If you’re looking for a quick, easy, vegan, gluten-free dessert then look no further: these almond butter cups have your back.

This recipe is a great choice if you appreciate the idea of a reese’s peanut butter cup but would love a healthier, plant-based alternative. The nice thing about this dessert is that it only takes a small amount of prep time. Putting the almond butter cups together is easy and the total time they take in the freezer to “set” is about half an hour to an hour.

For this recipe you’ll need:

• A muffin tin (muffin liners optional.. makes them look more like the classic reese’s peanut butter cup)
• Dark baking chocolate (dairy-free)
• Almond butter (check the how-to below to make your own!)

Step 1: Start by prepping the chocolate

Melting chocolate without burning it is actually quite easy if you know how to do it.

• Start by heating up some water in a large pot
• Put chocolate in a pyrex dish–or any dish that can be safely heated
• Float the pyrex dish inside the large pot
• Stir occasionally until fully melted (use oven mitts to steady while stirring)

Step 2: Once the chocolate is melted…

• put liners inside the muffin tin (optional, or use the bottom of the muffin tin)
• use a spoon to scoop from the pyrex dish to pour in a thin layer of chocolate on the bottom of each muffin liner—make sure to use only half of the total amount of chocolate.
• put in the freezer for 15 – 30 minutes.

Step 3: Make small discs with the almond butter

• you’ll want them to cover the middle portion of the cup (leave a centimeter or two from the outside)
  • How-to for Almond Butter
    • making almond butter at home can be easy if you have a masticating juicer. We’ve got a champion in our kitchen so pumping some almonds through it makes a nice thick spread without any additional oil.
    • Make sure that whatever model you are using for juicer, that the almond butter comes out from the “pulp” release spot (block off any other exit points with appropriate attachments) you may also want to run it through a food processor after for smoother butter
    • I appreciate the consistency of what we can make at home plus it’s generally a great money saver. With that said, if you don’t have access to a juicer then store bought is totally fine!

Step 4: Pour the rest of chocolate over top

• make sure it covers the almond butter disc completely (even it out with a spatula)
• freeze the cups for another 15 – 30 mins
• when you’re done with the chocolate, wait until everything cools until to take apart the floating pyrex dish

Then serve! These almond butter cups are stored best in the fridge once they are set. They make great desserts and snacks for you, your friends, and your family. Enjoy!