Heart-Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Indulge guilt-free with these Heart-Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes, a rich and wholesome treat perfect for dessert or snacking. Made with nutrient-rich ingredients like whole wheat pastry flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and natural peanut butter, these cupcakes pack all the decadent flavors you love without the unhealthy extras. Sweetened naturally with pure maple syrup and boosted with low-fat buttermilk and unsweetened applesauce, they’re a lighter, heart-smart alternative to traditional cupcakes. Each fluffy bite is studded with dark chocolate chips and finished with an optional sprinkle of chopped peanuts for a satisfying crunch. Ready in just under 40 minutes, these better-for-you cupcakes are a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy eating goals.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:18 mins

Total Time:38 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup Whole wheat pastry flour
• 0.5 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking soda
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 cup Unsweetened applesauce
• 0.5 cup Pure maple syrup
• 0.5 cup Low-fat buttermilk
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup Natural peanut butter
• 0.25 cup Dark chocolate chips (70% cacao or higher)
• 2 tablespoons Chopped peanuts (optional for topping)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly with cooking spray.

Step 2

In a large bowl, sift together the whole wheat pastry flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

In another bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, pure maple syrup, low-fat buttermilk, large egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Step 4

Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 5

Fold in the natural peanut butter and dark chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Step 6

Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.

Step 7

If desired, sprinkle chopped peanuts on top of each cupcake for added texture and flavor.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Step 9

Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 10

Enjoy these heart-healthy treats as a delightful snack or dessert!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(859.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2324.0

Total Fat 113.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 36.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 224.5mg	0%
Sodium 2606.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 326.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 75.4g	0%
Total Sugars 124.5g
Protein 88.5g	0%

Vitamin D 117.3IU	0%
Calcium 556.6mg	0%
Iron 34.3mg	0%
Potassium 3972.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 38.1%

Protein: 13.2%

Carbs: 48.7%