Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts For Valentine's Day

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts are about to become your new favorite treat to make for Valentine's Day! Honestly, when I first tried making these last February, I couldn't believe how simple they were.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Like This Recipe
• Ingredients For Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
• How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
• Storage And Reheating Tips For Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
• Tips For Making The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts Faqs
• Recipes You May Like
• Conclusion
• Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts For Valentine's Day

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you because it's one of those treats that looks fancy but comes together so easily. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts taste exactly like Reese's Cups, but somehow even better because they're homemade and made with love. Plus, they're naturally gluten-free, which Sarah really appreciates since her best friend can't have gluten.

What I love most about these hearts is that they're perfect for Valentine's Day, but honestly, we make them year-round now. Alex asked me to make them for his birthday last month, and Donald keeps sneaking them from the fridge when he thinks I'm not looking. The combination of creamy peanut butter filling coated in smooth chocolate is just pure happiness.

If you're looking for more sweet treats to share this Valentine's Day, you'll want to check out my Valentines Oreo Truffles too. They're another quick recipe that's perfect for gift-giving.

Why You Will Like This Recipe

Here's what makes these Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts so special:

• Simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry right now
• Naturally gluten-free without any special flours or complicated substitutions
• Perfect for gift-giving because they look so pretty and professional in little boxes
• Kid-friendly and fun to make together as a family project
• Freezer-friendly so you can make them ahead and have them ready whenever you need them
• Better than store-bought because you control the quality of chocolate and peanut butter

Ingredients For Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Here's everything you'll need to make these delicious hearts:

For the Peanut Butter Filling:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 cups peanut butter (I use regular, not natural)
• ¼ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar

For the Chocolate Coating:

• 4 cups quality milk chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli)
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons shortening or cocoa butter

The key is using good quality chocolate chips. I learned this the hard way when I tried a cheaper brand and the coating didn't set properly. Trust me on this one.

How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Here's exactly how I make these hearts every time:

Preparing The Peanut Butter Filling

1. Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 20-second intervals until thoroughly melted. Don't rush this part or you'll end up with hot spots that can burn.
2. Combine melted butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer until combined. The mixture should be smooth and creamy.
3. Add powdered sugar and mix well. The mixture will be somewhat dry, and that's exactly what you want. It should hold together when pressed but not be sticky.

Shaping The Hearts

4. Dump the mixture out onto a large piece of parchment paper and press it down firmly until the dough is at least ½ inch thick. Use a rolling pin if needed to help flatten it out. I like to use my hands first and then finish with the rolling pin.
5. Lift up the parchment paper and place the flattened dough onto a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes. This step is really important because it makes cutting the hearts so much easier.
6. After 30 minutes, remove the dough from the freezer and cut out heart shapes using a 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll the leftover dough pieces and cut out more hearts. Repeat until all the dough is used up. You should get about 40 hearts.
7. Line 2 baking sheets with more parchment paper and place the hearts onto the prepared baking sheets.
8. Place the hearts back into the freezer while you prepare the chocolate coating. This keeps them firm for dipping.

Coating With Chocolate

9. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a double boiler and cook on the stovetop over medium heat until the chocolate is fully melted, stirring constantly. Remove the pot from the heat. The shortening helps the chocolate stay smooth and gives it a nice shine.
10. Take one of the cookie sheets out of the freezer and immediately dip each heart into the chocolate using a toothpick. Place the dipped hearts carefully back onto the cookie sheet. Work quickly because the cold hearts make the chocolate set up fast.
11. If the chocolate becomes too thick while you're working, place the whole double boiler back over the heat until it is fully melted once again. This happens to me every time, so don't worry.
12. Place the tray in the refrigerator and repeat steps 10-11 until all the remaining hearts are coated. Let them set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Storage And Reheating Tips For Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

I keep these Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll stay fresh for up to 2 weeks, though they never last that long in our house.

You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. I like to layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to enjoy them, just let them thaw in the fridge for a few hours.

The best part? They taste amazing straight from the fridge. The chocolate coating is firm and the peanut butter filling is perfectly creamy.

Tips For Making The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Here are some things I've learned from making these hearts multiple times:

• Use regular peanut butter, not natural. Natural peanut butter has too much oil and won't hold together properly.
• Don't skip the freezing steps. I know it's tempting, but trust me, it makes everything so much easier.
• Work in batches when dipping. Keep one tray in the freezer while you work on the other.
• Use toothpicks for dipping and then gently tap off the excess chocolate. You can also use a fork, but toothpicks give you more control.
• Add sprinkles immediately if you want them. The chocolate sets fast, so you need to work quickly.

Can you tell I've made these a lot? Sarah loves helping me with the dipping part, and it's become one of our favorite things to do together before Valentine's Day.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts Faqs

Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts?

I don't recommend using natural peanut butter for this recipe. Natural peanut butter has a higher oil content and the oils can separate, making your filling too greasy and difficult to work with.

I learned this the hard way when I tried to make them "healthier" one time. The filling wouldn't hold its shape and the chocolate coating kept sliding off. Stick with regular creamy peanut butter like Skippy or Jif for the best results.

What Type Of Chocolate Works Best For Coating Peanut Butter Hearts?

I always use quality milk chocolate chips like Ghirardelli or Guittard. These brands melt smoothly and have a great taste that complements the peanut butter perfectly.

You can also use dark chocolate if you prefer less sweetness, but I find milk chocolate gives you that classic Reese's Cup flavor. Semi-sweet chocolate chips work too, but they're not quite as sweet. Whatever you do, avoid using chocolate candy melts because they don't have real chocolate and the taste just isn't the same.

How Do I Keep The Chocolate Coating Smooth When Dipping The Hearts?

The secret is adding shortening or cocoa butter to your melted chocolate. This helps thin out the chocolate and gives it a beautiful smooth finish that hardens with a nice shine.

Make sure you're melting the chocolate slowly over low heat and stirring constantly. If your chocolate gets too thick while you're working, just pop the double boiler back over the heat for a minute. I do this at least twice every time I make these hearts, so it's totally normal.

Can Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts Be Frozen Or Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes! These hearts freeze beautifully. I actually prefer making them a week or two before Valentine's Day so I'm not rushing.

Just layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to serve them, move them to the refrigerator and let them thaw for a few hours. They'll taste just as fresh as the day you made them. This is perfect if you're making them as gifts.

Recipes You May Like

If you're enjoying these Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts, you'll love these other treats too:

• Fudgy Buckeye Brownies With Creamy Peanut Butter Filling - Another amazing peanut butter and chocolate combination
• Creamy Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls - Perfect for any holiday or special occasion
• Valentines Oreo Truffles - Simple, elegant, and so fun to make

Conclusion

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts have become one of our favorite Valentine's Day traditions. I love that they're simple enough to make with the kids, but they look so fancy and thoughtful when you give them as gifts.

The combination of creamy peanut butter filling and smooth chocolate coating is just perfect. And knowing they're gluten-free means I can share them with all our friends without worry.

I really hope you'll give these hearts a try this Valentine's Day. Make them for your family, package them up as gifts, or just keep them all to yourself. No judgment here!

Don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest so you can find it again next year. I'd love to hear how they turn out for you!

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