I’m really sorry to do this to you on a Monday morning, but I just couldn’t help myself. Just look at these gooey wonders!
Healthier Peanut Butter Cups: Take 1
It is now my quest to create a healthier peanut butter cup. We’ve all drooled over the Reese Cups before, but what about trying to create a healthier version using more natural ingredients?
Well this is exactly what I attempted to try yesterday.
It was just me, my molds, some chocolate, and peanuts in the kitchen.
No recipe, no pre-meditated ideas, nadda. Just a little experiment in the kitchen.
And here is what I did.
Step 1: Fill the mold 1/3 of the way with only the best dark chocolate (melted) you can get your hands on. I used 70% cooca for maximum antioxidant power.
Step 2: In a blender, process 1/4 cup raw peanuts, 1 T agave, and 1 t powdered sugar. Place about 1-1.5 t of peanut mix onto chocolate.
Step 3: Cover with more melted dark chocolate. Smooth spoon or finger over chocolate to spread to all sides and obtain a smooth finish.
Step 4: Harden in the freezer for 5-10 mins and pop out.
Ta-da!
I made 2 vegan cups using carob chips and two non-vegan using the dark chocolate.
After melting for 10 seconds on high:
The verdict?
I enjoyed my first attempt at making a healthier peanut butter cup! I wasn’t sold on this peanut + agave combination though. Don’t get me wrong it was good, but I have other plans for attempt #2. I am also going to create smaller cups next time. These were a good replica size but they were a bit too big for me. Suspiciously, I could not find the ingredient list anywhere on the Reese website! If anyone can find it for me, please direct it my way. My guess is that there are additives in the cups.
Update: Here is the ingredient list off the bag: milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, nonfat milk, milk fat, corn syrup solids, soy lecithin, PGPR, emulsifier), peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt, TBHQ (preservative)
Thanks Jen!
Stay tuned for more experiments as always!
Day 25 (April 20): Do the popular pilates core workout called The Hundred. See this description for details!
Try to do three 60-second sets! I love these. You can modify them in many ways by raising or lowering your legs, bending your knees, or resting your head on the ground.
I did some of these last night, including more planks and side planks. It is amazing the difference I am seeing in my core from just 25 days! I can’t wait until June 1st. :)
Ok, back to work! See you this afternoon for my workout, knee sleeve review, and some interesting health research.
Don’t forget to leave a comment in this post to enter my Maybelline Stiletto Lash Mascara giveaway! This stuff rocks my WORLD!
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Junior
the pb cups look amazing!
These look gorgeous! I can’t wait to try the recipe once you think you have it jussssssst right! My husband is a huge fan of PB cups ;)
Looks great!
Eric is going to start missing you with all the time you are spending in the kitchen hehe!
cool experiment!
what did you think of the texture of your peanut mix? (it’s obviously not super smooth like the original cups)
I love doing the 100 with my ab workouts, it’s an awesome workout! Those pb cups look amazing.
Haya- I purposely went for a crunchier texture this time around because I LOVE crunchy PB! Next time I may try and make it smooth :)
you’re a cruel cruel woman!! those look absolutely delicious!
Wow! You have inspired me to try making these myself. :)
Check out my blog as I run with Team in Training and raise money for blood cancers!
www. HelpMeghanRun .com
AMAZING!!!! I might try them myself too… I would try some honey or maple syrup instead of agave.
Great Scot, those look incred. I think you and I have a Vulcan mind-link going on – I had the idea of doing something similar (processing peanuts instead of using peanut butter) but I probably wouldn’t have thought to use any sweetener besides sugar. I can’t WAIT until we get the food processor from our registry!! You know what would be even meaner of you? If you took some of your frozen cake crumbs and popped a layer of them underneath the peanut mixture. OR what if you filled them with homemade almond butter?! DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO ITTTTTTT!!!!
Try adding graham cracker crumbs to the peanut butter and it will make that yummy Reese’s texture, it also keeps them sweetened without adding too much sugar! :)
You work well on a whim! Those look so cute. Would it be easier to just use peanut butter, no agave added?
I actually have some Reese’s in the house. Here is the ingredient list off the bag: milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, nonfat milk, milk fat, corn syrup solids, soy lecithin, PGPR, emulsifier), peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt, TBHQ (preservative)
I think I will need to make my own now because some of those ingredients sound pretty awful!!
Hi Angela!
I have a suggestion: maybe you can add salt to the peanut mixture? I remember the inside of Reeses’ PB cups tastes distinctly sweet and salty.
OH. MY. FREAKING. GOODNESS. EPITOME. OF. HOLY. YUM. DECADENCE. WHOA.
Wow.
Truly, a picture is worth a thousand words.
yay..Thanks for including the hundred in the BBBC! The hundred is a killer exercise for the abs..love it!
Those peanut buttercups looks so so good!
Cute video! You guys are adorable. I’d have to say out of all of the things you’ve baked/made so far these would have to be my “have to have” top pick! I am totally obsessed with all things PB & chocolate! I haven’t had a real Reeses for years, but have attempted my own healthy cups without any successes. I can’t wait to see your final results! Have a great day gorgeous!
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11056
heres a copycat recipe for reese’s pb cups
You make the BEST healthy treats! I love seeing all your delicious creations… thanks for sharing this one!
I have a question for you… do you eat mostly organic? If so, what do you think are the most important foods to eat organically. I eat about 90% organic and always get a bit weary about that last 10% of non-organic food. One of the main reasons I ask is because I use Quaker Old Fashioned oats for my oatmeal and was wondering how important it would be for Oats to be organic. Just thought I’d get your expert opinion ;)