Clean Eating Peanut Butter Cups Recipe (2024)

Should you choose to use chocolate instead of cocoa powder (that recipe is below the first recipe below), you have three options here.

Melting Chocolate In A Slow Cooker

As I mentioned above, one of the easiest, no-fuss options for melting chocolate is by using a slow cooker.

NEVER use a lid when you melt chocolate in a slow cooker. This will create moisture (slow cookers cook with moist heat), which will make your chocolate seize up (that dry, clumpy mess when you overheat or expose the chocolate to moisture). So avoid using a lid at all costs. Simply put the chocolate in, turn the heat to low, and stir occasionally until your chocolate is melted.

If you have a warm setting on your slow cooker, turn it to that setting once the chocolate is melted.

If you do not have a warm setting, you’ll need to work quickly to avoid the chocolate becoming a seized mess.

If you do overheat your chocolate, instructions for fixing it are in the YouTube video below.

Melting Chocolate In A Double Boiler

This is the “proper” way to melt chocolate. You’ll need a double boiler pot or a pot with a heat-safe bowl that will sit safely inside the pot while resting on the edge.

You do not want to use a bowl small enough to sit completely inside the pot. The bowl must rest on the edges of the pot so that it is suspended over the water.

There needs to be a seal between the pot and the edge of the bowl so that steam does not damage your chocolate.

1. Bring your water to a boil.
2. Reduce to a strong simmer.
3. Put the chocolate in the bowl.
4. Set the bowl over the pot.
5. Stir frequently until the chocolate is melted.
6. Remove the bowl from the pot, wipe the bottom of the bowl, and set it on a heat-safe surface.

Where convenience is concerned, melting chocolate in a microwave is second only to the slow cooker.

1. Put your chocolate in a glass, microwave-safe bowl.
2. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook for 1 minute.
3. Stir the chocolate.
4. Return the bowl to the microwave and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir.
6. Repeat the 30-second intervals with stirring after each interval until your chocolate is fully melted.
7. Stir well each time to help the chocolate melt from the heat of what’s already melted instead of trying just to microwave it into submission.
8. Use a pot holder because the bowl will get very hot!

Yes, you can make peanut butter cups with cocoa powder! In fact, that is the original version of my two recipes below. You don’t have to use actual chocolate bars or chips. The powder will work just fine, provided you use virgin coconut oil to help things harden as they cool.

The upside of using cocoa powder is that you don’t have to worry about your chocolate seizing up. You just warm and whisk everything together and build your peanut butter cups. Easy!

You can’t have peanut butter cups without the peanut butter. But the kind of peanut butter you use is important.

• Your favorite peanut butter is always the best choice for flavor.
• All-natural peanut butter won’t have any added sugar.
• You’ll want creamy peanut butter for this.
• Use room-temperature peanut butter. It’s far easier to spoon into those little cups.