Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

When I am in a baking mood, I am in a baking mood. And this recipe is incredible. There’s something very whimsical and nostalgic about these cupcakes that take me back to being a kid and noshing on PB&J sandwiches and Fruit Roll-Ups. Not to mention that these have gone over really well with my kids as well. Hooray!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes
Makes approximately 24 cupcakes

Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 ¼ cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ¼ cups buttermilk, room temperature
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1 ½ cups sugar
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Peanut Butter Buttercream:
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6-8 tablespoons heavy cream (if using milk, amount will be less)

For the Filling:
Jelly or Jam in your favorite flavor(s)

Directions
Center a rack in the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line cupcake tins with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk and egg whites. Place the sugar and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer and beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light. Beat in the vanilla, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed. Beat in half of the buttermilk-egg mixture, and then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients. Finally, give the batter a good 2-minute beating to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed and well aerated. Using a large scoop (about 3 tablespoons); distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells, filling each well 2/3 full.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the cupcakes are springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the centers come out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Once cupcakes have cooled, hollow out a small circle in the center of each cupcake; I use an apple corer because I am anal and obsessed with symmetry. Fill the center of each cupcake with a dollop of jelly or jam in your favorite flavor.

For the Peanut Butter Buttercream:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended.

Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy.

Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes and finish with a dollop of jelly or jam.