Chocolate Layered Peanut Cups

Mention the word chocolate and my mood instantly brightens. It's so good, I consider it to be one of the food wonders of the world.

Whenever I make these layered chocolate nutty cups, my family thinks Christmas has come early! These chocolate nut bites are such a gift.

Traditionally, I make them for the holidays though and these chocolate layered wonders are such a hit with the crowd. They take barely any time to make and no baking required!

Chocolate Peanut Bites

If there was a law against eating these chocolate peanut bites, that could spell trouble for many of us. They're so sinfully good, it feels like you're committing a crime.

Guilty as charged! And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be alone. I'd be in good company with family and friends.

All it would take is for the judge or jury to sample these peanut chocolate layered cups and they would have no choice but to release us without penalty. ?

Peanut Chocolate Layered Cups

When my son was little, he wanted to make these peanut chocolate layered cups himself and show them off to the guests we were expecting. The fact there were only four ingredients and no oven involved, made the task simple and easy.

The only problem was there were mounds of chocolate and peanuts staring at him in the face. Like many kids, the temptation was too great and he'd be munching at the same time! I couldn't fault him for that as I'd done that myself many times. We'd run out of the ingredients pretty quickly and had to make a mad dash to the store.

Come party time, Patrick eagerly passed these chocolate peanut bites around and he was beaming with pride as he heard all the oohs and aahs. It was a job well done!

Chocolate Nut Bites

My husband is no different from our son when it comes to eating these peanut chocolate layered cups. They're so irresistible, he has to force himself to walk away. Try them once and I'm pretty sure you'll understand where we're all coming from.

Putting chocolate and peanuts together is like marital bliss. Making these decadent peanut chocolate cups is dead simple and requires very little effort. The microwave and fridge are your best buddies.

The only issue you may have is running out of them! So make sure there's plenty of chocolate nut bites on hand as they're guaranteed not to last.

When it comes to making chocolate nut bites, peanuts aren't the only game in town. Feel free to use other nuts suggested below.

Each have their own nutty twist and give just the right amount of crunch we all crave.

Nutty Chocolate Cups

One bite of these layered chocolate nutty cups and you become a kid all over again. Perhaps the sprinkles are the initial attraction. Take a second bite of these tasty nutty morsels and you're done like dinner. If you're not careful, they could become an obsession.

Reflecting back many Christmas ago, Mom would make a ton of sweets when she was expecting company. Like most kids, it was such a magical time of year for my sister and I.

We were dazzled by the colored lights and decorations on the tree. It was too early for Santa Clause so there were no presents yet, but the stockings were hung and we were beyond giddy with excitement.

The doorbell would ring and Mom would put on some Christmas songs on the record player. Sitting in our best dresses and sipping on hot chocolate, my sister and I were told in no uncertain terms we could have just one of these nutty chocolate cups.

Inevitably, the temptation was too great though and we were caught dipping our hands in the proverbial cookie jar.

Mom would chastise us and we would be good for a while but it didn't last. We needed our chocolate fix and those nutty chocolate cups were calling our name!

Thanks in large part to my sister and I, those wonderful layered chocolate nutty cups were the first to disappear and mom would always say she would triple the recipe next time.

Layered Chocolate Nutty Bites

It didn't seem to matter how many layered chocolate nutty cups mom would make. These layered chocolate nutty bites would be the first to go.

Simply put, these milk chocolate bites are party on a plate. The sprinkles give them that festive look and they brighten everyone's spirits.

My good friend, Renate raves about dark chocolate all the time. Says there's nothing like it. When she tried these milk chocolate bites, she was shocked to hear they were made with white and milk chocolate chips.

She couldn't quite get over the fact that a dessert made with chocolate chips could taste so good.

White and Milk Chocolate Nutty Cups

Fans will tell you there's no mistaking the buttery and creamy taste of white and milk chocolate. The contrast between the light and dark is what makes these white and milk chocolate nutty cups so appealing.

It's such a feel good dessert. So, don't wait for the holidays to make them. They're a welcome sight any time!

Chocolate Nut Bites

Popping one of these chocolate nut bites in your mouth is like trying to eat one potato chip. Stopping at one can be a challenge. 

Let's Talk Chocolate

With the exception of the nuts and a few sprinkles, this dessert is all chocolate, pure and simple.

Chocolate has a long, detailed history and is widely adored around the world. It started out as a bitter drink dating back to 450 BC.

Chocolate comes from the cacao plant and the Aztecs believed the seeds were a gift from the god of wisdom. They also considered chocolate to be an aphrodisiac and there's a strong connection between chocolate and love that exists to this day.    

In Europe, chocolate was an unknown until the 1500s. By adding sugar to chocolate, they revolutionized it. Chocolate became a solid in 1847 and large production began in 1866.

It's a well known fact that dark chocolate contains antioxidants and flavonoids that can assist in the fight against heart disease.

Back in 2016, the Consumer Report referred to researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland who pointed to studies that suggested milk chocolate could have some heart healthy benefits.

That's good news, but there's no question that milk chocolate has a much higher sugar and fat content than dark chocolate. So moderation is key. There's nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence in my opinion.

Chocolate Chips

Their inception began with the chocolate chip cookie in the 1930s by a woman from Massachusetts who struck up a deal with Nestle to sell them chocolate chunks. They turned it into chip form. Starting out as semi-sweet, there are several types to choose from today.

Before we dive into this amazing layered chocolate peanut bites recipe, I  encourage you to be free with your layers and chip choices! In fact, consider it a challenge to put as many layers as possible using as many different types of baking chips as you dare.

Thinking beyond the limits of milk or white chocolate, here are just a few to consider when making chocolate nut bites.

Types of Baking Chips

• Caramel chips
• Peanut butter chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Unicorn chips (pink and blue vanilla morsels)
• Baileys Original Irish Cream baking chips
• Cinnamon baking chips
• Peppermint chips
• Espresso chips
• Toffee baking chips
• Sea salt and caramel chips

Let's Talk Nuts

You can make these chocolate nut bites with any kind of nut you fancy. Peanuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts and cashews will work really well. Feel free to mix and match according to your taste.  

Other Nutty Recipes to Try

Nutty Chocolate Cups
Chocolatey and Nutty Banana Muffins
Nutty English Butter Toffee
Nutty Fudgy Brownies
Layered Chocolate Nut Toffee

Layered Chocolate Peanut Bites Recipe

Basic Ingredients

• 2 cups of white chocolate chips
• 1 cup of peanuts (or any chopped nuts of your choice)
• ¾ cups of milk chocolate chips 
• sprinkles

Instructions

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals.
2. Stir in nuts.
3. Fill mini muffin liners ¾ full with mixture.
4. Use either a 12 hole or a 24 hole muffin pan to help the muffin liners keep their shape.
5. Chill for an hour and allow to harden.
6. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chips (e.g. milk chocolate, butterscotch, caramel or peanut butter chips) in 30-second intervals.
7. Spoon a thin layer of chocolate over first layer.
8. Shake the pan gently to even out the chocolate.
9. Chill until chocolate is hardened.

Layered Chocolate Peanut Bites Variations

For more layers, consider adding candies like Reese's Pieces, candy canes or even gummy bears to be truly daring!

Before adding the candy layers, make sure to add a layer of melted chips first; then the candy, then another layer of melted chips.

Actually, that's just a suggestion. Add the layers whatever way you'd like.

Chopping your ingredients to fit into each muffin liner is the most important tip when adding candy layers.

Other Ingredients to Consider When Making Layered Chocolate Nutty Cups

These edible trinkets can be enriched with some many other wonderful ingredients. Here are just a few suggestions.

• Coconut
• Cookies, including cream-filled cookies
• Caramels, quartered and put in middle
• Dried fruit
• Marshmallows
• Cereal
• Broken pretzels
• M&M’s
• Toffee bits
• Smarties
• Malt balls
• Chocolate-covered caramels
• Mints
• Raisins
• Sprinkles or sparkles

Flavors

Vanilla is the standard flavor when it comes to making these layered nutty cups. But there are many other options that can make this recipe truly memorable.

Flavor with extracts, liqueurs or flavored oils. By adding a drop or two of one of these flavors will turn your peanut chocolate layered cups into something remarkable. I promise you're going to love the results! Some are more potent than others, so use sparingly. You can always add more!

Here are a few flavor ideas beyond vanilla to get you started.

Traditional pairings

• Almond
• Hazelnut
• Coffee
• Butterscotch
• Coconut
• Maple
• Mint
• Peppermint
• Cinnamon

Citrus pairings

• Orange
• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Lime

Fruit pairings

• Banana
• Cherry
• Raspberry
• Strawberry

Oil-based flavors can be added directly into your melted chocolate. If using another flavor base, be sure and add it to your mixture rather than directly into the chocolate so it doesn't get lumpy.

As you can see, the choice is immense and can turn these layered chocolate nutty bites into something truly extraordinary.

Be well!

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also enjoy our delicious Chocolate Covered Blueberries recipe.