Trader Joe’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups, reviewed

Chocolate chips are a staple in my kitchen, as they are in almost any kitchen that is equipped with a functional oven. I keep a wide assortment of other types of chips and chocolate chunks, as well. These always include dark chocolate, milk chocolate (as opposed to the semisweet chocolate of “standard” chips) peanut butter, white chocolate and butterscotch, though I often will try out more unique chips, like the swirled line from Nestle’s. I also like to try out candies that can stand in as chips in cookies, which is what drew me to try Trader Joe’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups initially.

I don’t know what’s taken me so long to mention these, but better late than never.

These mini peanut butter cups are barely larger than a standard chocolate chip, but pack a full-sized punch of peanut butter cup flavor. The peanut butter inside the chocolate shell is creamy and soft, not at all firm and quite unlike a regular peanut butter chip. While they’re very addictive for snacking because they’re easy to eat by the handful, they are fantastic for baking. You get the flavor of a good quality milk chocolate and rich peanut butter from each one – and they hold their shape perfectly in cookies and cakes. I’ve been using them for quite some time and just love them for their convenience (easier than unwrapping and chopping up regular pb cups) and taste. In fact, I might just head off to snack on a few right now….