Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Crunch Cupcakes

ByKara

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My husband loves anything that combines peanut butter and chocolate so I decided to surprise him yesterday with a special treat.

First of all I have to admit that I’m not really a baker.  I can’t cook without a recipe because I need to follow step-by-step directions so when I say these cupcakes turned out to be amazing, it’s saying a lot.

First, make your favorite chocolate cake batter.  Again, I have to admit I used a box cake for the cupcakes.  I’m more of an icing snob.  I have to have homemade icing on all my cakes.  I can’t stand store bought icing and my mom has spoiled me with all of her fabulous cakes she has made for me my entire life.

I did add a Reece’s peanut butter cup to each cupcake before baking them.

Now comes the good part!  I found a great recipe for peanut butter icing on Brown Eyed Baker and adapted it a little using what I had in my refrigerator:

Peanut Butter Icing Recipe:

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup half and half

Add all ingredients except the half and half to your bowl and mix until creamy.  Add half and half and continue mixing until icing is light and fluffy.

To make these cupcakes even better – although I could have stopped here – I decided to add crushed pretzels to the top of each cupcake.

Mmmm!!  These cupcakes were so good.  It was hard to eat just one!

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27 Comments

  4. Oh my gosh, I’m drooling!! Chocolate and Peanut Butter is heaven to me! I don’t think I’d be able to stop eating them. They look so good!

  5. Wow, these look to die for! My hubby loves peanut butter, but he’s on a diet and just lost 20 lbs, else he’d be begging me to make these! But guess what?
    I’m bookmarking this page… for his “I gotta have PB” days. thanks for sharing!
    JoAnn

  6. Ok, sweet friend, this cupcake baker is proud of you! These look AH-mazing! I just did a peanut butter chocolate cake for my boss’s birthday. He happens to love anything PB, especially PB filled pretzels. Someone commented that the only thing that could’ve made the cake better for him would’ve been the addition of pretzels and then I see this! 🙂 Great minds!

    ~Heather
    http://www.cupcakeloveaffair.blogspot.com

  8. All my favorite ingredients! I can’t wait to try these out!! Megan

  10. Wowza! Those look so good. I love that you added the pretzels on top. I am so making this!! Thanks for sharing.

    Amy

  11. I am with your husband…anything that combines PB and chocolate is great.

  17. Kara!! I have to try this!!!

    Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!!

  20. I bake my own cakes ’cause i’m a cake snob. he he he There are no cake mixes available so I had to become a snob. Also there are no ready made frostings. S o your peanut butter one will adorn my chocolate cake and my kids will love you!