These Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Popcorn Cups are a great snack to have on hand for movie night!
Hi Friends!
How’s that for a title? In all honesty, I had no idea what to call these things. I just know they’re my new favorite tasty treat!
Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Popcorn Cups
Getting this end result was a process. It all started when I saw this post from Melissa about peanut butter popcorn. I thought that sounded pretty good…so I played around with my own version…and added chocolate. The end result, while delicious, was EXTREMELY messy.
Instead of using chocolate, I used cocoa powder and coconut oil, just like I do in my Freezer Chocolate PB Cups… but even after letting it cool in the fridge, the coating just never quite set so it was a mess to eat. Here’s the recipe I used in case you’re up for the mess:
1/4 cup peanut butter + 2 T coconut oil + 1 T cocoa powder + 2 tsp honey + 1/2 tsp vanilla + 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Melt the pb and coconut oil in the microwave, stir in the rest of the stuff and pour over popcorn, stirring to coat.
Since I couldn’t get that to work…I moved on to option number 2. I found this recipe from Kristy for Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Popcorn Truffles and decided to switch gears. I pulled in some ingredients from my go-to energy ball recipe, added some other things like popcorn to my Blendtec and hoped for the best. The end result was tasty, but my mistake was in the execution. Using the blender caused everything to get super ground up…which was tasty, but I wanted a bit more texture. I decided to make “cups” using mini muffin tins, but added the chocolate while they were still in the tin, so the chocolate tops cracked when I tried to remove them.
These were pretty darn good though, so I knew I was close! After a few more adjustments, I made batch #3 and voila! These little cups are jam packed with healthy nuts and seeds, sweetened with a few medjool dates, have popcorn added for fiber & whole grains AND they’re dipped in chocolate and toffee bits to make them more dessert-like. Win, win, win.
Here’s how you make them:
Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Popcorn Cups
Packed with healthy fats and fiber, these are sweet enough for dessert and fun to eat for kids and adults!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup chopped dates, tightly packed
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 2 cups popped popcorn
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- toffee bits or chopped nuts for dipping, optional
Instructions
- In a food processor, processes the peanut butter and dates until well combined. Add the nuts, seeds, vanilla and cinnamon and pulse several times to chop and combine.
- Add popcorn and milk and pulse 5-6 times or until desired consistency is reached- I wanted mine pretty chunky.
- Press firmly into mini muffin tins, filling about ¾ of the way full (You should fill 12-14 cups).
- Freeze for 20-30 minutes.
- Using a knife, gently remove cups from tins and place on a plate.
- Melt chocolate and spread toffee bits or chopped nuts on a small plate.
- Dip the top of each cup in chocolate and then press into toffee.
- Place chocolate side up on a plate and freeze until chocolate hardens.
- Store in the fridge or freezer.
A few notes:
- I used peanut butter. You could use your favorite nut butter.
- If you don’t have hemp seeds or chia seeds, you could probably leave them out.
- Instead of milk, you could try using water or melted coconut oil….you just need some liquid to help them stick together and not be too dry and crumbly.
- If you want, you can process them for longer to get a smoother texture…or use a high powered blender…I just wanted mine to be chunky and have some texture so the food processor worked better for me.
- If you don’t like toffee, just dip them in chocolate, or dip them in your fav nuts or graham crackers.
- I like these best straight out of the freezer.
Ta-da! The perfect bite-sized treat!
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
So having made your pb freezer cups multiple times….I already know these will be a winner.
Stop it with all the recipes, I can’t keep up!
Those look like they would be a great lunch item for Tim. I might need to make some for him.
These look SO SO SO good!
I think you struck gold, my friend. Everything about these gets a huge thumbs up from me! I can’t wait to try them!
these look so decadent and rich! i’m glad they have some fiber and healthy fats in them!!
Wow these are so creative! They look like a great snack and treat combination… My favorite! 🙂
Looks like 3rd time’s a charm:-) Love!
Wow! When I saw those on instagram the other day, I had no idea they would turn into these beauties! Healthy too! They look wonderful! I am always looking for treats like this, healthy, but naughty too! Yum!
I will be enjoying these! So yummy looking! I love recipes that are freezable, so easy!
Is this real life?? 😉 These sound awesome! Salty/sweet is my favorite combo, and my love for popcorn is a bit out of control ;).
I love this!! Can’t wait to try it. Pinning for later. 🙂
I’m going to make these this weekend for sure!! Holy yum!
Oh yes, these must happen real soon! They look awesome!
Yummo!!! Love all of these flavors!
These look AMAZING!!!!!!!
Oh DANG these look so good! You’re one creative bean 🙂 I am a huge fan of sweet and salty snacks, so this such a winner to me! I also love peanut butter and healthy fats!
Umm. This looks delicious! =) I love your creativity in the kitchen.
These looks absolutely incredible! I will definitely be making these soon. These are practically the epitome of deliciousness. Peanut Butter – Chocolate – and Popcorn?!?! Amaaazing! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Mariah
http://fit2behealth.blogspot.com
I have to try these because I love peanut butter!
I love that you were on a mission to get it just right. I think you did! Can’t wait to try!
Total yum!! I was watching your progress via Instagram and couldn’t wait for the finished product 🙂 These would the perfect gift for friends for Valentine’s Day tomorrow!
I love hearing the trial and error process! This looks like the perfect snow day project. 🙂
these look amazing! kuddos to you for not giving up after a few batches were sort of flops! I think I see an adventure in the kitchen coming up this weekend 😉
Look….as soon as I launch my line, I’d LOOOOOOVE to re-create this with the Honey Vanilla Bourbon Peanut Butter. What cha think?!
Can you send me these asap?! 😉 I want! But you always make them look so much better than I do at home! <-that's my selling point/suck up point hehe 😉 Totally pinning and swear I plan to try these!
OMG – stop!!!!!!!!!!!! I am eating my computer screen! 😉
Wow… What a wonderful mistake!
Drool!
Seriously, this has to be one of the best looking desserts I’ve seen in a while. I loooove peanut butter/chocolate combos. Adding this to my list of things to make!
Wow. Third time’s a charm. I can’t wait to try these!
holy cow, I can’t remember a better-sounding flavor combination. This sounds delicious! Thanks so much for posting~stopping in from SITS sharefest today and hope you are enjoying your weekend! 🙂
Making these for sure as part of Sunday prep day, hubby heard popcorn abd was sold. Any idea of the macros on these?
Yum!! Those look so tasty. Btw, what recipe plugin do you use?
OMG just found these back-reading posts. I’ve been CRAVING popcorn and always craving chocolate/nut butter. YUM can’t wait to try them!