These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting just can’t be beat!
The rich, silky, sweetness of chocolate combined with the smooth, creamy, subtly sweet & nutty peanut butter: well, it’s simply, a match made in heaven. Try to tell me any other combination that is more delicious and I’ll call you crazy (unless, that is, you say chocolate + caramel – then you’ll have a good argument.)
I’ve been thinking about this delicious combo for days now, but today was the day to make things happen.
There really are no words to describe just how decadently delicious these cupcakes are. The richness of the chocolate cake makes for a perfect balance with the sweetness of the peanut butter frosting. Oh yeah, and the surprise filling isn’t too shabby either. 😉
Yields 24 regular cupcakes
Chocolate + peanut butter = a match made in heaven! The use of a box cake mix makes these cupcakes come together in a breeze, but the homemade peanut butter frosting (and peanut butter cup surprise!) take them over the top.
15 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
35 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 box Devil’s Food cake mix
- 1-1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup applesauce (or oil)
- 3 eggs
- 1 small bag Reese’s peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
- 1/3 cup smooth natural peanut butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk (plus more to achieve desired consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix cake mix, water, applesauce (or oil), and eggs according to directions on box (2 minutes on medium speed with electric mixer).
- If desired, add chocolate chips to the cake batter.
- Fill muffin pan with liners, and fill liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake according to directions on package, about 18-20 minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to cool for about 10 minutes, then gently press one peanut butter cup into each cupcake.
- Blend peanut butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until combined. Add milk and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Continue to add milk until you get the desired consistency.
- After frosting the cupcakes, top each cupcake with some extra peanut butter cups chunks & a dusting of cocoa powder, if desired.
It’s important to put the PB cups in while the cupcakes are still somewhat warm; that way, they’ll get slightly soft and melted. You’re going to want to dig right in once you see things getting all melted and delicious, but I promise, it’s worth the wait for the frosting.
Rather than making 24 regular-sized cupcakes, I made 14 regular sized + 6 jumbo cupcakes.
Surprise PB Cup filling! 🙂
I’m telling you: If you’re as much in love with peanut butter + chocolate as I am, then you need to try these cupcakes. Your friends will thank you.
ENJOY!! 😀
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