My peanut butter cupcakes are carefully designed to be perfectly moist and fluffy. We'll top them off with a swirled chocolate peanut butter icing that is surprisingly easy to make!Recipe includes a how-to video!
Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line two 12-count cupcake tins with paper liners. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3 cups cake flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
Add melted butter and oil and use an electric mixer to stir until all flour is moistened.
12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ cup Avocado, vegetable or canola oil
Stir in peanut butter.
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Add eggs, vanilla extract and sour cream and stir until thoroughly combined.
3 large eggs, 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 cup sour cream
Slowly drizzle in milk and stir until completely combined and batter is smooth and uniform.
¼ cup whole milk
Evenly divide batter into prepared cupcake tin.
Transfer to center rack of 350F (175C) oven (I only bake one tray at a time) and bake for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or (preferably) with moist crumbs. Cupcake surfaces will crack, the cracks may still appear wet when the cupcakes are finished baking. Do not over-bake or cupcakes will be dry and crumbly.
Allow cupcakes to cool in pan for 5 minutes before gently, carefully removing to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
Combine butter, peanut butter, vanilla extract and salt and stir until smooth and creamy.
1 ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon salt
Gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined. Thin frosting as needed by adding milk, one tablespoon at a time, until smooth and creamy.
4 cups powdered sugar, 1-3 Tablespoons milk
Measure out approximately half of the frosting into a disposable piping bag and set aside.
Add cocoa powder to remaining half of frosting and stir until completely combined. If needed, thin the frosting with additional milk.
½ cup natural cocoa powder
Transfer chocolate frosting to another piping bag. Snip the ends off both frosting bags and place in an additional piping bag that’s been fitted with a large closed star piping tip (I use Ateco 848) together. Pipe swirled frosting onto cupcakes (note that the first bit you pipe may not be swirled but as both frostings work their way through you’ll get a nice swirl!).
Video
Notes
Peanut butter
I recommend classic creamy peanut butter for this recipe. Natural peanut butter won’t work as well and will negatively alter the texture of both the cupcake and the frosting.
Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.