13 Best Peanut Butter Cupcake Recipes

Peanut butter cupcakes are perfect for serious peanut butter lovers who want something more exciting than regular chocolate or vanilla. They’re rich, satisfying, and pair well with so many different flavors and frostings. These 13 recipes give you options from classic versions to creative combinations that’ll make your taste buds happy. Most peanut butter cupcakes freeze well unfrosted, so you can make them ahead for parties or whenever cravings hit.

Classic Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

These are the ultimate peanut butter cupcakes for people who can’t get enough of the stuff. The cupcake itself has creamy peanut butter mixed right into the batter, and the frosting is loaded with even more. Some recipes use both creamy and crunchy peanut butter for extra texture. The key is not overbaking them or they’ll be dry instead of moist. These are rich so you don’t need huge cupcakes – regular size is plenty. Perfect for peanut butter addicts who want maximum flavor.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

The combo of chocolate and peanut butter never gets old. These usually have chocolate cupcakes topped with peanut butter frosting, but some recipes do it the other way around. Either way tastes amazing! The chocolate balances the richness of the peanut butter and makes them less overwhelming. Some recipes add mini chocolate chips to the peanut butter frosting which gives nice texture. These remind me of Reese’s cups in cupcake form. Great for birthday parties since most people love this flavor combo.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

These taste like your favorite childhood sandwich but in dessert form. The peanut butter cupcake usually has grape jelly or strawberry jam swirled through the batter or injected into the center after baking. Some recipes top them with peanut butter frosting and a dollop of jelly on top. Getting the jelly distribution right takes practice but it’s worth it for that nostalgic flavor. These are fun for kids’ parties or when you want something that makes people smile.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

These are loaded with chopped up Reese’s peanut butter cups mixed into the batter and sometimes baked into the bottom of each cup. The frosting is usually peanut butter buttercream topped with more chopped candy. Some recipes put a mini peanut butter cup right on top for decoration. These are super rich and sweet so they’re definitely special occasion cupcakes. Perfect for Halloween when you have leftover candy or for serious chocolate-peanut butter fans.

Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes

The banana in these adds moisture and natural sweetness that works surprisingly well with peanut butter. It’s like having a peanut butter banana sandwich in cupcake form. The bananas need to be really ripe for the best flavor – those brown spotted ones nobody wants to eat are perfect. Some recipes add a cream cheese frosting instead of straight peanut butter which lightens them up a bit. These are a good way to use up overripe bananas while making something special.

Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cupcakes

These combine three amazing flavors – peanut butter, caramel, and a hint of salt. The salted caramel can be swirled into the batter, used as a filling, or drizzled on top of the frosting. The salt really makes the peanut butter and caramel flavors pop. Some recipes include flaky sea salt sprinkled on top which looks pretty and adds texture. These taste fancy but aren’t that much harder to make than regular cupcakes. Perfect for when you want to impress people.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

The rich chocolate ganache on top of peanut butter cupcakes is pure decadence. The ganache is just chocolate and cream heated together until smooth, then it gets poured over the cooled cupcakes. Some recipes add a little peanut butter to the ganache too for extra flavor. The shiny ganache looks really professional and fancy. These are definitely special occasion cupcakes since they’re so rich. My favorite ones for dinner parties or when you want something that looks impressive.

Fluffy Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Bourbon Honey Frosting

These Fluffy Peanut Butter Cupcakes are a dream for dessert lovers, offering a rich, nutty flavor with an ultra-soft crumb. Topped with a luscious bourbon honey frosting, they strike the perfect balance between sweet, smoky, and indulgent. Each bite melts in your mouth, making them ideal for special occasions or whenever you’re craving something unique and decadent. A sophisticated twist on a classic favorite.

Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Cupcakes

These start with chocolate cupcakes and get ribbons of peanut butter batter swirled through before baking. The swirl pattern looks pretty when you bite into them and you get both flavors in each bite. Getting the swirl right takes practice – you want distinct ribbons, not everything mixed together. The frosting can be chocolate, peanut butter, or a combination. These look impressive but aren’t actually that hard once you get the swirling technique down.

Peanut Butter Honey Cupcakes

The honey in these adds a different kind of sweetness that works really well with peanut butter. Some recipes use honey in both the cupcake and the frosting for double honey flavor. The honey makes them more moist and they stay fresh longer than regular cupcakes. These aren’t as sweet as most cupcakes which makes them better for people who don’t like super sugary desserts. The flavor combo reminds me of those honey roasted peanuts. Great with coffee or tea.

Double Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Glaze

These are for serious peanut butter lovers – peanut butter in the cupcake, peanut butter frosting, AND a peanut butter glaze drizzled on top. The glaze is usually just peanut butter thinned with milk or cream until it’s pourable. Some recipes use both smooth and crunchy peanut butter for different textures. These are really rich so small portions are plenty. Perfect for peanut butter fanatics who want maximum flavor in every bite.

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cupcakes

The marshmallow frosting on these is light and fluffy which balances the dense peanut butter cupcakes. Some recipes use marshmallow fluff while others make meringue-style frosting from scratch. Either way the contrast between the rich cupcake and airy topping is great. Some versions include mini marshmallows mixed into the batter too. These remind me of fluffernutter sandwiches. Fun for kids’ parties or when you want something different from regular frosting.

Peanut Butter Funfetti Cupcakes

These have rainbow sprinkles mixed into peanut butter batter which makes them festive and fun. The sprinkles add little pops of color and slight crunch. Usually topped with vanilla or peanut butter frosting and more sprinkles on top. These are perfect for birthday parties, especially for kids who can’t decide between funfetti and peanut butter flavors. The combination is actually really good – the sprinkles don’t interfere with the peanut butter taste but make everything more cheerful and party-appropriate.