Crunchy Pretzel Peanut Cups (Printable)

Sweet and salty cups with a crunchy pretzel base, creamy peanut butter filling, and smooth chocolate topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pretzel Base

01 - 1 cup mini salted pretzels, crushed (about 2 ounces)
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Peanut Butter Filling

03 - 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (6 ounces)
04 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar (1 ounce)
05 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Chocolate Topping

07 - 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (7.5 ounces)
08 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter

# How To Make It:

01 - Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a bowl, combine crushed pretzels with melted butter until evenly coated. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup and press firmly to establish an even foundation.
03 - In a separate bowl, blend peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Distribute about 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture over the pretzel base in each cup and gently spread to cover.
04 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in 30-second intervals, stirring between intervals until completely smooth.
05 - Spoon melted chocolate over the peanut butter layers and smooth the tops using the back of a spoon to create even coverage.
06 - Transfer the muffin tin to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes until the chocolate is completely firm.
07 - Remove cups from paper liners and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pretzel base gives you that unexpected crunch that makes people wonder what makes these different from regular peanut butter cups.
  • You'll feel like a candy maker without needing special equipment or skills, which is honestly the best kind of kitchen victory.
  • Homemade means you can skip the waxy texture of store-bought chocolate and use real chocolate chips that actually taste good.
02 -
  • Don't skip crushing the pretzels unevenly—those irregular pieces are what create texture variation and keep things interesting with every bite.
  • If your chocolate looks grainy after melting, you've overheated it, and starting fresh with new chocolate chips is faster than trying to rescue it.
03 -
  • Keep your melted chocolate slightly warm while coating so it flows smoothly and adheres to the peanut butter layer without sliding off.
  • If you're making these for a crowd, doubling the recipe is no harder than the single batch—just use two muffin tins and you'll have enough to gift and keep some for yourself.
Return