Chocolate Ganache Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Name: Chocolate Ganache Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Prep time: 55 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 2 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar; 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup baking cocoa; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature; 1/2 cup canola oil; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; FILLING:; 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup confectioners' sugar; 2 to 4 tablespoons 2% milk; GANACHE:; 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING:; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 4 large egg whites; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups unsalted butter, softened; 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter; Chocolate curls, optional

I've been baking cakes for years and enjoy trying new combinations of flavors and textures. For this peanut butter cupcake recipe, I blended peanut butter and chocolate. As soon as I took the first bite, I knew I had created something divine! —Ronda Schabes, Vicksburg, Michigan

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FILLING:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons 2% milk
GANACHE:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING:
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
Chocolate curls, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. Whisk buttermilk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla until blended; add to the dry ingredients until combined. (Batter will be very thin.) Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a small bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve piping consistency. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a small round tip. Fill with peanut butter filling. Insert tip into the top center of each cupcake; pipe about 1 tablespoon filling into each.
Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Dip the top of each cupcake into ganache; place on wire racks to set.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, egg whites, salt and cream of tartar over low heat. With a hand mixer, beat on low speed 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160°, about 8-10 minutes. Pour into a large bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. If mixture begins to look curdled, place frosting bowl in another bowl filled with hot water for a few seconds. Continue adding butter and beating until smooth. Beat in peanut butter 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
Place frosting in a pastry or plastic bag with large star tip; pipe onto each cupcake. If desired, top with chocolate curls. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature before serving.

Test Kitchen Tips

Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light or golden brown sugar. The types are generally interchangeable in recipes. But if you prefer a bolder flavor, choose dark brown sugar.

Canola oil is high in monounsaturated fat, a type that helps to decrease blood cholesterol levels, and low in saturated fat, which can increase blood cholesterol. Olive oil would also taste great in this recipe and has the same healthy-fat properties.

Our top 10 cupcakes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Nutrition Facts

1 cupcake: 498 calories, 33g fat (16g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 196mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.

Reviews

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

saybrook1
Oct 3, 2020
Made these for a couple of special events (boss's birthday, Son's birthday at hospital where he works). Well received and, according to my son, still talked about. First time making them seemed challenging. Definitely got easier more time made them. In fact, son turns 30 tomorrow, Making them again!!
foreverfarm1
Jan 9, 2020
Cupcakes are delicious- my only issue was the buttercream - it seemed burnt at the bottom - next time I may try in a bowl over the pot instead
Rachel
Oct 8, 2019
I made these to break in my new stand mixer. I can't possibly thank you enough of gush over them enough! The sponge was perfection. The filling divine. I did use a different PB Buttercream, but only bc I didn't want a cooked frosting. So my rating is for the cake, filling, and ganache. My new go-to!
kendallskabin
Sep 11, 2019
My most prized and amazing cupcake. It is definitely a WINNER
Linda Meyers
May 25, 2019
I substituted a brown sugar/peanut butter icing that did not require cooking, but that was just my preference. I have had two people tell me "these are the best cupcakes I have ever eaten". I tend to agree!
slt220yahoo
May 22, 2019
This recipe knocks my socks off! I have made it many times. It's simply fabulous! If you're looking for a top-quality recipe that's great for celebrations -look no further. Great cupcakes for weddings, birthdays, you name it! These are soooooo delicious.
bernerlover
Feb 8, 2019
note to jet5657-it says 1/2 cup peanut butter in filling and 1/3 cup peanut butter in frosting. hope that helps
jet5657
Feb 1, 2019
How much peanut butter do you add for frosting? This doesn't have peanut butter in ingredients but says "peanut butter frosting".
Psalm127-3
Jan 30, 2019
Well then Taunya, I’m all in
Taunya
Jun 23, 2018
I'm an experienced baker, and this is one of the BEST cupcake recipes I've found. I haven't ever bothered with the filling because it didn't seem necessary, but the cake, ganache and buttercream are all amazing, and I have friends asking when I'm going to make these again. It's not often that I find a recipe on the internet that's flawless, but this is one of them.

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