Peanutty Chocolate Bliss Cupcakes 🧁

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Cups

🕒 Total Time: 45 minutes
🥄 Servings: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 🌡️

2. Prepare your muffin pan by greasing and flouring 12 standard-size muffin cups or lining them with paper liners. 🧁

3. Make the Filling:

   • In a small bowl, combine 6 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar until well blended. Set this mixture aside. 🥜

4. Prepare the Cocoa Mixture:

   • In a cup, mix together 1/3 cup of cocoa powder with 1/3 cup of hot water until smooth. Set this aside as well. 🍫

5. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:

   • In another small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Set this aside too. 🍶

6. Cream the Butter and Peanut Butter:

   • In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, cream together 1/8 cup of butter and 6 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter until light and creamy.
   • Slowly blend in 1/3 cup of light brown sugar until well combined. 🥄

7. Add the Wet Ingredients:

   • Lower the mixer speed to medium, then add the egg yolks one at a time, ensuring each one is well blended.
   • Mix in the cocoa mixture and 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract until fully incorporated. 🍳

8. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients:

   • Reduce the mixer speed to low, then alternatively add the flour mixture and 2/3 cup of milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
   • Beat the batter just until everything is combined. Don’t overmix! 🥣

9. Assemble the Cupcakes:

   • Spoon about 2/3 of the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
   • Top each with equal amounts of the prepared peanut butter filling, then cover with the remaining batter to smooth the tops. 🧁

10. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are cracked, edges are springy, and centers are still soft when gently pressed with a fingertip, about 20 minutes. 🕒

11. Cool the cupcakes in the muffin pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 🍰

12. Serve slightly warm or chilled, and if you’re feeling extra indulgent, glaze or frost them with your favorite topping! 🍴

Notes:

• These Chocolate Cake-Peanut Butter Cups are perfect for chocolate and peanut butter enthusiasts! They’re reminiscent of Drake’s Funny Bones and are absolutely scrumptious whether enjoyed warm or chilled.
• For an extra decadent touch, consider drizzling them with a thin chocolate glaze. 😋
• Indulge yourself in the dilemma of whether they’re better enjoyed warm or cold by trying both ways in the same day! 🌟