Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (way better than Reese's)!

I created something in my kitchen the other day that was truly amazing. A friend of mine was celebrating a birthday, and I remembered that she had said that Reese's peanut butter cups were her favorite candy. I found this homemade peanut butter cup recipe online, and I didn't think that I had everything i needed to make them. I almost decided to make peanut butter whoopie pies instead, but then at the last second I realized I had what I needed to make these adorable little treats! They were incredibly easy to make, and they tasted way better than I had even imagined that they would. I put some in a cellophane baggie, tied it with a cute ribbon, and delivered my gift. I also left quite a few of the peanut butter cups at home, but I only got to eat about two of them. My husband has been back at work on the home renovations with my dad, and they ate the peanut butter cups during their work breaks! They told me that they were way better than Reese's and that they were really, really good. I think you will probably agree. Enjoy!

Recipe for Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (way better than Reese's)!

INGREDIENTS:

For the peanut butter filling
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp. of unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1/3 cup of confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
1/8 tsp. of salt

For the chocolate coating
1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup of bittersweet chocolate chips
6 ounces of coarsely chopped milk chocolate
1 1/2 Tbsp. of creamy peanut butter

DIRECTIONS:
Line mini muffin pans with paper liners. Use a small pat of unsalted butter and your fingers to lightly butter the bottoms and sides of the liners. 

Put the peanut butter and softened butter into a bowl. Use a hand mixer set on medium speed to combine. Then add in the confectioners' sugar and salt and mix on medium speed until well incorporated. Taste, and add in more sugar or salt to desired taste. Set aside.

Put the semisweet chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate, and peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium power for about a minute, then stir. Continue microwaving for about one minute at a time and stirring until the chocolate is smooth.

Using a teaspoon, drop 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of each liner. Then use a half teaspoon and drop about 1/2 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate. Then top the peanut butter with another teaspoon or so of the chocolate. Add on decorative sprinkles, if desired. Place them in the fridge until they are set, about 2 hours.

Enjoy them right out of the fridge for more of a crunch, or at room temperature for a more smooth texture. Delicious either way!

Recipe Adapted from: Taste of Home

Makes approximately 2 dozen peanut butter cups.