there, I'm excited about trying this recipe. Do you use any standard peanut butter mold? Where can I purchase one from? Thank you!
Shona
If your boys are allergic to peanut, does this allergy extend to all nuts? I was wondering if almond butter would make a nice alternative? This recipe looks deelish!
Brenda
Only my youngest is allergic to all nuts unfortunately and my oldest is allergic to peanuts and soy, very difficult. But the hubby, my daughter and myself love pb!!
Megan
Have you heard of Sunbutter? It's an amazing substitution made from sunflower seeds!
Shannon
Could you do this using unsweetened cocoa powder? If so, do you know how much you would use?
Brenda
Hmmm, I haven't tried it with cocoa powder but if I were to guess maybe 1/2 cup. Let me know if you try it.