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…
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I can’t wait to try this at Christmas!!!
They’ve been very popular here, Anna! :)
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!
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! :)
These look amazing! I’m impressed by your tempering skills it’s one of those things that I have tried and failed multiple times.
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! :)
Ooh! That sounds yummy!
Thank you! Fun (but fiddly) to make too! :)
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.
Anne, the crunch saves it from being too gooey, I think. Although the diehard PB lovers don’t quite agree with me.. ;-)
Lovely Celia, as always …
Thanks Glenda! So nice to have you guys back!
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.
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! :)
YUM!
Thanks Kay! :)
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.
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/
Use a piping bag for your filling, it makes it easier to keep it bubble free
Thanks for the tip, although we didn’t actually have any bubbles.. ;-)
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.
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!
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
J, so lovely to see the girls the other day, thanks for sending them up! :)
I’m lost for words! And that’s even without tasting one. They look incredible.
Thanks Jo, they were pretty good. Pete won’t eat them though – he doesn’t like PB!
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.
Not my intention love, sorry. You could fly over for a visit? :) xx
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 :)
Kari, thank you! They’re fiddly to make, aren’t they?
Oh my goodness Celia you have outdone yourself yet again. These look absolutely mouth-watering.
Claire, I’ve just restocked my chocolate supplies, so I’ve been having fun experimenting! :)
They look fantastic!
Thanks Tandy! Love the new avatar!!
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.
I’ll make a fresh batch for you when you come up! I think I’ve got the recipe sorted now!
Just chuck a handful of these across the pond. I’ve got my catcher’s mitt. Dang they look tasty. Maz.
Maz, done! Did you get them? :)
Noms! Thanks! :-)
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!
Maureen, I’ve just discovered they sell all the Reese’s products at Costco! Does that help? ;-) You have to buy in bulk though! :)
Yummm! Your home-made filled chocolates look Amazing, incredible & just like a real chocolatier! Waw!!!!!! Must make, darling! Xxxx
Sophie, thank you! Welcome back!
I saw these on Twitter. They are gorgeous and look really decadent. You are such a competent chocolatier. xx
Thanks Charlie! I have some in a box with your name on them.. :)
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!!!
Peanut butter filled Christmas trees! Now there’s a thought, Mel! :)
Littlej loves chocolate and peanut butter together Celia, you would have to hide these very well if she were around! Xox
Becca, she would probably love these, you should make her some! Or if you like, bring her up, and I’ll make her some! :)
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!
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!).. :)
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
Oooh, wait until you see what I have for you next time.. ;-)
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.
Oh Celia, they look divine!
Perfect and I want some….
Peanut butter and chocolate is my ultimate combination :)
It’s a dangerously addictive combo, Nic! :)