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Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 30

Ingredients

for cupcakes

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter, preferably natural-style
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

for frosting

12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, plus more for scoring
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

    Step 2

    With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Beat in peanut butter until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Beat in sour cream.

    Step 3

    Fill each lined cup with 3 scant tablespoons batter. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until pale golden and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 13 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.

    Step 4

    Make frosting: With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and butter until pale and fluffy. Stir in peanut butter by hand.

    Step 5

    To finish, use an offset spatula to spread 1 to 2 tablespoons frosting onto each cupcake. Refrigerate until frosting is firm, about 10 minutes. Score each top in a crosshatch pattern with the tines of a fork, dipping tines in confectioners’ sugar each time to prevent sticking. Cupcakes can be refrigerated up to 2 days in airtight containers; bring to room temperature before serving.

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
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