Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

A twist on the classic PB&J, these jelly-filled cupcakes are topped with decadent swirls of peanut butter icing. This recipe is sure to delight kids and bring nostalgic memories to those young at heart.

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Baking time: 18 minutes
  • Makes: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes & filling

1¾ (425 mL) all-purpose flour
1½ tsp (7 mL) baking powder
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
½ cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
¾ cup (175 mL) milk
¼ cup (60 mL) smooth strawberry, raspberry or apricot jelly

Icing

½ cup (125 mL) peanut butter
¼ cup (60 mL) butter
1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar
1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 mL) milk

Garnishes (optional)

additional jelly
chopped peanuts

Directions

Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 12 muffin cups with large paper liners. In a small bowl, using a fork, stir flour with baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter with sugar until very creamy, scraping down sides occasionally, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add half the flour mixture. Scrape down sides, then mix in milk, then remaining flour mixture just until blended. Divide batter between paper-lined muffin cups. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. When cool enough to handle, remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely on a rack.

Jelly Filling

Using the tip of a round-handled wooden spoon, press into centre of cooled cupcake, about 1½ inches (3.5 cm) to form a hole about ½-inch (1-cm) wide. Using a small spoon, fill each hole with about 1 tsp (5 mL) of jelly.

Icing

Using an electric mixer, in a medium bowl, beat peanut butter with butter until very smooth. Beat in icing sugar and 1 tbsp (15 mL) milk. If needed, slowly add some or all of remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) of milk for a thick icing consistency. Using the back of a spoon or a piping bag, frost cupcakes. Drizzle with additional jelly and top with peanuts, if using.

Tip: To make a cake, grease 1 round cake pan (8-inch/20-cm) and line with parchment paper. Bake about 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then invert and remove from pan. Cool completely on a rack. Carefully slice horizontally into 2 layers. Spread bottom layer with jelly. Top with second layer. Frost cake with peanut butter icing.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 cupcake): 350 calories, 18 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0.5 g trans fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 5 g protein, 43 g carbohydrates, 1 g fibre, 27 g sugar, 220 mg sodium