Copycat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

If you love those delicious flavors found in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups but don’t want to make a trip to the store, I’ve got a treat for you! You can whip up the copycat version, which is just as good, (if not more better!) 

The History of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

And now, a brief trip down memory lane, so we can discover the story behind the mergence of chocolate and peanut butter. . .

The inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was a man by the name of H.B. Reese, who worked as a dairy farmer for Milton S. Hershey, (the fellow who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company)

Mr. Reese, (who fancied himself an inventor), decided to come up with his own candy. In the 1920’s he started experimenting in his basement in Hershey, Pennsylvania, combining delicious flavors.

It didn’t take long before he founded his own company: the H.B. Reese Candy Company in 1928. He started producing those delicious little chocolate and peanut butter candies we love so much: Reese’s peanut butter cups. 

They became an overnight sensation and have stood the test of time. Now, over 100 years later, we still can’t get enough of those chocolate and peanut butter treats! Which is why I knew I had to figure out how to make my own version. . .from scratch!

Commercials that make Reese’s Famous

I remember, as a child of the 60s and 70s, very popular commercials that sang the praises of the mergence of chocolate and peanut butter. 

In one of them, a fellow (I think?) is coming down some stairs with a chocolate candy bar in hand. He trips and his candy ends up in someone else’s jar of peanut butter. 

The words, “Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter!” rang out, followed by “You got your peanut butter in my chocolate.” Then both of them took a bite and practically swooned at the luscious combination. 

We’re still swooning. Most of us are as addicted to Reese’s peanut butter cups today as they were back then. The two just seem to go together. They’re one of my favorite treats. (I like mine cold. Anyone else?)

So, when I found this simple recipe at The Recipe Critic, I knew I had to try it. It looked similar to my Peanut Butter Snowballs, but with one addition: graham crackers. 

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card for these homemade peanut butter cups at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick look at what you’ll need These are simple ingredients you might already have in your pantry. 

• milk chocolate chips (large bag)
• smooth peanut butter
• graham crackers
• powdered sugar
• coconut oil (or vegetable oil)

(You will also need mini cupcake liners.)

How to Make Copycat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups from Scratch

These were so simple! (I actually thought they were easier than my Peanut Butter Snowballs, which have to be dipped.) 

Prepare mini cupcake liners by placing in a cupcake pan or side-by-side in a casserole dish, sides touching. 

Note: You can use regular cupcake sized liners (for full-sized candies) or minis, which I had on hand. This recipe made 41 small ones, but I filled my liners pretty full, so I’m guessing you could get a bit more out of this batch. 

Make your peanut butter filling: 

In a food processor, crush your graham crackers to a fine crumb. (If you don’t have a food processor you can do this in a large ziplock bag with a rolling pin. You just don’t want any large pieces. They need to be ultra-fine. 

Soften peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. 

Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, and cookie crumbs in food processor or stand mixer with paddle attachment. 

Mix until it forms a loose paste. 

Place filling into a piping bag and seal the top with a clip or rubber band. 

Melt the chocolate. Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl with two tablespoons of oil. 

Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between times. Mine took a couple of minutes to break down. 

Stir until smooth. 

Fill piping bag with chocolate. 

Working a few at a time: Add a bottom layer of melted chocolate. 

Come on top of that with a dollop of peanut butter filling. 

Come on top of that with more melted chocolate. 

When you’re done, immediately put the peanut butter cups into the refrigerator. 

I didn’t end up using all of the peanut butter filling. I ended up with more chocolate used than peanut butter, but I plan to save the filling for a different project.) 

That’s it, friends! Serve and enjoy!

Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool dry place (or in your refrigerator). I prefer mine cold, so I kept them in the fridge. They will stay good for several weeks.

What to Expect from These Peanut Butter Cups

These are delicious and have all of the same exact flavors of the store-bought version, but they’re much less expensive to make! (Did you mention you can get 40+ peanut butter cups out of this recipe?) Yep, they’re delicious and just like the real thing.

They were a lot of fun to make and I believe the grandkids would enjoy making them, so this is definitely a treat I plan to add to the mix next time they’re over for a baking day. (I happen to have a l-o-t of chocolate bark on hand, as a good friend pass some my way.)

My favorite part was the crushed graham cracker crumbs. My snowballs don’t have that addition and now that I see how easy it was to add that tiny bit of texture, you can bet I’ll be doing it again and again! (Did I mention the best part is the center? Oh, right. I already told you that. And I really mean it!)

If you’re a peanut butter lover like I am, you’re going to adore this one!

All in all, a great recipe that I highly recommend.

Variations on this Easy Recipe

If Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are your favorite candy you’re going to love the options for this one! Here are some flavor profiles you can try:

White Chocolate: You can certainly use white chocolate (or even semi-sweet) in place of milk chocolate. Reese’s cups come in a variety of flavors, after all.

Dark Chocolate: You can go with dark chocolate all the way, if you prefer!

Almond Butter: If you have a peanut allergy you can use any other nut butter you choose, including almond butter.

Butter cookies: Not a fan of graham crackers? You can use crushed butter cookies (like Chessmen) if you like. You could even crush vanilla wafers in place of the graham crackers.

Crunchy Peanut Butter: It goes without saying that you could always use crunchy peanut butter in place of smooth for this recipe.

Giant Peanut Butter Cups: You can make these super large in a traditional cupcake pan.

Other Peanut Butter Favorites from Out of the Box Baking

If you like this recipe, you’re sure to love these other peanut butter favorites, which all include chocolate!

• Classic Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Peanut Butter Ranger Cookies
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Peanut Butter Nutella Sandwich Cookies
• Easy Butterfinger Cookies

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious homemade reese’s peanut butter cups recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

See this recipe at

Full Plate Thursday 

Weekend Potluck

The Lazy Gastronome

Busy Monday 

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.