Rich and decadent eggless chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy peanut butter frosting. Oh, and there is a surprise inside!
One of those perfect flavor combinations is for sure chocolate and peanut butter. You can take this combo and make any treat your heart desire and it’s guaranteed that everyone will love it.
Same with these cupcakes. Rich and moist chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy peanut butter frosting. May I add the cupcakes are made with no eggs, like these minis. They are absolutely fabulous and quickly became my go-to chocolate cupcake recipe. It’s so easy to whip up and bakes beautifully. Domed, fluffy and rich in color and flavor.
The frosting is also my go-to recipe. I just swapped some of the butter for peanut butter and voila! Peanut butter frosting! So so easy! I promise! The heavy whipping cream makes it super smooth and fluffy and I wouldn’t recommend skipping it.
Oh but wait! I took this amazing treat even further! I used some of the frosting as a filling for the cupcakes!
Peanut butter surprise cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cup sifted confectionars' sugar
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
Instructions
!to make the cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, soda, salt and cocoa).
- In another mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (oil, water, vanilla and vinegar).
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
- Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
- Bake cupcakes for 17 to 18 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center of each cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 2 minutes.
- Transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
!to make the frosting:
- With an electric mixer, beat sugar and both butters until crumbly.
- Add vanilla and cream and beat until smooth.
- Increase the speed to medium high and beat for 3 minutes until fluffy.
- Place in piping bag. Set aside.
- !assembling:
- Use a cupcake corer or pairing knife to core the cupcakes.
- Fill the cupcakes with frosting.
- Use leftover frosting to decorate the top of the cupcakes.
- Decorate the cupcakes.
- Refrigerate leftovers.
Nutrition
These cupcakes are special as you can see. But that’s not because of the rich chocolate base or the fluffy mound of frosting. Not even because of the surprise hiding inside.
CrunchyCreamySw says
Yay! Thanks!
Susan Farndell says
Is the vinegar necessary? The one thing I don’t have in the house so I just wondered if I really need to go get some. Can anyone tell me what it does?
CrunchyCreamySw says
Do you have lemon juice?
The vinegar acts with soda and makes them fluffy and give them rich, reddish color. I think it’s worth it!
Lindsay says
I just made a double batch of these and the cake turned out amazing! Amazing, soft, moist! Love it! However, the frosting turned out rather dry/thick and I can’t figure out why. It was really hard to pipe into the center and frost the tops. I used the right amount of each ingredient and the butter was soft. Any tips for next time? Maybe slightly less sugar? Thanks for the recipes!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Hi Lindsay! Thank you so much for trying the recipe! I am so glad you enjoyed it! I would recommend adding a little bit (a teaspoon at a time) of milk if the frosting seems too thick. Hope this helps!
Lindsay says
Thanks! I will try that next time! I brought them to work to share and everyone loved them, thick frosting and all. I’ve bookmarked this recipe because I will definitely be making these again!
Vera Zecevic – Cupcakes Garden says
Hi Anna,
I’ve featured this peanut butter-chocolate goodness on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.
Sarah Younker says
I don’t have heavy whipping cream, could I use coffee creamer?
CrunchyCreamySw says
Hi Sarah! I have not used coffee creamer in frosting so I can’t tell you how it will affect the texture. I like the whipping cream as it will whip in the frosting. Thanks for asking!
Allie|Baking a Moment says
Ok, my hubby has been pestering me for pb chocolate cupcakes for weeks now! And the more you talk about your eggless recipe, the more curious I’m getting! I may have to get going on this one ASAP. And I did not know about OXO + Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Terrific cause and I will be sure to keep a lookout for that sticker.
CrunchyCreamySw says
lol Well, than I say you should try these. 🙂 I think you both will love them. And the eggless cupcake recipe is now my favorite. Let me know if you try it! I would love to hear what you think, Allie! Thank you!
Allie|Baking a Moment says
I certainly will! 😉
Colette says
I love surprises and anything OXO!
Tutti Dolci says
I love that surprise PB frosting in the center, yum!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thanks, Laura!
Emily says
That’s one nifty little baking tool! I’m going to look for it here in Canada – love how it makes adding a ‘center surprise’ much easier 🙂
CrunchyCreamySw says
I hope you will find it and make some adorable surprise cupcakes! Thank you, Emily!
Diane {Created by Diane} says
oh my goodness I’m in LOVE with these, they look delicious!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you so much, Diane!
Kate@Diethood says
SO PRETTY!! I love the surprise! 😀
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you, Kate!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Anna, I think you created my favorite cupcake in the whole wide world! Seriously. Reese’s is my all-time favorite candy bar and I love everything chocolate and PB. Love the PB filling and frosting with butter, whipping cream and a hint of vanilla. The chocolate cake batter is the best, I agree! Have made it into cupcakes before and no other recipe compares. Sublime. Beautiful photos, too, girl! Pinning!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Agree! Love this cupcake recipe! Thank you, Stacy and thank you for pinning!
Curry and Comfort says
Beautiful cupcakes for a beautiful cause! Well done to you and OXO!
CrunchyCreamySw says
Thank you, Ramona!