Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

These cupcakes will be a huge hit with anyone who loves the flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter. The cupcake is my standby Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcake. The cupcake is exceptionally moist classic chocolate cake slightly modified from the Chocolate Buttercream Cake recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten, filled with chocolate ganache, frosted with Peanut Butter Buttercream and then topped with more chocolate ganache and chopped peanut butter cups.

I absolutely guarantee this cupcake creation will devastate your family and friends and will be requested again and again forevermore!

Start by preparing a batch of Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes.

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Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes

Moist and super chocolatey cupcakes.

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 extra large eggs
• 1/2 cup brewed coffee
• 1 1/4 cups unsweeted cocoa powder
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream

Instructions

• Preheat pven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with paper liners.
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well after each addition. Mix in the coffee and combine until completely blended.
• While mixer is on low speed, add the cocoa powder and blend completely. Add half the flour mixture and beat until blended. Add the sour cleam and mix until blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat just untiil blended.
• Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for approximately 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.
• Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Notes

The number of cupcakes this recipe yields will depend on the size of the paper cupcake liners, make sure to only fill 2/3.

The higher quality the cocoa powder, the better your cupcakes will taste.  I like to use Ghiradelli brand Dutch processed for a more mellow flavor, if you can find it.  otherwise any cocoa powder will do.

While your cupcakes bake, prepare a batch of chocolate ganache. Chocolate ganache can be used in a huge variety of recipes, as a dip or over ice cream. It’s great stuff to have around!

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Chocolate Ganache

Versatile chocolate ganache for fillings and frostings.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Instructions

• Place chocolate chips and corn syrup in bowl.
• Heat heavy cream in the microwave in 30 second increments untilvery hot. Do not boil.
• Pour hot cream over chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
• The ganache will thicken as it cools.

Notes

Store any leftover ganache in airtight container.  Re-heat in microwave to thin if necessary for use.

After the cupcakes have cooled completely, scoop out the centers using a melon baller or cut out the centers using a paring knife.

Spoon or pour a couple tablespoons of chocolate ganache into the cored cupcakes. Make sure you allow the filled cupcakes to cool completely before you frost with Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting.

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5 from 1 vote

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

Fluffy peanut butter buttercream frosting.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 4-5 cups sifted confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter

Instructions

• Beat butter with electrix mixer until light and smooth. With mixer set on a low speed, beat in confectioners sugar, scrape down sides of bowl occasionally. Add vanilla and mix well. Add peanut butter and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Notes

Don’t use natural (the kind that separates) peanut butter for this recipe as it will be too dry.  

Use a generous amount of Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting (look away anti-frosters). Top the frosted cupcakes with a spoonful of cooled chocolate ganache, then sprinkle with some chopped peanut butter cups.