No Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Pretzel Hearts
Swap out the traditional peanut butter cups and make these healthy Valentine's Day treats. Using only simple ingredients, this is the type of sweet treat you won't feel guilty eating. With creamy peanut butter, rich chocolate, and salty pretzels, this is the perfect family-friendly dessert.
Equipment
- 1 food processor
- 1 high speed blender
- 1 candy silicone mold with 12 molds
Ingredients
For the pretzel layer:
- ¾ cup pretzel sticks or pretzel slims, salted
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup vegan butter, melted
For the blended peanut butter mixture:
- 6 tablespoons plant-based milk
- ¼ cup cacao or cocoa powder, unsweetened
- ¼ cup natural creamy peanut butter, unsweetened
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted and then slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon optional: flakey sea salt
Instructions
- Add the pretzel layer ingredients to a small food processor. Pulse until a crumbly mixture forms that sticks together nicely. You may need to scrape down the sides a few times in between pulses.
- Using a small spoon, place the pretzel mixture into the silicone candy mold. Use your fingers to press until a solid and even layer forms. Note: Each candy mold should be filled up about 1/4 of the way with the pretzel layer.
- Place the silicone mold onto a small and flat plate or baking sheet and place it into the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Melt the coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave. Set it aside to cool.
- Place all of the blended peanut butter mixture ingredients into a blender. Add the coconut oil last. Immediately turn on the blender to medium-high and blend for about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides as needed once or twice.
- Transfer the mixture to each candy mold right away. It will start to harden pretty quickly. Make sure that the chocolate fills the entire candy mold to the top. Optionally, sprinkle with a very small amount of salt flakes.
- Place the candy mold into the freezer for at least 45 minutes.
Notes
If you do not like your sweets too salty, do not add flakey sea salt on top. The peanut butter and salted pretzels do give a good amount of salt to the taste of these chocolates.
Feel free to swap out the peanut butter for your favorite nut butter or sunflower butter instead. My vote is peanut butter, however.
I have not tried blending the peanut butter mixture in a food processor but I am sure it would work. You may need to pulse it longer and scrape down the sides more frequently.