Peanut Butter Chocolates

July 26, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

These little chocolates are incredibly rich.

To me, they taste like a bit like a really good Snickers bar, and they’ve gone down like a house on fire with almost everyone who has tried them.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation on Twitter with my friends Lucas and Mei-Lu. We were discussing Reese’s Pieces, a US candy, and its sister confection, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I thought it might be fun to try making them at home.

I made a filling by beating together (with a metal spoon) half a cup each of smooth peanut butter (Krafts) and icing sugar mixture (confectioner’s sugar). I then tempered a 50/50 batch of Callebaut 811 (54% dark) and 823 (milk), and half filled my small square moulds with the chocolate.

Spreading the chocolate onto the sides of each square well with a tiny spatula was fiddly and produced less than perfect results. The alternative though was to fill each hole to the brim and then tip out the excess – a process that would result in far more chocolate wastage than I was happy with.

The moulds were set briefly in the fridge before a teeny spoonful of the peanut butter mixture was scooped into each cavity. We discovered that banging the trays on the bench helped to level off the peanut butter…

A small dollop of tempered chocolate then went on top to seal in the filling…

I suspect that these are less sweet (and salty) than the original, as I’ve used a high cacao milk chocolate coating, and only a small quantity of filling in each piece. They’re not the neatest choccies I’ve ever made, but they’ve definitely been one of the most popular!

Addendum: Since drafting this post, I’ve had another go at these. To the second batch I added a handful of Pailleté Feuilletine to the base layer of chocolate, and reduced the amount of peanut butter. They’re even more moreish with the added wafer crunch…

Posted in Recipes | 58 Comments

58 Responses

on July 26, 2013 at 12:07 am annashortcakes

I can’t wait to try this at Christmas!!!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  They’ve been very popular here, Anna! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 12:11 am heidiannie

Pb and Chocolate are made to go together! :)
These look so good. They (reece’s pb cups) are also available in dark chocolate so I have a good idea what yours taste like and all I can say is
YUM!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, I like them with a little less pb and a bit more chocolate, but some friends have really loved the ones with oodles of pb. Bit too rich for me! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 12:31 am Ev

These look amazing! I’m impressed by your tempering skills it’s one of those things that I have tried and failed multiple times.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! It took a bit of practice, but it’s a very handy thing to be able to do – we make almost all our own Christmas and birthday gifts, and very often, they’re chocolate! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 12:53 am radhika25

Ooh! That sounds yummy!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! Fun (but fiddly) to make too! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 1:09 am Anne @GtSlamseysFarm

They look delicious Celia. Something to bookmark for the winter I think as they’ll just melt off the plate at the moment. I like the idea of a little crunch.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Anne, the crunch saves it from being too gooey, I think. Although the diehard PB lovers don’t quite agree with me.. ;-)
on July 26, 2013 at 2:20 am Glenda

Lovely Celia, as always …
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Glenda! So nice to have you guys back!
on July 26, 2013 at 3:39 am dianeskitchentable

Those treats would not last a minute in my house. I love the mini Reese’s peanut butter cups & hide a bag of them in my bedside table (every now & then I have to switch my hiding spot once my husband finds them). That chocolate you use looks fantastic.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Diane, thank you! I mix the dark and milk Callebaut to give a dark milk blend of about 43% cacao – less sickly sweet that way! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 5:46 am no1ladykay

YUM!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Kay! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 6:28 am EllaDee

Yum from me as well. I had a school friend from California who introduced me to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups years ago. Yours, particularly with the crunch sound like the grown up version. My friend also made lovely peanut butter choc chip brownies… if too much peanut butter is never enough.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:49 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  We adore PB choc chip cookies, but I don’t make them to often, or Big Boy makes himself sick on them. Here’s our recipe:
  
  https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/10/30/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/
on July 26, 2013 at 6:31 am Doll

Use a piping bag for your filling, it makes it easier to keep it bubble free
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for the tip, although we didn’t actually have any bubbles.. ;-)
on July 26, 2013 at 7:24 am Manuela

Reese cups have always been one of my favorites! Yours look beautiful and delicious. Probably taste better too! Too bad I can’t try just one..maybe two. I am always in awe whenever you try something new with tempering chocolate…your chocolates look so professional.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Manuela, the tempering isn’t really that hard – it just needs a lot of waiting, an accurate thermometer, and some way of keeping the tempered chocolate at the right temperature to work it!
on July 26, 2013 at 7:33 am Jane

I am fortunate to be able to vouch for everything Celia says!! Delicious and I am not someone who would ever voluntarily eat a Reese’s pb cup (or any commercial Amercian chocolate for that matter!). Thanks for the treats, beautiful neighbour. X
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  J, so lovely to see the girls the other day, thanks for sending them up! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 7:40 am Jo

I’m lost for words! And that’s even without tasting one. They look incredible.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jo, they were pretty good. Pete won’t eat them though – he doesn’t like PB!
on July 26, 2013 at 9:29 am Amanda

Celia, I think it is most cruel of you to post these images. If you are going to insist on making these stunning treats I think you should just keep it to yourself as I am feeling very, very envious.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Not my intention love, sorry. You could fly over for a visit? :) xx
on July 26, 2013 at 10:12 am Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

Oh! I am a little speechless. These are my dream chocolates! I have made chocolate peanut butter cups before but these look so much better :)
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kari, thank you! They’re fiddly to make, aren’t they?
on July 26, 2013 at 11:30 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Oh my goodness Celia you have outdone yourself yet again. These look absolutely mouth-watering.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, I’ve just restocked my chocolate supplies, so I’ve been having fun experimenting! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 2:00 pm Tandy

They look fantastic!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Tandy! Love the new avatar!!
on July 26, 2013 at 3:01 pm Craig

Yum!!!! Can you save me one…. I recently made similar, less elegantly, in tart shells made with broken cookies. In SF I used to buy something similar to what you’ve done. No comparison with Reeces.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I’ll make a fresh batch for you when you come up! I think I’ve got the recipe sorted now!
on July 26, 2013 at 4:46 pm marilynscottwaters

Just chuck a handful of these across the pond. I’ve got my catcher’s mitt. Dang they look tasty. Maz.
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maz, done! Did you get them? :)
  - on July 28, 2013 at 4:20 pm marilynscottwaters
    
    Noms! Thanks! :-)
on July 26, 2013 at 6:17 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

I’m in love! I grew up on these things and I found Reese’s at a highway servo the other night. I came out with 3 packs and John said, “homesick?” LOL

I love your chockies!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maureen, I’ve just discovered they sell all the Reese’s products at Costco! Does that help? ;-) You have to buy in bulk though! :)
on July 26, 2013 at 7:04 pm Sophie33

Yummm! Your home-made filled chocolates look Amazing, incredible & just like a real chocolatier! Waw!!!!!! Must make, darling! Xxxx
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sophie, thank you! Welcome back!
on July 26, 2013 at 8:40 pm hotlyspiced

I saw these on Twitter. They are gorgeous and look really decadent. You are such a competent chocolatier. xx
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Charlie! I have some in a box with your name on them.. :)
on July 26, 2013 at 9:52 pm Melanie

OH wow! Very mean to tease us like that. We love Reeses Peanut Butter cups and I know yours would be much, much better. Hubby has taken to buying me peanut butter filled dark chocolate Christmas trees for my stocking the last couple years. Its a brand that makes a better quality chocolate than the Reeses. I wish I didn’t live so far away or I’d be right over to try yours!!!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Peanut butter filled Christmas trees! Now there’s a thought, Mel! :)
on July 27, 2013 at 9:24 am InTolerant Chef

Littlej loves chocolate and peanut butter together Celia, you would have to hide these very well if she were around! Xox
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, she would probably love these, you should make her some! Or if you like, bring her up, and I’ll make her some! :)
on July 27, 2013 at 7:06 pm Claire

I have none of your chocolate skills, but when making chocolate cups for a raspberry mousse the other day I used a paintbrush which worked quite well.. This sounds delumptious by the way!
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:56 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for the tip, Claire! I sometimes use a paintbrush, but only to put a fine design onto the chocolate (I’m a bit clumsy with it!).. :)
on July 27, 2013 at 7:19 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

As a very lucky recipient of these I was delighted to see that these were up. I’m sitting down to a cup of hot chocolate with one of these delectable little morsels! :D
- on July 28, 2013 at 6:56 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oooh, wait until you see what I have for you next time.. ;-)
on July 28, 2013 at 12:35 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

Oooh now there’s a lovely coincidence! I was just stuffing my face with Whittakers peanut butter chocolate just now. Yep, even smudged a little on the keyboard in my enthusiasm. (Just quietly waaaay better than Reeces ;-)
Looks devine Celia.
on July 30, 2013 at 3:06 pm The Life of Clare

Oh Celia, they look divine!
on July 30, 2013 at 10:41 pm Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

Perfect and I want some….
on August 2, 2013 at 2:11 pm Nic@diningwithastud

Peanut butter and chocolate is my ultimate combination :)
- on August 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  It’s a dangerously addictive combo, Nic! :)