IT IS WELL KNOWN IN MY FAMILY that I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. My willpower holds me in good stead for most of the year, but Halloween can be a problem. Eating just one peanut butter cup is difficult, and multiple indulgences start an addiction that can be troublesome. Rather than face my problem, I decided to feed it and so I created this healthier alternative, which I like just as much as, if not more than, the original.
1 cup natural peanut butter
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup crispy rice cereal,
plus more if needed
2 cups gluten-and dairy-free
chocolate chips or
12 ounces dark chocolate
Place peanut butter and maple syrup in food processor and pulse to combine. Fold in crispy rice cereal. If your peanut butter is particularly runny, add more cereal until mixture holds together in balls. Form penny-size balls and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Melt chocolate chips or chocolate in double boiler or in small pot over very low heat. Drop 3 or 4 balls at a time into chocolate and roll them around until covered completely. With a teaspoon, scoop out each ball individually, holding it against the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place each chocolate-covered ball back on lined cookie sheet. Repeat until all balls are coated and refrigerate until firm (at least 1 hour). Serve cold or room temperature.
MAKES 30 balls
VARIATION
For added nutritional value and a bit of welcome crunch, add ¼ cup cacao nibs to peanut butter and maple syrup when you add the crispy rice.