Want a decadent treat that’s also filling and packed with nutritious ingredients? These Healthy Protein Peanut Butter Cups are all that and then some!
Trick-or-treating on Halloween as kids, everyone understood there would be a certain amount of undesirable candy, like those little gummy toffee things in the black and orange wrappers. But certain houses in our neighborhood gave out “the good stuff.” We all had our favorites—the candies we hoped to skip off with at the end of the night. My best friend was on the hunt for Air Heads (in the “Mystery” flavor, which we all know now was just a combination of leftover candy at the factory), and my little sister craved Kit-Kats. As for me and my sack of candy, we needed Reese’s peanut butter cups. Lots and lots of them.
Plenty of people grow out of candy as adults, and I didn’t bring most of my candy habits past high school. But there’s one that I cannot get away from, no matter what: my beloved peanut butter cups. They’ve been my sweet indulgence since childhood, and I don’t have any plans on evicting them from my diet anytime soon. So, I might as well make them healthier than the usual store-bought Reese’s cups.
These healthy protein peanut butter cups are so delicious, you won’t immediately register how healthy they are. They’re made with dairy-free chocolate, creamy natural peanut butter, coconut oil, and protein powder. Yep, that’s it, I’m serious. No extra cups of sugar, no preservative-laden ingredients—just all tasty ingredients and a little extra protein. Keep a batch of these in the fridge for those pesky candy cravings, and you’ll have something healthier to reach for.
Are These Protein Peanut Butter Cups Healthy?
They’re fairly healthy, especially when compared to the average store-bought peanut butter cup. The exact nutrition of your peanut butter cups is going to depend somewhat on the type of protein powder you use, but generally speaking, there will be less sugar in this homemade version and more fiber and protein compared to Reese’s cups. All that being said, this healthier peanut butter cup is still an indulgence, and it’s high in calories and does contain some fat and sugar. My advice is to eat them in moderation, as a treat.
These peanut butter cups are gluten-free. You can easily make them vegan by using vegan protein powder and ensuring your dairy-free chocolate chips are vegan.
Slight Alterations For Healthy Protein Peanut Butter Cups
A peanut butter cup is a peanut butter cup, right? Well, not when you’re making them yourself! The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity, and it leaves room for small additions and swaps to make these cups your own little slice of heaven!
- Add fruity spread: Peanut butter cups are one thing, but peanut butter and jelly cups? Whoa. You don’t need much; just a smear of fruit jelly or preserves on top of the peanut butter will do wonders for the flavor.
- Add chopped nuts: It’s a peanut butter cup, so feel free to add chopped peanuts, but plenty of nuts go with chocolate. My personal favorite for these cups is chopped hazelnuts! Either add the nuts to the peanut butter mixture, or sprinkle some on top of each cup while the chocolate is still soft.
- Use dark chocolate: This is the version I make at home! Dark chocolate is so good in this recipe. If you’re a dark chocolate fan, give in to the urge and use dark chocolate chips.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Store your healthy protein peanut butter cups in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. If you’re stacking them, separate the layers with sheets of waxed paper or parchment. You can also freeze these cups for up to 3 months if you store them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or container. For best results, let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then set them out to come to room temperature before enjoying them.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these peanut butter cups alongside a glass of milk (dairy or otherwise), or chop up a few and sprinkle them on top of some ice cream! I think chopped-up peanut butter cups are great toppings for this Cookie Dough Banana Ice Cream.
These are obviously a dessert, so I’d serve these cups after a hearty, healthy meal. Try it after a dinner of grilled fish, like this Orange-Lime Grilled Grouper, paired with Air-Fryer Asparagus and some beautiful Saffron Rice.
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter no-stir variety
- 3 tablespoons vanilla protein powder of choice
Instructions
- Line a mini-muffin pan with 12 mini-muffin liners.
- Combine the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 50% power for 30-second intervals, until the mixture is smooth.
- Once melted, pour a very thin layer of the chocolate mixture on the bottom of each cup. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 5-10 minutes to harden.
- While the pan is in the freezer, mix together the peanut butter and vanilla protein powder. It might be easiest to use your hands. Roll them into 12 teaspoon-sized balls.
- Once chilled, put one peanut butter ball in each cup and press out flat, leaving a little rim around the edges where you can see the chocolate underneath.
- Fill the cups with the rest of the remaining melted chocolate. You may need to reheat the bowl of chocolate if it has started to solidify.
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour until hardened. Let them sit out at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, or store in a sealed container in the fridge until you're ready to serve them.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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