Eggnog season is so short, you need to take advantage of it while you can! These Eggnog Cupcakes have a little surprise inside... a peanut butter cup! They'll make you realize that eggnog and peanut butter (with a touch of chocolate) make an amazing combination!
You guys, I am JUST getting into holiday cooking and baking annnnd the season is practically over. I mean, can anyone make it slow down just a little bit? Please? My fridge is stocked with cranberries and eggnog and my pantry is filled with candy canes and other holiday delights. I legit have a billion things to bake before December 25, which is, by the way, next week. WHAT? And help.
I did have time to make these glorious eggnog cupcakes, which just happen to have chocolate peanut butter bells hidden inside them. Because I’ve been really into the idea of eggnog and peanut butter together this holiday season. I almost made a peanut butter frosting for these, too, but decided the beautiful Christmas decorations just wouldn’t look that pretty on a brown frosting. So, I made an eggnog packed frosting that was, I think, a pretty great decision.
These cupcakes are packed with holiday cheer and will have you wishing we could celebrate this season just a liiittle bit longer. Can we make eggnog a year-round thing already?
EGGNOG CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER CUPS RECIPE
So, maybe you think that eggnog and peanut butter is an odd combination. But I promise you, it's not! The little peanut butter cup is such a fun surprise to find in an already delicious eggnog cupcake and the peanut butter and chocolate flavors add a little bit of richness to the light and sweet eggnog flavor.
The eggnog cupcakes are easy to prepare and just involve one little twist to the batter when it comes to blending in the eggs (spoiler alert- I only use egg whites and beat them into stiff peaks before folding them into the batter).
To start, in the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Mix the dry ingredients into the mixer with the wet ingredients, alternating with the eggnog, until just combined. The batter will be quite thick, but take care not to over-mix.
Here's where the egg whites come in! I found that this method (originally learned here) makes for the lightest, fluffiest cupcakes ever. It's super easy to do, but does require dirtying another bowl (though you could easily just wipe out the bowl you whisked the flour in and beat the eggs in there). Anyway, you simply want to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
And then fold those stiff egg whites into the batter. Make sure to fold well so all egg whites are incorporated.
Now, fill the cupcake tins (fitted with cupcake papers) with batter almost all the way to the top and then press a little chocolate peanut butter candy into the batter.
Smooth batter over the top of the candy.
And bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, until the cupcakes are just beginning to turn golden around the edges. Let them cool in the pan for a few minutes before moving to racks to cool completely.
The frosting is easy to whip up!
In a large bowl with a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer), mix the butter and confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated. Mix in eggnog until desired consistency is reached. Try not to eat it all with a spoon. Or your finger.
Now you’re ready to frost those eggnog cupcakes!
I did a simple swirl and then topped with festive Celebration Pearls. And a little straw for sipping up all that eggnog, of course!
I was kind of proud of myself for making an eggnog baked good and not putting rum into it. I came *this* close, but restrained myself.
Good decision or bad decision? I’m not positive. But I do know that the taste of eggnog in these cupcakes was perfectly pronounced. And I figured with the peanut butter cup hidden inside, there were already enough flavors going on.
You forgot about the peanut butter cup, didn’t you? Well, you would have quickly remembered when you broke into these.
I thought it was just the right amount of chocolate and peanut butter. And now I’m seriously dreaming of a chocolate peanut butter eggnog milkshake. Is that wrong? And will Chris kill me if he comes home to find I have drunk all of his precious eggnog?
It might be worth it. After all, I’m going to need a little something to wash these eggnog cupcakes down! Plus, I think he'll forgive me when I hand him one of these!
What holiday treat do you love best?
To keep eggnog season going, try my Eggnog Overnight Oats or my Spiked Eggnog Doughnuts. And if you're loving the idea of eggnog and peanut butter together, try this Peanut Butter Eggnog Milk Tea from The Omnivore's Cookbook!
📖 Recipe
Eggnog Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup eggnog
- 6 large egg whites
- 20 peanut butter cups
- 1 batch eggnog frosting (recipe below)
Eggnog Frosting
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- ¼-1/2 cup eggnog
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake tins with cupcake papers.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the mixer with the wet ingredients, alternating with the eggnog, until just combined. The batter will be quite thick, but take care not to over-mix.
- In another separate large bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer (can also use a stand mixer or a whisk and a lot of arm strength!) until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the egg whites into the cupcake batter. Make sure to fold well so egg whites are completely incorporated.
- Fill cupcake tins with batter ¾ of the way to the top and then press a little chocolate peanut butter cup into the batter. Smooth batter over the top of the candy.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until cupcakes are beginning to turn golden around edges. Let cupcakes cool in pan for a few minutes before moving to rack to cool completely.
- Once cupcakes are completely cool, frost with eggnog frosting and top with decorations and a little straw if desired.
Eggnog Frosting
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer (can also use a stand mixer or a whisk and a lot of arm strength!), beat the butter and confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated together. Mix in eggnog until desired consistency is reached.
Erica says
These are so cute! I love the idea of the candy hidden inside. Favorite holiday candy? Well I just found out they make my favorite candy (the blackberries/raspberries) in a holiday form! Obsessed!
Alison says
Old fashioned ribbon candy is my favorite!
Erin W says
I love flavored candy canes.. oldie but a goodie!
Joanna says
Dark chocolate holiday M&Ms. I don't know why they taste better when they're just red and green, but somehow they do!
Marie says
Those peanut butter bells are pretty tempting, but ... King Leo peppermint sticks.
Katie says
These cupcakes sound amazing! My fav holiday candy has to be peppermint bark; it's so festive and yummy!
Elis B. says
I like candy canes.
Emily says
I love Ferror Rocher hazelnut truffles!
Heather S says
I love candy canes and chocolate donuts with crushed candy canes sprinkled on top!
Michelle Lahey says
These are so adorable, and festive! I love the holiday M&Ms the best...they just scream Christmas to me!
Rachel says
I really, really, REALLY love eggnog and am particularly obsessed with it this year! These are adorable!
michelle says
i love eggnog and mint chocolate
brittany says
these are darling! my favorite holiday candy is a chocolate covered fondant that my father-in-law makes; it is from a recipe his mother used.
LauriM says
I love Andes Creme de Menthe!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Peanut butter and egg nog sounds likes a winning combination!
Kathy says
peanut butter cookies with a Hershey's kiss-never a Christmas without them! But I do love all kinds of sprinkles. I need to get some sixlets!
Melissa L. says
My favorite holiday candy is the Reese's trees! They are delicious! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Carla S says
My favorite holiday candy is a tie between divinity and candy cane hershey kisses.
Chris says
Love these cupcakes! In fact I'm eating one (or maybe two) right now!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Oooh those cappucinno sticks sound amazing!!!! Your cupcakes are gorgeous!
Eva says
I love hershey's candy cane kisses!
Jessie C. says
I like candy canes!
Janet T says
My favorite candy is gum drops.
Lisa says
I LOVE sixlets - brings me back to my childhood
Leah says
I love candy canes!
Shannon says
Peppermint bark is my holiday favorite.
Rebecca says
Can I just say everything? 😛 especially peppermint bark and Terry's chocolate oranges though.
Sarah says
Yum a chocolate peanut butter egg nog milkshake... I have to try that!! My favorite holiday candy are those chocolate oranges, one of my favorite things to find in my stocking on Christmas morning!
Sara @ Saucy Dipper says
Peanut butter and eggnog...now that is a combination I can get behind. I feel like there must be a dip recipe that needs to be made with that combo.
As for my favorite holiday candy...this year it's Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark. So good.
Carol says
flavored candy canes are my holiday weakness
Wehaf says
I love candy canes- I eat so many of them this time of year!
rayraycartucci says
I love fudge...and divinty the BEST! If I win...will you please send some of those cupcakes???They look GOOOOOD! Thanks!
Melissa says
those little candy canes, they're perfect to stash in my purse when i really need some minty flavor!
Sarah M. says
Oh boy! I love so much holiday candy. My mom's homemade toffee, and peppermint ANYTHING - just yesterday my friend and I passed by those peppermint chew nougats with the tree-shapes inside while at the store and I was drooling. Biggest sweet tooth ever over here & those pearls on top of your cupcakes look so cute!
Noel says
I love reeses pb bells this time of year
mysweetiepiepie says
I think I love fudge the best :+)
Jee says
Frango's chocolates -- doesn't matter what flavor!
Odetta says
Does hot chocolate count? If not then I'd choose candy canes in fun flavors!
Odetta says
Oh and these cupcakes look beautiful!!! And tasty too!
Megan says
Those pearls are so festive. Love them! And the cupcakes look great. My favorite holiday candy is definitely peppermint bark!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Oh wow I bet eggnog and peanut butter go great together.
kim says
Hershey's Peppermint Kisses. Love to eat 'em, love to bake with 'em, love love love!
Marcie says
would love to try eggnog and pb together
Beth says
I love eggnog
Margot C says
Can I just say chocolate!