Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups
These Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups are made with homemade chocolate surrounding a gooey vegan peanut butter caramel. The six-ingredient recipe for these refined sugar-free treats is the perfect way to get your candy fix!
Last week, I headed into the kitchen to whip up another batch of homemade peanut butter cups after I realized my roommate Ally and I had demolished all of the two batches I had made when I first posted them a few weeks ago…oops. It was a situation that needed to be remedied STAT.
I got started, mixing up the super easy 3-ingredient homemade chocolate recipe that I know like the back of my hand, and pouring the bottom layer of chocolate into the lined mini muffin tins. I popped the tin into the freezer to let the chocolate layer set and as I grabbed the peanut butter, I decided to have a little fun with it. Why have plain peanut butter cups when I could have peanut butter caramel cups?!?
What makes these peanut butter caramel cups?!
Since my discovery (via these homemade Twix Bars) that you could make homemade vegan caramel in about 30 seconds using almond butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil, I’ve been obsessed with it. So, while making these cups…I had the brilliant idea to substitute peanut butter for almond butter to make peanut butter caramel – my peanut butter and caramel loving heart was all over this idea.
A quick stir of the ingredients and a spoonful into my mouth revealed it was very much a delicious creation and oh so worthy of gracing the inside of my peanut butter cups. These are barely any more difficult than any other homemade peanut butter cups. The only additional step is stirring together the ingredients to make the “caramel” filling, which is obviously totally worth it.
Once the peanut butter caramel filling is distributed between the chocolate cups and the remaining chocolate is poured to cover each cup, a sprinkle of sea salt (if you want) rounds it all out. I love the salty bite that the flaky sea salt adds, here. A quick trip to the fridge will harden the chocolate while the inside stays sweet and gooey, and then you can grab one and take a big bite and moan in pleasure.
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups are vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free, so while they’re not exactly health food, they’re definitely a little better for you than grabbing a Reese’s. And if you ask me, WAY tastier. The way the chocolate melts in your mouth with the thick layer of gooey peanut butter caramel is irresistible! Enjoy :)
PrintChocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12-24 cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
These Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Cups are made with homemade chocolate surrounding a gooey vegan peanut butter caramel. The six-ingredient recipe for these refined sugar-free treats is the perfect way to get your candy fix!
Ingredients
For the chocolate
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 3–4 tablespoons maple syrup, to taste
OR
- 1¼ cups (8 ounces) dark chocolate, melted
For the filling
- ½ cup (128g) creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons (63g) maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (25g) coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt, plus flaky sea salt to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Line a 12-cup muffin tin or a 24-cavity mini muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the melted coconut oil, cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons maple syrup. Taste it, and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter. Alternatively, you can use melted dark chocolate.
- Pour a small amount of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of each liner or mold cavity, until the bottom is thinly covered. Don’t use more than half the chocolate mixture for this. Place the liners in the refrigerator or freezer for about 10 minutes to harden.
- While the chocolate hardens, stir together the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and combined.
- Once the bottom layer of chocolate is hard, place about 1 teaspoon of peanut butter caramel over the chocolate. Pour enough of the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter to cover it completely (if at any point the remaining chocolate gets too thick, warm it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to remelt). Repeat until all are done. If desired, sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt. Return to the refrigerator to harden completely.
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Rachel, you are seriously the candy-making QUEEN! I kinda want to be your roommate, just so I can eat all your candy goodies! You totally combined ALL my favorite candy things in these cups and I love that I can eat them with ZERO guilt!
Thank you Sarah!!! I’m in love with it, haha! You’ve got to try ’em :)
Oh these are totally calling my name for breakfast! Chocolate, peanut butter and caramel sounds like the best combination ever. These wouldn’t stand a chance in my house!
They definitely haven’t lasted long in mine, haha! Thanks, Gayle :)
Okay, this is way better than peanut butter cups! Yummy chocolate filled with oozy caramel is simply irresistible. Love this!!
You are creative with your vegan creations! These peanut butter cups look so yummy! I wish I had some right now and adding caramel was a genius move!
Thes look amazing! Love the flaky sea salt :) Pinning!
I am so excited about these! I have been dying to make some dairy free PB cups, but I totally didn’t want to figure out how. Thank you for doing it for me!
Just when I thought peanut butter cups couldn’t get any better you added caramel, these look amazing! Take care.
Love how simple these are and even more in love with the fact that I have all of these ingredients in my cupboard right now!!!
I gotta try these. Caramel is a nice addition, thanks for sharing
All of your candy always like so good! I love that you combine chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel. Now these would be crazy good crumbled up on a sundae. Wow!
OMG that would be amaaazing. Thanks, Amanda!
I would eat several of these and not even feel guilty about it. I’ve got to try this vegan caramel! It sounds way easier than regular homemade caramel, and healthier too!
Gah my goodness these sound good!! I’m quite sad that I don’t have one for a snack right now!! haha
You’re a genius!! Love the addition of caramel to chocolate peanut butter. I also love the fact that it is vegan. This is amazing!
I rarely use OMG, but OMG! I need these! Your photos are so good that I just want to reach through my screen to take a few off that stack!
absolutely AHHHMAZING!!!!
I love the recipe! What kind of peanut butter do you use?
Thanks, Aidan. I usually use organic unsweetened peanut butter from Trader Joe’s, but any kind you have on hand would work :)
I made these yesterday, everyone loved them, 2 issues I only have 4 left which is no biggie, 2ndly if I leave them out of the fridge the chocolate starts to melt at room temperature, and solutions?
So glad you liked them Robert! Unfortunately, if the room is warm, the coconut oil in the chocolate will melt because it has a low melting point and that’s what keeps the chocolate solid. You could try using cocoa butter instead, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t make any guarantees.
I just made these and they’re amazing! I was all set to make your regular PB cup recipe, but then I saw this recipe and it just called out to me. The peanut butter “caramel” doesn’t exactly make me think of a caramel, but it’s definitely more interesting (and tasty!) Then plain peanut butter. Thanks for the healthier versions of treats I grew up with. These are yummier than Reese’s cups and I feel better eating them.
So glad you’re enjoying them, Leah! Thanks so much for your feedback.
I didnt see the caramel portion of the cups. I have homemade caramel I want to use up. I was thinking of doing some with peanut butter filling, some with caramel and some mixed caramel and peanut butter.
That sounds delicious!!