All chocolate and peanut butter lovers are going to LOVE these chocolate peanut butter cupcakes! Made with my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe and a creamy peanut butter frosting on top.
An Award Winning Combination
I made these chocolate peanut butter cupcakes for my husband’s birthday over the summer and they were a huge hit! It’s no secret that chocolate and peanut butter are an award winning combination, and these cupcakes from scratch are the prime example of that.
The cupcakes are perfectly moist and tender with a rich chocolate flavor and sweet chocolate chips mixed throughout. Then topped off with a creamy, nutty and sweet peanut butter frosting to make each bite absolute perfection.
Not only are they out of this word delicious, but they look beautiful too! Your guests won’t believe these chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting didn’t come from the local bakery down the street. They are the perfect treat to make for special occasions and always get rave reviews. Mmm… I can’t wait to make these again!
Recipe Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe for chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Check out what you’ll need to get started below.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chocolate cupcakes: I used my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe from cake mix which is just as delicious as making chocolate cupcakes from scratch, but a bit easier and quicker. They’re made with a box of devil’s food cake mix, dry instant chocolate pudding mix, chocolate chips, eggs, canola oil and sour cream.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best so that the frosting isn’t too salty. Make sure it’s at room temperature before using. If you forget to sit it out on the counter before getting started, learn how to soften butter quickly in just a few minutes.
- Peanut butter: A creamy peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy will give the frosting the best consistency. I don’t recommend using a natural drippy nut butter, as it alters the texture.
- Powdered sugar: Used to sweeten the frosting and add a thick texture.
- Vanilla: A small boost of pure vanilla extract adds great flavor in the frosting.
- Heavy cream: Used to thin out the frosting if needed. Milk also works great for this.
- Salt: A small pinch of sea salt helps balance out the sweetness of the frosting.
Decorations
With just a few simple decorations, these peanut butter chocolate cupcakes will look like they came from a professional bakery! Add a drizzle of melted chocolate or chocolate ganache on top of the frosting, then top with a Reese’s peanut butter cup, chopped peanuts or a buckeye candy. So pretty and super delicious!
How to Make Peanut Butter Cupcakes
In just an hour, you can have bakery-style chocolate peanut butter cupcakes ready for your family or guests to devour. Learn how to make them below.
- Make chocolate cupcake batter. Pour the dry cake mix and chocolate pudding mix into a large bowl and give it a quick whisk. Mix in the chocolate chips, then add in the eggs, canola oil and water. Add the sour cream and stir just until combined. Then pour the batter into cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way full.
- Bake in oven. Bake at 325°F for about 20 to 25 minutes. Use a toothpick to test if the cupcakes are ready. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
- Prepare frosting. While the cupcakes cool, prepare the peanut butter buttercream. Beat the softened butter and nut butter with a handheld electric mixer (or stand mixer with paddle attachment) until smooth and fluffy, then slowly mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla. If the frosting is too thick, use the heavy cream to thin it out.
- Decorate. Once cooled, pipe the frosting over the cupcakes and add any desired decorations on top.
Expert Tips
- Piping the frosting. If using a 1M frosting tip with a piping bag, you want the consistency to be thick enough to hold a point. If you find that the consistency is a little too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar to thicken it up. Learn tips for how to frost the perfect cupcakes.
- Prevent sinking. Mix the chocolate chips in with the dry ingredients to prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
- Do not over mix the batter. Mix just until combined, so the cupcakes stay soft and moist.
- Even more peanut butter. For an extra boost of flavor, you can add a miniature Reese’s cup in the center of the cupcakes. Fill the cupcake liners halfway with batter, then add the Reese’s cup, then pour the remaining batter on top until 3/4 of the way full. Another option is to stuff the cupcakes with a peanut butter filling once cooked and cooled.
Recipe FAQs
They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Make sure to tightly cover the frosting with plastic wrap so that it stays soft and fresh.
They can, although I recommend freezing the unfrosted cupcakes and then adding the frosting after thawing. Wrap the cupcakes tightly in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight, then frost and enjoy!
The key ingredients in this recipe for creating a super moist cupcake are the dry instant chocolate pudding mix and sour cream. The pudding mix helps make a super soft crumb, while the acidity in the sour cream adds extra moisture.
5 star review
These cupcakes were not that much work and turned out excellent. They were moist and the frosting was great too. Easy to do, great tasting and a great presentation (I used mini Reese’s cups for décor). Great recipe!
– Jennifer
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Video
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 15 ounce box devil’s food cake mix
- 3.9 ounce box instant chocolate pudding , dry
- ½ cup chocolate chips , optional
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup canola oil
- ¾ cup warm water
- 8 ounces sour cream
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1- 1 ½ cup creamy peanut butter , more if desired
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar , start with 3 and add more as needed
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3-5 Tablespoons heavy cream , more if needed
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
For topping: reeses peanut butter cups or buckeyes
Instructions
Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line cupcake liners in 2 muffin pans.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and chocolate pudding with a wooden spoon. Add the chocolate chips in now if desired (this will prevent them from sinking) and stir until combined. Next mix in the eggs, canola oil and water. Then stir in the sour cream and mix just until combined.
- Pour cupcake mixture into the liners (about 3/4 the way full). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. Allow to cool on cooling rack.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and peanut butter in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Slowly mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Add in more heavy cream as needed to thin it out. You can also add more powdered sugar if needed to thicken. Mix until the frosting is smooth and creamy and you’ve reached your desired consistency. Taste and add more peanut butter if you'd like. If you are piping the frosting, it should be fairly thick.
- Once cooled, frost your cupcakes using a 1M frosting tip.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Birthdays, Cake + Cupcakes, Chocolate, Desserts, Kid-Friendly, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This is my go to recipe for the past several months. LOVE LOVE LOVE it and everyone wants the peanut butter icing recipe. Thanks for amazing recipes :)
One of our faves too! Thanks for your review :D
These are fabulous! My whole family loves the choc & pb combo, we are in cupcake heaven!
I am so happy to hear they were a hit with your family!
Peanut butter and chocolate really is the best flavor combo! These kind of desserts go in a flash in our home. I like to sub some of the butter for cream cheese to have a bit more tang in the frosting. YUM!
Mmm that sounds so delicious!
The kids insisted on making these last night and it was the best idea! So great!!!
I’m so happy they were a hit!
I don’t make many comments on food because I am very picky. However, I need to leave a comment for these cupcakes. These cupcakes were not that much work and turned out excellent. They were moist and the frosting was great too. Easy to do, great tasting and a great presentation (I used mini peanut butter cups for decor). Great recipe
I’m so glad you liked these cupcakes! I need to make them again soon! Thanks for your comment Jennifer. :)
These are a new favorite! Chocolate and peanut butter are my weakness!!
My mom LOVES Buckeye Balls, so the cupcake version is probably going to be her favorite thing ever! I’ll have to make these for her the next time I’m home!
Paige
ooo they look lovely!xx
Erika
I just need to accept the thought that my diet is ruined, don’t see another way. I’m making these tonight, the boys will be thrilled to finally see some sweets in the house. I’ve been on a diet the past couple of weeks and I can’t look at sweet things and not have any… Well, life is short, right? XD
You have a Pinterest account? Can I stalk you? XD
All the best
– Jessica –
Yes, life is indeed sort! Enjoy the journey! :)
And yes, I do have Pinterest account – stalk away! ;)
https://www.pinterest.com/iheartnaptime/