Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes are my go-to cupcake recipe. They’re rich, dark, and incredibly moist. The Peanut Butter Buttercream on top is the perfect pairing for the dark chocolate flavor.
Even though I’m not solely a baker, I would totally go to that Cupcake Wars show with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes. They’ve become my go-to when I need cupcakes for something, whether it’s for a party, to give to a neighbor, or to satisfy a chocolate cupcake craving.
What I love about this recipe is it’s easy to make, and you can use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour. I don’t usually have cake flour on hand, so it’s nice when you can use AP flour and still get an incredibly soft and moist texture.
In fact, the Chocolate Cupcake batter doesn’t have anything out of the ordinary in it, and the peanut butter buttercream only calls for 4 ingredients that you whip together in a bowl.
The reason I mention that is because usually I’m somewhat of a buttercream snob and prefer to make it without confectioner’s sugar so I can avoid the subtle grittiness that comes with it.
But because the peanut butter is such a big component of the buttercream, it’s much less noticeable, and the buttercream is plenty luscious, light, and smooth.
Or to say it another way: When you put the peanut butter buttercream in a piping bag, you’ll find yourself piping little tastes onto your finger, and think momentarily about piping some into your mouth (real talk, here).
Let me show you how to make them!
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes:
First whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt:
In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk (I’ve done this successfully with milk or almond milk mixed with a little vinegar), a neutral oil, one egg, and vanilla:
Add the wet to the dry:
When the flour is almost incorporated, pause for a moment:
Add coffee to the mixture, then finish mixing until the flour streaks disappear. The batter will be very thin:
Divide evenly into 12 cupcake wells:
Bake for 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean:
They will be so dark and chocolatey!
Let the cupcakes cool, then make the peanut butter buttercream by whipping together butter, confectioner’s sugar, peanut butter, and a little vanilla:
Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes. Then, I like to drizzle a little bit of chocolate syrup on top and add chopped peanuts for garnish, but it’s totally optional.
Everything is so soft and tender, and the peanut butter buttercream is OH so smooth:
Enjoy!
More Chocolate Dessert Recipes:
Irish Cream Cupcakes with Caramelized White Chocolate Buttercream
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Salted Caramel Chocolate Ganache Tart
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies from Love from the Oven
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes::
- 3.75 oz all purpose flour, by weight (3/4 cup, measured)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup whole buttermilk*
- 1/4 cup oil**
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coffee
- chocolate syrup for drizzling, optional
- chopped peanuts for garnish, optional
For the peanut butter buttercream::
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 5 oz confectioner's sugar, by weight (1 cup, measured)
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Whisk to combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk to combine the buttermilk, grapeseed oil, egg, and vanilla. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry while stirring, and before the flour has disappeared into the batter, stir in the coffee. It will make the batter quite thin. Evenly divide the batter into the 12 muffin cups, but make sure they are no more than 3/4 full.
- Bake for 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack completely.
- To make the buttercream, beat all buttercream ingredients in a bowl until smooth and blended, about 3 minutes on high speed.
- Pipe on the buttercream as desired. Optional: drizzle with chocolate syrup, and sprinkle on some chopped peanuts. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting (Video):
Post updated in July 2018 with new photos, writing, and a video. Originally published October 2011
115 Comments on “Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes”
Yay! I get to leave the first comment (because I’m up WAY too late again). Speaking of being up – this is terrific late night food! What beautiful cupcakes with my absolutely favorite flavor combo! Thanks so much for making these!
HAHA yes I’m up too late too! I normally post in the morning but I couldn’t help myself. Technically it’s Thursday!!! lol. I’m just so excited about these cupcakes!
These look to die for!! Chocolate and peanut butter of course is a winner, but the cupcakes look perfect! I think I could eat all 12, that would be a problem!
OMG. I know what Zach’s going to be requesting soon…
Oh good god, those look insanely good.
I was up late myself when I saw this and decided to wait til morning to comment. This is soooo rich and gooey and sticky and I love it….
Taylor’s two favorite dessert flavors are chocolate and PB! We will definitely be making these soon 🙂 They look delicious!!
These are definitely making me drool, they look so bad for you but soooo good at the same time!
Oh mannn! These look incredible!
I am, as it happens… What fantastic looking cupcakes – a delicious combination of flavours. Delicious!
Holy….goodness! These look so insanely delicious. My husband’s favorite flavor combo is peanut butter chocolate- he’d love these!
These look delicious. I just found your blog and love it. I know I’ll be a regular
These look incredible!
Chocolate and peanut butter together just may be my biggest food obsession, and I love the peanuts on top! Such a nice touch!
I’ve died and gone to heaven!
Definitely drooling over these! Even before you asked the question, just looking at that first picture makes me want to take a bite. Not possible, unfortunately, so have to bookmark this and try them myself…