Peanut Butter Cups

Finals are over! I have barely cooked anything in the past four weeks because I have been living in the library.  But now it is time for Christmas baking mania.  These were the first project and they were very easy.  It took me about an hour to make them and they seem pretty hard to mess up.  So far they have gotten rave reviews- much better than Reeses.  The festive liners and sprinkles are from Sur la Table (which is within walking distance of my parents' new house!).  Pretzels would also be a good topping. 

Peanut Butter Cups

makes about 25

1 cup peanut butter (nothing organic or crunchy- skippy works best)

2/3 cup powdered sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

16 ounces dark chocolate (either bars or chips)

In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Taste and add salt or sugar if needed.  Line a mini muffin pan with liners.  Melt half of the chocolate in the microwave.  Drop a tablespoon full of chocolate into each liner. Use the back of the spoon to push the chocolate up on the sides.  Refrigerate for ten minutes.

Add a spoonful of filling to each cup and flatten the top (I just used my hands to do this).  Melt the remaining chocolate and spoon over each one.  Decorate with toppings or leave plain.  Refrigerate for a half hour.  



Lining the cups with chocolate





Adding the filling