Reese's Peanut Butter Cupcakes

A marriage made in heaven, a chocolate peanut butter heaven that is! If you like chocolate and peanut butter then this is the treat for you. Moist, light and super fluffy chocolate cupcakes with a peanut butter cup baked INSIDE!.  Frost the cupcakes with a creamy peanut butter frosting and it's the piece de resistance.

Several online suveys have ranked the #1 Halloween candy, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups while otherd claim Skittles take the top spot. But no matter where it places we can all agree it's a popular addictive candy choice.

Reese's Cupcakes  with Peanut Butter Frosting
Cook's Notes: Two recipes are posted. I went for the homemade recipe (one of my standard chocolate cupcake recipes) since I did not have a box mix on hand. I used snack size Reese's cups which are a little larger than the mini ones. My chief taste tester felt the cupcakes with baked Reese's candy was plenty as the frosting was a bit too much but I did note the cupcakes didn't last long on the tray! 

Recipe makes about 16 standard size cupcaes.

Homemade Chocolate Reese's Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 cups four
• 2 cups granualated sugar
• 3/4 cup Dark Hersheys Cocoa or baking cocoa (unsweetened) 
• 1 teaspoon each baking soda and baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup butter (room temperature) 
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee (refrigerate 20 minutes to chill or bring to room temperature) 
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 16 unwrapped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cupcake liners to muffin pan. 
• Whisk all dry ingredients and set aside.
• In a large bowl add eggs, cold coffee, oil, butter and vanilla. Combine at low speed just until mixed. Fold in dry ingredients and mix well. Do not overmix. Fill each muffin cup a little over half. Press candy into batter. 
  
• Bake 16 minutes.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cupcakes (Box Mix) 

Ingredients:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil)
• 2 heaping tablespoons plain Greek yogurts
• 30 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, divided

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 regular muffin tins with cupcake liners.
• Mix together the cake mix, milk, eggs, oil and Greek yogurt until smooth. Spoon batter into cupcake pans, filling the liners a little over half full.  
• Place a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup into the center of the batter in each cup.
• Bake cupcakes for 16 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Photo below shows cupcakes baked with Mini Reese's Cups.

Peanut Butter Frosting 

Cook's Notes: The photo show two ideas to frost. I added chocolate sprinkles to some and others crushed cookie crumbs.

Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter room temperature 
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• Milk as needed to attain frosting consistency

Directions:

Mix all  ingredients and frost cupcakes.