Grain-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Grain-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes are naturally sweetened with maple syrup for a wholesomely sweet treat. Paleo option included! 

These grain-free cupcakes were a happy accident. I was trying to make paleo brownies but they  came out light and fluffy. (That probably had a little something to do with my complete inability to follow a recipe as written.) Although the brownies were a bust, I was super excited about the prospect of cake!

It only took a little bit of tweaking to come up with a final recipe that I’m absolutely obsessed with. These grain-free chocolate peanut butter cupcakes taste like a richer, more mature version of Funny Bones, which are basically the most perfect junk food ever.

It never ceases to amaze me how a few real-food ingredients can come together so easily to make something this delicious. I’d take one of these wholesome cupcakes over traditional cake any day.

I tested this grain-free cupcake recipe a few times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke and I’m happy to report that it’s just as delicious when you make it with cashew butter or sunbutter. (Let’s be honest, I also really wanted an excuse to eat more cupcakes.) Whichever you use, be sure to look for a natural butter without any added sugar or oils. And remember, if your nut better is salted, you don’t need to add any additional salt to the batter!

Along with the nut butter, these cupcakes use unsweetened cocoa powder. I love Ghirardelli’s cocoa powder and have been going through it like it’s my job between these, my Coconut Cranberry Chocolate Cups, and hot chocolate. Natural maple syrup adds the perfect kiss of sweetness. I also added a few scoops of collagen peptides for good measure. I’ve started sneaking them into everything lately and for the first time in my life I have decent nails! (You can use my affiliate code HEALTHYDELISH10 for 10% off your first purchase of Further Foods Collagen Peptides if you want to try them out.)

While these cupcakes are made with good-for-you ingredients, they still aren’t something you want to eat all the time – the calories in all of that nut butter adds up fast! I scaled the recipe down to make six cupcakes, so it’s easier to resist temptation. You can also use the same batter to make mini cupcakes – just adjust the baking time to 12 to 15 minutes.

Top the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with a simple peanut butter glaze, sprinkle them with chopped nuts or chocolate if you’re feeling fancy, and you’ll be well on your way to happy snacking.

Grain-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

To make these cupcakes paleo, swap out your favorite nut or seed butter for the peanut butter. Cashew butter is my favorite, but Sunbutter also works really well (and is more affordable!)

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Ingredients

• 1 scant cup natural peanut butter, or other nut/seed butter of your choice
• 1/3 cup natural maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons  ghee
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 scoops collagen peptides (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

For the glaze:

• 1 Tablespoon peanut butter, or nut/seed butter of your choice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Heat your oven to 350ºF. Line a muffin tin with six cupcake liners. 

In a large bowl, beat together the nut butter, syrup, ghee, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the cocoa powder, collagen peptides, and baking soda. 

Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the tops are firm and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. 

Remove from the oven and let cool completely. 

For the glaze, stir together the peanut butter, coconut oil, syrup, and vanilla until smooth. Refrigerate 4-5 minutes, to thicken slightly. 

Drizzle the glaze over the cupcakes. If desired, top with grated dark chocolate and/or chopped nuts. 

Notes

If using unsalted nut butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the batter along with the cocoa powder. 

Nutrition Information

Amount Per ServingCalories 406 Total Fat 29g Saturated Fat 8g Cholesterol 24mg Sodium 177mg Fiber 4g Sugar 14g Protein 11g