Recipe: Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Hey, guess what – almond butter doesn’t really freeze! I intellectually knew that (healthy fats don’t solidify) but for some reason, I overlooked this when I made a disastrous (though delicious) first batch of almond butter cups. I know they look perfect on Pinterest, but beware! I realized in order for the cups to firm up the way I wanted them to, I would have to cut the almond butter with something that would freeze. I came up with the recipe below and it’s the winner I hoped it would be!

Domestocrat’s Chocolate Almond Butter Cups (make 14 mini cups)
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 cup chocolate chips (I use semisweet)
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 cup almond butter

Oh Trader Joe’s Almond Butter, how I love thee – let me count the ways! It only has three ingredients (almonds, cashews, salt), it’s full of healthy fats, it doesn’t separate, isn’t oily at all, and is perfectly earthy and savory. What better ingredient to use as the centerpiece for these homemade nut butter cups!

Over a double boiler, melt the butter first then add in the chocolate chips. Stir to combine until smooth. Turn off the heat but leave the chocolate over the water to stay warm.

In a food processor, pulse the oats until they are ground into oat flour. Add in the almond butter and honey, and pulse together to combine.

In a mini muffin pan, divide the almond butter dough into 14 equal balls. Press each ball into a cup on the pan. Spoon a teaspoon or so of the melted chocolate over the top of each almond butter cup. Gently shake the pan to smooth the chocolate out or simply use a spoon/your finger. Place the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes so the cups can firm up.

When the almond butter cups are frozen, use a butter knife to ease them out of the pan. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to four weeks.

This is my new favorite dessert! The chocolate/almond butter combo is perfect. I also love having a sweet treat that can stay in the freezer, perfectly portioned and waiting for when the mood strikes. Bonus points for having only five ingredients and being a cinch to make. I bet you already have all the ingredients in your pantry!