Oh So Good – Homemade Peanut Butter Cups!

• Peanut Butter Filling:
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons  butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup  confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
• Chocolate Coating:
• 20 ounces dark chocolate chips, divided

1. Peanut Butter Cups:  Line 12 regular muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Place the peanut butter and butter  in a microwaveable bowl. Heat in the microwave until quite soft (approximately 40-60 seconds, checking every 20 seconds and stirring). Add in confectioners sugar and blend.
3. Chocolate Coating: Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Alternatively you can also microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, but to avoid the risk over overheating the chocolate I recommend the stove top double boiler method I listed first.
4. Spoon, or pipe, one heaping teaspoon (or small ice cream scoop) of the melted chocolate into paper cups. Tap pan gently on counter to smooth out chocolate. Spoon a teaspoon of peanut butter mixture on top and center of chocolate. Then top with another teaspoon of melted chocolate, covering the peanut butter. Tap pan gently on counter to smooth out the peanut butter cups. Refrigerate about 20 minutes or until set. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator or freeze.
5. When ready to serve bring to room temperature or chilled.

Note: Use whatever type of chocolate you prefer.  Jazz it up a bit using Nutella or Bischoff Spread, if desired, in place of peanut butter.