Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

Calling all chocolate peanut butter lovers! Ashley from Spoonful of Flavor here again. Today, I am bringing you the ultimate chocolate peanut butter cupcake. A layer of peanut butter buttercream frosting is sandwiched between two layers of chocolate cake, topped with chocolate ganache and sprinkled with peanut butter cups. It doesn’t get any better than that! As soon as I took one bite into these little darlings, I declared them the world’s best cupcake. Seriously, they are that good! They are sweet and decadent without being overly rich. And they make an impressive little treat.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

Cupcakes make me happy. They are one of my favorite treats to make but I don’t make them as often as I should. I love the whole entire process, including baking the cupcakes, dreaming up a decadent frosting and assembling the layers. I almost like the process of making them more than eating them. I’m often known to randomly bake cupcakes or a cake for no apparent reason just because I really enjoy making them. My friend and neighbors are always happy to take a sweet treat off of my hands. But then again, you don’t need a special occasion to make these cupcakes.  There is so much chocolate peanut butter goodness packed into one fun little cupcake.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

Are you drooling yet?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

To make these cupcakes a little more interesting than your standard cupcake with piped frosting I sliced the cupcake in half, sandwiched peanut butter frosting in the middle and topped it off with chocolate ganache and crumbled peanut butter cups. They are not difficult to make but require a few steps to complete the entire process. A process that produces the ultimate chocolate peanut butter cupcake.

Can Peanut Butter Go Bad?

Peanut butter can go rancid in about a year and lose its flavor.

Is Peanut Butter Good For You?

Peanut butter is high in fat and calories.

But the good new is nuts and nut butters are a great source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Is Peanut Butter Still Good When It Separates?

Peanut butter is still good to eat when it separates.

Simply store the bottle upside down until the oil is well mixed with the solids, or you can stir the peanut butter until it is no longer separated.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

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Servings: 18
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Description

A layer of peanut butter buttercream frosting is sandwiched between two layers of chocolate cake, topped with chocolate ganache and sprinkled with peanut butter cups.

Ingredients 

For the Cupcakes

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder , + 2 tablespoons, + extra for dusting
  • 1/4 cup hot water, + 2 tablespoons
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1.5 sticks
  • 1 cup sugar, + 2 tablespoons
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

For the Frosting

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1.5 sticks, at room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • pinch of salt

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • peanut butter cups, for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Butter a standard muffin tin and dust with cocoa powder; tapping out excess.
  • In a glass measuring cup, whisk together cocoa powder and hot water until smooth.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a small medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter with sugar, stirring until combined.
  • Remove from heat and pour into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
  • Beat on medium-low speed until mixture is cool, about 5 minutes.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated.
  • Add vanilla and cocoa mixture; beat until combined.
  • Reduce speed to low.
  • Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, beating until just combined.
  • Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes; invert cupcakes onto rack and cool completely.
  • In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until light and creamy, about 4 minutes.
  • With the mixer on low speed, slowly add powdered sugar.
  • Gradually increase the speed and mix for another 4 minutes.
  • Add peanut butter and salt.
  • Beat until fully combined and frosting reaches the desired consistency.
  • To make the ganache, place chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl.
  • Heat cream and corn syrup just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Pour hot mixture over chocolate.
  • Let stand one minute, then stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth.
  • To assemble, cut each cupcake in half horizontally, such that you have a top and bottom layer.
  • Sandwich frosting between the top and bottom cupcake layer.
  • Spoon the ganache over the cupcakes and sprinkle with crumbled peanut butter cups.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

*If the ganache is too thick, add another tablespoon of warm heavy cream until desired consistency is reached. You can also heat ganache in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave to soften.
Recipe from Spoonful of Flavor with cake layer adapted from Martha Stewart.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 43.1gProtein: 5.4gCholesterol: 76.7mgFiber: 2gSugar: 31.7g
Author: Sweet Basil
Course: 500+ Best Dessert Recipes

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - are you drooling yet? Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate ganache

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