Saturday, March 10, 2007

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

"I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex." - Oscar Wilde

Simplicity. The definition of basic. Without complications. The nitty gritty if you will. Sometimes, that's the kind of cupcake I want. Something without any special reservation. Without flair. An absence of the exotic can be peaceful and calming. A quick rendezvous in the kitchen and near instant gratification.

It's comparable to finishing the last sentence of a good book, relaxing to a song you haven't heard since that dance where you last truly let loose in front of a crowd, or the smell of an old cologne that reminds you of that someone on that some night only you and he know of.

A classic cupcake like this needs no fanfare. No parade. No list of impossible ingredients or extraneous labor. It's satisfying in its old school ways. Old fashion chocolate cake, with classic creamy peanut butter frosting. I don't need to describe it. You've had it before.

Take a few minutes to spend with your oven and your mixer, then use these cupcakes to take time with friends. Or even better - cupcake, a big glass of milk, yourself, and a moment of silence.

Old School Chocolate Cupcakes
Makes 24-30 cupcakes / 350 degree oven

What You'll Need...

2 cups of boiling water

1 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of butter, room temperature

2 1/8 cups of sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract


What You'll Do...
1) Preheat oven to 350. Pour boiling water over cocoa powder and mix throughly until smooth. Let cool.

2) Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together in a separate bowl.

3) Cream together the sugar and butter and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then add the vanilla. Add the flour and the cocoa mixture alternatively in a dry-wet-dry method, beginning and ending with the dry.

4) Place in cupcake papers and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a cakes tester comes out clean. Let cook on a wire rack.


Peanut Butter Frosting
What You'll Need...
1/2 cup of butter, softened

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons of milk

1 1/2 - 2 cups of powdered sugar

chocolate chips (optional)


What You'll Do...

Beat the butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. Add the milk and then the powdered sugar until desired sweetness. Spread over cooled cupcakes. (Optional: I melted some chocolate chips in the microwave and flicked it on with a fork. Hey, a little flair can be fun.)

13 comments:

  1. Oh yum, oh yum, oh yum! My mouth is watering. I WANT one of these NOW. I must try this recipe....

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  2. " An absence of the exotic can be peaceful and calming". I like that. :) I'm a peanut butter freak so I know I'd love these cupcakes and need to try it!

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  3. Darling, when it comes to chocolate + peanut butter I am so there - I am there already.

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  4. Peanuts are banned in out house due to a child being allergic. I miss them so much . . . sob. Thank you for the memories and the craving now for Peanut M & M's.

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  5. Oh my lord, these look divine. *drool*

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  6. Awesome Cup Cakes. Sacrilicious!

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  7. I am baking some right now! I'm on the second batch and so far they are yummy! I hope I can do the icing right though...

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  8. They look AMAZING!!!
    I dont even know what to say (I am at a loss of words these look so good!)
    check out my blog!!! www.dylansglutenfreedom.blogspot.com
    i do a lot of gluten free baking (not per-say of cupcakes but a lot of cakes and other desserts) and if i keep telling you all about my blog there would be no reason to visit it :)

    thanks, Dylan

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  9. Hi! I'm a brasilian student, and I love make cupcakes! I made its to sell in my college, and these are wonderful!!! Thanks to the secret! Kisses!

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  10. I made these this afternoon for a picnic and they were a big hit. The cake by itself is a bit bland but complements the frosting really nicely. And really, it's all about the frosting!

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  11. I just made these and they were bloody lovely! Thanks!! I think I'll top them with a little lemon buttercream. mmm

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  12. the boyfriend has been craving chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes the past couple of days... made this this evening, omg they are fantastic. he won't stop eating them. He's had 4 already!

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  13. The frosting is very yummy. We are allergic to dairy and corn, so I made my own powdered sugar from cane juice crystals and used almond milk and it worked great!

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~Garrett