Heart Healthy PB Cups

 

images courtesy of loving it vegan blog

Once you taste these dairy-free, gluten-free, and totally vegan peanut butter cups, you will never buy Reese's ever. again. never.  In fact, don't.  The ingredients in them are not ok. Plus they contain ingredients you can barely pronounce AND they use milk fat (icky for your body) and corn syrup (icky again) and milk chocolate (ick). These vegan options are much more heart-healthy with real ingredients.

Try these and let me know what you think!  My entire family loves them and I've shared some recently with work colleagues who wanted the recipe.

HEART-HEALTHY DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

4 oz Baker's chocolate in bittersweet cacao

(or you can also use semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips, available at Whole Foods or Trader Joes)

1/2 c. coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

(use the real deal not the imitation)

1/4 c. 100% real maple syrup

(we like Vermont or ADK dark maple syrup..do not use substitute maple syrup such as Aunt Jemima as it will defeat your purpose of heart healthy)

dash of sea salt

1/2 c. natural creamy peanut butter

(this is important:  make sure it says NATURAL on the jar as then it won't contain added sugar and oils; we use the Skippy or Saratoga Peanut Butter brands)

2 tablespoons of chopped peanuts for garnish

• Set out cupcake liners into a regular muffin tin.
• Melt the chocolate, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup in a microwaveable bowl for 1 minute; stir and then microwave for 1 more minute.  Stir thoroughly.  (If you don't own a microwave, you can use a double boiler on the stove but it's vital that you not let any water contact the chocolate).
• Once chocolate is melted, add a dash of the sea salt. (regular table salt is fine)
• Spoon 1 tablespoon of the chocolate liquid into each of the 12 muffin cups.
• Freeze for 15 minutes to set.
• Keep remaining chocolate warm ((simply put a plate over the bowl)
• Once the chocolate has set, spoon a scant 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter into each chocolate cup.
• Cover the peanut butter with another tablespoon of the chocolate liquid.  
• Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
• Freeze to set for 15-20 minutes.
• Keep frozen until ready to eat.  Then keep the rest in freezer or refrigerator.

TIPS:  it's very important that you use an actual tablespoon to measure out the chocolate so you don't run out of the chocolate liquid before adding the top layer!  It's also  important to use the real ingredients not imitation in order to reap the benefits of the heart healthy options.

ENJOY!!

as with all of the posts under the "faithfixes" labels, you do have permission to copy or print out this recipe.