Homemade vegan peanut butter cups with dates for an easy, yet elevated spin on a classic.
Peanut butter cups made with chocolate and raw peanut butter just aren't the same as biting into a Justin's (vegan) or Reese's (not vegan) peanut butter cup. The peanut butter drips out and it doesn't taste as sweet or luxurious.
To make delicious homemade peanut butter cups, typically powdered sugar or maple syrup is added to the peanut butter to help create a sweeter flavor. However in this recipe, we aren't using either. Instead, we are going to use dates!
Dates are not only high in fiber and antioxidants, but they also provide natural sweetness that is necessary for a truly delicious homemade vegan peanut butter cup. Additionally, they provide a caramel-like taste and a smooth texture that instantly upgrades the recipe with minimal effort.
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Ingredients for vegan peanut butter cups with dates
- Vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life mini semi-sweet chocolate chips).
- Creamy peanut butter: I recommended using an all natural peanut butter, but use your favorite.
- Pitted medjool dates
- Coconut oil: used to thin the chocolate, add extra creaminess, and most importantly make the chocolate pourable. Unrefined or refined both work, if using unrefined the cups may have just a slight coconut flavor to them.
For exact measurements and detailed step-by-step directions, scroll to the recipe card below.
Quick tips for recipe success
- Quality chocolate: make sure you use a chocolate chip that you enjoy the taste of. So yes, I am telling you to eat a handful of chocolate chips as quality control. Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chips are my favorite but let me know what your favorite is in the comment section below!
- Sea salt flakes: don't skip topping each cup with sea salt. It truly balances the sweetness of the chocolate and dates and ties the flavors together.
Substitutions & variations
- Semi-sweet chocolate: substitute for dark or vegan white chocolate instead of semi-sweet.
- Peanut butter: replace with cashew, almond, granola, or sunflower butter.
- Dates: I dont recommend substituting the dates as they provide a luscious texture as well as a subtly sweet and caramel-like flavor, too.
Substitute chopped peanuts with;
- Toasted quinoa
- Coconut shreds
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
- Vegan sprinkles
- Crushed pecans, walnuts, or macadamia nuts
- For an extra salty peanut butter cup: add a gluten-free pretzel and press gently into the cup before topping with the final layer of chocolate.
- PB&J peanut butter cup: add ½-1 teaspoon of your favorite jam to the cups.
- Protein vegan peanut butter cups: add 2-3 tablespoons of protein powder to the peanut butter date filling. If it becomes too dry, add an additional splash of water.
Storing vegan peanut butter cups
- Room temperature: I do not recommend keeping the peanut butter cups at room temperature for long as the chocolate will soften. However if they must be at room temperature (serving at a gathering or event), I recommend placing them over ice.
- Fridge: store in an airtight container for a few weeks in the fridge.
- Freezer (my preferred method): store peanut butter cups in a freezer friendly container for up to 2 months.
We love them right out of the freezer, but if you prefer a softer peanut butter cup, let them thaw at room temperature a few minutes before enjoying.
If you made these vegan peanut butter cups with dates, I'd love to know your thoughts! Leave a comment and a star rating below and tag @notablyvegan on your favorite socials. Talk soon!
📋 Recipe
Vegan Peanut Butter Cups with Dates
Equipment
- unbleached mini muffin cups + mini muffin pan
- microwave safe measuring cup or bowl
- measuring cups & spoons
- food processor
Ingredients
Chocolate
- 1¼ cup vegan chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life mini semi-sweet chocolate chips)
- 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil (or sub unrefined)
Peanut Butter Date Filling
- 8 pitted medjool dates
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (if using salted peanut butter, omit)
Toppings
- sprinkle sea salt flakes
- crushed/chopped peanuts (optional, but recommended)
Instructions
- Prep: Add 20 mini muffin liner cups to a mini muffin pan (or to a large plate) *standard muffin liners can also be used, they will just result in wider & thinner peanut butter cups.
- Peanut butter date filling: add dates*, peanut butter, water, and salt to a food processor. Blend until ingredients are combined (15-20 seconds). I like to keep a few bits of date, but if you prefer a smooth filling, continue to blend until desired consistency is achieved. Pop in the fridge or freezer to help set for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the chocolate. *if your dates are hard, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes before blending
- Melt chocolate: Add chocolate chips and coconut oil into a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Microwave for 1 min 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds to ensure to chocolate evenly melts. Check and stir the chocolate every 10-15 seconds for the last 30 seconds to ensure the chocolate doesn't burn.
- Assemble the cups: grab the muffin pan and scoop 1 teaspoon of melted chocolate into each cup.Tapping the teaspoon on the bottom of the liner helps to evenly spread the chocolate. Next, scoop 1 teaspoon of the peanut butter date filling out of the food processor and roll it into a ball in your hand. Gently press down to create a circle (about the size of a quarter). Place into the cup, slightly pressing down. Continue this process until all of the muffin liners are filled with one.Top each with a teaspoon of melted chocolate. Tap the pan to help spread the chocolate evenly if needed.
- Top & chill: Sprinkle each top with sea salt flakes and crushed peanuts. Place in freezer for 20 minutes to chill. Enjoy!
Notes
- Room temperature: I do not recommend keeping the peanut butter cups at room temperature for long as the chocolate will soften.
- Fridge: store in an airtight container for a few weeks in the fridge.
- Freezer (my preferred method): store in a freezer friendly container for up to 2 months.
Michael says
Yup, you did the damn thing here 🔥