One of the best things about the Easter season is the candy. Almost every trip to Kroger I would come home with at least one bag of candy, usually Reese’s peanut butter eggs. I would tell myself I was buying them for Jordan (he loves Reese’s), but I wound up eating a good portion of them. Jordan made fun of my little “rat’s nests” of candy wrappers around my study area…but the Reese’s were just so fresh I couldn’t resist =). So naturally, when I was deciding what kind of dessert to make my mind went to something chocolate and peanut butter. I’ve made these several times before, but not since I got my new light set or since I started blogging. I started with my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe (the same one I used for Cookie Dough Cupcakes ) and then topped with a peanut butter frosting. So delicious! Enjoy!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
For the cupcakes:
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
3/4 cup hot coffee
3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
6 tbsp vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line muffin tins with paper liners (16).
3. Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour hot coffee over mixture and whisk until smooth. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes in refrigerator. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups.
5. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until edges are springy to touch and center is almost set.
6. Cool cupcakes thoroughly on wire rack.
For the frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/3-2/3 cup whipping cream
1. Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth.
2. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1/3 cup of the cream. Beat until smooth, adding more cream until you reach your desired consistency.
3. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
