Monday, September 17, 2007

Peanut Butter Cupcake with Dark Chocolate Frosting



I was testing out Flickr when I realised it's not as easy as it seems. At least for a beginner like me. For instance, how do I post multiple photographs on the same blog page? hmmm...

Confession time.

I have never made cupcakes. Not the ones with nice swirly frosting anyway. Why?

1) Prior to this, I do not own a pipping bag. (or appropriate tips).
2) No guts. or should I say.... no skills?
3) No patience.
4) Self doubt- there are so many beautiful cupcakes with beautiful frosting out there, I have never thought that I can do it.
5) Fear of the frosting. Cupcake I can handle... but FROSTING.. where do I start? What icing sugar? how long to beat it for? *headache ah*

Why start now? I admit. I'm a late bloomer. When the cupcake craze was around in blogger world, I sort of just went "ahhh...wooo..." and the thought never cross my mind that I can experiment with it as well! *I know, it took a while before that clicked in my head*. The thing is, Irene- my beautiful aunt would like to make cupcakes for her son's 2nd birthday so as a sort of "cupcake supporter's group" thing, I decided that it's time to try!

You have to head over to see Irene's. It was her FIRST TIME testing out baking and look how they turned out!

I have to admit that I was abit of a nervous wreck planning and thinking about these cupcakes. Seriously, frosting stressed me out. I know, it's weird.. hahhaa.

At the end, I realised it can be quite fun pipping frosting and decorating the cake. The final result was presentable or at least I think it looked presentable. Actually, I think the end result looked like a cupcake with dark chocolate soft serve ice-cream on top!

Ok, fine. I'm now addicted to making cupcakes.


Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Dark Choc Frosting

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons double acting baking powder
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk

1) In a bowl whisk together the flour, the baking powder, and a pinch of salt.

2) In another bowl with an electric mixer cream together the brown sugar, the peanut butter, and the butter and beat in the egg and the vanilla.

3) Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition, and stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.

4) Divide the batter among 12 paper-lined 1/2-cup muffin tins and bake the cupcakes in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a tester
comes out clean. Turn the cupcakes out onto a rack and let them cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Epicurious

Dark chocolate Frosting
2 2/3 cup. confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup. unsweetened cocoa
6 tbsp. butter
5-6 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa in a small bowl. Cream butter with 1/2 cup of the cocoa mixture in a small bowl. Alternately add remaining cocoa mixture and milk; beat to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla. For glazed frosting stir in 1 tablespoon corn syrup.

Makes about 2 cups. (that frosted about 4 cupcakes, so I had to x3 the amount to frost all 12 cakes).


10 comments:

culinaryprincess said...

WOW!!!!!!!daphne they look soo good and yummy!!! i was really scared too of pipping icing out and only started about a few months ago and its really fast and easy when u get the hang of it.

As for flickr i stared using it about 2 weeks ago n was in the dark like u..
to post up multiple photos,this is what i do(don't know if its the correct way)
1.click on the picture u want,
2. then go to all sizes which is located above the picture(next to the blog this button)
3. Choose the size of the picture u want
4.Copy the HTML of the photo which will appear after you've chosen the size
5. Paste the HTML to your post and the pictures will appear when u publish your post

good luck babe!

Anonymous said...

I think those are the best looking cupcake + frosting pictures!!! (especially the top one) Not to mention they taste extremely yummy too :)

Big Boys Oven said...

oh did I see peanut butter...they are so yummy and so delicious what more with those choc frosting... a real thumbs up!!! bravo!

Little Corner of Mine said...

Pretty cupcake you have there! Your choc. frosting looks really good!

teckiee said...

cookies and cupcakes! i needdd ..so desparate for a new oven... can i come visit you and pinjam your oven.. tho the flight ticket will cost me an oven ...HAHAHA

daphne said...

wah.. this is my 3rd time trying to post a comment on my own blog! hrm. bloggerrrrrr grr.. ;p

Culinary princess-your tips worked!! thanks sooo much!

ar- hehe.glad u liked it. i think u will be sick of cupcakes by the time i'm done with the craze.

jackson- u hv to share tips with meeee!!! please please.

teckiee- At least your accommodation will be free mah! Your cooking looks fantastic so I bet when you start baking, it will be great.

daphne said...

big boys oven- thanks! sounds like u r a big fan of peanut butter too! hehe

little corner- thank you for your encouragement. =)

East Meets West Kitchen said...

Wow! That's a great looking cupcake!

bossacafez said...

yummy pb cupcakes! are they any good? coz i made some last week for an order and according to my customer she felt that the cakes were quite dry & dense, somewhat like the texture of muffins/scones. i felt that too, despite putting in 1/2 cup milk. mayb i shd put 1 cup of milk instead?

Rita Sella said...

Hi...Daphne,thank you for visiting my blog.
You have good looking blog here, definitely will come back here often
(^_^)you're doing great with cupcake frosting..

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