Christmas Crack Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream
If you love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, these Christmas Crack Cupcakes are going to be your new favorite holiday treat!
These cupcakes start with a rich chocolate cupcake, topped with a generous swirl of creamy peanut butter buttercream and finished with chunks of homemade Christmas crack. They’re chocolatey, buttery, crunchy, and have the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors!
Christmas crack is one of those treats that disappears almost as quickly as I make it, so I thought it would be fun to turn it into a cupcake. And let me tell you, the combination is SO good!
These are perfect for Christmas parties, holiday dessert tables, cookie exchanges, or gifting to friends and neighbors.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Crack Cupcakes
There’s so much to love about these festive cupcakes!
What Are Christmas Crack Cupcakes?
Christmas crack is a popular holiday treat traditionally made with saltine crackers, buttery toffee, and melted chocolate. It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, and completely irresistible!
For these cupcakes, I took those same flavors and combined them with chocolate cupcakes and peanut butter buttercream.
The chocolate cupcake makes a delicious base, while the peanut butter frosting adds a creamy, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the crunchy Christmas crack topping.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These cupcakes have three delicious components:
Chocolate Cupcakes
Start with your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe. I love a rich, moist chocolate cupcake for this combination because it balances the sweetness of the frosting and crunchy topping.
Homemade Peanut Butter Buttercream
This creamy peanut butter buttercream is the star of these cupcakes! It’s made with butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a little milk or cream.
It’s smooth, fluffy, and perfect for piping onto cupcakes.
Christmas Crack Topping
The finishing touch is homemade Christmas crack broken into small pieces. I like adding a few chunks to the top of each cupcake so you get that sweet, salty crunch with every bite.
How to Make Christmas Crack Cupcakes
These cupcakes are easy to assemble once you have your chocolate cupcakes and Christmas crack prepared.
Step 1: Bake the Chocolate Cupcakes
Prepare your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Chocolate Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup milk (or buttermilk)
- 1/3 cup oil vegetable or canola
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup hot coffee or hot water coffee deepens chocolate flavor, you won’t taste coffee.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add: egg, milk, oil and vanilla
- Mix until combined.
- Slowly pour in the hot coffee or water and stir. Batter will look thin, that’s correct!
- Fill liners about 2/3 full.
- Bake 18–22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool completely before frosting (this part matters more than people think, warm cupcakes melt buttercream fast).
Nutrition
Step 2: Make the Peanut Butter Buttercream
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and creamy peanut butter together until smooth.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
Add the vanilla extract and milk or heavy cream, then beat until the frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth.
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In your mixer, beat butter until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the peanut butter and mix until combined. If your peanut butter is stiff, warm it in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time.
- Slowly add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Then cream, vanilla, and salt.
- Beat for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- If it feels thick, add cream.
- If soft, chill briefly.
Nutrition
Step 3: Frost the Cupcakes
Transfer the peanut butter buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large decorating tip or use a cookie scoop.
Pipe a generous swirl of frosting onto each cooled chocolate cupcake.
Step 4: Add the Christmas Crack
Break the prepared Christmas crack into small, bite-sized pieces.
Arrange a few pieces on top of each cupcake, pressing them gently into the buttercream so they stay in place.
And that’s it! You have the most delicious chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with a crunchy Christmas crack topping.
Christmas Crack Recipe
Pin Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 sleeves Ritz Crackers
- 2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2/3 cup peanut butter
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Optional toppings: flaky sea salt holiday sprinkles, chopped nuts, or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Prepare your pan: Line a 9×13 baking pan with foil and lightly spray with non-stick spray.
- Add the crackers: Arrange Ritz crackers in an even layer. They won’t fit perfectly—just cover most of the surface.
- Make the toffee mixture: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar together until the sugar has dissolved.
- Pour + spread: Carefully pour the hot mixture over the crackers and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven for about 5 minutes, just until the mixture begins to bubble.
- Add chocolate: Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let them sit for 3 minutes to melt, then spread the chocolate into a smooth layer.
- Freeze: Transfer the pan to the freezer for 15 minutes or until completely set.
- Break + enjoy: Lift the foil out of the pan and break the crack into pieces. Enjoy immediately or store for later—it freezes beautifully!
Notes
Tips for Decorating Christmas Crack Cupcakes
Cool the cupcakes completely. Frosting warm cupcakes can cause the buttercream to melt.
Break the Christmas crack into different sizes. A mixture of small and medium pieces creates a fun, textured topping.
Add the topping close to serving time. For the best crunch, wait until you’re ready to serve before adding the Christmas crack.
Don’t overcrowd the frosting. A few pieces of Christmas crack are all you need to give these cupcakes their signature look.
More Christmas Posts You’ll Love
If you’re looking for more holiday inspiration, here are a few other festive treats to try!
my favorite dessert gifting supplies:
pin it for later
The Perfect Sweet and Salty Christmas Cupcake
If you’re looking for a fun new dessert to add to your Christmas baking list, these Christmas Crack Cupcakes are definitely worth making!
Between the chocolate cupcake, creamy peanut butter buttercream, and crunchy Christmas crack topping, every bite is filled with delicious holiday flavors.
They’re a fun way to dress up a classic chocolate cupcake and make something extra special for Christmas.
Happy baking!
If you make this, let me know! I always love hearing from you.
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