Peanut Butter & Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

You know how sometimes you get an idea in your head and it sits there, nagging at you, for days on end? Is there an easier recipe than a cupcake recipe? Well I started thinking about the best peanut butter cupcakes in the universe a few weeks ago and I could not let them go. I thought about them constantly, which just goes to show you that I really do not have a life.

What I wanted was an intensely flavored peanut butter cake with a creamy and rich chocolate ganache in the center. See? Now you are thinking about it too, it does sound fantastic doesn’t it?

I really liked these as far as the flavor. The problem came in with the texture, and I am sure I know what I did wrong. The texture was much like a muffin rather than light and airy like a cake. I think it was because I used homemade peanut butter rather than the hydrogenated kind from the store.

The flavor was perfect though. Rich and peanut butter in the first bite, followed by a mouthful of deep chocolate ganache. try them and see what you think, but I do suggest commercial peanut butter for these rather than homemade.

Peanut Butter & Ganache Cupcakes

• 1 1/2 c flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt if you are using homemade peanut butter
• 1/2 c peanut butter
• 1/4 c unsalted butter
• 2/3 c brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c milk

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line 12 muffin cups with silicon liners.

Stir dry ingredients together and set aside.

Cream peanut butter and butter together until light and fluffy. Add sugar, slowly, mixing well. Add vanilla and continue to beat. Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Spoon into muffin cups. Push a tablespoon of ganache into each cupcake. The batter will bake up around it.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until done. Cool completely before frosting.

Ganache Filling

Bring 1/2 c Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk just to a boil. remove from heat and stir in 1 c chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate. Mix until completely smooth, set aside to cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Beat butter and peanut butter together until creamy. Add sugar. Continue beating until texture is creamy and spreadable. Add cream as needed to get a spreadable frosting.

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