These 4 ingredients Copycat Reese’s Hearts are just like the real thing but with better for you ingredients! I know there are countless recipes for Reese’s on the internet, but I’m confident this will be your favorite. Reese’s have always been my favorite candy and I wanted to ensure that this recipe was as close as possible to the real thing before sharing it. It’s taken years, but I’m so excited to finally share it!
Copycat Reese’s Hearts
I take my chocolate and peanut butter desserts very seriously because they are my absolute favorite! So when I tell you this is the only Reese’s recipe you’ll ever need, I mean it. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the actual candy from time to time, it’s fun to have an option to make at home using ingredients that are better for you and fit in with your dietary needs, which is exactly why I created this recipe in the first place!
Tips & Tricks
In my opinion, the best part of Reese’s holiday shapes is the fact that the inside is a thick, delicious layer of peanut butter filling coated in a thin layer of chocolate. To achieve this, roll your peanut butter dough into a thick layer before cutting out your shapes. I also like to gently remove excess chocolate from the outside when dipping the hearts to get that thin outside coating that Reese’s have. It makes them taste more authentic!
DIETARY NOTES
This recipe is made with real ingredients and fits seamlessly into the following dietary needs when using the products/brands (or ones that are similar) listed in the recipe:
- gluten free
- soy free (using compliant chocolate)
- refined sugar free (using compliant powdered sugar and chocolate)
- egg free
- dairy free (using compliant chocolate)
- vegetarian
- vegan (using compliant powdered sugar and chocolate)
- paleo (using compliant powdered sugar, chocolate and subbing compliant nut butter)
PRODUCTS/BRANDS I USED & RECOMMEND
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, paleo and vegan when using the products listed below. Here is a list of what I have tested and used in order to fully recommend each item for this recipe. Click on the following in order to be taken to the specific product:
Note: Use a creamy peanut butter with no additives other than salt, where possible, as well as pure maple syrup!
Dairy Free Version:
- Dairy Free Chocolate (my favorite!)
Paleo Version:
- Powdered Sugar
- Sugar Free Chocolate OR Paleo Chocolate
- Also, be sure to use a compliant nut butter!
Lower Sugar Version:
- Monkfruit Powdered Sweetener (use in place of powdered sugar)
- Sugar Free Chocolate
A Note on Calorie Count, Nutritional Info and Serving Sizes
Due to my past experiences, I do not include most of the above information within my recipes as it is unsafe for me to do so personally. While I try to share a rough estimate when it comes to the serving size, please note that it is very subjective as we all have different hunger levels both from person to person and even from meal to meal.
If any of the above information is important to you, I understand! We are all different and have various goals and needs. If you’d like, you are welcome to calculate the information needed based on the ingredients you use when making one of my recipes.
I hope you understand! This comes from a place of love and protection both for myself and others like me. If you ever have any questions, send me an Instagram message for the quickest response time! Thank you for being here!
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
Here are some more easy and healthy dessert recipes to add into the rotation:
- Hot Fudge Pop Tarts
- Healthy Pumpkin Bread
- Better for You Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies
- Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
- Refined Sugar Free Chocolate Avocado Mousse
- Healthy Gluten Free Cosmic Brownies
- Easy Coconut Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
- Vegan Chickpea Cookie Dough
FOLLOW ALONG
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok to see all of the behind the scenes of recipe creation as well as how to videos to watch them come to life! You can also head over to my Pinterest to save all of my recipes in one spot that you plan whip up in the future.
PS – If you make this recipe or any of my other recipes, I would be so grateful if you left a review so I can hear what you think! I also am happy to answer any questions you may have on here, but if you want a quicker response, be sure to shoot me a message on Instagram. Thank you so much and talk soon!
Copycat Reese’s Hearts
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar until completely combined, then form the dough into a ball.
- Lay down a piece of parchment paper and set the dough ball in the center, then cover the ball in another piece of parchment paper.
- Press your hands down on the parchment covered dough ball to flatten, then continue to flatten it with your hands or a rolling pin. Be sure to leave the dough somewhat thick in order to replicate the taste of real Reese's.
- Using a cookie cutter or a knife, cut out heart shapes and place each piece onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Combine the scraps of dough to form another dough ball and flatten again in order to use all of the dough. Repeat until no dough remains!
- Freeze the hearts for 10 minutes to set.
- When the hearts have 5 more minutes to freeze, add the chocolate to a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
- Dip the hearts in the chocolate, gently coating the full surface with a fork. I recommend removing excess chocolate off of the top of the heart with the edge of a fork in order to create a thin coating.
- Place each coated heart on a cooling rack over top of parchment paper to dry. You can spray the rack with avocado oil if you'd like to prevent sticking.
- Opt to cool the hearts in the fridge or freezer if you'd like. Keep cold until ready to serve and enjoy!
so simple, so yummy! the addition of powdered sugar makes these legit taste like a better version of Reese’s.
Ahhh thank you so much for the comment & review, Kaitlin! I’m so glad you found these to be a better version of Reese’s!!! 🙂
Which brand of peanut butter do you use?
Any creamy generic brand at the store typically! I just ensure it’s made from only peanuts and salt.
So easy and straightforward to make! I love how festive these are and close to the original. I needed to switch out PB for a mixed nut butter and it still turned out delicious.
I love that you made these work for you AND that you found them to be close to the original! Thank you so much, Katy! 🙂
Super delicious and better than the original Reese’s peanut butter cups. Also, very easy to make.
Kayla’s recipes have inspired me to do more cooking and baking. Her inspiration for delicious foods and deserts are bar none, the very best I’ve tasted and have made. Thank you Kayla for always creating new ideas in the kitchen! You’re the very best.
Michele, this is such a nice comment, thank you so much! I’m thrilled that you love these better than the originals and that you have been inspired by and loving my recipes!!! It means so much to me, so thank you! 🙂
Where did you find the small heart shape cookie cutter?
Amazon! It came in a set with different sizes and stars as well.
Would you recommend milk chocolate chips or semisweet chocolate chips?
I actually use paleo dark chocolate, but milk would likely be closest to Reese’s! Depends on what you like best!
Could you make this with almond butter? Or would it be too runny for this recipe?
Thanks !
I’m sure that would be just fine!
10/10!!! So easy and delicious!! What an amazing recipe!!
Thank you so so so much, Ali! So thrilled you love these. 🙂
What brand of powdered sugar do you use? I notice a lot of them have corn starch and I thought you are not supposed to eat that raw?
I just look for pure, organic powdered sugar with no added ingredients!
Hi what brand of peanut butter do you buy? And what brand of dark chocolate?
The chocolate options I use are linked in this blog post under product recommendations! For peanut butter, I just use whatever natural peanut butter I see at the store as long as the ingredients are just peanuts and sometimes salt. Enjoy!
These were super easy to make and Kayla was so quick to respond on Instagram when I asked for the recipe. They are super delicious. I used organic powdered sugar, almond butter and organic maple syrup. I added a little extra syrup to sweeten them up. They are absolutely delicious! Will make them again and again. I needed to have just a little something sweet last night. And these literally took me 10 minutes to make. The longest part was letting them set in the freezer, which only took about 10 minutes itself. Make them you won’t be disappointed.
Waiting is always the hardest part! Glad you love these, Patricia! 🙂
Can I ask what the maple syrup is for. Would it matter if I left that bit out if I’m using sweet peanut butter already? Thanks
It sweetens it and because there are so few ingredients it helps make the correct texture and consistency! I’m not sure how they would turn out without it.
Absolutely delicious and festive treat for VDay! Only issue was removing them from the rack. Will definitely be remaking for Easter and maybe make it a yearly recipe!
So glad you loved them! 🙂 Yes, can be a little tricky but so worth it!!
I made these for Valentine’s Day. My grandkids and family loved them. Better and healthier than the real deal. You are such a great recipe creator for DF, which my granddaughter is. I did have a bit of a mess with the dipping process, however next time I will use a fork in each hand. One hand was a chocolate mess, but they still turned out ok, not as pretty as yours but good.
Aw thank you so much for saying that! So so so glad the whole family loved them! And totally okay they weren’t as “pretty” (even though I bet they were great!) as long as they tasted good! 🙂
So easy! To make! I love recipes that are easy and simple. This is both of those things. They taste exactly like a Reese’s heart, Thank you so much Kayla for sharing
Sooo happy to hear!! 🙂
So easy to make and yummy! They melt in your mouth. My only problem is I lack dipping skills so they looked like a disaster. Still delicious tho!
Sometimes the messier they look the better they taste. 🙂
What kind of chocolate do you use? I tried finding your product recommendations but I couldn’t find it. I want it to taste like the real thing so I’m not sure if 60% cacao is too dark.
I have it linked in the Product Recommendations section of the blog post, but personally I like Enjoy Life or Hu Kitchen. It’s really personal preference so use what you like!