If you’re dreaming of the perfect no-bake Valentine’s Day dessert, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart recipe is everything you need. It’s rich, creamy, and chocolatey with the nostalgic charm of a homemade Reese’s. This guide walks you through every step from ingredients and prep to storage, gifting, and custom variations. Whether you’re baking with kids or crafting sweet gifts, these heart-shaped treats are a guaranteed hit.
The Sweetest Valentine Memory
Every year, Valentine’s Day takes me back to my grandmother’s warm kitchen in Charleston. The scent of peanut butter and vanilla would fill the air as we prepared little love bites for neighbors, school friends, and anyone who stopped by. She handed me a tiny heart-shaped cookie cutter and said, “Now press the love in”. That memory shaped my love for these Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Hearts. They’re sweet, simple, and full of heart.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 hearts 1x
Description
No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart recipe with creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate. Perfect for gifts or holiday treats.
Ingredients
1 cup creamy peanut butter (room temp)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
2 cups powdered sugar
10–12 oz chocolate (semi-sweet and milk blend or candy coating)
Instructions
1. Line 8×8 dish with parchment paper.
2. Stir together peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.
3. Mix in powdered sugar gradually until dough forms.
4. Press dough into dish and smooth top.
5. Freeze until firm, then cut hearts using cookie cutter.
6. Re-knead scraps and cut more hearts.
7. Freeze hearts again until very firm.
8. Melt chocolate and dip each heart, tapping off excess.
9. Place on tray and chill until set.
10. Store in fridge or freezer.
Notes
Only take a few hearts out of the freezer at a time to prevent softening. Use candy coating for easier dipping. Decorate with sprinkles or drizzle for added flair.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 heart
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
After culinary school and years working in bustling kitchens, I’ve come back to recipes like this one, no-fuss, big-flavor, heartwarming food. And these hearts? They’re my go-to. Creamy peanut butter wrapped in smooth chocolate, shaped like love itself.
If you’re looking for something equally beginner-friendly to serve with them, these valentine’s day treats for kids are colorful and fun, while this no-bake cookie recipe shares the same stress-free approach for busy home bakers.
Ingredients & Tools Breakdown
What You’ll Need to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart
You’ll only need a few pantry basics to pull off these addictive little hearts:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (room temp)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 10–12 oz chocolate, chopped or candy coating
Use a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate for the ideal flavor balance. Candy melts are excellent if you want to skip tempering. Powdered sugar helps thicken the peanut butter without compromising the melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Tools That Make It Easier
Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy shaping. A 1.5-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter gives consistent sizing. Use a silicone spatula or your palms to press the mixture flat. A fork or dipping tool helps with smooth chocolate coating.
For peanut butter lovers, my peanut butter cookies recipe is another great place to get cozy with this ingredient.
Step-by-Step Instructions with Pro Tips
Making the Peanut Butter Base
- In a mixing bowl, stir together peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Gradually add powdered sugar until the dough becomes thick and holds its shape.
- Press this mixture into your prepared pan to a ½-inch thickness, then smooth the surface.
- Freeze for 30 minutes until firm enough to cut.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to form the shapes, re-kneading and flattening scraps to avoid waste. Place each heart on a parchment-lined tray and freeze again until rock solid. This helps them keep their shape while dipping.
If you’re craving more zesty no-bake inspiration, my lemon oatmeal cookies hit the same easy sweet spot with a citrus twist.
Dipping and Decorating the Hearts
Melt the chocolate slowly, either in a double boiler or in the microwave using 20-second intervals. Stir between each to avoid burning.
Remove a few hearts from the freezer at a time, keeping them cold makes dipping easier. Using a fork, dip each heart into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip off. Lay them flat on a new parchment-lined tray.
Add fun toppings like sprinkles, crushed peanuts, or a drizzle of white chocolate. Refrigerate until the coating is set.
Storage, Gifting & Variations
How to Store & Freeze Your Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart
These hearts store beautifully. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. To freeze, place them in a single layer until frozen solid, then stack with parchment between layers in a sealed container.
Want to build a gift box? Include them with small-batch candies or handmade sweets like easy homemade marzipan for a classy Valentine’s surprise.
Variations & Fun Ideas for Gifting
Swap peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter for allergy-friendly options. Stir chopped pretzels, toffee bits, or mini marshmallows into the filling for texture. Add edible glitter or pink salt flakes to the tops for glam gifting.
I love pairing these hearts with buttery baked favorites like this blueberry coffee cake. Together, they make an irresistible brunch plate.
Want to go all out? Add in classic sugar cookies decorated with names or messages, perfect for loved ones or classroom valentines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Palmer Peanut Butter Chocolate Valentine Hearts gluten-free?
Palmer does not label their seasonal chocolates as gluten-free. Their facilities process wheat products, so cross-contamination is possible. If you’re gluten-sensitive, homemade versions like this are a safer option.
How to make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart?
Combine peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Press into a dish and freeze. Cut into hearts, freeze again, then dip in melted chocolate. Chill to set.
Can I freeze Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Hearts for later?
Absolutely. Freeze them individually on a tray before transferring to a container. They’ll keep for up to two months without losing texture.
What’s the best chocolate to use for dipping peanut butter hearts?
Use a 50/50 blend of milk and semi-sweet chocolate for balance. Candy melts, or almond bark are great for beginners; they melt easily and set quickly.
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine’s Heart recipe brings joy in every bite, simple, sweet, and made with love. They’re ideal for gifting, sharing, or savoring slowly with coffee and cozy blankets.
There’s no pressure to make them perfect. What matters is the heart you put into it. So go ahead, press the cutter, dip the chocolate, and enjoy every moment. And if you’re looking for a light dessert pairing, serve these with superfood breakfast chia seed pudding for a surprising twist of balance and indulgence.
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