Monday, August 17, 2009

Baking Mondays - P is for Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes


Chocolate cake with half a homemade peanut butter cup inside, topped with peanut butter swiss meringue buttercream and half a homemade peanut butter cup.

Who here loves peanut butter cups? I happen to love them - chocolate + peanut butter + sugar, how can you complain? So when peanut butter won the poll last week I knew what had to be done, it was time to make my own peanut butter cups. I used a recipe from The Hungry Mouse, it was super easy and the end result is delicious!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups adapted from The Hungry Mouse
Makes 40 mini cups

2 x 395g milk chocolate
375g smooth peanut butter
3/4 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
  1. Melt the first packet of milk chocolate (either in the microwave in 40 second intervals or using a double boiler).
  2. Coat 40 mini muffin liners in the chocolate, then place in the fridge to set.
  3. Meanwhile, combine the peanut butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir.
  4. Spoon the peanut butter mixture into each cup and flatten with your finger.
  5. Melt the second packet of chocolate.
  6. Pour chocolate over each cup to enclose the peanut butter mixture, then place in the fridge to set.
So now armed with your homemade peanut butter cups it is time to incorporate them into your chocolate peanut butter cupcakes...

Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cupcakes (adapted from AllRecipes.com)
Makes 22

220g plain flour
45g cocoa powder
7g bi-carb soda
6g salt
300g caster sugar
115g unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
8 ml vanilla extract
355 ml milk
22 homemade peanut butter cups, cut in half (reserve half for decoration)
  1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees celsius. Line 2 12-hole muffin trays with cupcake liners.
  2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt, set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.
  4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, alternately with the milk. Once all of the ingredients have been incorporated, mix on high speed of an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Spoon some of the batter into each cupcake liner, then place half a peanut butter cup, and then cover cup with more batter.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Putting it all together
  1. Make a batch of peanut butter swiss meringue buttercream.
  2. Once the cupcakes have cooled pipe a swirl of the SMBC onto each cupcake.
  3. Top each cupcake with half a homemade peanut butter cup.

The only problem I came across after making these was this...


All of the peanut butter cups sank to the bottom of the cupcakes - oh well. Still tastes good!

The ratings?

Me - 9/10, cake is beautiful, moist and chocolatey, SMBC is wonderful as always, peanut butter cups rock - the only issue was the sinking peanut butter cups.
Mat - 10/10, absolutely awesome!

16 comments:

Rhianne said...

This looks amazing!!

I have an award for you at my blog :)

Gala said...

Yummmmmmmmy!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my!! You're killing me with these cupcakes. I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate anything! They look fantastic.

Becky Farley said...

There is nothing I love more than peanut butter cups! Obviously I voted for these :) sooooooooo wonderful looking!

apparentlyjessy said...

I think these have got to my favourite cupcake out of all of the ones you have done!
I love that you made your own peanut butter cups, and I really really wish I could taste test these ones cause I adore peanut butter and chocolate together!

Elissa said...

I love peanut butter cups, I just never thought of making them myself. These look great.

Anon said...

AMAZING! I never manage to bake any of your recipes, but I feel like I've eaten something delicious just from looking at the pictures : )

Ash said...

These seriously look like a 10 out of 10! These looks so tempting! I must give they a try!

drollgirl said...

this has got to be your best cupcake EVAH!!! this is the one i want. no wait, i want all 22. YUM. looks farking delicious!!!!!!!!!

Red Boots said...

Yum - I have have have to try this. I love peanut butter and chocolate - I think it's the combination of salty and sweet. x

cookies and cups said...

The fact that you made your own pB cups is amazing! awesome job, they look delicious!

Amanda said...

Chocolate and PB is the winsome combination. I want this cupcake now!

alissa said...

that is totally above and beyond anything youve done before -it looks amazing!
i loooove peanut butter:)

boots said...

HOLY smokes that looks good! look at that peanut butter bottom. damn.

Anna said...

They look soooo nice. I think I'm going to have to try that recipe :)

I love love looove peanut butter cups :D

Chantel said...

Holy Cow! Thank you so much for this. I now know how to make a very happy Ken!! ;)