You just can’t go wrong pairing chocolate and peanut butter; these cupcakes are living proof of it! Nice and spongy cupcakes with a silky frosting and then chopped, roasted peanuts sprinkled on top.
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.
- Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Using a large scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells, filling each well 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and cool completely.
The Perfect Peanut Butter Buttercream
Yield: Enough to frost 2 dozen cupcakes or 1 2-layer 8-in round cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter (I use JIF)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- pinch of salt
Instructions:
- 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.
- Add the powdered sugar, scrape the sides of the bowl and mix until combined.
- Pour in the heavy cream and beat until smooth. Scrape the bowl again.
- Mix in the salt.
- Beat on high for 3-4 minutes or until the buttercream has become light and fluffy.
- Use immediately.