Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

These chocolate peanut butter cupcakes are honestly some of the most decadent cupcakes you might ever have. The chocolate cake base bakes up incredibly moist, rich, and fudgy, while the peanut butter frosting is the perfect smooth and creamy topping! And, of course, you can't forget to top them off with some of the best chocolates of all time: Reese's cups. These cupcakes are a truly classic flavor pairing that's perfect for birthday celebrations, dinner party desserts, or just a sweet treat for someone special (including yourself)!

For more chocolate and peanut butter recipes, try Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies, Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms, Chocolate Snack Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting, and Soft & Thick Monster Cookies.

Why you'll love these chocolate peanut butter cup cupcakes

• Dense, Fudgy Texture: An almost brownie-like texture, these cupcakes are ultra chocolatey and extra fudgy!
• Luscious Peanut Butter Frosting: This swoon-worthy peanut butter frosting is so good you'll want to eat by the spoonful. 
• Flat Cupcake Tops: These cupcakes bake up perfectly flat, so there's no need to trim the tops. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hot Coffee: Freshly brewed coffee is added to the batter last to "bloom" the cocoa, amplifying the flavor.
• Neutral Oil: Use vegetable oil, canola oil, or a light-tasting olive oil. 
• Whole Milk: Whole milk provides the best flavor in baked goods.
• Peanut Butter: I recommend only using a thick, creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. 
• Cocoa Powder: Use a high quality dutch process cocoa powder for a more rich & intense chocolate flavor.
• Sugars: You'll need granulated sugar for the cupcakes and powdered sugar for the frosting. 
• Unsalted Butter: Use high quality European-style butter for best overall flavor.
• Flour: Use high quality unbleached all-purpose flour best results.
• Eggs: Bring your egg to room temperature quickly by placing it in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
• Vanilla: Add a high quality vanilla extract for optimal flavor.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and individual quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

Here are step by step photos and instructions on how to make this chocolate peanut butter cup cupcake recipe! For the full ingredient list and method, see the recipe card at the end of this post.

STEP 1: Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

STEP 2: Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.

STEP 3: Combine wet and dry. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk until just combined.

STEP 4: Add coffee. Lastly, whisk in the hot coffee until fully combined.

STEP 5: Fill cups. Transfer the batter to the cupcake pan, filling each cupcake liner about ¾ full.

STEP 6: Bake. Bake the cupcakes for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

STEP 7: Make frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and salt on high speed until smooth. Add the peanut butter and mix until fully combined. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar and mix on low speed until fully combined. Lastly, add the heavy cream and continue beating on low speed until no more lumps or pockets of air remain and the frosting is smooth.

STEP 8: Decorate. Decorate the cupcakes as desired. Top each with half of a peanut butter cup, and enjoy!

Expert Baking Tips

• Use a thick & creamy peanut butter. I recommend only using a thick, creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. 

All of the recipes on this blog are carefully developed with gram measurements so you can easily recreate them in your own kitchen with success. Volume measurements are extremely inaccurate and leave room for significant errors. Not all measuring cups are made equally, so your one cup of flour will be different from my one cup of flour. By providing precise measurements in grams (aside from minor ingredients, which are given in tsp/tbsp), you can make these recipes accurately and with less cleanup! All you need is this kitchen scale. 

If this still isn't enough to convince you, I have provided volume measurements in the recipe card. If you are interested in understanding the conversions, this is the best conversion chart.

But trust me, once you try baking in grams you'll never turn back!

Happy baking! x