Description
Honey Peach Cream Cheese Cupcakes combine moist, fluffy cupcakes with a luscious honey-sweetened peach filling and a smooth, creamy cream cheese frosting. These delightful cupcakes offer a perfect balance of fruity sweetness and rich creaminess, making them an easy dessert for any occasion, from casual gatherings to celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
Honey Peach Filling
- 2 cups fresh peaches, diced
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Optional: fresh peach slices and honey for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners for easy removal and clean-up.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes, to incorporate air for tender cupcakes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract for flavor.
- Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in increments, alternating with sour cream and milk. Begin and end with dry ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen cupcakes.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Divide batter evenly, filling each lined muffin cup about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and tops are lightly golden.
- Cool: Let cupcakes cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Combine Peaches and Honey: In a medium saucepan, combine diced peaches and honey. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until peaches soften and release juices, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Lemon Juice: Stir in lemon juice to balance sweetness and preserve color.
- Make a Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water to form a smooth slurry without lumps.
- Thicken the Filling: Pour slurry into peach mixture and stir constantly until filling thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Cream Cheese and Butter: In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate fully and achieve desired sweetness.
- Add Vanilla and Milk: Stir in vanilla extract and milk. Add more milk one tablespoon at a time to reach desired frosting consistency.
- Whip Until Fluffy: Beat frosting for an additional 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy for easy spreading or piping.
- Core the Cupcakes: Using a cupcake corer or small knife, carefully remove a small circle from the center of each cooled cupcake to create a cavity for the filling.
- Fill with Honey Peach Filling: Spoon a generous amount of the cooled honey peach filling into each cupcake cavity.
- Frost the Cupcakes: Frost each cupcake with cream cheese frosting using a piping bag for a decorative look or a knife/spatula for a rustic finish.
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish cupcakes with fresh peach slices and a drizzle of honey to enhance presentation and flavor.
- Chill (Optional): Refrigerate cupcakes for at least 30 minutes before serving to set the frosting and meld flavors.
Notes
- Ensure butter, cream cheese, and eggs are at room temperature for best mixing results.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep cupcakes tender.
- Fresh peaches are preferred, but frozen thawed peaches can be used if necessary.
- Adjust the amount of powdered sugar in frosting to taste.
- Chilling cupcakes enhances flavor and makes frosting firm.
- Use cupcake liners for easier cleanup and uniform cupcake shaping.
