milk&honey cafe

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Late Night Gratification

peanut butter cup

Friday nights are my late nights. They are the nights where while all my loved ones are fast asleep, I am up in my cozy room with a cozy light, determined to stay awake. They are really the only nights that I can stay up late since I get to sleep in late tomorrow. No matter how long my day, how much my bed calls for me, I am committed to this special night that only comes once every week. From pointless perusing on the world wide web, to finally uploading the pics from my camera; from catching up on fashion news to checking out my friends' status' on Facebook, Friday nights are precious "ME" time that I so dearly hold on to — no matter how heavy my eyelids are (which are closing as we speak right now).

peanut butter cup

So what do I have to offer tonight? Why, of course, a cupcake! ...who is just as indulgent as my late night enterprises! A rich chocolate cake crowned with a creamy deep peanut butter frosting, showered with some dark chocolate shavin' lovin', this cupcake is anything but a sleeper. Peanutbutter-love is an acquired taste to some, but I'm sure any one will love to take a bite out of these after smelling the rich peanut-y goodness. Well, whatever your "Friday Late Night" or "Peanut Butter Cupcake" is, do one good thing for yourself every now and then. Everyone is entitled to it!! Happy baking, everyone! :)

"Peanut Butter Cup"-Cake

recipe from Hershey's Kitchens and Food Network
makes 2 1/2 dozen cupcakes


ingredients

chocolate cake
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened Cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (add 1 tbsp of white vinegar to milk to equal 1 cup)
1 cup strong black coffee OR 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee plus 1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

frosting
2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cup creamy peanut butter (I used organic)
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup heavy cream


directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line pans with cupcake paper.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
3. Bake 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
4. Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth. Frost as desired.



peanut butter cup

25 comments:

  1. These look delicious! I totally understand the Friday night me time thing. Sometimes we just need to veg out alone.

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  2. Friday night is my "me" night too. Gorgeous photos. Funny, turns out I've made that frosting before but it looked very different - probably due to using some natural-style PB. Very delicious though!

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  3. Too pretty for a late night. This is more like leisurely sunday morning...

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  4. I am exactly the same way! Even though I'm exhausted and doze off for a few seconds here and there, I always try to keep my eyes open and enjoy those late-night moments of freedom for as long as I can. I feel silly when I do it, so I'm glad to know that I'm not the only who stays up late to read blogs or surf the web.

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  5. oh I am SO making these for Mike and I. Thank you! :)

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  6. I just found your blog :) Beautiful!!
    Laura

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  7. HEHE YAY. you posted!!!!! and you said you never do anymore. i like when you post. and i like when i see you! like today!

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  8. I never usually comment blogs - I'm a total luker ;) - but I loved this post. So simple, personal and sweet.
    Enjoy your fridays :D
    Oh and btw, I love your blog. Lovely photographs, cute, and a great read.

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  9. Wow, this looks and sounds amazing! I love the photography on your blog, you do a beautiful job.

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  10. MMMMMMM this looks delicious!!!

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  11. looks great!
    check out my food blog and tell me what you think:
    http://thegodscake.wordpress.com

    Michael

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  12. YAY an update!! and is that cinnamon on top?

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  13. When/whom did you make this for? I wanna taste this... your baby nephew/niece wants to taste it!

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  14. So happy to see you blog again, Sarah, welcome back!

    I noticed you used a different recipe from the last time you made cupcakes. What do you think of the chocolate cupcake you posted now, is it better than the last ones you did?

    When you post your cupcake recipes with the total amount of cupcakes, it that for a regular size cupcakes or minis?

    Thank you.

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  15. I would very much like to try some of these cupcakes...do I get any for being friends with your other?

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  16. Oh my I have got to try these cupcakes - they look fabulous! You did a beautiful job with your icing - it's perfect!

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  17. That looks yum! Love it! Must try!

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  18. Three things:

    1) Even though I am not a big fan of peanut butter, that cupcake looks so delicious!
    2) When you bake all these goodies, who eats all of them??? I always wondered...
    3) Your previous post is *barf* but *cute*!

    xoxo

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  19. Can you please add me to the subscribe list.
    Thank you
    cjadair@shaw.ca
    Carrie

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  20. LOVE your site..so, so happy i found it.

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  21. Are you trying to kill me? This looks AMAZING. I might die. Glad to find your pretty pretty blog.

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  22. Hi Sarah,

    your cupcakes are beautiful. Btw, can I check with you, the coffee is added boiling hot or room temperature?

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  23. Hi Sarah, it's me again. I tried making these cakes, but they turned out kinda like 'kueh' texture. I used Dutch processed cocoa and added hot coffee. Not sure where I went wrong.

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  24. gorgeous! i love your frost piping :)

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  25. I am a new reader of your blog and a fellow torontonian. Beautiful work and I look forward to your future posts. I love how you dusted the frosting of the cupcakes. Very elegant.

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