Irresistible Gluten-Free Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups: Your New Favorite Dessert!

Forget those classic soft & chewy peanut butter cookies crowned with a Hershey kiss. While delightful in their own right, it’s time to take your dessert experience to a whole new level. Introducing my **Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups** – a truly irresistible treat that combines the beloved flavors of peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut spread into one magnificent, bite-sized creation.

And here’s an extra bonus for many of you: these delectable cups are **gluten-free**! If gluten isn’t a concern for you, simply swap out the Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for regular all-purpose flour. This recipe is designed to be versatile, ensuring everyone can enjoy these heavenly homemade goodies.

Crafting the Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie Base

Our journey to peanut butter perfection begins with a soft, chewy cookie base. Preheat your oven to a cozy 350°F (175°C). While the oven warms up, prepare your muffin tins. This recipe yields a generous 24 treats, so you’ll want two medium-sized muffin tins. For easy removal and cleanup, line them with shallow paper liners. If you prefer, a light greasing of the tins will also do the trick.

The beauty of this recipe is that you don’t need fancy equipment. A reliable stand mixer will make the process incredibly smooth, but a hand-held mixer works just as well. The key is to thoroughly combine your ingredients to achieve that perfect dough consistency.

Start by creaming together the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. This step is crucial for incorporating air and creating a light texture. Once these are well-blended and fluffy, beat in the large egg and the pure vanilla extract. The vanilla enhances the overall flavor profile, adding a warm, aromatic note that complements the rich peanut butter.

In a separate bowl, it’s time to prepare your dry ingredients. Whisk together the baking soda, salt, and your chosen flour. If you’re going the gluten-free route, Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour is an excellent choice, as it’s formulated to replace wheat flour cup-for-cup without compromising texture. For those not needing gluten-free, standard all-purpose flour works perfectly.

Gradually add the dry mixture to your wet peanut butter mixture. Do this slowly, mixing until everything is just combined and a soft, pliable dough forms. Overmixing can lead to tougher cookies, so stop as soon as the flour streaks disappear.

Now for the shaping! Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough into each prepared muffin cup. With clean fingertips, gently press the dough down and around the bottom of the cup, forming a neat base. Then, using the base of a rounded measuring spoon (like a teaspoon or half-teaspoon), press a small, round indentation into the center of each dough base. This creates the perfect little “cup” for our creamy Nutella buttercream. Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly uniform; homemade charm is part of the appeal!

Bake these beauties for 10 to 12 minutes. You’re looking for a lightly golden edge, but still soft centers. Once baked, remove the muffin tins from the oven and immediately transfer them to a wire rack to cool. As they cool, you might notice the centers have puffed up slightly. Don’t worry! This is normal. While they are still warm and pliable, gently use the back of your measuring spoon to recreate those perfect indentations. This ensures a deep, generous well for our luscious Nutella buttercream.

Whipping Up the Dreamy Nutella Buttercream

While your peanut butter cookie cups are cooling completely – and patience is a virtue here, as they need to be fully cool before frosting – let’s shift our focus to the star topping: the rich and creamy Nutella buttercream. This frosting is what truly elevates these treats, adding a velvety smooth chocolate hazelnut layer that perfectly complements the chewy cookie base.

Begin by cutting your room-temperature unsalted butter into cubes. Using your electric mixer, beat the butter until it’s wonderfully creamy and light. This step is essential for a smooth, lump-free buttercream. Next, with the mixer on its slowest speed, very slowly add the confectioners’ sugar. This prevents a sugar cloud from engulfing your kitchen! Once the sugar is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth, increase the mixer speed to medium. Now, add the generous dollops of Nutella (or your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread) along with a tiny pinch of salt. The salt is a secret weapon; it balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate and hazelnut flavors beautifully.

Finally, check the consistency of your Nutella buttercream. It should be smooth, creamy, and easy to work with, whether you plan to spread it or pipe it. If it feels too thick, simply add a dash of milk (about 1/2 teaspoon at a time), mixing well after each addition, until you reach your desired consistency. Be careful not to add too much at once! This recipe yields enough luscious buttercream to generously top all 24 peanut butter cups, or even decorate 12 cupcake roses, or thinly frost an 8-inch cake with a delightful middle layer.

Once your cookies are completely cooled, it’s time for the grand finale! Generously top each cup with your freshly made Nutella buttercream. You can opt for a simple, elegant spread with a knife or spatula, or have some fun with it like I did here using a star tip for a beautiful piped swirl. Please don’t judge my piping skills too harshly; I’m always working on improving in that area, but the taste is what truly matters!

Either way, these Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups are absolutely delicious. The combination of the rich peanut butter base and the creamy chocolate hazelnut topping is pure bliss, creating a dessert that’s both comforting and exciting.

These Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups are more than just a dessert; they’re an experience. They’re perfect for holiday gatherings, a thoughtful homemade gift, or simply a luxurious treat for yourself after a long week. With the added benefit of being easily adaptable for a gluten-free diet, they truly cater to everyone’s sweet tooth.

And speaking of treats, if you’re really lucky, you’ll have an adorable assistant around to help with the cleanup! My furry friend always seems to know when there’s a delicious project happening in the kitchen. Just be sure to keep the actual cookies and frosting safely out of reach of curious paws – all that sugar and chocolate is for human enjoyment only!

So, gather your ingredients, fire up your oven, and prepare to delight your taste buds with these extraordinary Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups. They’re a testament to how classic flavors can be transformed into something truly spectacular. Enjoy every soft, chewy, creamy bite!

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More Cookie Love…

If you enjoyed these Peanut Butter & Nutella Buttercream Cups, you might also love some of our other delightful cookie recipes. They are perfect for expanding your baking repertoire or finding new favorites for any occasion!