Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

PB and CHOCOLATE!

I can't think of a better combination than Peanut Butter and Chocolate...  It's my FAVE!  I could eat peanut butter and chocolate in ANY combination ANY time of the day.  I am totally in love with these mini-miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  Have you tried them?  They are tiny!!  But the chocolate to peanut butter ratio is perfect.  I love anything bite-size!  Especially these:


Well, the other day my friend made me these DELICIOUS peanut butter/chocolate cupcakes! 
They were so yummy.  The peanut butter frosting was not too overwhelming - it was perfect.  And then there was a peanut butter surprise in the middle of the chocolate cupcake.  They were heavenly!  Thanks Amanda!  So, she sent me the recipe & I would like to share it with you.  The recipe came from Annie's Eats.  You won't be disappointed if you are a chocolate peanut butter fan...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the filling:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ tsp. vanilla extract

For the cake:
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
2 large eggs

For the frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
½ cup creamy peanut butter
3¼ cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.

To make the filling, combine the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls (at least 24) and set aside on a baking sheet.

To make the cake batter, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; whisk together and set aside. In a liquid measuring cup, stir together the sour cream, milk and vanilla extract. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar, and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until incorporated.

Spoon a tablespoon or two of batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Place a ball of the peanut butter filling in each cupcake well and top with the remaining batter so that all the cups are filled. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter and peanut butter until smooth. Slowly mix in the confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth and well blended. Mix in the whipped topping until smooth and fluffy. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.



I will be making these cupcakes in the next little while, maybe even today, and when I do I will take some pictures for you.  They are so yummy! 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

BiRthDaY WeeK!

We are in the middle of our CRaZy birthday week (thus my lack of posts!)!  My 3 year old little girl turned 4 and thinks the world revolves around her now- which it does most of the time!  Funny how much more grow-up she thinks she is now that she's 4!  She had a little princess & pirate party with a few friends from preschool...


Then it was the "family" get together to celebrate her 4th & my almost 10 year old's b-days.  Ironically they were both due on the same day, May 1st, but ended up being born a week apart.  So we usually end up celebrating with family right between their birthdays and then call it good for both of them! 

Later this week he will celebrate with a couple of friends...just hanging out - maybe a pizza, a movie, some wii playing, etc.  Not a real PaRty by any means, but that's OK!
When I saw those Angry Bird cupcakes on The Crafting Chicks (I posted about them a couple of weeks ago), I knew I wanted to make them for my 10 year old's birthday - so I did for the family get-together.  The cousins LOVED them.  They were easy to make and turned out pretty fun!
For my 4 year old's party, I knew she'd have more boys than girls - so I was on the lookout for a Princess themed party that would work.  I ended up with the Princess & Pirate party from Sweet Craft Cakes.  Check out their blog & store in Etsy.  They have the CUTEST custom party printables & ideas and are very reasonably priced.  The printables turned out awesome!  It made the party totally come together & work perfectly!
Sweet Craft Cakes

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

You Gotta See These...

When I have the time and $$ I am totally inspired by this plAyRooM.  Although our basement playroom is a different shape and not quite as big, I want to do something like this.  I love the color combo and whimsy of it!  I want a cute, tidy, organized playroom in my house...SOON! 
You can see more picts of this AWESOME playroom {here} at The Fickle Pickle.
Check out these AMAZING & ANGRY cupcakes.  If you're a fan of Angry Birds - they're perfect!  We'll be creating these for my almost 10 year old's birthday in a few weeks.  He's addicted to Angry Birds and I just love the cupcakes...

The how-to on these ANGRY guys is found {here} at the Crafting Chicks.

Thought these little buckets were BRILLIANT for General Conference.  You fill them with bite-size treats & each time your child hears the "word" during a talk, they can take one.  So smart...  I think I will be using this idea, just might have to simplify it since Conference is in 3 days & I don't own a cricket, silhouette or anything of the likes to do the vinyl words.
 
You can find this along with the directions {here} at Brown Paper Packages.
Hope you enjoy these FaBuLoUS ideas...

Friday, March 18, 2011

Perfect For Spring!

These white cake cupcakes with fresh strawberry frosting are sooo yummy!  I think they'd be perfect for an Easter picnic, a Spring birthday party, a bridal or baby shower, or any other special occasion.  They are easy to make and turn out really moist & delicious!!  I don't typically buy Pillsbury brand cake mixes, but if you follow the recipe exactly, the cupcakes and frosting turn out perfect...

Cupcakes:
1 Pillsbury white cake mix
1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
1 1/4 c. water
4 egg whites
1/3 c. oil
Mix together.  Fill cupcake papers 2/3 full and bake @ 325 degrees until lightly brown or the top springs back when touched.

Strawberry Frosting:
1/2 c. whole frozen strawberries, thawed
1 c. unsalted butter, firm & slightly cold
pinch of salt
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Puree the strawberries in food processor then set aside.  Beat together butter and salt, then slowly add the powdered sugar.  Add vanilla and 3 Tbs. strawberry puree.