It’s like a Reese’s cup, turned into a cupcake! These Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes are the best gluten free cupcakes ever! They’re moist, decadent and no one will ever guess they’re gluten free! 

chocolate cupcakes on plate with peanut butter frosting and gold sprinkles

If you love Reese’s Cups and chocolate cake, you’re going to love this gluten free cupcake recipe! My love of Reese’s Cups is what originally inspired this recipe over 5 years ago. I’ve since made these chocolate cupcakes for several parties, birthdays and events.

No one ever believes me when I tell them they’re gluten free! They are just as moist and decadent as a traditional chocolate cupcake, but they are totally gluten free. Not only are these the best gluten free cupcakes I’ve ever had, these are the best cupcakes I’ve ever had!

Bakery style chocolate cupcakes filled with a sweet peanut butter center and topped with creamy peanut butter frosting, life doesn’t get much better my friends!

Peanut butter filled chocolate cupcake cut in half on plate

How to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Gluten Free Cupcakes

  • Prepare the gluten free chocolate cupcake batter.
    • In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
    • In a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter together. Add white and brown sugar, use an electric hand mixer to combine the ingredients. Add eggs, one at a time, and combine. Pour milk and vanilla extract in the bowl, then mix to combine.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine.
  • Bake the gluten free chocolate cupcakes.
    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Line two cupcake pans to make 24 cupcakes. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full.
    • Place the cupcakes in the oven for 20 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
    • Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire baking rack.
  • Prepare the peanut butter filling.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar together.
    • Place the peanut butter filling in a piping bag or large ziplock bag to pipe into the cupcakes.
      • Quick Tip! Do not use the “stand and fill” ziplock bags. They are pleated at the bottom. Therefore they will not work to cut a hole in the corner of the bag for piping.
  • Fill the cupcakes. 
    • Use a sharp knife or cupcake corer to cut holes in the middle of the cupcakes.
      • Quick Tip! Use the leftover middle pieces of the cupcake to crumble over ice cream. Yummy!!
    • Pipe the peanut butter filling into each cupcake.
  • Prepare the peanut butter frosting.
    • In a large bowl, cream peanut butter, powdered sugar, honey, vanilla extract and milk together.
    • Place the peanut butter frosting in a pastry bag or large ziplock bag to pipe onto the cupcakes.
  • Frost the cupcakes.
    • Either cut a small hole in the corner of the ziplock bag to pipe the frosting on to the cupcakes. Or use a piping bag and tip to frost the cupcakes.
Peanut butter filled chocolate cupcake instructional images

Do gluten free cupcakes taste different?

Gluten free cupcakes will taste slightly different from traditional cupcakes because they are being made with a non-wheat based flour. Rice flour, quinoa flour and almond flour are all popular gluten free flours used in baking. I like to use a blend of gluten free flours to create a balance of flavors and texture.

While gluten free cupcakes will taste slightly different, the chocolate and peanut butter flavors steal the show in these cupcakes. This is why people never guess that they’re gluten free!

Do gluten free cupcakes need to be refrigerated?

These gluten free cupcakes can be left at room temperature for 2-3 days. After which they will need to be refrigerated. The cupcakes will dry out slightly in the refrigerator, so I recommend eating the cupcakes within 2-3 days of baking them, if possible.

Once refrigerated, I recommend placing them in the microwave for 10 seconds to heat them up before eating.

What kind of gluten free flour is best for cupcakes?

As I mentioned, I like to use a gluten free flour blend to make these cupcakes. Most gluten free flour blends will contain xanthan gum, which is what replaces gluten to give gluten free baked goods structure.

I’ve used both Premium Gold Gluten Free Flour and Bob’s Red Mill One-to-One Gluten Free Baking Flour to make these cupcakes. They both contain xanthan gum and create light and fluffy gluten free cupcakes every time.

Can I make these cupcakes with wheat flour?

Absolutely! If you’re not gluten free and you have wheat flour on hand, it can be used as a one-to-one substitute for the gluten free flour in this recipe. I’ve tested it and it works the same as the gluten free flour.

Chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting, sitting on cupcake liner, peeled from the cupcake
  1. Nutella Muddy Buddies – this naturally gluten free treat is always a hit at parties. It’s also great for a sweet lunch box snack!
  2. Gluten Free Blueberry Oat Bars – this Starbucks inspired recipe can be served as a sweet breakfast treat with coffee or as dessert.
  3. Gluten Free Nutella Brookies – it’s brownie + a cookie with Nutella, which basically means it’s heaven on earth!
  4. Fresh Peach Pie with Gluten Free Crust – made with a seriously delicious cereal crust, you’re going to fall in love with this gluten free pie recipe!
  5. Gluten Free Lemon Dessert Cups – these sweet little mason jar desserts are made with just 4 ingredients in only 15 minutes!
  6. Gluten Free Strawberry Banana Bread – this is legitimately THE BEST banana bread ever! It’s so moist and delicious!

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Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

It’s like a Reese’s cup, turned into a cupcake! These Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes are the best gluten free cupcakes ever!

Ingredients

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Peanut Butter Filling

Peanut Butter Frosting

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a small bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a large bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter together, then add the white and brown sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and blend.
  • Add the milk and vanilla, then cream together.
  • Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir to combine.
  • Pour the cupcake batter in two lined cupcake pans to make 24 cupcakes. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full.
  • Place into the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
  • While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the peanut butter filling by creaming all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  • After the cupcakes come out of the oven, allow them to cool 10-15 minutes then cut a hole in the center of each cupcake.
  • Use a piping bag or plastic bag with a small cut in the corner to pipe the peanut butter filling into the cupcakes.
  • Prepare the frosting by whipping all of the ingredients together.
  • Place in a pastry bag and pipe onto the cupcakes.

Notes

  • Store the leftover middle pieces of the cupcakes in the refrigerator or freezer. They’re delicious crumbled over ice cream!
  • If using a ziplock bag instead of a piping bag to fill or frost the cupcakes, be sure not to use the “stand and fill” bags, as they are pleated at the bottom and therefore you cannot cut a hole in the corner for piping.
  • These cupcakes can be left at room temperature for 2-3 days, after which they should be refrigerated.
  • These cupcakes can be made with traditional wheat flour if you’re not gluten free.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 388kcal (19%)Carbohydrates 50g (17%)Protein 7g (14%)Fat 19g (29%)Saturated Fat 7g (35%)Cholesterol 42mg (14%)Sodium 216mg (9%)Potassium 218mg (6%)Fiber 2g (8%)Sugar 42g (47%)Vitamin A 290mg (6%)Calcium 53mg (5%)Iron 1mg (6%)
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