Protein Peanut Butter Cups – Chocolate Covered Katie

Make your own chocolate high protein peanut butter cups at home. This delicious healthy snack recipe is packed with protein!

No bake protein peanut butter cups

I’ve gotten many requests for a copycat protein peanut butter cup recipe, similar to the packaged pb cups from Quest or Perfect Snacks.

With just four or five ingredients and no oven required, these homemade chocolate protein cups are a healthy dessert or snack that’s super quick and easy to make.

If you are looking for a healthy snack that is low calorie, high in protein, and tastes like a chocolate Reese’s peanut butter cup at the same time, this is the recipe for you.

Keep them on hand for any time you are craving chocolate and peanut butter.

Also try this Brownie in a Mug

Protein chocolate peanut butter cup ingredients

Here is what you’ll need for the recipe: creamy or crunchy peanut butter, protein powder, chocolate chips or chocolate bars, optional oil, and a pinch of salt.

Feel free to substitute cashew butter, macadamia nut butter, walnut, hazelnut, pine nut, or pecan butter, almond butter, Homemade Nutella, or nut free Coconut Butter or sunflower butter for the peanut butter.

Go ahead and use your favorite white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi sweet chocolate, or dark chocolate chips. Or break up a chocolate bar to use instead of chocolate chips.

For a fun twist, try different flavored chocolate bars, such as peppermint, coconut, coffee, or sea salt caramel. Caramel chocolate peanut butter cups? Yes, please.

I like to stir a little vegetable or sunflower oil into the melted chocolate for a smoother finish, but you can omit this step if you want oil free peanut butter cups.

Including the salt is highly recommended, because it adds depth of flavor.

The recipe can be dairy free, gluten free, soy free, egg free, vegan, and sugar free. For a keto protein snack, use sugar free chocolate chips and a low carb nut butter.

If you find yourself with leftover peanut butter, make Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies or these flourless and sugar free Keto Peanut Butter Cookies.

What type of protein powder to use

Because different types and brands of protein powders can vary greatly in taste, be sure to use a brand and flavor that you already know you like.

Try chocolate, vanilla, coffee, caramel, strawberry, cinnamon roll, pumpkin, or even birthday cake protein powder.

The recipe will work with pretty much any type of protein, including rice, egg, casein, soy, or whey protein.

I find many brands to have an artificial aftertaste, so my personal preference when making desserts is to go with unflavored and unsweetened pea protein powder.

You may swap out the protein powder for an equal amount of powdered peanut butter instead. We have not tried substituting powdered pb for the nut butter in the candies.

Protein peanut butter cup recipe video

Above – watch the step by step recipe video

How to make the high protein snack cups

Start by gathering all of your ingredients, along with round candy molds or mini cupcake liners and a mini muffin tin.

Carefully melt the chocolate chips or bars. If you have never melted chocolate before, see below for instructions on how to melt chocolate correctly so it does not burn.

If using the optional vegetable or coconut oil, stir it in after melting the chocolate to achieve a thin, smooth texture.

With a small spoon, spread about a half teaspoon of chocolate sauce up the sides of the cupcake liners or candy cups.

Set the muffin pan aside while you make the protein peanut butter filling.

If using natural peanut butter or a dry nut butter like almond butter, let it come to room temperature or gently warm it up until it is easy to stir.

In a cereal bowl or medium mixing bowl, stir the nut butter together with the protein powder and pinch of salt. Spoon a little over a teaspoon of filling into each chocolate coated liner or cup.

Spread another teaspoon or so of chocolate over top of everything. You should no longer be able to see the peanut butter in the candy molds or paper liners.

Either chill the cups in the refrigerator or freezer for ten minutes to set, or simply let the pan sit on the counter for a few hours and the cups will naturally set on their own.

Once the chocolate shell hardens, the liners will peel off easily from the homemade protein peanut butter cups.

Store these chocolate peanut butter protein cups in a cool, dry place. Or refrigerate or freeze for up to four months.

The best ways to melt chocolate

As I mention in my recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberries, the best way to melt chocolate is either in a microwave or by using the double boiler method.

Melting chocolate in the microwave: Place the chocolate chips in a completely dry microwave safe bowl. (If using chocolate bars, first finely chop with a knife.)

Heat the bowl for twenty seconds. Stir, then continue to heat in ten second increments, stirring between each. Chocolate can burn quickly, so it is important to go slowly.

Melting chocolate with a double boiler: Place the chocolate pieces or chips in the top pan of a double boiler or heat safe mixing bowl over a saucepan or bottom double boiler filled with an inch or so of simmering water.

Do not allow any water from the bottom pan to touch the chocolate chips in the top pan, because water can make the chocolate seize up.

Stir until smooth, letting the steam from the bottom heat the chocolate indirectly.

This protein peanut butter cup recipe is easy to transport, making it great for parties, book clubs, holiday cookie trays, or other events with friends or family.

More High Protein Snacks

Cake Batter Protein Shake

Protein Cookie Dough

Single Serving Protein Cookie

Protein Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Chocolate Protein Cake In A Mug

Chia Pudding Recipe

Protein Bars – 5 New Flavors