Peanut Butter Cups

By Coach Maria - Salus Nutritionist & Food Expert

"I could never give up treats"

"Eating healthy means giving up good stuff"

"A healthy treat?  Is that possible?"

I hear this a lot from friends and family.  I can understand their sentiments, because I used to be there myself.

I also used to think that eating healthy meant only eating chicken and broccoli - who could live that way?  Certainly not me!

I love to eat, I love to cook and I also love a good treat from time to time.

Eating healthy certainly does not mean giving up treats or anything good.  It is possible to eat healthy and thoroughly enjoy and look forward to your meals and treats.

The only thing you should have to give up is the unhealthy ingredients that promote inflammation and create or contribute to our unhealthy self.

Although some treats are convenient to pick up at the store, you would be amazed how easy and quickly some of those treats are to make at home.  The only thing you give up is hydrogenated junk.

These peanut butter cups are a cinch to make and are packed with healthy fats from coconut and peanuts.  Allergic to peanuts?  No problem, you can easily substitute with any other nut or seed butter and you will still create a delicious nut and chocolate cup that everyone will love!

Ingredients
10 servings

Bottom & Top Layer
2 Tbslp extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 c smooth peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter)
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tblsp honey

Middle Layer
2 Tblsp extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 c smooth peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tblsp honey


Make bottom/top layer:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until smooth.
Set 10 mini baking cups in a mini muffin pan and pour about 1 Tblsp of bottom/top-layer mixture into each, reserving some for top layer  Place on flat surface in freezer.

Makemiddle layer:
Combine all ingredients in small bowl and mix evenly.  Remove the pan from freezer and fill each cup to the top with top-layer mixture.
Place pan back in freezer and chill until hardened (about 15 minutes).

Remove pan from freezer and fill tops with remaining bottom/top-layer mixture.

Chill until hardened.

Enjoy!


Nutritional Information Per Serving:
serving size: 1 mini cup

Protein:    4g
Carbs:      8g
Fat:          7g
Sugar:      2g


Nutritional information are estimates and may vary