If you like butter pecan ice cream, then you’ll LOVE these butter pecan cupcakes! Topped with a brown butter frosting that will make you swoon!

Five butter pecan cupcakes topped with swirls of brown butter frosting and sprinkled with pecans, on an antique silver platter.

Butter Pecan! Omg. It’s definitely one of my favorite ice cream flavors, especially at this time of year. There’s just something about that toasty, nutty flavor. It’s so good with your Thanksgiving pies! Try it. You’ll thank me.

But today we’re doing cupcakes! A few weeks back, I was chatting with my assistant about today’s post. I had an empty slot on the calendar and asked her if she had any suggestions. She said, “I think you’re due for something nutty.” And I was like “Perfect!”

Butter Pecan Cupcakes: all the sweet, buttery taste of that classic ice cream flavor, in a cupcake! Perfect with coffee or a glass of milk. #butter #pecan #cupcake #dessert #food

You see, I had just recently come across a recipe for butter pecan cake in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The minute I saw it, it went straight onto my wish-list.

So, I thought it would be fun to create a cupcake version, because who doesn’t love a cupcake? Cute, perfectly portioned, and easy to transport. They’re always so great for holiday parties, whether you’re hosting or just bringing along to share.

Butter Pecan Cupcakes: all the sweet, buttery taste of that classic ice cream flavor, in a cupcake! Perfect with coffee or a glass of milk. #butter #pecan #cupcake #dessert #food

And I promise you everyone is going to LOVE these butter pecan babies. The cupcakes are soft and melt-in-your-mouth, and studded with crunchy buttered pecans. And the frosting is to-die-for! Brown butter Swiss meringue buttercream. I’m telling you!!!

Be sure to check out this Swiss meringue buttercream post for tons more info on how to make this uniquely delicious frosting, and all the amazing things you can do with it!

Five butter pecan cupcakes topped with swirls of brown butter frosting and sprinkled with pecans, on an antique silver platter.

More great cupcake recipes on my “Cupcake Recipes” Pinterest board!


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Five butter pecan cupcakes topped with swirls of brown butter frosting and sprinkled with pecans, on an antique silver platter.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Butter Pecan Cupcakes

Servings: 24 Cupcakes
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
If you like butter pecan ice cream, then you'll LOVE these butter pecan cupcakes! Topped with a brown butter frosting that will make you swoon!

Ingredients

For the butter pecan cupcakes:

  • 1 1/3  cups  (132 g) pecans, chopped
  • tablespoons (44.36 g) salted butter
  • cups  (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  (1.5 teaspoons ) baking powder
  • 1/4  teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
  • 2/3  cup (151.33 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2  cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • (2) eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) vanilla
  • cup (244 g) milk

For the brown butter Swiss meringue buttercream:

  • 1 1/2 cups (340.5 g) unsalted butter, (3 1/3 sticks) plus 3 tablespoons
  • 5 large egg whites
  • 1 2/3 cup (333.33 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) kosher salt

For the garnish:

  • 1/4 cup (24.75 g) pecans, toasted and chopped finely

Instructions
 

To make the butter pecan cupcakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line cupcake pans with grease-proof papers.
  • Place the salted butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the pecans, and cook, stirring, until toasted and fragrant.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the unsalted butter and sugar together on medium-high speed, until pale and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
  • Beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring on medium-low speed until incorporated.
  • Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, and stir in the milk until smooth.
  • Fold in the cooled buttered pecans.
  • Divide the batter equally between all 24 lined wells of the cupcake pans.
  • Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the thickest part of a cupcake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Cool completely, then top with brown butter Swiss meringue buttercream and garnish with chopped toasted pecans.

To make the brown butter Swiss meringue buttercream:

  • Place the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook until the butter melts, foams, and turns a nutty brown color.
  • Remove from heat and cool until solidified.
  • Place the egg whites and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and set it over a pot of barely simmering water.
  • Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture becomes thin and opaque, and the sugar has completely dissolved.  (It should no longer feel gritty when rubbed between the thumb and forefinger.)
  • Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk on medium high speed until completely cool.  (There should be no hint of warmth when you place your hand on the side of the mixing bowl.  Refrigerate if necessary.)
  • When the meringue is completely cool, fluffy, white, and thick enough to hold stiff peaks, add the solidified brown butter, one tablespoon at time, while whipping on medium-high speed.  (If it begins to look curdled, continue whipping until it comes together before adding more butter.)
  • Mix in the salt.  (If the frosting seems runny, place it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, then re-whip.)
  • Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a jumbo open star tip.
  • Top the cupcakes with swirls of buttercream, then garnish with chopped toasted pecans.
Serving: 1cupcake, Calories: 447kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 84mg, Potassium: 143mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 600IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 1.4mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
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