There’s nothing more romantic than homemade candies and this Reeses peanut butter hearts recipe is perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s so easy to make these sweet treats. As a no bake dessert, it’s something that anyone can make. So, get the kids involved and they’ll love making these homemade chocolate peanut butter hearts.
About Reeses Peanut Butter Hearts Recipe
This Reese’s peanut butter heart recipe is just what you would expect from a Reese’s peanut butter cup. It’s a creamy peanut butter mixture on the inside, and it’s covered with melted chocolate. It’s the perfect ratio of peanut butter and chocolate.
I love this recipe because it’s so easy. There are very few ingredients in it, and you don’t need any fancy equipment. The recipe calls for using a silicone heart mold, but you could use any mold or shape you’d like. In fact, I grew up just making these as peanut butter balls. The hearts are perfect for Valentine’s Day and for giving as a gift, but any shape is special. It’s the fact that you took the time to make a homemade gift that makes these treats extra special.
Tips for Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts
It’s really easy to make this Reeses peanut butter hearts recipe, but here are my tips for getting the best results.
Ingredients
Of course, one of the key ingredients in making peanut butter hearts is peanut butter. You want a smooth and creamy peanut butter dough, so use creamy peanut butter instead of crunchy peanut butter. And it’s best to use a commercial peanut butter like Jif or Skippy, instead of a natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butters don’t have the right consistency, or texture to make the best Reese’s hearts.
The other key ingredient for a Reese’s heart is the chocolate. This recipe calls for using a mixture of milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate. This will give you a chocolate mixture that closely resembles the Reese’s flavor. However, if you love dark chocolate, or white chocolate, you could always use that instead.
You don’t have to use chocolate chips either. If you have a favorite chocolate bar that you like, simply chop it up and melt as instructed. There are also some good melting chocolates, like Ghirardelli milk chocolate melting wafers.
Stick to a really good quality chocolate and skip the artificial candy melts or coating chocolate. Sure, they come in some pretty colors, but the vanilla flavor won’t work for this recipe, and it can’t compare to the flavor of real chocolate.
Technique and Equipment
You can mix the cookie dough by hand in a large bowl, but a hand mixer or electric stand mixer will help make the dough extra creamy. A mixer helps blend the peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar together until creamy. Room temperature ingredients are easier to cream, so pull the butter out of the refrigerator about an hour before you want to make these chocolate-covered peanut butter hearts. Powdered sugar is the key to adding sweetness to the peanut butter filling, while keeping it creamy and light.
A silicone mold is the easiest way to make this Reeses peanut butter hearts recipe. However, you could use a muffin tin, cookie cutters, or cookie scoop to make alternate shapes.
A heart-shaped cookie cutter is a great alternative to a heart-shaped mold. All you have to do is put the cookie cutter on a baking sheet lined with a piece of parchment paper. Press a tablespoon of the peanut butter filling into the cookie cutter and flatten with your fingers. Move the cookie cutter to a new spot and repeat until you have a full cookie sheet of peanut butter hearts.
The cute heart shapes are perfect for Valentine’s Day, but you can use a small cookie cutter, or mold for any design you’d’ like. That way you can make cute peanut butter eggs, or chicks, for Easter. A shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day. Or stars for the 4th of July.
You want to make sure that you freeze the hearts before covering in chocolate. They only need to be frozen for about 20 minutes. This helps set the peanut butter dough and makes it easier to dip in the chocolate. Alternatively, you could also put the hearts in the refrigerator for a longer period of time if you prefer.
This recipe uses a combination of milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate for the chocolate coating on these chocolate hearts. You can either use a double boiler, or a microwave-safe bowl to melt the chocolate. The key is to take it slowly so that you don’t overheat the chocolate. If you opt for a microwave to melt chocolate chips, heat for 30-second increments. Stir, and then repeat until the chocolate is thoroughly melted.
Peanut Butter Valentine Hearts
Equipment
- Silicone heart molds
- Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Filling:
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 T brown sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Chocolate Coating:
- 8 ounces semi sweet chocolate melted
- 4 ounces milk chocolate melted
- V-day/Pink Sprinkles
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and salt. Blend together until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix again until thoroughly combined and a thick peanut butter dough is formed.
- Take the heart silicone mold and press a large tablespoonful of the peanut butter mixture into each mold. Adding more if needed to fill each slot to the top.
- Once you have used all the peanut butter mixture, place the mold into the freezer for 20 minutes.
- While the hearts harden, melt the semi sweet and milk chocolate over a double boiler on the stove or in the microwave, stirring at 30 second intervals.
- Prep baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove all the hearts from the mold, placing on the baking sheet.
- Dip each heart into the melted chocolate and coat thoroughly. Use a fork to lift the hearts out of the chocolate and gently shake to let the excess drip off.
- Place the heart back onto the parchment covered baking sheet and immediately top with the Valentine’s Day sprinkles.
- Repeat with the rest of the hearts and then place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to cool completely.
- Package in bags for Valentine's treats or eat immediately!
Notes
Peanut Butter Treats
Reese’s peanut butter cups have always been one of my favorite candies, so to me there’s nothing better than making this Reeses peanut butter hearts recipe. Sure, you could give a box of chocolate for Valentines Day, but there’s something extra special about giving someone the perfect treat made with love. With simple ingredients, and minimal equipment required, these chocolate hearts are a great gift any time of year. Package them in cute baggies, or an airtight container. They are an easy dessert to give as a gift, any time of year.
More peanut butter recipes you may enjoy:
For more Valentine’s Day treats to make, check out my recipe for Easy Meringue Hearts
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