Try serving these at a party. No one will believe they aren’t peanut butter cups!
SERVES 12
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces dark chocolate, sugar free and dairy free
¼ cup almond butter or seed butter (no stir)
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
PREPARATION:
1. Line a mini muffin pan with candy paper or mini muffin liners. Standard muffin liners will be too large.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, put about 2½ ounces of the chocolate and coconut oil if desired. If using chocolate bars, break into pieces. Coconut oil is not necessary, but it will give you a bit of grace, guaranteeing you don’t burn your chocolate, and that you get smooth, creamy sauce every time. Heat chocolate in 20- to 30-second intervals, stirring each time. Heat until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, being careful not to burn it. If you prefer heating chocolate over the stove, either heat over low heat using a double boiler, or use a small pot and stir constantly so the chocolate doesn’t burn.
3. When chocolate is liquefied, spoon about ½ teaspoon of the chocolate mix into each candy paper, just enough to cover the bottom of the paper.
4. Put pan in the freezer for about 5 minutes so chocolate hardens.
5. While chocolate is cooling in the freezer, melt remaining chocolate (and coconut oil if desired).
6. Remove pan from freezer. Drop about ½-teaspoon–sized balls of nut butter in the middle of each cup, on top of the hardened chocolate base. Press lightly to flatten the ball so that the nut butter doesn’t protrude over the top of the cup, but don’t smash it down. The nut butter should remain in the center and not bleed out over the edges of the chocolate base.
7. Spoon remaining chocolate mixture into each cup, covering the nut butter completely. Be sure you get the sauce around the sides. If necessary, flatten the top and smooth over with chocolate. If chocolate doesn’t surround the sides of the nut butter, the nut butter will show through, and the cups will fall apart.
8. Freeze for about 15 minutes before serving.
NOTE: Be sure you use a firm “no-stir” brand of almond butter or seed butter. Most other nut butters are oily and separate. If it is too oily, it will bleed through the chocolate and cause the cups to fall apart. Also, keeping the cups small will make them easier to work with.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING: 58.8 calories, 1.5g protein, 5.35g carbohydrates, 2.35g fiber, 0.0g sugar, 5.5g fat, 2.04g saturated fat, 0.0mg cholesterol, 1.1mg sodium