Peanut Butter Surprise Chocolate Cupcakes

By srumbel

Rich and decadent eggless chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy peanut butter frosting. Oh, and there is a surprise inside!

from crunchycreamysweet.com

Ingredients

• for the cupcakes:
• 1 and 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1 c granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 c vegetable or canola oil
• 1 c water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• for the frosting:
• 2 c sifted confectionars' sugar
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 c + 1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream

Details

Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 43mins

Preparation

Step 1

to make the cupcakes:
1.Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2.Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.
3.In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, soda, salt and cocoa).
4.In another mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (oil, water, vanilla and vinegar).
5.Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
6.Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
7.Bake cupcakes for 17 to 18 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center of each cupcake comes out clean.
8.Cool in pan for 2 minutes.
9.Transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

to make the frosting:
10.With an electric mixer, beat sugar and both butters until crumbly.
11.Add vanilla and cream and beat until smooth.
12.Increase the speed to medium high and beat for 3 minutes until fluffy.
13.Place in piping bag. Set aside.

assembling:
14.Use a cupcake corer or pairing knife to core the cupcakes.
15.Fill the cupcakes with frosting.
16.Use leftover frosting to decorate the top of the cupcakes.
17.Decorate the cupcakes.
18.Refrigerate leftovers.

Notes

The recipe makes enough frosting to decorate 18 cupcakes. Since this eggless chocolate cupcake recipe makes 12 regular size cupcakes, the amount of frosting was perfect to fill them inside and decorate the tops.