Fall Peanut Butter Cups with Pumpkin Seed Crunch
Enjoy homemade peanut butter cups with a delightful crunch from roasted peanuts and pumpkin seeds, made with your favorite chocolate.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips (use vegan chocolate if needed)
- about a half cup of creamy peanut butter (1 per chocolate cup)
- 1 1/2 cups pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1 cup honey (use maple syrup for vegan version)
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- flaky sea salt (for sprinkling (optional))
Instructions
- Line a mini muffin pan with 24 liners.
- Melt 1 1/4 cups of chocolate chips (microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until melted). Drop 1 teaspoon of chocolate into each liner. Use the back of a small spoon to brush the chocolate up the sides of the liner, ensuring full coverage. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Once the chocolate is firm, add a teaspoon of creamy peanut butter to each cup. Return to the freezer while you make the pumpkin seed candy.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepitas and toast, stirring constantly until seeds pop and become slightly golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
- Heat coconut sugar and honey in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar (about 3 minutes). Add the pepitas and peanuts, cook for 3-4 minutes until temperature reaches 240-285°F. Remove from heat, stir in coconut oil and vanilla extract. Cool for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Divide the candy mixture among the 24 cups.
- Melt the remaining chocolate chips. Cover the candy with chocolate, smoothing with a spoon. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
- Place in the fridge until firm, about 20 minutes. Store in the fridge for best results.
Notes
- Use high-quality chocolate for the best flavor and melt.
- If making vegan, ensure your chocolate, peanut butter, and sweetener are certified vegan.
- Adjust the candy cooking time to your preferred texture: shorter for softer, longer for crispier.
- For a smoother finish, gently tap the filled cups on the counter to release air bubbles. Allergens: Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- If making vegan, ensure your chocolate, peanut butter, and sweetener are certified vegan.
- Adjust the candy cooking time to your preferred texture: shorter for softer, longer for crispier.
- For a smoother finish, gently tap the filled cups on the counter to release air bubbles. Allergens: Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.