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Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolatey cake topped with deliciously perfect Vegan Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting! Plus, some chocolate chips for good measure.

Image of cupcakes on a baking sheet with text reading "Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting"

Friday. I’m a day late with this post, but I have a good reason! I’ve been working on a pretty sweet project for Vegan Cuts that’s due to come out next month and it is awesome. But, look what I’ve made for you! Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting. Hell to the yes.

Beaters mixing vegan cream cheese peanut butter frosting

Beaters mixing vegan cream cheese peanut butter frosting

The first time I made these cupcakes was for my friend’s birthday, a couple of months ago. I think that I’ve mentioned them since then, but have not unleashed the perfection that is this addictive cream cheese frosting. I even made the cupcakes oil-free to balance out the indulgence that lies atop its chocolate-y throne.

image collage of baking ingredients and mixing bowl
image collage of mixing cupcake batter

To put it bluntly, the birthday boy said that these were some of the “best cupcakes that I’ve ever had”. Now, you can enjoy them yourself! They’re super easy to make and are a total people pleaser. Just make sure to save one for yourself if you make them for a group, I almost totally missed out on trying them because they went so fast.

Chocolate cupcakes in silicone liners in a baking pan

You could easily make these cupcakes gluten-free with a 1:1 all-purpose, gluten-free flour! And for a nut-free version, sunbutter works pretty wonderfully (for not being peanut butter).

1 Year Ago: Baked Zucchini Sticks with Spicy Queso // 2 Years Ago: Cocoa Hazelnut Banana Pan-Cake

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolatey cake topped with insanely good Vegan Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting! Plus, some chocolate chips for good measure.

Chocolatey cake topped with insanely good Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting! Plus, some chocolate chips for good measure.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 6 oz . Vegan Cream Cheese
  • 2 T . + 1 tsp. Peanut Butter
  • 1/2 tsp . Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/4 C . Powdered Sugar

Cupcakes

  • 1 1/2 C . Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 C . + 1 T. Sugar
  • 1/2 C . Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tsp . Baking Soda
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 C . Ice-Cold Water
  • 1/4 C . Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1 T . White Vinegar
  • 1 tsp . Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Place the cream cheese and peanut butter into a medium-sized mixing bowl, and cream together with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add the powdered sugar to the bowl, about a 1/3 C. at a time, until it is fully incorporated.
  3. Place in the fridge to chill, then make cupcakes.

Cupcakes

  1. Prep one 12-count cupcake pan with liners.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and sea salt. In a medium bowl mix together apple sauce, vinegar, vanilla extract, and water.
  3. Then, mix the wet ingredients into the dry slowly using a whisk, making sure to not leave any dry pockets or chunks.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Pour batter into each liner until it is about 3/4 full or a centimeter from the top of the liner.
  5. Then bake for approximately 15-20 minutes (18 always works great for me), check with a toothpick to see when they are finished.
  6. Wait for the cupcakes to cool down, placing them in the freezer for 15 minutes works wonders. Then frost them and sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top for decoration.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Chocolate cupcakes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Mmm.. vegan peanut butter cream cheese frosting…

Chocolate cupcakes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

If you love these cupcakes, try making some of the desserts below! They’re great for gatherings and catering to friends and family that may have food allergies. Enjoy!

Image of cupcakes on a cake stand with apple pie filling in the middle of vanilla frosting
Image of brownies on parchment paper, with peanut butter and jelly swirled into the tops

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Kim Thomas

Sunday 8th of March 2020

I hope you get this comment all these years later, but I just found this recipe. What brand of cream cheese do you use, or do you make your own? Oh, and by the way, I own three of your books. Michael from Monson Makes shared a recipe of yours, and I loved it! He’s the reason why I own your books. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes. They have helped me more than you can imagine.

Jackie @ Vegan Yack Attack!

Sunday 8th of March 2020

Hi Kim! I typically use Tofutti cream cheese, or Daiya plain, in this frosting. And I am SO, so happy to hear that! My main aim with the cookbooks is to be of great help. <3

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[…] years: Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting  // 5 years: Baked Zucchini Sticks with Queso […]

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