Recipe: Home-made Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Spring seems to finally be on its way to our nation’s capital and it’s nice to see the ground peaking out after months of nothing but the white blanket of snow. Soon the Easter holiday will be here and so will the time to indulge our sweet tooth (kids don’t always have to have all the fun, do they?) Why not try something a little different this spring? Instead of opting for store-bought candy, with all those preservatives and excess packaging, why not try some home-made goodies that kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy! Here is a simple recipe for home-made mini peanut butter cups (recipe first found here), a favourite of all who love combining the sweetness of chocolate and the saltiness of peanut butter – and for a healthier option choose dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Happy baking!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips or alternatively dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 30 mini paper cups for filling (1 3/4 X 1 1/4 inch)

Directions

  1. In 1-quart saucepan combine chocolate chips and shortening. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth (3 to 5 minutes).
  2. Loosen top paper cup from stack, but leave in stack for greater stability while being coated. With small paint brush, coat inside top cup evenly with about 1 teaspoon melted chocolate to about 1/8-inch thickness, bringing coating almost to top of cup, but not over edge. Repeat until 30 cups are coated; refrigerate cups.
  3. In 2-quart saucepan combine butter or margarine and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in confectioners’ sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Press about 1/2 tablespoon filling into each chocolate cup.
  4. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon melted chocolate on top of filling; spread to cover. Freeze until firm (about 2 hours) carefully peel off paper cups. Store refrigerated.

Bon Appetite!!!