Are you looking for a delicious, healthy, and kid-approved valentine dessert? Look no further! These paleo peanut butter chocolate hearts make the perfect valentine treat.
It is that time of year when all the grocery stores are filling up with red and pink candies, chocolates, and heart-shaped lollipops. These are the very things I try to avoid giving my kids. But I also don’t want them to miss out on any of the fun that this little holiday brings.
Instead of loading up with all of the artificial dye and sugar, we will make our own chocolates, filled with healthy and wholesome ingredients. These are simple to make, and the kids can even help! My daughter loves to make these and can do this one mostly by herself. In fact, she begs to make these almost every day, and she prefers that I record her doing it. She likes to pretend she is making a youtube video, wonder where she gets that from?!? So, of course, when I made these for my blog, she had to be in the video!
These paleo peanut butter chocolate hearts are sweetened with honey, only require a few ingredients, and will quickly become a family favorite!
PALEO PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE HEARTS
INGREDIENTS
CHOCOLATE LAYER
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup honey
PEANUT BUTTER LAYER
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
INSTRUCTIONS
Melt 1/2 cup coconut oil in a saucepan and then pour into a bowl. Add in the cocoa powder and honey. Stir until well combined.
Fill the heart molds halfway with the chocolate mixture. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes or until the mixture is hardened.
Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil in a saucepan and then pour into a bowl. Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the hardened chocolate mixture, place back in the freezer.
Once the peanut butter is hardened, you can pop the peanut butter cups out of the molds. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
RECIPE NOTES: We used this heart-shaped mold to get the peanut butter cups shaped like hearts. If you don’t have heart molds, you can still make these. You can pour the layers into an 8 by 8 baking dish and cut them into pieces once hardened.
ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS
COCONUT OIL
We use a ton of coconut oil over here. We use it in the kitchen for baking and cooking, and I use it for a lot of DIY body products. Coconut oil is a healthy fat that contains medicinal properties. Studies have shown that cultures that eat a lot of coconuts are overall healthier and have lower rates of heart disease.
Coconut oil can increase fat burning, kill fungus caused by candida, reduce stress, and it is loaded with natural saturated fats, which increases the good HDL cholesterol in your body.
COCOA POWDER
When you crush cocoa beans and remove the fat (cocoa butter), you will have cocoa powder! On its own, not in a chocolate bar with added sugar, it contains nutrients that can benefit our health.
Cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation. Dark chocolate or cocoa powder has been shown to reduce blood pressure, lower risk of heart attack, improve blood flow, and have antibacterial properties that can support a healthy immune system.
HONEY
I live an hour away from an Amish community, and I love visiting them every few months to stock up on raw honey. Better yet, it is local raw honey. I buy it by the gallon because it tastes amazing and has so many health benefits.
Raw honey is a good source of antioxidants.
It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
It is great for the digestive tract and respiratory issues. A spoon full of local raw honey is very soothing for a sore throat, and it can help relieve a cough. Add a drop of lemon essential oil to a spoonful of raw honey for a natural cough syrup.
Honey can counter pollen allergens making it a natural remedy for seasonal allergies.
PEANUT BUTTER
When buying peanut butter, you will want to stay away from any that contains hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation is a process in which a liquid unsaturated fat is turned into a solid fat by adding hydrogen. This oil is very unhealthy and is actually banned in some countries.
Buying natural peanut butter without sugar is a great option! You can substitute the peanut butter for almond butter or cashew butter if you have a peanut allergy.
VANILLA
Be sure to use real vanilla and to stay away from imitation vanilla. Pure vanilla is good for your hair and skin. Plus, it can reduce anxiety, support a healthy digestive system, and ease respiratory issues.
You can feel good about eating these and feeding them to your kiddos! Do you have any tried and true healthy valentine’s snacks?
Melt 1/2 cup coconut oil in a saucepan and then pour it into a bowl. Add in the cocoa powder and honey. Stir until well combined.
Fill the heart molds halfway with the chocolate mixture. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes or until the mixture is hardened.
Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil in a saucepan and then pour it into a bowl. Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the hardened chocolate mixture, place back in the freezer.
Once the peanut butter is hardened you can pop the peanut butter cups out of the molds. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Video
Notes
We used a heart shape mold to get the peanut butter cups to be shaped liked hearts for Valentine's Day. You can make these in any shape molds or if don't have molds you can make this in a glass pan. You can pour the layers into a 8" by 8" baking dish and cut them into pieces once hardened.
These are delicious! I follow a strict Paleo diet and these hit the spot when I am craving a sweet treat. I swapped the peanut butter for organic, unsweetened Sunbutter to make them paleo. Quick question, I had an issue with about half of them never solidifying. When I popped them out the bottom half wasn’t set, even after I put them in the freezer overnight. Does anyone know why that might have happened? I was disappointed because they were so good, however, I had to get rid of about half of them when they didn’t get solid and stayed liquid.
Can you make a recommendation for an oil other than coconut to use in this recipe? We have a coconut allergy in the family. I’m in my head thinking about this. I think ghee would work well with the nut butter but I don’t think it would go so well in the chocolate. Thoughts?
This recipe sounds great! But you should add any nut butter that can be used, especially since peanut butter is not Paleo at all and may confuse people who do not know. Peanuts are a legume, high in phytic acid and cause issues with nutrient absorption in the gut.
Do these have to be stored in the fridge or can they stay out? Just curious because I was thinking about making some and shipping them to family, but don’t want to send them a melty mess if possible. 🙂
Molly says
These are delicious! I follow a strict Paleo diet and these hit the spot when I am craving a sweet treat. I swapped the peanut butter for organic, unsweetened Sunbutter to make them paleo. Quick question, I had an issue with about half of them never solidifying. When I popped them out the bottom half wasn’t set, even after I put them in the freezer overnight. Does anyone know why that might have happened? I was disappointed because they were so good, however, I had to get rid of about half of them when they didn’t get solid and stayed liquid.
Risa says
Can you make a recommendation for an oil other than coconut to use in this recipe? We have a coconut allergy in the family. I’m in my head thinking about this. I think ghee would work well with the nut butter but I don’t think it would go so well in the chocolate. Thoughts?
April says
These are yummy (although they definitely have a coconut flavor). I made them for Valentine’s Day!
Laura says
I am glad you like them!
Sarah says
This recipe sounds great! But you should add any nut butter that can be used, especially since peanut butter is not Paleo at all and may confuse people who do not know. Peanuts are a legume, high in phytic acid and cause issues with nutrient absorption in the gut.
T.Ruth says
I would try homemade sunflower butter.
Misty says
Do these have to be stored in the fridge or can they stay out? Just curious because I was thinking about making some and shipping them to family, but don’t want to send them a melty mess if possible. 🙂
Laura says
They have to be stored in the fridge or they will melt.
wilhelmina says
Yum! My favorite sweet treat made a little bit more healthy? I’m in!
Lindsay Cotter says
These are so easy to make! The best flavor combo ever!
lyndsy willett says
This looks sounds amazing! I’m going to try this!
Misty says
I do believe God created peanut butter and chocolate just so we could put them together! 😉
lauraascher says
Hahaha yes it is the best combo!