Chocolate Cupcakes With Peanut Butter Frosting

      

We were cooped up in the house the other day, due to the rainy weather, and I myself, spent most of my time in front of the television. I was surfing around looking for something interesting, and suddenly I hit the food network, and low and behold my favorite chef Ina Garten, was demonstrating how to make these wonderful Devil's Food chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting!  I rarely get to enjoy watching her, however I clicked on The Food Network on the one day that they have her show on which is called, "The Barefoot Contessa". So I dropped the remote, grabbed a pen, and writing pad, and jotted down this recipe. I immediately ran into the kitchen and gave the recipe a whirl.  They were simple to make, and taste delicious! If you are an avid peanut butter cup fan, then you really should give these a try too. They are, in the words of Ina, Fabulous!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup white sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

2 lg eggs, room temperature

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, shaken at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

2 tbsp brewed coffee

1 3/4 cups flour 

1 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Peanut Butter Frosting

chopped salted peanuts, to decorate 

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

5 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup half and half, or heavy cream

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and two sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes.  Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee.  In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking soda, and salt.  On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture, and ending with the flour mixture.  Mix only until blended.  Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Place cupcake wrappers in cupcake pan, and divide the batter  evenly into each. Bake in the middle of the oven 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. Cool for 1/2 hour before frosting.

Frosting Method:

Place the confectioner's sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  Mix on med-low until creamy.  Scrape down the sides, and continue to mix until incorporated.  Add the cream, and blend until smooth.

Frost each cupcake with the frosting, and sprinkle with peanuts.