Why Make This Recipe for Homemade Chocolate Peeps Cupcakes

1. Peeps add a fun and festive touch that appeals to all ages, while the cupcakes themselves are wonderfully delicious.
2. The cake is made from scratch with simple, everyday ingredients.
3. These cupcakes make for a stunning centerpiece on your Easter table.
4. A few simple Easter candies can transform these cupcakes from ordinary to spectacular with vibrant colors.
5. After baking, let them cool completely before frosting and decorating with creamy icing, adorable Peeps, and colorful jelly beans.

Ingredients for Homemade Cupcakes

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Warm coffee (leftover or instant)
• White distilled vinegar
• Canola or vegetable oil (or melted butter)
• Large eggs
• Extracts (vanilla, almond, or coffee)

Shopping List: You Will Need

• Your favorite cake mix or our homemade recipe
• Yellow chick Peeps, bunny Peeps, or any other design you prefer!
• Marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, milk, and butter (or use your preferred canned frosting)
• Decorative toppings: jelly beans, malted eggs, and coconut for “Easter grass”
• Paper liners for cupcakes
• Food coloring

Fun Suggestions for Peeps

1. Use chocolate-covered chow mein noodles to create a cute “bird nest” effect.
2. Swap in bunny Peeps instead of chicks for a different twist.
3. Tint your frosting in pastel colors and sprinkle sanding sugars on top for extra flair!

Cake Mix or Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes

Whether you choose to whip up our homemade chocolate cupcake recipe or opt for a convenient cake mix, these cupcakes will be a charming addition to your festive occasion. If time permits, definitely try making the cupcakes from scratch; they are some of the best chocolate cupcakes you’ll ever taste!

Instructions for Easter Peeps Cupcakes

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with 12 paper liners.

Step 2: Make the Cupcake Batter

1. In one bowl, combine all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt) and set aside.
2. In another bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients (coffee, vinegar, oil, eggs, and extracts) until well blended.
3. Gently combine the wet and dry mixtures, stirring until just combined; remember, a few lumps are perfectly okay!
4. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops spring back when touched.
6. Allow cupcakes to cool completely in the pan before frosting and decoration.

Step 3: Make the Fluffy Frosting

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the milk and vanilla extract, then mix until well combined.
3. Finally, gently fold in the marshmallow fluff, beating until the frosting is smooth and light, which should take another 2 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare the Colorful Coconut Grass

1. Place desiccated coconut in a bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring along with a drop of yellow. Add a couple of teaspoons of water and mix well until the coconut resembles grass.
2. Once colored to your liking, strain the coconut and allow it to dry on a sheet of wax paper.

Step 5: Assemble Your Cupcakes

1. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost them generously with the fluffy frosting.
2. Sprinkle the colored coconut on top to create a bed of “Easter grass.”
3. Finally, place Peeps, jelly beans, or any other decorations you’d like on top to completely transform them into festive Easter cupcakes!