Good Morning & Happy Thursday!
I am so so so so excited for the weekend. This weekend is going to be so much fun that I’m posting a recap blog tomorrow morning, so the two don’t run into each other. I just don’t want to overwhelm you with photos. I would tell you what I’m doing, but Kyle doesn’t even know! It’s a fun surprise. I didn’t want to leave the blog empty again, so I’m sharing a delicious protein snack I made this week. Peanut butter and dark chocolate are two of my loves, and when they are together, it’s heaven. I can get myself in trouble with peanut butter cups in the house, and that is why I wanted to make a healthier version with some protein benefits. I can feel good about eating these, especially after an intense workout.
Are you dark chocolate lover? If so, it’s a good thing! Dark chocolate (70 86% cocoa) contains a lot of fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium! It’s also filled with antioxidants. Dark chocolate can also be beneficial for your skin! That’s why a lot of spas do cocoa scrubs 🙂 But I’d rather eat my chocolate than wear it.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s so easy and quick to make (my favorite kind.) You can customize it any way you’d like. Try adding chia seeds, flax seed, collagen, bee pollen, or any other kind of super-food! That’s a good way to trick kids into eating healthy as well! I remember watching the Food Network years ago (can’t remember the show) when the chef made chocolate bars filled with peanut butter, honey, carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale. The kids had no idea! They thought they were eating dessert. Such a fun way to get kids to eat a bit healthier.
Gimme all the chocolate!
If you want yours to be prettier, you can roll the peanut butter into balls. I was just lazy so I scooped them with the tsp and plopped them into the cups.
Extremely Dark Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- 2 Bars Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% (Sub 1 1/2 cups your choice of chocolate)
- 3/4 Cup Unsweetened/No Salt Added Peanut Butter
- 2 Tbsps Organic Honey
- 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder
- 1/4 Cup Swerve
- Sea Salt (Optional)
Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a bowl. You can use the stove top or microwave.
- In a mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, and protein powder until it forms a dough-like texture. If it's too runny, add more protein powder.
- Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, stir the Swerve sweetener in.
- Place your baking cups on a baking sheet. Add 1 tsp of the melted chocolate into the bottom of all the baking cups.
- Add tsp sized chunks of protein peanut butter on top of the chocolate layer.
- Add the last layer of chocolate on top of the peanut butter, covering it completely.
- Sprinkle with a couple granules of sea salt (optional)
- Let the protein peanut butter cups harden. When they were completely done, I added them to a container and stored them in the freezer.
Notes
45 Calories, 3.5g Protein, 4g Carbs, 4g Fat, 1.5g Sugar Perfect for a post workout!
Any honey, any protein powder, any sugar replacement (even real sugar) or ingredients will work as substitutes. Just have fun and play around with the recipe. I am going to make these again using crunchy jiff, chocolate protein powder, and milk chocolate for Kyle. Oh, and this fall (actually trying to hold off) I am going to make cinnamon pumpkin butter cups! I may even try doing an apple pie oatmeal cup! Maybe I’ll do a series 🙂
I like to keep my desserts frozen. I even freeze my protein bars! Is that weird?
This recipe makes 40 mini peanut butter cups. If you can’t find the baking cups, you can use cupcake sized ones and make them larger. Or, just make it bark style! These would be cute to throw into your kid’s lunchboxes too. Fun & healthy desserts are the best kind. You can even add decorative sprinkles to the tops for holidays.
Questions for you!
- What fun & creative flavor would you try to make? (pumpkin pie)
- Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? (dark)
- Chocolate protein powder or vanilla protein powder? (vanilla)
Cassie says
Looks amazing! Peanut butter cups are one of my biggest guilty pleasures. I used to eat so many of the Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups, but I want to try making my own!
Taralynn McNitt says
Mine too!! I do love the Justin’s!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
This is perfect as an alternative to Reese’s! Plus, I much prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate (too sweet for me)!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Absolutely!!
Linda @ The Fitty says
I’m pretty sure this is 100% better than those Quest Cravings. 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
They’re sooooo good for sure!
Amanda says
This has nothing to do with this post at all….but I remember when you and your dad made your bed and that you would do a “How To” on it. I was wondering if you were still planning on doing that? I loved your bed and was thinking about trying to make my own bed.
Taralynn McNitt says
Go to “Anna White” website and type in “rustic bed” and you’ll find some that are similar!! Not sure when I’ll get the plan from him lol
Kaitlin says
I’ve been trying to find healthy dessert alternatives because I love chocolate and basically anything sweet and unhealthy! haha These look delicious and I will definitely be making these!
Taralynn McNitt says
Enjoy!!:)
Dana says
I’d add a touch of chili powder. I once made dark chocolate cupcakes with chili from a cupcake cook book and I think it would be good in it.
Dark, always. I’m always bummed out when yummy sounding chocolate bars are milk. I do like white chocolate quite a bit.
Definitely vanilla.
Taralynn McNitt says
YUM!!!!
Carrie this fit chick says
MAKING THESE. I freakin’ love dark chocolate! And peanut butter of course 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
Let me know how they turn out for you!!
Mary says
Thank you for this recipe! making asap.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hope you enjoy!
Anonymous says
Yum!
Taralynn McNitt says
I think so too!!:)
Brooklyn says
YUM THESE LOOK AWESOME! I love dark chocolate, and peanut butter, so I need these 🙂
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes you do!:)
Ashton Jury says
These looks delicious, and I’m sure you’ve mentioned it before but where do you buy Swerve? I hear you on the pumpkin pie! I am as basic white girl as it comes with pumpkin… I am patiently waiting till September 1st so I can start making ALL THE PUMPKIN things. Have you tried the pumpkin flavored Rx or Lara bars… sooooo good! I’m definitely a dark chocolate lover and chocolate protein powder, one of my favorite things is Premier Protein shakes they have 30g of Protein and I’ll usually go to Starbucks and order two shots of espresso over ice in a venti cup and pour the caramel or chocolate flavored shake into the cup, its a great treat plus you get so much protein! What’s your favorite vanilla protein powder? or favorite powder to just add to water?
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks! I get it at Earthfare! But you can find it at other health stores/some grocery stores AND AMAZON!:)
I also change it up! I like the designer whey for baking! But LOVE Orgain plant based protein. I think it tastes amazing.
Traci says
I cannot wait to make these!! I absolutely love your approach to making healthy eating fun and delicious! Thanks for sharing your gift for this with this community! Love following along with your blog, and I get so much inspiration from your posts. <3
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you, Traci!! 🙂
Brooke says
Love this idea! Fresh ground peanut butter made with honey roasted peanuts has been my weakness lately… Have you tried Quest’s peanut butter protein powder? It’s become the only one I’ll drink!
Taralynn McNitt says
I haven’t! I’ve never enjoyed drinking peanut butter flavored things, but I’ll have to try it! ALways up for new things!
Jess says
These look delicious.
Taralynn McNitt says
THey’re pretty tasty!
Taylor says
Omg you should definitely do a series!!! I’d love to see what other flavors you come up with/try!!
Taralynn McNitt says
I think so too!!!
Darby says
I think chocolate banana or chocolate strawberry would taste amazing! For the holiday season, chocolate peppermint could be good too!
Taralynn McNitt says
yum!
Susie @ Mile High Dreamers says
Dark chocolate, PB, and protein?! These are literally tiny little edible miracles. Making NOW haha
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes they are!!
Gretchen says
I loooove dark chocolate. I need to make these!
Gretchen
http://www.chaosandchamomile.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Theyre so good!
Julie says
I’ve been following you for years and you’re such an inspiration – so relatable! My brother & (almost) sister-in-law live in Charlotte too!
I’ve made these and your peanut butter oatmeal chocolate protein cookies tonight! Naturally, I forgot I needed a top-layer of chocolate so mine are more of a bark style served in a cupcake wrapper 🙂
I’d love a peppermint flavored cup, with dark chocolate, and vanilla protein powder !
Taralynn McNitt says
Aww thank you!!!
Charlotte is amazing 🙂
I think that sounds like a perfect flavor for the holidays!
Aly says
Do you add the Swerve sweetener to the dark chocolate? I’m so confused, LOL! I like dark chocolate because it’s somewhat bitter, so I don’t understand adding sweetener. Why not use a sweeter chocolate?
Taralynn McNitt says
Because the dark chocolate is bitter and it helps with the bitterness.
Aly says
Right, but that’s the point of dark chocolate. It’s bitter. Otherwise you’d just use a sweeter chocolate with a lower cocoa content. It sounds like you just don’t like dark chocolate! (Which is totally fine! Not everyone loves it.) 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
lol I do like it. Actually dark chocolate is healthier for you, that’s the reason for it. Adding swerve makes it taste better with a higher content. There are antioxidants in dark chocolate, not milk.
Abigail Taylor says
I made these tonight and they were DELICIOUS. I ended up using chocolate protein powder and normal dark chocolate!!
Taralynn McNitt says
So happy to hear that!!