Peanut Butter Cupcakes

What is with my recent obsession with peanut butter?  Only that now that I actually have (or had) a jar in the cupboard, I have been busy trying all the recipes I have been waiting for months to try!  I know that sounds silly, but peanut butter is just one of those items that I constantly forget to buy.

I have been eyeing this particular recipe since last year - it is actually called peanut butter birthday cake, and makes a two layer 8 or 9 inch cake.  But I was anxious to try it out, since it is pretty much mandatory for birthday cakes to be delicious, they are BIRTHDAY cakes after all.  So cupcakes on a spring night that feels like winter - why not?

 To make it even more of an adventure (I know, crazy life I lead) I was recently reading a blog that suggested the key to the most amazing cake was the addition of whipped cream , and I just so happened to have whipped cream on hand (chocolate truffle fail).

These were delicious - really peanut butter-y taste, and soooo light and fluffy - probably the whipped cream!
They were not too sweet, more like

muffins, so next time I might add a little more sugar.  I iced them with my leftover Chocolate Guinness icing.


Peanut Butter Cupcakes 
adapted from Joy the Baker's Peanut Butter Birthday Cake

1 1/8 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 plus 1/8 cup smooth all natural peanut butter
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp buttermilk
1/2 cup whipped cream

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, and sugars.  Add egg.
Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Pour in buttermilk.
Stir until batter begins to come together, then add the rest of the flour mixture.
Whip cream, add slowly, and finish mixing with a spatula.

Batter will be very thick.  Spoon into paper liners in cupcake tin  - should make about 12.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick inserted in a middle cupcake comes out clean.

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

My first Guinness recipe was a bit of a disaster, but sin scéal eile (Gaelic for "that's another story").  
So, maybe I do have some Irish luck, after all.  Second time is a charm? These cupcakes bake up like a bit of Irish magic.  Light, airy, and moist - magically delicious!  

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

1 cup all purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup Guinness or stout beer
1/2 cup cocoa 

Melt butter in a small saucepan, adding cocoa and Guinness, stirring until well combined. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and sugars in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
Combine egg and buttermilk in a medium sized bowl.  Add cooled chocolate mixture.  Mix well.  
Make a well in centre, and add flour mixture, stirring until well combined.
Batter will be runny, that's ok - don't worry! 
Pour into 12 cupcake liners and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the centre of the middle cupcake comes out clean.

Guinness icing
1/4 unsalted butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup Guinness
1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter with icing sugar, add in cocoa. 
Add beer and vanilla, mix until the right consistency, adding in more icing sugar for a thicker icing, and more beer if too thick. 

Sweetheart Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

It's a blustery stormy winter's evening and there is nothing good on t.v. What to do? Make cupcakes!
What's that you say? You don't want to end up eating a half dozen by the end of How I met your Mother?
Well, pshosh. Don't worry my friend, because I have just the cure for what ails you.
It's genius, really.  A recipe for just two cupcakes?  One for right now, and one for a half hour from now? Or, if you are feeling really sweet, then one for you, and one for your sweetheart.

I came across this recipe at One Bowl Vanilla Cupcakes for two, and it has been on my (long) list of things to try for quite some time now.

I was kinda craving chocolate tonight, though, so I added cocoa and chocolate chunks....oh, yeah.

Sweetheart Chocolate Chip Cupcakes 
adapted from How Sweet It Is

1 egg white
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/4 heaping tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa
pinch of salt
1 tbsp milk
1 tbsp chocolate chips

Combine egg white and sugar in a small bowl.
Add in vanilla and melted butter.
Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa.
Add milk, stir well.

Pour into two cupcake liners and bake for 12-15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.