Crunchy Pretzel Peanut Butter Cups (Print View)

A sweet-savory treat with crunchy pretzel base, creamy peanut butter filling, and smooth chocolate topping.

# Components:

→ Pretzel Base

01 - 1 cup mini salted pretzels, crushed
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Peanut Butter Filling

03 - 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
04 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
05 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Chocolate Topping

07 - 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
08 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a bowl, mix crushed pretzels with melted butter until well coated. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup and press firmly to form an even base.
03 - In another bowl, combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture on top of pretzel base in each cup and gently spread.
04 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
05 - Spoon melted chocolate over peanut butter layers, smoothing the tops with the back of a spoon.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until firm.
07 - Remove from liners and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like you spent hours perfecting them, but your secret is just 25 minutes of actual work.
  • The salt-sweet-crunch trinity hits different when you make it yourself, and you control exactly how much sweetness sneaks in.
  • Everyone assumes they're complicated, so homemade bragging rights are basically guaranteed.
02 -
  • Overmixing the peanut butter filling can make it too stiff and hard to spread, so stir just until smooth and stop there.
  • The chocolate layer needs to be thick enough to hold together—about a quarter inch—or your cups will crack when you remove the liners.
03 -
  • If your peanut butter is too runny or too thick, you can adjust it slightly by mixing in a touch more powdered sugar or a teaspoon of coconut oil before spreading.
  • The paper liners peel away cleanest when the cups are completely firm, so resist the urge to rush and remove them while they're still slightly soft.
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