Summertime, when family members and friends gather together, have fun in the sun and EAT!  The table is set for the party and you can’t wait for your guests to have dessert!  Present your guests a twist on a family classic, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Fluffy White cake filled with strawberry jelly and topped with a peanut butter and strawberry butter frosting.  These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes are the perfect cupcake for a summer party!

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes are great to serve at a kids birthday party.  Most kids love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Don’t like strawberry? Use whatever jelly your kids love! Oh, and did you know these amazing cupcakes are semi homemade?  I know!  It’s a hostesses dream!  The white cake mix is the perfect substitution for white bread.

How to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

The perfect cupcake for the pb&j lover!

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY CUPCAKES RECIPE INGREDIENTS LIST-full printable recipe below in recipe card

WHITE CUPCAKES-WONDER BREAD CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS

• 1 (15.25 ounce) white cake mix plus ingredients to make from the box
• 1 cup strawberry preserves

STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INGREDIENTS LIST

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon strawberry extract
• ½ cup strawberry preserves
• 5 cups powdered sugar

PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INGREDIENTS LIST

• ¾cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾cup peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar

WHITE CAKE CUPCAKES INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make cupcakes as the box directs.
2. Let cupcakes cool completely.
3. Using a melon ball tool, scoop out the center of each cupcake (reverse the scooped portion).
4. Put jelly into a zip top bag and snip the corner.
5. Fill the center of the cupcake with jelly; replace the cut out portion of the cake back on top of each cupcake.

STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, whip together the butter, strawberry preserves, vanilla and strawberry extracts until combined and the frosting is creamy.
2. Mix in icing sugar 1 cup at a time until fluffy.
3. For a pop of color add a drop of red gel food coloring; mix to combine.
4. Put creamy frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip; pipe frosting around the perimeter of the cupcake.

PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix together the butter, peanut butter, milk and vanilla until creamy.
2. Add 1 cup of sugar at a time mixing well between until smooth.
3. Put frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip; pipe and fill in the center.

How Many Tablespoons of Batter Will fill a Cupcake Liner?

Fill your cupcake wrappers 2/3 full – around 3 tablespoons – or one decent ice scream scoop. Avoid filling your cupcake liners with too much batter as they will not bake properly and might overflow when they rise.

How to Store Cupcakes

Cupcakes can be made ahead 1 day in advance, covered, and stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Frosting can also be made 1 day in advance, covered, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Frosted or unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2-3 months. To ensure freshness, I like to wrap the container in plastic wrap until ready to use. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Perfect for 4th of July Celebration!

How to Store Leftover Frosting

ROOM TEMPERATURE: Frostings that are made with shortening can be stored at room temperature in an air tight container on the counter up to 2 weeks.

REFRIGERATOR: Frostings with butter and milk should be stored in the refrigerator with an air tight lid up to 2 weeks or freezer up to 3 months.

• Add the frosting to a large mixing bowl, mix on medium high until the frosting becomes light and fluffy( about 3 minutes).
• Frost cupcakes or cakes.

FREEZER

• Transfer the frosting to an airtight container or freezer bag. The frosting will stay fresh in the freezer up to 3 months.
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
• Add the frosting to a large mixing bowl, mix on medium high until the frosting becomes light and fluffy( about 3 minutes).
• Frost cupcakes or cakes.

TIPS FOR A LIGHT AND FLUFFY FROSTING

• Good ingredients “real” butter not margarine
• Room temperature ingredients
• Be patient…you’ll need to whip the frosting at least 3 to 5 minutes (sometimes I do this step twice).  This will allow air to incorporate into the butter and create the lightness you want.
• That’s it!  It’s really not as hard as you might think.

WHY SHOULD MY INGREDIENTS BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

This one is simple. The recipe calls for “softened” or “room temperature” butter. This simple step will make it easier for you to reach a light and fluffy homemade butterscotch frosting. No one wants chunks of butter in their frosting. Just lay the butter on the counter until when pressed with your finger it gives and makes a indention, without your finger sliding anywhere. Firm, but not cold. Lightly softened without being greasy.

WHAT PEANUT BUTTER IS BEST FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING RECIPE?

In short, the perfect peanut butter is your favorite peanut butter is the best one to use. My favorite is Jiff. I don’t recommend using chunky peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter. If you want to use natural peanut butter, you will need to add more sugar. Natural peanut butter tends to be a lot runnier than other peanut butters.

I DON’T LIKE STRAWBERRY JELLY, CAN I USE A DIFFERENT JELLY FLAVOR?

YES! If your kids don’t like strawberry preserves than please use your kids favorite jelly flavor for the filling and the buttercream frosting. Grape jelly or grape jam, or seedless raspberry jam are great options.

MORE SEMI HOMEMADE CUPCAKE RECIPES

Below are a few of my favorite semi homemade cupcake recipes. Click here for all the recipes made with a cake mix. Cupcakes, Cakes, Quick Breads, and Cookies→CAKE MIX CREATIONS

• STRAWBERRY LEMONADE CUPCAKES
• ORANGE CREAMSICLE CUPCAKES
• CINNAMON ROLL CUPCAKES
• TROPICAL PIENAPPLE COCONUT CUPCAKES
• LEMON BLUEBERRY SWIRL CUPCAKES
• TWINKIE CUPCAKES

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