Salted sunbutter cups are amazingly rich and decadent. You won’t believe these are free of the top allergens! The whole family will enjoy this delicious alternative to peanut butter cups.
Let’s talk about sunbutter.
It took me a long time to try sunbutter. Years ago, one of my friends who has a son with a peanut allergy told me sunbutter was “yucky,” so I always had a bad impression of it, and never bothered to try it.
That changed once my own child was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies.
When Darryl bought a jar of sunbutter one day, here’s what happened: I tried it, and I found out it was not yucky. It tastes like sunflower seeds, which is great! I love sunflower seeds. It does not taste like peanut butter. So if you try it and are expecting peanut butter, then you may be disappointed.
Have you ever had those little chocolate candy coated sunflower seeds? I used to love those things – they were addictive. Anyway, I knew that I liked sunflower seeds and chocolate together, so I thought homemade salted sunbutter cups sounded like a good idea.
I wanted a refined sugar free chocolate coating, so I adapted Melissa’s chocolate recipe just slightly. This chocolate is rich, dark, and soft, so it’s perfect for making these sunbutter cups.
The sea salt flakes on top really make these sunbutter cups happen, so don’t skip it! Unless you hate salted chocolate. In which case, give me all your sea salt flakes, because I love salty sweet treats.
If you like making your own chocolate treats, you may like to try this homemade vegan chocolate or these chocolate caramel cups.
What can be used in place of sunbutter?
You can use any nut or seed butter that works for your dietary needs. Pumpkin seed butter, homemade sunflower butter, almond butter – any of these will work. There is a soy based peanut butter alternative called Wow Butter that some people like – that could work, too!
How do I store these sunbutter cups?
Store these in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
Watch the video below to see how to make these allergy friendly treats step by step!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Salted Sunbutter Cups.
Ingredients
For the chocolate
- 5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 ½ Tablespoons maple syrup
For the filling
- ½ cup sunbutter
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon golden ground flax seed
- pinch salt
- sea salt flakes for on top
Instructions
- Place 10 paper liners in a muffin pan.
- Place the coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds, or until melted. Add the maple syrup and cocoa powder, and stir until smooth.
- If the mixture is too thick, microwave it for about 10 seconds until it is a bit thinner.
- Put a little bit of chocolate in the bottom of each paper liner. You should still have half of the chocolate left in the bowl. Set aside.
- Refrigerate the chocolate in the muffin liners for about 15 minutes, or until it firms up.
- Place the sunbutter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 15-20 seconds, just so it softens up a bit (you don't want it to get hot). Stir in the maple syrup, golden ground flax seed, and pinch of salt.
- Put some of the sunbutter mixture in each paper liner on top of the cooled chocolate. Use the back of a spoon to smooth it out.
- If the chocolate is too thick, microwave it again for 15-20 seconds until it is thin and smooth.
- Top each sunbutter cup with chocolate and smooth it out with the back of a spoon.
- Refrigerate so that everything firms up. After about an hour in the refrigerator, top with the sea salt flakes. Continue to refrigerate the sunbutter cups for at least another hour before eating.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
These are addictive!
If you have any concerns about them not being delicious, trust me…they are super delicious. Everything about them is just so, so good. The dark chocolate, the sunbutter filling, the salt on top…so good. If you can’t eat nuts and you’ve been missing peanut butter cups, you need to try these ASAP.
Have you tried sunbutter before? Are you a fan?
This recipe was originally published in May 2015. It has been updated.
Follow along:
Kristina A
I buy Sunbutter in three-pound tubs online. I love the stuff. I’ve been eating it since I first saw it in the store. I became allergic to my favorite snack (peanut butter) at 19, and I jumped on every alternative I found from that day forward. Sunbutter is the best of the bunch. And it has the right texture. I don’t actually remember what peanut butter tasted like after 15 years, but the texture is vital.
These cups look delicious. There’s a hole in my life they will fill quite nicely.
Kelly Roenicke
Sunbutter is awesome! I hope you love these cups.
whiskandshout
These look awesome! I have yet to try sunbutter because I had a weird prejudice too, but these cups look amazing and I’m itching to try it now :)
Kelly
It was surprisingly good in these candies!
Julia
I love sunbutter too! What a fabulous idea! This is such a great recipe for when I’m craving a chocoaltey treat, which is aaaaaaalways!
Kelly
Thanks, Julia!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I’ve never tried or heard of sun butter before – thanks for introducing me to something new that I must try!
Kelly
It’s a great alternative to nut butter!
Raquel @ My California Roots
These little cups are so cute! And delicious I bet. I also loved those chocolate covered sunflower seeds. I would almost make myself sick from eating them!
Kelly
Thanks, Raquel! I know, I loved those little seeds so much!
Linda | A La Place Clichy
These cups look so delicious! Thank you for teaching me about sunbutter! I had never heard of it before! I really want to make a healthier version of peanut butter and this is exactly what I am looking for!
Kelly
It really is a great alternative for those that have nut allergies!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
I have never had sunbutter! How is this possible? I need to change that right away. These sunbutter cups look so good! Love that salty and sweet combo.
Kelly
Thanks, Natalie! I hadn’t had it until very recently!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
Ohmigosh, Kelly! These cups look absolutely incredible! I’ve never tried sunbutter before, but I’m preeeetty sure that your gorgeous photos of these adorb little cups just convinced me! Love all the sweet and salty goodness!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Oh what a fun idea, Kelly! I’ve never had sunbutter before, but I’m loving the looks of it in these cups! Yum!