Vegan Chocolate PB&J Cups

Chocolate PB and J Cups (vegan and gluten free) / @loveandlemons

Ever think “I’d like to combine my favorite school lunch with my favorite halloween candy?” Well neither had I – until Jeanine (this is Jack, by the way) came up with this crazy and amazing snack idea. And she even put some salt on top, just to cement it as the best peanut-butter cup idea ever.

I’m sorry that this post is a bit light on the photos – I kind of… ate… the subjects before we could take more follow up shots. Sorry about that. Just make your own – you won’t regret it.

These are also vegan and gluten free, so here’s a bonus healthy Halloween tip from Jack: Make these little guys, eat them, then buy some apples to hand out to children.

Chocolate PB and J Cups (vegan and gluten free) / @loveandlemons

chocolate pb&j cups

 
Author:
Serves: approx. 16 pieces
Ingredients
  • 9 oz. 65% cacao chocolate chips or baking chocolate (see note below)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • ⅓ cup natural peanut butter
  • 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar (just enough to make it less oily)
  • scant ¼ cup strawberry jelly
Instructions
  1. Over a double boiler (or in the microwave), melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together.
  2. Line a mini muffin tin with (about 16) mini cupcake liners and fill each with a small spoonful of melted chocolate, just enough to coat the bottom and sides. You can use a small brush (or a knife) to carefully nudge the chocolate up the sides of the liners. Pop in the freezer until the chocolate is completely hardened.
  3. Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar. Spoon a bit of peanut butter into each cup and a tiny bit of jelly.
  4. Spoon more melted chocolate on top to cover. Pop in the freezer. Once they chocolate on top begins to set, sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Freeze again (or refrigerate) until set.
  5. Store pb&j cups in the fridge or at room temp.
Notes
For the chocolate, I used SunSpire Organic 65% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips. You can also use baking chocolate that's around 50-65% Cacao. (not unsweetened).

43 comments

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  1. Stacey
    12.15.2018

    Hi, these look great. I’d like to make them for Christmas Day and wonder how far ahead l can make them. Thanks

  2. Cassie
    05.23.2017

    made these tonight and WOW! I did half with just peanut butter and sea salt – half peanut butter, current jam (the only kind of jelly i had in the fridge) and sprinkled some freeze dried strawberries on top on a whim after seeing another one of your posts that reminded me of them! Loved both versions – one classic intense peanut butter and the other fun pb&j flavor with a kick!

    Can’t wait to experiment with other fun sweet flavor combos – thanks for one of the easiest dessert/snack ideas ever!

  3. Jennifer
    01.01.2017

    I had no idea peanut butter cups were so easy to make! Made these with my 3 year old and they were a HUGE hit. I found the wrappers very difficult to peel off though…any ideas of what might be causing that?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.01.2017

      I’m so glad they were a hit! Hmm, I’m not sure, you could try spraying them lightly with cooking spray? Although that might make it harder to assemble them.

      • Jennifer
        01.01.2017

        Good idea! I may also try not filling them to the top. I see now in your photo there is a little more room to grab the paper than I had left. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to keep making them until I get it right 😉

  4. These look amazing! Wow, would be a great easy quick snack! Especially because I love sweets!

  5. violet from seaoflovespells.com
    02.17.2015

    Thank you so much. I made these for v day and they were a hit!

  6. violet from seaoflovespells,com
    02.08.2015

    I just love chocolate treats! my kids love sweets so this a great mini snack!

  7. These look absolutely amazing! I love peanut butter cups so much and I bet the jelly makes them taste even better 🙂 Thanks for the recipe! I’ll definitely be trying these out! XO Kelly

  8. These look delicious! I love peanut butter cups and these have the added bonus of being gluten (and guilt!) free. I will definitely be making these – but I can’t guarantee that they will be around long enough for anyone else to taste.

    http://www.livinginsteil.com

  9. These little pb&J cups are one of my favorite things to make (and eat!). I have a recipe on my site, I use a little honey mixed with the peanut butter and use raspberry jam in the middle. So yummy!

  10. Ahhh… excellent. I will send my kids straight to your house, ok? Just run for your life- they will destroy these 😉 Beautiful recipe Jeanine!

  11. Sarah from onewindowkitchen.com
    10.05.2014

    Adorable– love this idea! 🙂

  12. This looks amazing!! I love peanut butter and jelly, but it never occurred to me to mix it with chocolate. This sounds like the best combo EVER!

  13. Abby
    10.05.2014

    What if I use pumpkin butter instead of strawberry jelly to make them a little more fall-ish?

    • Jack
      10.05.2014

      Sounds fun – let us know how it works out!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.