Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups

Do you like nuts and chocolate together? You will LOVE these Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups!

Something about nuts combined with dark chocolate makes a dessert more savoury, and the chocolate less sweet. Because of this, I find chocolate nut butter cups addictive. They are salty, sweet, and nutty, and is there anything better than salty and sweet together?

For as long as I can remember my favourite store bought chocolate was peanut butter cups, especially good quality dark chocolate ones. That is until my son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy as a baby. I was too scared to touch or eat peanuts despite being told it was safe. I tried Wow Butter and Sun Butter but even though they taste similar, nothing beats the taste of real nuts and dark chocolate. Recently I was craving peanut butter cups and decided to come up with an alternative that would still be delicious. These Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups are the result.

These Cashew Butter Cups are the ultimate treat for someone who likes nuts and chocolate together. They are rich, creamy, and delicious without all the sugar that’s normally found in a nut butter cup. The creamy cashew butter is sweetened with maple syrup, while the kosher salt brings out the flavour of the cashews. The crunch of the dark chocolate shell is perfectly balanced by the creamy center. This delicious dessert combines smooth cashew butter, sweet maple syrup, and rich dark chocolate to create the perfect bite.

I promise these Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups are so good you’ll have trouble not eating them all in one sitting!

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 3 minutes
• Cooking Time – 15 minutes, plus at least 1 hour to chill
• Total Time – 1 hour and 18 minutes

INGREDIENTS FOR DARK CHOCOLATE CASHEW BUTTER CUPS

All the ingredients for these cashew butter cups are easy to source from any local grocer.

• 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 cup Unsweetened cashew butter
• 300 grams Dark chocolate
• 1 1/2 tbsp Maple syrup
• Fleur de Sel, optional

WHAT IS FLEUR DE SEL?

Fleur de Sel (flower of salt) is sea salt. However, unlike coarse or fine sea salt, it has a flaked texture as a result of crystallization on the surface of the sea water as it evaporates. It is harvested by hand, and is an ideal finishing salt because it’s light texture adds a slight taste of salt without being excessively heavy.

IS MAPLE SYRUP THE SAME AS TABLE SYRUP?

Maple syrup is definitely not the same as table syrup. Maple syrup is a delicious natural sweetener derived from the sap of Maple trees, while table syrup is made from highly processed fructose corn syrup. If you’re interested, this article goes into much more detail on the difference between the two.

WHAT IS KOSHER SALT?

Kosher salt has larger crystals than traditional iodized salt. It is mined from traditional salt mines, but is much less processed than normal table salt. Kosher salt has larger flakes which make it easier to distribute, and therefore less likely to over salt your dish. It also adds some brine flavour and crunch.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I USE MILK CHOCOLATE INSTEAD OF DARK?

Milk chocolate can absolutely be substituted for dark if you wish. However, I find that the contrast between the dark chocolate and cashew butter is better than milk. Regardless of what cocoa percentage you use, make sure to purchase a good quality chocolate: after all, what’s the point in making a dessert that’s sub par?

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF NUT BUTTER?

There are many different kinds of nut butter available on the market, however not all of them will be equally good in this dessert. Peanut butter would be an obvious substitute in this dish, but if you are dealing with an allergy that is obviously not an option. If you wish you substitute cashew butter for another non peanut alternative, I would suggest using either hazelnut butter or tahini (sesame butter). The key to a good nut butter cup is using a flavourful creamy butter. Both hazelnuts and tahini are fatty and taste delicious with chocolate.

CAN I USE HONEY INSTEAD OF MAPLE SYRUP?

You could use honey to sweeten the cashew butter filling, but it would add a very different taste to your dessert. Maple syrup adds sweetness without a strong taste, while honey tends to be more distinctive. If you enjoy the taste of honey you could certainly substitute it.

EQUIPMENT FOR DARK CHOCOLATE CASHEW BUTTER CUPS

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups:

• Small sautee pan

• Spatula – I always use my Le Creuset spatula when melting chocolate. I am able to easily scrape down the sides of the bowl, and ensure that there is no chocolate left unmelted. It easily stands up to high heat without issue, and as an added bonus the silicone head is removable and can be tossed in the dishwasher!

• Heat safe bowl

• Muffin Pan

• Heat safe bowl

• Muffin Papers

COOKING DIRECTIONS

There is nothing more delicious than the combination of salty and sweet. This recipe will satisfy all your cravings as long as you follow three important rules:

1. Melt your chocolate on a double boiler. It allows it to melt smoothly without burning.
2. Give the chocolate time to cool to room temperature in the muffin papers before adding the cashew filling.
3. Allow the finished cashew butter cups sufficient time to cool in the fridge. It’s hard to resist eating them immediately, but I promise you it’s worth waiting until they’ve chilled and firmed up in the fridge.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

There are no parts of this recipe that be prepared in advance.

These amazing Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups can easily be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four months.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy your delicious Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups!

OTHER DARK CHOCOLATE DISHES

Dark Chocolate Almond Bark

The Best Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake

Dark Chocolate Mousse

OTHER CHOCOLATE DISHES

Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Delicious Nutella Oatmeal Cookies

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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I Guarantee these Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups will become a favourite! Let us know if you made them in the comments.