Recipe: Easy Vegan & Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cups

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have already seen and drooled over this picture. Peanut butter cups have been my favourite chocolate since I can remember, but store bought ones are usually loaded with a bunch of crap. Opting to make your own is great especially since it's so easy, you have control over what actually goes into them, and it's healthier (in moderation, of course). For the record, I made these for NYE and they were a hit. 

This recipe is completely customizable. Feel free to make any changes that you want and let me know what you changed up. Also, if you make these and post a picture to social media, tag me! I always love seeing what you guys try, whether beauty or food, based on my recommendations.

What you'll need:

• 283 g of chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• approximately 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter (or whatever other nut/seed butter you like)
• vanilla to taste (I used about 1 tbsp)
• salt to taste 
• maple syrup to taste (I used about 4-5 tbsp)
• muffin tins and liners (about 12 to 15)

For the peanut butter filling:

Combine peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until well combined. Place in fridge until it hardens a bit, usually about 10 - 15 minutes. 

If you're using salted peanut butter, you could omit the salt. Since I don't measure anything out, start by adding in only a little sweetener of choice, salt, and vanilla, and taste it as you go along. You may want to add more or less of each ingredient to suit your taste buds. 

For the chocolate:

Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Stir frequently until smooth and melted.

To melt my chocolate I filled a pot with a bit of water, turned my stove top on low, and placed a stainless steel bowl over top of the pot. I then put the chocolate and coconut oil in. You're more than welcome to melt the chocolate however you like, of course.

To create the actual cups:

Line muffin tins with liners, then put 1 tablespoon (anymore and the ratio of chocolate to pb will be off) of melted chocolate in each. Place in freezer for about 7 minutes or until solid. Once solid, scoop as much filling as you'd like into each one, I used about a teaspoon, then pat it down leaving a tiny border around the edges (or don't! Whatever you like!). Cover with 1 - 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate* and place in freezer for 20+ minutes.

*If you'd like to top yours with anything, like I did, do it after putting melted chocolate over the peanut butter and before putting them in the freezer. I topped mine with coconut, cacao nibs, and toffee (not vegan but my boyfriend loves it).

And VOILA! These are so fun to make, you can definitely get your kids involved although you may need to double the ingredients as I sense they'll be eating more than helping. Also, I recommend storing these in the fridge as they taste so much better cold and will hold together better.

Bon appetit!

Best Smoothie/Juice Ever - My Fave Recipe

I have been juicing ever since my parents got the NutriBullet, a few months now. While I love trying new juices, I tend to stick to ingredients that I enjoy eating. If I won't eat it, I won't drink it! Simple. Lately, I've been making this one particular juice that I just can't get enough of. It's delicious, nutritious, and easy to make.

What's in it?

• 1/2 banana
• baby spinach
• baby kale
• frozen fruit
• water
• raspberry lemonade (this is what makes it taste soooo good)

I prefer baby spinach & kale, but you can buy them by the bunch if you prefer

I don't measure anything, I just pack it all in the little NutriBullet cup and hope for the best. Put 1/2 banana, kale, spinach, water and lemonade.

This shows how much water I put. I then put lemonade to the MAX line.

 BLEND!

Totally forgot to take a picture, but I put about a handful of frozen berries in and blend again.

TA-DA, brown unappetizing looking smoothie! lol. I have since (today, literally) made this with just 1/2 banana, baby kale, baby spinach, 3 mint leaves, water and splash raspberry lemonade and it is even MORE delicious!!!!!!! I didn't think it was possible. It's extremely refreshing, detoxifying and just the perfect amount of sweetness.

Let me know if you've tried this and/or what your favourite smoothie/juice recipes are.