Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (2024)

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I first made these peanut butter and jelly cups spontaneously before work one morning. Little did I know, I would end up making them three times that week… they are THAT good. Vegan, almost paleo, and made with just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes of active time, you might find these adorable PB&J cups in your rotation too!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (1)

People telling me they have dietary restrictions usually results in me considering it as a challenge. I love to show up to social events with foods that suit all attendees and that’s one of the main reasons why over the years, I’ve done all sorts of experiments with making desserts that are both vegan as well as gluten-free; paleo; no added sugar; low-carb; nut-free; and more!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (2)

Turning limitations into exciting challenges has resulted in some of my very favorite recipes, including (but not limited to!) my maple pecan cookies,healthy vegan cookie dough, and brownie batter fudge.

Recently I wanted to treat someone, though, who is allergic to chocolate. For some reason, once I found out about this, I struggled to think of desserts thatdon’t include some kind of cocoa. Is there an official psychological phenomenon for this?

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (3)

Anyway, my brain kept going back to peanut butter cups, maybe because chocolate isn’t actually in the name. I figured it was a sign that I should at least make something cup-like!

These actually started out as peanut butter banana cups (pictured), and halfway through filling them I realized they might be a little one-note, found some raspberry jam in the fridge, and made magic happen. Note: it turns out the banana version was also delicious. I now make them both ways.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (4)

The base version of these PB&J cups is just three ingredients, naturally vegan and gluten-free, and easily paleo if you swap in almond butter and choose a suitable jam or jelly. But the recipe is easy to play around with! Here are some additional variations that have been successful for me.

Peanut butter and jelly cup variations

  • Add thinly sliced banana
  • Garnish with cacao nibs (pictured) or coconut flakes
  • Top with maple-candied pecans (yep, that was as ridiculous as it sounds…)
  • Substitute the peanut butter with almond butter

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (5)

Make them your own!

You’ll need to keep these pb&j cups in the refrigerator or freezer at all times after making them. As you can see from some of the photos, they start to melt pretty quickly! I think you’ll find yourself opening your refrigerator door quite frequently… if you do try these, let me know how it goes!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (6)

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5 from 4 votes

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups

Crazy easy 3-ingredient peanut butter and jelly cups. Like an inside-out Reese's but minus the chocolate, these PB&J cups are naturally vegan, gluten-free, and easily paleo; and easy to customize!

Course Dessert, sweets

Cuisine gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, refined sugar-free, soy-free, vegan

Keyword pb&j cups, peanut butter and jelly cups

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 18 mini cups

Calories 132kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup natural peanut butter (unsweetened + no added oil)
  • 1/4 cup refined coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup jelly, jam or preserves of choice (pictured is raspberry jam)

Supplies:

Instructions

  • Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan or by microwaving it for 30 seconds. Add it to a bowl with the peanut butter and whisk them together until smoothly combined.

  • Take the mini baking cups, placing them in your mini muffin pan for stability if you have one. Carefully spoon about 1 tablespoon at a time of peanut butter mixture into the bottom of the baking cups. (You can use more or less depending on the size of PB&J cups that you want). After using about half of the mixture, place the tray in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to set.

  • Remove the tray from the freezer. Add about 1/2 tablespoon of jelly to each cup. If applicable, use your spoon to gently flatten the jelly (this will make it easier to cover it with peanut butter). If your jelly or jam is fairly runny, return the tray to the freezer to set for another 5 minutes. Otherwise, proceed.

  • Spoon the rest of the peanut butter mixture, about 1 scant tablespoon at a time, over the tops of the cups to cover the jelly. If using any toppings, add them now so that they'll stick. Freeze the cups for another 45-60 minutes until set completely. After that, you can store them in either the refrigerator or the freezer in an airtight container.

Notes

You can use unrefined/virgin coconut oil if desired, but note that this will result in a prominent coconut flavor in the final product.

To keep these paleo and refined sugar-free, choose a naturally-sweetened jam that meets these criteria; and use almond butter instead of peanut butter.

Recipe may yield a varying number of cups depending on how full you fill them. Extra peanut butter shell mixture can also be mixed with maple syrup to taste, and frozen, to make a delicious peanut butter fudge!

Nutrition

Serving: 1mini cup | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

Inspired by Spoon University.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups Recipe | Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free (2024)

FAQs

Is peanut butter and jelly gluten free? ›

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be made gluten free, as long as you use gluten-free bread. Most peanut butter and jelly sold in the U.S. is naturally gluten-free, but it's always a good idea to check the ingredients list to be sure.

Are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches vegan? ›

When beginning your exploration of vegan sandwiches, a classic peanut butter and jam (PBJ) offers the perfect starting point. Anybody can make a decent PBJ sandwich, but let me tell you how to make a great one. Opt for jam, preserves, or conserves instead of jelly since you'll get more fruit and less sugar.

Is Smuckers Goober gluten-free? ›

A Smuckers' customer service representative told Verywell that while Goober products aren't made with gluten-containing ingredients, they don't meet the standards for gluten-free labeling.

Can celiac people eat peanut butter? ›

Peanuts, peanut butter and peanut flour are all naturally gluten-free foods, which means they are safe for someone with Celiac Disease to eat.

Are Uncrustables gluten free? ›

At this time, our Uncrustables products are not considered gluten free. How long do Uncrustables® products last? Please refer to the "Best When Purchased By" date printed on the side of the outer package.

Can vegetarians eat PBJ? ›

PB & J Ingredients

Yes, most peanut butter is vegan. The primary ingredient in peanut butter is peanuts. However, some brands might add ingredients that aren't vegan-friendly. At GOOD GOOD, we take pride in our all-natural peanut butter, which is packed with 90% or more peanuts.

Can vegetarians eat peanut butter and jelly? ›

School is back in session, and let's be honest: By now, you've probably resorted to packing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. Don't get me wrong—I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They're the perfect vegetarian food!

Is jelly OK for gluten-free? ›

The answer is generally yes because most jellies are made from fruit, sugar, and pectin, none of which contain gluten. However, cross-contamination during manufacturing or added ingredients can sometimes introduce gluten into jellies.

Is Smucker's peanut butter gluten-free? ›

Smucker's fruit spreads, natural peanut butters, fruit syrups, Sugar Free Breakfast Syrup, Pure Maple Syrup, Portion Control Products and ice cream toppings do not contain ingredients derived from gluten; however, these products do not meet our established criteria for a "gluten-free" claim for one or more reasons.

What brands of peanut butter are gluten-free? ›

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Brands:
  • Crazy Richard's Peanut Butter.
  • Jif Peanut Butter.
  • Justin's Peanut Butter.
  • Krema Nut Company.
  • Maranatha Peanut Butter.
  • PB Crave (all 5 flavors!)
  • Reese's Peanut Butter.
  • Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butter.
Aug 29, 2022

Is Smuckers peanut butter and jelly gluten-free? ›

Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich. This product has 4 ingredients with gluten and 1 ingredient that may have gluten. Which diet do you follow? Follow more than one?

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