Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cupcakes with Toasted Peanut Butter Meringue Frostin

What could improve upon a delicious chocolate cupcake? A peanut butter cup in the center and lightly caramelized peanut butter frosting!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 293 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 14 miniature peanut butter cup candies
• 0.5 cup milk
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 0.5 cup boiling water

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 14 muffin cups with paper muffin liners.

Step 2

Whisk flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Add milk, vegetable oil, 1 egg, and vanilla extract; mix using an electric mixer on low speed until just combined. Increase speed to medium and mix well.

Step 3

Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly pour boiling water into flour mixture. Increase speed to medium and beat for 1 minute.

Step 4

Fill each muffin cup halfway and place a peanut butter cup in the center of each.

Step 5

Bake in preheated oven until golden and tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.

Step 6

Whisk egg whites and sugar together in a bowl until just combined. Pour egg mixture into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Return egg mixture to bowl. Whisk egg mixture on high speed until still peaks form.

Step 7

Place peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high at 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until peanut butter is thin and creamy. Gently fold melted peanut butter into egg whites. Transfer peanut butter frosting to a piping bag.

Step 8

Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Step 9

Toast cupcakes under preheated broiler until lightly browned, about 1 minute.

Step 10

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.