Cupcakes with Glazed Peanuts

Welcome to a recipe that's all about delightful surprises! These Cupcakes with Glazed Peanuts are a perfect blend of soft, fluffy cake, a crunchy, nutty center, and a light, creamy frosting. The hint of orange zest in the batter adds a wonderful freshness that cuts through the sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced treat. Whether you're looking for a special dessert for a celebration, a sweet addition to your afternoon tea, or simply a way to brighten your day, these cupcakes are a fantastic choice. They are surprisingly simple to make and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone's face.

Cooking: 45 minutes
Quantity: 6 Servings
Per serving
Calories: 386 kcal
Proteins: 6 g
Fats: 23 g
Carbohydrates: 39 g

Ingredients for Glazed Peanut Cupcakes

  • 1 orange
  • 60 g chocolate-covered peanuts
  • 40 g cashews
  • 60 g butter
  • 90 g sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 95 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • vanilla to taste

For the Frosting

  • 150 g heavy cream (33% fat or higher)
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • chocolate for garnish

How to Make Cupcakes with Glazed Peanuts

A hand grating an orange on a fine metal grater to get fresh zest.

Grating a thin layer of orange zest on a fine grater.

A bowl of softened butter, ready to be mixed with sugar for the cupcake batter.

Melting butter to the consistency of thick sour cream.

A metal whisk mixing softened butter and sugar in a white bowl.

Whisking butter and sugar together.


Wash the orange thoroughly. Using a fine grater, zest the thin orange-colored layer of the peel. Oranges are often treated with various chemicals to keep them fresh, so be sure to wash the peel well if you plan to use it in your cooking.

Soften the butter until it reaches the consistency of thick sour cream. You can place a bowl with chopped butter in a sink filled with hot water and leave it for a few minutes. The butter will soften almost instantly.

Add fine white sugar or powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar, to the softened butter. Whisk the butter and sugar together until the sugar crystals have almost completely dissolved.

An egg and vanilla extract being added to the creamed butter and sugar mixture.

Breaking an egg into the bowl and adding vanilla extract.

A bowl containing a mix of all-purpose flour and baking powder.

Mixing all-purpose flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.

A whisk mixing the cupcake batter in a bowl until it's smooth.

Quickly mixing the batter with a whisk.


Crack an egg into the bowl and add vanilla extract or vanillin to your taste. Add the grated orange zest. All ingredients for the batter should be at room temperature, so take them out of the refrigerator in advance.

In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Sift the flour mixture into the wet ingredients in small portions.

Quickly mix the batter with a whisk until it is smooth and uniform. There should be no lumps of flour!

Cupcake batter being portioned into paper liners in a muffin tin.

Filling the molds with batter, leaving about one and a half centimeters of space.

Place paper liners of a suitable size into a cupcake pan. Fill the liners with batter, leaving about one and a half centimeters (about half an inch) of space at the top. This space is needed for the nuts and for the batter to rise.

Chocolate-covered peanuts being placed into the cupcake batter in each liner.

Placing an equal amount of chocolate-covered peanuts into each mold.

A muffin tin filled with cupcake batter being placed into a hot oven.

Placing the muffin tin with cupcakes into a preheated oven for 20 minutes.

A cupcake being decorated with swirls of whipped cream from a piping bag.

Decorating the cupcakes with whipped cream.


Place an equal amount of chocolate-covered peanuts and roasted cashews into each liner. Gently press the nuts down before adding more.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the cupcake pan in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Check for doneness with a wooden skewer – it should come out clean and dry from the center of a cupcake if the batter is fully baked. Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven.

Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the pan, place them on a wire rack, and let them cool to room temperature. Now, prepare the frosting. Whip the chilled heavy cream (33% fat or higher), gradually adding the powdered sugar. At the end, add vanilla extract if desired. Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag with a decorative tip. Decorate the cupcakes with the whipped cream frosting.

Crushed chocolate being sprinkled over the whipped cream frosting on a cupcake.

Sprinkling the whipped cream frosting with crushed chocolate.

Finely chop dark or milk chocolate with a sharp knife. Sprinkle the whipped cream frosting with the chopped chocolate. Keep the cupcakes in the refrigerator until serving to prevent the frosting from melting.

And there you have it – beautiful and delicious cupcakes ready to be enjoyed! We hope you have as much fun making them as you will eating them. Don't be afraid to get creative: try using different nuts like almonds or hazelnuts, or add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for a sweet and savory twist. These cupcakes are best served chilled and can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Share them with loved ones, and watch them become an instant favorite. Happy baking!