Like many inventions, peanut butter cups started out as an accident. Well, kind of. The butter cups themselves were intentional, but how delicious they were was actually due to a fault in some peanut roasting equipment, which was owned by Harry Burnett Reese in the early 20th century.
“What made Reese’s peanut butter cups especially tasty was the distinct way his malfunctioning roasting equipment roasted the peanuts,” reports Mashed. “Which accidentally made it taste better than the other peanut butter options around.”
After years of toiling away in various professions trying to make ends meet for his family, this accidental peanut butter cup recipe was the key to success for Reese. And today, you can, of course, still buy his creation. In fact, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the best-selling candy in the US.
But is it possible to buy vegan peanut butter cups? You’ll be pleased to know the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” And to celebrate, we’ve gathered some of the best plant-based peanut butter cups on the market. But first, what actually is a peanut butter cup? And is Reese’s, which is owned by Hershey’s, finally catching up to the times with a new vegan recipe?
What is a peanut butter cup?
Reese worked various different jobs before he created his own peanut butter cups, including one in a Hershey’s chocolate factory. It was there that he got the idea to try selling his own hard candies, which he filled with peanut butter after learning about how popular peanut butter candy was at the time.
The Hershey Company
Hershey’s eventually ended up buying the Reese’s brand, and to this day, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (and the many copycats out there) feature a hard chocolate shell filled with creamy peanut butter, just like Reese intended.
Are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups vegan?
Because they’re covered in milk chocolate, the original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are not vegan. However, a new dairy-free, oat-based version of the recipe, called Reese’s Plant Based, was released in 2023 (more on that below!).
Vegan peanut butter cups
Got a craving for vegan peanut butter cups? We hear you loud and clear. The good news is there are tons of choices out there for you to try. Here are some of our top picks of brands offering vegan peanut butter cups right now.
The Hershey Company
1 Reese’s Plant Based
In March 2023, the Hershey Company announced that a vegan version of its iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups would hit store shelves. Now available in retailers, the new plant-based cups are made with oat chocolate instead of cow’s milk, but don’t worry, they’re just as creamy (and peanut butter-y!) as the original.
FIND IT HERE
Justin’s
2 Justin’s
Justin’s was already an expert in nut butters, so it makes sense that it also offers delicious, chocolatey nut butter cups, too. While the milk chocolate versions are not vegan, all of the dark options, including Dark Chocolate Crispy Peanut Butter Cups, are vegan.
FIND IT HERE
Free2b
3Free2b
Thanks to Free2b, even those with peanut allergies can enjoy the classic flavors of peanut butter cups. That’s because the allergen-friendly brand swaps out the PB for sunflower butter. Plus, with flavors ranging from Dark Chocolate Mint to Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel, there’s something for everyone’s preference.
Find it here
Unreal
4 Unreal
Like many of the vegan peanut butter cup options on the market, Unreal’s dark chocolate selection is lower in sugar than some of its mainstream competitors. But that said, they don’t sacrifice on taste at all.
FIND IT HERE
Chomp!
5 Chomp!
Chomp! Is on a mission to give consumers milk chocolate options without having to go anywhere near cows. Its tasty, totally dairy-free range includes Nutpucks, which feature creamy oat milk chocolate and peanut butter.
FIND IT HERE
No Whey! Foods
6 No Whey! Foods
No Whey! Foods prides itself on creating totally vegan, totally delicious chocolate snacks that are also free of allergens like soy, sesame, gluten, and even peanuts. Yep, the brand’s Pea Not Cups are not technically peanut butter cups. To make them suitable for everyone, the brand uses sunflower instead.
FIND IT HERE
Go Max Go
7 Go Max Go
If you crave the flavor of milk chocolate, but you’re not interested in the actual milk part, try Cleo’s Peanut Butter Cups from Go Max Go. They’re creamy, indulgent, and totally dairy-free.
FIND IT HERE
Theo
8 Theo
For those on the hunt for peanut butter cups made with vegan, organic, and ethically sourced chocolate, Seattle-based Theo has a few options, including its extra chocolatey Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
FIND IT HERE
Lily’s
9 Lily’s
If you love the taste of peanut butter cups, but you’re trying to reduce to the amount of sugar in your diet, give Lily’s stevia-sweetened Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups a try. They’re creamy, rich, and to be honest, pretty addictive.
FIND IT HERE
Hail Merry
10 Hail Merry
Hail Merry’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are also packed with six grams of protein, and they’re lower in sugar than many mainstream alternatives. But what you gain in nutrition, you don’t give up on taste. They’re just as creamy and satisfying as the original.
FIND IT HERE
No Cow
11No Cow
If you’re in search of a sweet, post-gym protein snack but don’t necessarily want to reach for a classic PB cup, No Cow offers the perfect option. Free from added sugar, each two-pack of No Cow’s peanut butter cups offers 10 grams of protein.
Find it here
Whims
12Whims
Whether you’re diabetic or are simply looking to cut down on sugar, Whims’ plant-based peanut butter cups contain just one gram of sugar. Creamy peanut butter is enrobed by velvety oat milk chocolate for a treat that’s sure to delight.
Find it here
Love Raw
13 Love Raw
UK brand Love Raw has surged in popularity in recent years thanks to its tasty range of vegan milk chocolate products. There are Cream Wafer Bars, Nutty Choc Balls, and, of course, Vegan Peanut Butter Cups, which are available in vegan milk or white chocolate varieties.
FIND IT HERE
Pip & Nut
14Pip & Nut
UK-based Pip & Nut started off as nut butter specialists, but offering nut butter cups was the obvious next step. Its Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are totally vegan and made with ethically sourced chocolate.
FIND IT HERE
For more on vegan sweet treats, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
