Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream… I mean you could definitely say a party in your mouth, but that’s just me.

GUYS these are SO GOOD !!!! The peanut butter frosting on the chocolate cupcake is heavenlyyyyyy. The icing is so creamy, and peanut buttery, and smooth and buttery and ahhhh it was so hard not to eat the entire bowl of it before I iced my cupcakes.

I think next time to add a little extra something, I would add a mini Reese cup in the middle, or maybe an Oreo on the bottom of the cupcake…

One of my co-workers ordered 12 of each, so here they are!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend (and Easter, if you celebrate it!) and I will talk to you tomorrow with another post I’ll be uploading (a chocolate rose cake! Mmmhm!)

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

(makes about 20)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (42g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups (95g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (100g) light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup (80ml) vegetable or canola oil
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (120ml) buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla together until completely smooth. Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Then half of the buttermilk. Gently stir – about 5 stirs. Repeat with the remaining wet ingredients and buttermilk. Stir until *just* combined; do not overmix. The batter won’t be very thick.
4. Pour/spoon the batter into the liners – fill only halfway to avoid spilling over the sides. Bake in batches for 18-19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter (I use JIF)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup heavy cream
• pinch of salt

Directions:

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the peanut butter and butter for 2-3 minutes. You want the color to lighten by a few shades.
2. Add the powdered sugar, scrape the sides of the bowl and mix until combined.
3. Pour in the heavy cream and beat until smooth. Scrape the bowl again.
4. Mix in the salt.
5. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes or until the buttercream has become light and fluffy.
6. Use immediately.