Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with these incredibly moist and irresistibly delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes – a perfect treat for every PB&J enthusiast!

My personal journey with peanut butter truly began much later, during my first pregnancy with our son, Sean. It was then that I developed a profound fondness, albeit initially for peanut butter alone, often slathered on a toasted bagel half for breakfast. The warmth of the toasted bagel, combined with the creamy, melting peanut butter, created a simple yet profound culinary experience that I can still vividly recall. I assumed this intense craving would vanish post-pregnancy, but to my pleasant surprise, my appreciation for peanut butter has only grown stronger.

Why These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes Are a Must-Try

Inspired by this enduring love, I embarked on a mission to transform the beloved sandwich into a delightful dessert. These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes are the delicious culmination of that endeavor. They are incredibly moist, boasting a light, airy, and fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. You’ll likely find that most of the ingredients are already staples in your pantry, making this recipe not only scrumptious but also remarkably accessible. The secret to their superior texture lies in the use of cake flour, which guarantees a tender crumb that’s perfectly soft and delicate.

A Flavorful Journey: More PB&J Delights

My recent peanut butter and jelly spree has led to other fantastic creations as well. If you’re a true fan, you might also enjoy my Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars, or perhaps my classic Peanut Butter Cups. And keep an eye out for a classic peanut butter cookie recipe that will be making its way to you soon!

Ingredients for Your Perfect PB&J Cupcakes

Crafting these delectable cupcakes requires a blend of simple, wholesome ingredients, carefully chosen to achieve that ideal balance of flavor and texture. From the tender cake to the rich, creamy frosting, every component plays a crucial role.

Crafting the Perfect Experience: Filling and Frosting

The peanut butter frosting is, frankly, beyond addictive. Its creamy texture and rich flavor are a dream. A key step to achieving this silky smooth frosting is sifting your confectioners’ sugar. This simple action prevents any unwelcome lumps, ensuring a consistently smooth and delightful finish.

The magic doesn’t stop there. Each cupcake hides a delightful secret: a burst of strawberry preserves. To achieve this, you’ll gently carve out a small well in the center of each cooled cupcake. After spooning in your favorite preserves, you’ll replace the small piece of cake you removed, effectively sealing in the fruity surprise. Then comes the glorious peanut butter frosting. If you’re feeling fancy and have a sultan piping tip, you can pipe the frosting to create a beautiful border with an open center, allowing you to add an extra dollop of preserves right on top of the frosting for a truly stunning presentation and an extra layer of flavor. No special tip? No worries at all! Simply frost the cupcakes as usual and add a small swirl of preserves to the center of each for that signature PB&J touch. The taste will be just as phenomenal either way!

Expert Tips for Baking Success

To ensure your Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes turn out perfectly every time, here are a few invaluable baker’s notes:

• The Magic of Cake Flour: As previously highlighted, cake flour is instrumental in achieving an exquisitely light, soft, and fluffy cupcake. Its lower protein content results in a more tender crumb compared to all-purpose flour. Don’t skip this ingredient for the best results!
• Frosting, Your Way: Whether you opt for a decorative piping tip and bag or simply spread the frosting with a knife, the decadent taste remains the same. Don’t feel pressured to achieve a bakery-perfect look; homemade charm is often the most endearing. Focus on even coverage and a generous dollop of that irresistible peanut butter frosting.
• Preventing Muffin Tops: A common pitfall in cupcake baking is overfilling the liners. To avoid undesirable “muffin tops” and ensure beautifully domed cupcakes, only fill your cupcake liners about two-thirds full. This allows the batter adequate space to rise without overflowing.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: For both the cupcakes and the frosting, ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together more effectively, creating a smoother batter and a lighter, airier texture in your finished product.
• Do Not Overmix: When adding the dry ingredients and milk to the wet ingredients, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough, dense cupcakes. A few lumps are perfectly fine!
• Cool Completely: Before you even think about coring or frosting your cupcakes, they must be completely cooled. Attempting to fill or frost warm cupcakes will result in melted frosting and a messy situation. Patience is key for a beautifully finished cupcake.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes Recipe

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 12 cupcakes

An easy recipe for incredibly moist and delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes that’s perfect for the PB&J lover in your life!

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

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Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1 1/3 cup cake flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup strawberry preserves

Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp. milk

Instructions

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-count cupcake tin with paper liners and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until thoroughly blended. Stir in the vanilla extract and beat for an additional 1 minute.
5. With a spatula, gently fold in the dry flour mixture until just combined. Then, slowly add the milk, being careful not to overmix the batter.
6. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before filling and frosting.
8. While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting (see instructions below). Once the cupcakes are completely cool, they are ready to be filled with strawberry preserves. To do this, use a cupcake corer or a small pairing knife to remove the center of each cupcake, creating a well approximately one-inch deep. Spoon a small amount of strawberry preserves into each well. Replace the small piece of cake you removed back on top of the jam before frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1. In the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the room temperature butter and creamy peanut butter on low speed until smooth and well combined, about one minute.
2. Add the sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Continue to beat on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes, until the frosting is smooth and wonderfully creamy.
3. If the frosting seems too thick, add a bit more milk (1/2 teaspoon at a time) until you reach a good spreading or piping consistency.
4. Frost the cooled and filled cupcakes. If you are using a sultan piping tip (or simply wish to add more flair), add an additional small dollop of preserves to the center of each frosted cupcake.

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 536IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

Keyword: cupcakes, peanut butter, strawberry preserves, dessert

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert