Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups!

mmmm peanut butter cups... mmmm pumpkin... mmmm peanut butter cups with pumpkin!

I've been on this chocolate peanut butter kick for the past ... about 25 years.  It's the most delicious mixture of ingredients ever.

They sell "pumpkin" peanut butter cups in the store, but they are only in the shape of a pumpkin, no pumpkin flavor.  So I decided to make my own.  The most wonderful part of making these is they can be "organified" by using all organic ingredients!! That makes them healthy right? hehe

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups

Makes: 24

Ingredients:

2 cups chocolate chips (I used milk, but might use dark next time)

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (organic of course!)

1/2 cup canned or home made pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (optional)

24 mini muffin papers

Directions:

Line a mini muffin pan with mini muffin cup papers.

Melt chocolate in a bowl over a double boiler, or in the microwave for one minute and then 15 second intervals to prevent burning.  If you do burn it, try adding a little bit of oil, sometimes that can revive burnt chocolate. 

Pour a small dab of chocolate in the bottom of the mini muffin paper and "paint" up the sides with a spoon or, if you're messy like me, your fingers (and then lick them, but don't tell anyone that you're serving them too).  

Place pan in the fridge to let the chocolate harden, about 5-10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, mix the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl.  Taste to make sure it's sweet enough to your liking, remember the chocolate will add some sweetness too.

Once chocolate has hardened, place a small scoop (about a tsp, I used too much at first) of the pumpkin/peanut butter mixture into the muffin paper, over the chocolate.  Make sure not to over fill or fill past the top of the chocolate. 

 To finish, spoon the remaining melted chocolate over the tops to completely cover the peanut butter mixture.  Give the pan a tap on the counter to make sure the chocolate oozes down to the bottom.  Put them in the fridge for another 10 minutes or until chocolate hardens.  Make sure you hide some from your husband because they will magically disappear overnight!! :)