Peanut Butter Oat Cups Recipe
Peanut Butter Oat Cups are a delicious and nutritious snack featuring a base made from creamy peanut butter, rolled oats, and maple syrup, topped with either a simple peanut butter filling or a protein-packed peanut butter and protein powder mixture. These no-bake treats are then coated with melted dark chocolate and optionally sprinkled with flaky sea salt for an irresistible combination of flavors and textures. Perfect for a quick energy boost or healthy dessert, these cups are easy to prepare and freezer-friendly.
- Author: Leo
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes (including freezing time)
- Yield: Makes approximately 12 peanut butter oat cups 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Oat Base
- 2/3 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup old fashioned (rolled oats)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Regular Filling
- 1 tbsp peanut butter (per oat cup)
Protein Filling
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 3 tbsp protein powder
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup chocolate chips (melted)
- 2 tsp oil (to melt chocolate)
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
- Prepare the oat base: In a bowl, mix together 2/3 cup peanut butter and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup until fully combined and smooth.
- Add oats: Stir in 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats until the mixture is well combined and has a thick, sticky consistency.
- Form the base: Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of the oat mixture into each cavity of silicone molds or liners. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to press the mixture down evenly to form a compact base layer.
- Add filling: For a regular filling, place 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on top of each oat base. For a protein-rich filling, mix 1/2 cup peanut butter with 3 tablespoons protein powder thoroughly, then spread a dollop of this mixture on each oat cup.
- Freeze the cups: Place the filled oat cups in the freezer and chill for 20 minutes to set the base and filling.
- Melt the chocolate: While freezing, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips with 2 teaspoons of oil in the microwave. Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring well in between until fully melted and smooth.
- Coat with chocolate: Remove the cups from the freezer and spoon or spread the melted chocolate over the tops evenly.
- Final freezing: Return the chocolate-coated cups to the freezer for an additional 20 minutes to set the chocolate layer.
- Serve: Once set, pop the oat cups out of the molds, sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired, and enjoy your delicious peanut butter oat cups!
Notes
- Use silicone molds or muffin liners for easy removal of the cups after freezing.
- Choose natural peanut butter without added sugar or oils for a healthier option.
- Protein powder can be any flavor, but vanilla or unflavored works best to complement the peanut butter.
- Store leftover cups in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- For a vegan option, ensure chocolate chips and protein powder are dairy-free.
- Adding flaky sea salt enhances the flavor contrast, but it’s optional based on your taste preference.
Keywords: Peanut Butter Oat Cups, no-bake snack, healthy snack, protein snack, peanut butter recipe, chocolate coated snack, freezer snack