I love peanut butter. It’s no secret.
I love it with jelly or honey or bananas…
…and always when paired with chocolate.
These homemade peanut butter cups need to be made, by you.
Then you should share them.
Give ’em away, because let me tell you…these little treats are addicting.
Did I also mention that these little homespun peanut butter cups are so super easy.
It’s all just melting, stirring, spooning, and melting and spooning again. Spooning is good.
Easy as pie. Actually, way easier than pie…since pie is almost NEVER easy for me. Ever.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
adapted from This Homemade Life
Let me just note that these are not like the beloved Reese’s. These peanut butter cups are a homemade confection, they get soft quickly at room temp and contain graham crackers as a binder. They also aren’t covered in waxy chocolate, which to me is a bonus…not that I haven’t devoured an innumerable amount of reese’s in my 26 years…
I used coconut oil instead of butter because I had just enough left in my jar and it seemed like a good idea. Do what you want.
1/4 cup coconut oil or butter
3/4 cup peanut butter (i used a natural one)
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
pinch of salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips
chopped peanuts, graham crumbs, or sea salt for garnish.
Line a 24 count mini mufin tin with liners. Set aside.
In a small saucepan melt coconut oil over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, graham crumbs, sugar, and salt until combined. Spoon scant tablespoons of the mixture into prepared cups. Place in refrigerator while you melt the chocolate.
Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 10 second bursts, stirring between each trip to the microwave, until melted and smooth. Spoon melted chocolate over each peanut butter cup. Top with desired garnishes and refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes.
And, for really no reason at all, my foto “studio”.
hah!
Note that the lamp, coasters, and other random crap that reside on this table during “off” hours are all piled on the green armchair to the right.
I don’t really have any other gear besides my camera, but I make it work. I use a piece of foam board to bounce the light. High tech stuff here.
Bloggers, where do you take your photos?
Rhiannon Trautmann
I’m always taking my photos on my white dining room table with the white wall. I bought some fancy paper to change up the background colors every so often. With a 5 head lamp from Bed Bath and Beyond, because my apartment has like, negative windows. I’m facing buildings all around.
This is great! I just got a mini muffin pan so I’m excited to try this. In fact this was the first thing I thought do too, awesome!
Megan
These look awesome! And I need to get some foam core for light bouncing, because your photos look lovely.
Oh! And I normally take my photos on my kitchen table, or my desk if I need a solid background.
Norma
I have one good spot for taking pics. I understand. I think most of us do.
Second time here and I love your writing, cooking and site. I will be trying lots of your recipes as I love to bake. My husband cooks and I bake. Its a good system. ; )
Thank you~
cindy
thanks! a husband that cooks, what a lucky lady! my husband actually makes bread and pasta, it’s wonderful 🙂
Courtney Wilson Aaron
just goes to show, you don’t need the fanciest gear to get the most beautiful images! Way to be resourceful, MacGuyver!
cindy
there’s a fine line between cheap and resourceful 😉
klaudia
those look really good! think ill have to try to make them haha 🙂
Anne @ Baking Me
I used to take my photos in the kitchen but the light in there is not very good. Now I take them on the dining room table next to a big window.
I love chocolate and peanut butter, but I am not a fan of the waxy chocolate either, yours look great! Oh and I really like that little red pot, it’s adorable.
cindy
i big window, with natural light is my choice for photos too 🙂 the little red pot was thrifted, I have a yellow one too.
Terris@Freeeats
What beautiful little gems these are. Thank you for sharing the recipe and your photo tips! I have been admiring your photography. 🙂 When I take photos for my blog, I find that I have to go outdoors most days. The lighting in my house just isn’t great unless I am right by a window in the morning. People don’t necessarily “know” I’m outside, depending on what I do with the background. I’m new to all this, so I will keep learning and tweaking. Thanks for the inspiration. I plan to try this recipe, but will have to adapt it to use almond butter and gluten free cookie crumbs.
cindy
terris, thanks! i always have to take photos in the morning since I lose the light by noon. If you have something white and translucent for shooting outdoors, you can diffuse the light a little–making the shadows less harsh 🙂 let me know how the recipe goes with your adaptations!
jordan
nom. nom. nom. i am making these ASAP or for the next dinner party we go to, because who doesn’t love peanut butter cups?!
i don’t have a “place” where i take pictures, we have lots of light so i try to shoot mid morning/afternoon when i can, primarily in a flood of light on our hardwood floors (not gross, right?!). also, working with a point and shoot limits what i can really accomplish.
love your blog, am so glad i found it. thank you!!
cindy
i started with a point and shoot, whatever works 🙂 let me know if you try out the pb cups!
Jordan
Going back through your blog. Love it. 🙂 I think the best part about these pictures is the bite marks in the peanut butter cups!!
katie martino
i love your photography.
what kind of camera do you use?
my pictures suck, but i’m thinking about setting up a white sheet on a chair and taking things from there 🙂
cindy
katie, I use a Canon EOS Rebel XS w/ a 50mm f1.4 lens. I used a point-and-shoot before the big upgrade. i would suggest taking pictures during the day with the flash off. also if your camera has a macro setting, turn that on 🙂 for me food photography has been a lot of trial and error, so keep at it!
Michelle
I’ve made this sort of dessert in a baking dish, but what a great idea to make them really look like little cups!
Kathie
I am a huge fan of your site and adore your photography. I imagined this grand studio with tons of lighting and diffusers! I’m in awe!
cindy
Kathie, thanks! I wish I had a studio and equipment that cool 🙂