Salted Chocolate Nut Butter Cups (Vegan, Gluten-free, Reese Copycat)

by | Dec 31, 2017 | Chocolate, Dairy-Free, Desserts, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian | 12 comments

Inside scoop: Salted Chocolate Nut Butter Cups, the perfect healthy, homemade Reese’s copycat recipe.

 

Yes, yes, another chocolate peanut butter recipe (but for those allergic to peanut butter, we’ve left some non-nut options in the recipe directions).

This is definitely one of those ‘eat this instead of that’ recipes. If you are a Reese’s Cups lover, you absolutely need to test out this recipe. It is your health-ified version of the candy bar that you know and love. Plus, this recipe is so simple to make, made from raw ingredients, it’s gluten-free, vegan, made with no refined sugar, kid friendly, high in protein, and high in healthy fats…BAM!

These Salted Chocolate Nut Butter Cups are actually one of our most favourite recipes on the blog! We’re really obsessed with making healthy versions of classics, and these turned out amazing.

BTW, it’s not so hard to make healthy swaps, and the swaps usually turn out just as delicious. That’s why we’ve designed a downloadable list to help you make those healthier swaps without compromising on taste. Download the list here:

We might be ditching our processed chocolate bars for a home made one, but does it really have any other health benefits? Why yes, yes it does:

High protein from nuts!

Do you ever notice an afternoon slump, or that sugar craving that just won’t quit, post-lunch? It often means your blood sugars are crashing, which can cause cravings, feelings of sluggishness, and hunger pangs. The best (and healthiest) way to tackle those cravings is by snacking or eating protein, fiber and healthy fats (and it doesn’t hurt that chocolate is involved as well).

Low sugar snack.

Usually when blood sugar dips, and hunger kicks in- especially hunger for a sweet treat; we tend to reach for something that is jam packed with sugar (muffin/pastry/candy bar etc.) to combat those feelings. This options doesn’t actually leave you feeling full, instead it spikes blood sugar, and continues on with the vicious cycle of blood sugar spikes, drops, and constant cravings. Finding snacks that are no to low sugar, but also consist of healthy and balanced macronutrients, such as protein, complex carbs and healthy fats, will help ward off those pesky cravings.

Coconut oil.

Most nutrition blogs talk a great deal about coconut oil, and why not? Not only is it good for you skin, your teeth, your hair, but it is also an incredible oil to add to your food. Contrary to popular belief, the Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCTs) found in coconut oil can help speed up your metabolism, aiding in weight loss. It can help with bone health, fatigue, acid reflux and helps strengthen the liver. These are just a few benefits that coconut oil has to offer.

Easy to prep, easy to take on the go.

This doesn’t need much explaining. When something is easy to make, it makes it much easier to pack it up and leave the house with it ready to eat for when your body is telling you to pick up a snack. This makes walking to the convenience store or vending machine to pick up something that offers no nutritional a lot less likely.

Test it out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Or, if you’re looking for more delicious treats, check out this recipe for our Peanut Butter Coconut Chocolate Cookies (Vegan, gluten-free, Eat-More copycat), or our 10 Delicious Dark Chocolate Recipe roundup. 

 

Salted Chocolate Nut Butter Cups

This is your healthified version of the Reese peanut butter cups that you know and love.
Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Fridge Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 9
Calories 244 kcal

Ingredients

Base

  • 3/4 cup almond flour substitute oat flour for nut-free version
  • 3 Tbsp coconut flour or brown rice flour
  • 2 Tbsp peanut butter sunflower butter; wow butter also works for nut/seed free version
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup puffed brown rice or quinoa (optional if you want crunchy) **

Chocolate topping

  • 1 cup chocolate chips 70%+
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • salt

Directions

  1. Mix the base in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Take large or small muffin liners and line a muffin tray.

  2. Prepare chocolate topping by microwaving chocolate chips in 15 second intervals, stirring in between. Microwave until liquid then place coconut oil and stir.
  3. Take about 1 Tbsp of peanut butter base and place in muffin liner and press down firm (or about 1 tsp if using small liners). 

  4. Take some of the chocolate sauce and pour on top, you'll want a good ratio of peanut butter to chocolate (not too heavy on each).

  5. Place in the fridge for a few hours until chocolate solidifies (about 2 hours).
  6. ** Alternatively, you can line the muffin liners with chocolate first and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to have them fully coated with chocolate, then add the peanut butter and top with chocolate again and place in freezer. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

  1. Take about 1/2 Tbsp of peanut butter mix and roll into a ball. 

  2. Take a fork and dip ball in into the chocolate sauce at 1 at a time and use a fork to remove/ shake off excess chocolate and place on parchment.

 

Naughty Nutrition

Naughty Nutrition

12 Comments

  1. Gail McMillan

    Looks delicious. Can’t wait to get the ingredients and try this recipe

    Reply
    • Mirna Sharafeddine

      Thanks Gail 🙂 Let us know how it turns out.

      Reply
  2. Angela Arnold

    Lovely looking recipe, however, do you provide the nutritional value of your recipes?

    Reply
    • Mirna Sharafeddine

      Thank you Angela, it is delicious 🙂 We do not currently provide this information. Is there something specific that you are looking for?

      Reply
  3. Enso

    Using the Lose It app, this recipe results in an individual cup being 254 calories. The recipe looks good, and I intend to try it, but it certainly doesn’t help with weight loss!

    You all should also take more care with all the health advantages you say are attributed to things. If you know of research that proves this things, then reference it, otherwise you shouldn’t make such definitive statements.

    Reply
    • Mirna Sharafeddine

      Thank you for your comment Enso. You can find the research links or science-based articles of any claims when you click on the red text that is linked. While, as nutritionists we understand that calories can have a place in weight loss diets for certain individuals, we also know that not all calories are created equal and the quality definitely has an impact on the way our body processes them. So, 100 calories of a donut and 100 calories of a whole food will be metabolized entirely differently by the body. Even the absorption of those calories will be different. In terms of calories in and calories out as well, we know that there are a lot of loopholes and it’s not the only variable to consider when you’re trying to lose weight (see science-based articles here: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/problem-with-calorie-counting-calories-in and here: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/problem-with-calorie-counting-calories-out). These cups are definitely delicious and a much healthier option and can have a place in a balanced diet (even if someone is trying to lose weight). We hope you enjoy them 🙂 .

      Reply
  4. Candice

    Pinned! I’m definitely making these! Like, this week.

    Reply
    • Mirna Sharafeddine

      😉 you’ll love them.

      Reply
  5. Laura

    Oh my goodness!!! Totally drooling over these. They look like perfection! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • Mirna Sharafeddine

      Let us know what you think when you try them 🙂

      Reply
  6. Bri

    Wow, yum! These look awesome! I bet my kiddies will love them.

    Reply
    • Naughty Nutrition

      Absolutely! My two year old gobbles them up (and you know they’re getting a much healthier treat 😉 )

      Reply

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