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Peanut Butter–Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

An abundance of creamy peanut-butter filling renders these cupcakes extra-rich and irresistible. The batter and filling—each whisked together by hand—are layered, then swirled to create the marbleized pattern on top.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 12

Ingredients

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Peanut-Butter Filling (recipe follows)

Peanut-Butter Filling

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
(makes enough for 12 cupcakes)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Put butter and chocolates in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water; stir until melted. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly.

    Step 2

    Whisk granulated sugar into cooled chocolate mixture. Add eggs, and whisk until mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add flour mixture; stir until well incorporated.

    Step 3

    Spoon 2 tablespoons chocolate batter into each lined cup, followed by 1 tablespoon peanut butter filling. Repeat with another tablespoon of batter, and top with 1 teaspoon filling. Swirl top of cupcake batter and filling with a wooden skewer or toothpick.

    Step 4

    Bake, rotating tin halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, about 40 minutes. Transfer tin to a wire rack to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored up to 3 days at room temperature in airtight containers.

  2. Peanut-Butter Filling

    Step 5

    Stir together all ingredients until smooth. Use immediately.

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
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