Moist Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

Peanut butter and chocolate is a wonderful flavor pair that never fails. No matter what you make with it, it will come out delicious. When peanut butter and chocolate combine, the result is always unexpectedly delightful that makes you go wow with every single bite. This happens because the flavors of both peanut butter and chocolate complement each other like a match made in heaven. Peanut butter is known for its nutty flavor that sticks to your mouth and lingers for a long time. On the other hand, chocolate is loved for its deep, rich, and bittersweet taste that makes you fall in love with it with every bite. Pairing these two flavors together works well in many different ways.

Peanut butter carries a rich nutty flavor that complements the deep richness of chocolate. At the same time, chocolate enhances the peanut butter experience with its silky smooth texture and an intense flavor profile that pairs well with the toasty flavor profile of peanut butter. Together, chocolate and peanut butter create a flavor bomb that explodes as soon as you bite into it.

Variations of Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes:

There are many desserts you can make with peanut butter and chocolate, cupcakes are the most delightful choice. Why? Because cupcakes let you enjoy the fun of a whole cake in a small serving. Cupcakes are also perfect for times when you need an individual serving dessert for a huge party. There are many ways you can serve cupcakes as the main dessert. This recipe is divided into two parts — for the cupcake and for the frosting. In the end, the cupcakes and frosting are assembled to finish the recipe. Check out the recipe below and create your own peanut butter chocolate cupcakes at home.

Recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients for Cupcake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup milk or buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup hot water or hot coffee

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 4 tbsp milk or heavy cream
• A pinch of salt, if peanut butter is unsalted

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a muffin tray by lining it with paper liners and a light spray of oil. You can also grease the molds with butter.

Step 2: Prepare Dry Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with the given measures in the ingredient list. Sifting removes lumps in the ingredients to ensure a smooth batter.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract by the given measure. Stir well until fully combined and smooth.

Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix using a spatula or an electric mixer on low speed until just well combined. Avoid overmixing as it can make the cupcakes dense. Just only mix until the ingredients are combined homogeneously.

Step 5: Add Hot Liquid

Carefully, add ½ cup of hot water or hot brewed coffee to make the batter thin. Thinning batter is important as it will make it runny and help bloom the cocoa powder to enhance the chocolate flavor. Additionally it also works well in puffing up the cupcakes as dense batter can make cupcakes dense as well.

Step 6: Fill Cupcake Liners

Spoon the batter into each cupcake liner until its about ⅔ full. You can also use a measuring cup or a ladle to do this. Avoid overfilling as the batter needs some room to rise on top.

Step 7: Bake

Place the tray in the center of the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes. With the help of a toothpick, check doneness by inserting it in the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, it is done. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 8: Prepare Peanut Butter Frosting

Cream together butter and peanut butter in a bowl until well combined. Add powdered sugar gradually to this and beat well after each addition to prevent clumping the frosting. Adjust consistency with milk or cream as per your preference then whip on high speed until fluffy.

Step 9: Assemble

Once the cupcakes are cooled and peanut butter frosting is prepared it is time to assemble. Fill the frosting in a piping bag and make roses over the cupcakes. Top the cupcakes with chocolate shards and serve.