Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

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I have a problem.  I am addicted to pinterest and all of the wonderful blogs out there. 

Don't act surprised.  I know it isn't a secret and that you probably already figured it out.  You are a smart bunch!

I spend a lot of time browsing all of the absolutely gorgeous sweets I see and my mouth waters.  Sometimes I see something and I know I want it.  I have to bake it.  It can't go on my "To Bake" list - I have to bake it NOW!

That's how I felt when I saw the Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting on the Brown Eyed Baker.  I have to have it NOW!

Yum - dark chocolate and peanut butter.  One of my favorite flavor combinations.  The cupcake recipe is from Cook's Illustrated and the frosting is from Barefoot Contessa.  I was a little apprehensive though.  I looked at the recipes, the cupcakes seemed yummy, but the frosting, I was worried that the peanut butter would be overpowering.  I have never made peanut butter frosting before.

Would it be overpowering???

Nope - it was perfect.  So creamy.  I almost ate all of the frosting and said forget the cupcakes.  But that doesn't make for a good blog entry :).  I frosted the cupcakes with tip 1M.  This is definitely my favorite tip for cupcakes.  It gives you that wonderful swirl.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Frosting (Recipe from Barefoot Contessa at Home)

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used Jiff)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

- Cream confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer.
- Mix on medium-low speed until creamy.
- Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

This post may be shared with: Flour Me With Love - Mix It Up Monday, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Reason To Skip The Housework - Tuesday Timeout, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Made Famous By - Famous Linkz Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, The Kings Court 4 - What's Cooking Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta, Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Tidy Mom - I'm Lovin' It Friday, Dwell On Joy - Dwell On Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, The Country Cook - Weekend Potluck, Mama Mias Heart 2 Heart - Sharing Saturday, Sweet As Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday, Country Momma Cooks - Saturday Link & Greet, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo - Crafting Cooking From The Heart Contest

Oreo Truffles

Happy New Year!!  I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is settling into the new year.  I can't believe 2011 is over, but I am looking forward to 2012.  I started blogging late in 2011 and I am really enjoying myself.  I enjoy the community of bloggers, all of the amazing recipes I have found, sharing my creations and failures, and all of my readers and your comments.  Thank you! 

Did you make any resolutions?  I am not really going to make any resolutions.  I won't write them down anyway.  But I would like to improve on my photography this year and I would like for my husband to finish our basement :).  The basement has been an ongoing project for several years.  I know if I would let him go down there for a month straight he would finish it but when he is home I usually want him around!

Question for you - Do you like Oreos? Stupid question right? Who doesn't love Oreos? Well, my son, Alex, doesn't but that is a story for another day. I found these Oreo truffles on the Kraft Recipes website and they looked yummy and easy- perfect combination!  I was a little apprehensive.  I have never made truffles before but this is one experiment that I loved.  Loved making them and loved eating them.  I think they came out great.  Might be the easiest recipe you come across.


Oreo Truffles

1 16 ounce package Oreo Cookies, finely crushed
1 8 ounce package Cream Cheese, softened
16 ounces of semi sweet chocolate, melted

1.  Place Oreos in a ziploc bag and crush until fine.  I used a rolling pin and then a mallet.  I need a food processor!
2.  Combine 3 cups of the Oreos and softened cream cheese. Blend using spatula or spoon until creamy.
3.  Shape into balls.  I used a small scoop to get uniform sized balls.
4.  Chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
5.  Melt chocolate.  I melted mine in a double boiler and then transferred to a bowl that made dipping easier.  Dip balls in melted chocolate and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle with remaining Oreo crumbs.
6.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.  Enjoy!!

This post may be shared with: Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Clairejustineoxox - Creative Mondays, Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday, Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday, Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Inside Bru Crew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday, Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party, Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday, Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday, Food Corner - Midweek Fiesta, Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday, Talking Dollars and Cents - Sweet Temptations, Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday, Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays, Alli-n-Son - Sweet Tooth Friday, Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Are you ready for Christmas?  Is your list done?  You better hurry!!!  Here is another Christmas cupcake.  Easy peasy and great for a party.  I made chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla buttercream.  I tinted the buttercream with Americolor Forest Green gel.  I piped the frosting on the cupcakes with tip 1M.  I just piped the frosting up higher to look like a tree.  I used CakeMate Celebration sprinkles for the decorations and Wilton Gingerbread House candy for the stars.  Easy and delicious!! 

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
JDaniel4's Mom- Christmas Traditions Link Up

Holly Cupcakes

Are you going crazy like me??  Only 6 more days until Christmas and I still have a lot to do!  Of course I am baking a lot more now because of the holiday and will be trying to post everything this week.  I am going to keep the posts short and sweet for us :).

I saw these cupcakes on The Seven Year Cottage blog.  They are so cute and festive!  You use green gum sticks for the holly leaves and a red gumball for the holly berry.  I made chocolate cupcakes and topped them with chocolate buttercream.  I used my new large french tip to frost them.  This is the first time I used this tip and I liked it a lot.  Can't wait to use it again.  Only problem I had with these cupcakes was finding green gum!  I couldn't remember the color of the different types of gum so I tried 3 different kinds and none were that green!!  I ended up using Wrigley's Extra Spearmint which was the gum I liked the best out of the three I tried.  It wasn't the greenest, but it was the best width and color.  These were great cupcakes to bring to my Christmas party.  So festive.  Enjoy!!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
Something Swanky - Sweet Treat Thursday

Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies - Frosting For The Cause

Today I am excited to guest post on the Frosting for the Cause blog, so head on over there to see the entire site and all of the women who are making a difference.!

When I stumbled upon the Frosting For The Cause blog I was inspired!  I love that by baking and sharing we are actually helping raise money and awareness.  I want to thank Paula for this amazing opportunity.  Like most people, I know several people who have been affected by cancer.  However, one holds a special place in my heart, a woman that I never met, my Dad's mom.  Even though I never got to meet her I love and feel deeply connected to her.  It is amazing how love can transcend anything, even not knowing someone.  I feel I do know her because I know my Dad.   She raised my Dad to be one of the best men that I know.  Cancer took her when my Dad was only 21 years old. 

Today I am baking Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies.  I love these cookies because they look a little underrated.  Maybe just some old chocolate cookies, but then you bite into them and taste the chocolate, mint and oat all at the same time.  Yum - I love it and I hope you do too!

Chocolate Mint Chip Oat Cookies (adapted from The Cookie Bible )

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup mint chips (I used Andes Creme De Menthe baking chips)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup uncooked oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F.  Line your cookies sheets with parchment paper.  Melt the chocolate chips in your microwave and set aside.  The chocolate can be thick and gooey.

In an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Then add melted chocolate, egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

Combine remaining dry ingrendients: flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  A little at a time add dry ingredients to the mixture and combine.

Now - stir in the mint chips by hand.  I usually don't beat them in the mixer, sometimes it breaks them down and we want them to be whole.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto your cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes.  Cool for only 1 minute on cookie sheets and them move to wire cooling racks.  Enjoy!

This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays

Brownie Bites

I saw these cute little Brownie Bites in Parents Magazine.  I have kind of been in a brownie mood and what would be better than brownies dipped in candy coating with sprinkles on top?  So off I go.

I lined my brownie pan with tin foil so that the tin foil hung over the edges of the pan (so I will be able to pull out the brownies later) and generously sprayed it with cooking spray.  Generously, aka, I soaked it.  I made my favorite boxed brownies and poured the batter into the brownie pan and baked per the package instructions.  Once they were cooled I removed the brownies from the pan by lifting the foil out.  I carefully wrapped the cooled brownies in another layer of tin foil, placed in a ziploc bag and put them in the freezer.  If the brownies are frozen they will be easier to cut.

I was planning on completing these the same day that I baked the brownies.  But something came up - I think this was the day that the school called me and told me to come get Alex because he had fallen and hurt his head.  Never a dull moment!!  No worries though he is ok and didn't need stitches.

Because the brownies were frozen I could wait until I was ready and a few days later I was so I melted my green candy melts.  The package says you can melt them in the microwave but I never have success with this method.  I always end up overheating them and then they get all thick and horrible so I use a double boiler and it works perfectly everytime. 

I took the brownies out of the freezer and cut them into bite size pieces.  I got a lot of pieces, probably about forty.  So I dutifully started dipping them in the candy coating.  I used forks to turn them and make sure they were coated.

While the candy coating was still wet I added some Christmas sprinkles.  I have to say that I did not enjoy making these :0 !  Yep I said it!!  You know this is an experiment and I can't guarantee I will like baking everything. Although I can guarantee I will like tasting everything I bake!  They tasted awesome but so much work dipping them in the candy coating - it got tedious for me.  So I am checking them off of my to bake list and moving on.  If you don't mind taking time to coat them and using forks to turn them around you would have no problem and should try them.  They did taste really good......maybe someday I will try again.  Maybe I was just tired from worrying about Alex's head!




This post may be shared with:
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays
JDaniel4's Mom- Christmas Traditions Link Up

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites

When I saw the Picky Palate Blog I was in love!  Jenny has a lot of amazing recipes.  I didn't find her blog on my own my friend, Amy, led me to it.  She wanted me to try Jenny's Festive Candy Cane Kiss Centered Brownie Bites.  They looked so good - they had to be difficult to make right?

Nope - not too hard!  I mixed up my favorite brownie mix according to the box instructions.  I greased my mini-muffin pan thoroughly.  Then I used a scoop to fill the pan about 3/4 full with brownie batter.  The brownies I used are really yummy - but lots of chocolate chunks.  Not ideal for this recipe.  I think it would be even easier if I used a smooth brownie mix which I will do next time.  And there will be a next time soon!

Then I inserted a Candy Cane Hershey Kiss into the brownie batter of each muffin tin.  This is where the chunks made it a little difficult.  See how I couldn't always get the kisses in straight and even?  But I forged on! 

I baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and let them cool completely.  I was worried because the kisses didn't go in as evenly as I hoped.  When they were done baking you could see some of the kisses poking out of the tops.

No worries though!  They are topped with a simple frosting.  And the frosting took care of my little eye sore!!  The frosting is just melted chocolate chips and heavy cream.  I used 1 Cup chocolate chips, melted them, added 4 Tablespoons of heavy cream, mixed together and then back in the microwave for 10 seconds - mix again.  I doubled the frosting recipe because we love frosting here but also because originally I only made one batch of frosting and it was not enough.  I got 40 brownie bites and that requires a lot of frosting!!  I just dipped the top of the brownie bites in the frosting.  Then as the Picky Palate suggested I crushed 3 candy canes and sprinkled them on top. You want the candy cane to be in small pieces, not dust but small bite size pieces.  I put mine in a ziploc bag and used our potato masher to smash them up (only the best baking tools are used in this kitchen!)  They taste so good.  You have to try it!

Shared With:

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms - Melt in Your Mouth Monday

Talking Dollars and Cents - Muffin Monday

Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Hugs and Cookies XO - Wonka Wednesday
Mrs Fox's Sweets - Sweet Party
Junk In Their Trunk - Link It Up Wednesday
Happy Hour Projects - Freestyle Friday
Toys In The Dryer - Fun Stuff Fridays

Turtle Bark

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My obsession with Bark continues.  I think what I love about it most is that it is so easy to make.  The hardest part is waiting for it to chill before you eat it.  I joined Danielle's at Hugs and Cookies XOXO Weekly Bake Along which you can find on her Facebook page.  This week the Bake Along was Caramel Pecan Bark - or Turtle Bark.  Yummy - I had to join!

I know the first time I made bark I used dark chocolate and decided I preferred milk chocolate.  But this recipe calls for dark chocolate so I gave it one more try - I am glad I did.  It is so delicious!

I prepared my 8x8 pan by lining it with parchment paper so the bark wouldn't stick to it.  I melted my dark chocolate chips in a double boiler and spread half of it in the pan.  Chilled it for 5 minutes and ready for the next layer which is caramel and pecans.  Is your mouth watering yet?

I didn't toast my pecans as the recipe says to do.  I love pecans the way they are and so I left them that way.  Now on to the caramel.  I was a little intimidated.  I have never made caramel or any candy and I had heard it was hard.  You must get it to a specific temperature - right?  I don't even own a candy thermometer (yet!).  But the recipe (see bottom of the post) sounded like something I could do - so what the heck!  This is an experiment you know :)

I put the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat and I was off.  It was a lot easier than I thought and when I was done I really did have caramel!  Much to my own amazement, not that hard!!

I don't know why the picture is sideways!!  If you know why it is doing this let me know!!


I took the bark out of the fridge, added a layer of caramel and pecans and put it back in the fridge.  One more layer of chocolate, then more caramel and pecans and voila!  You are done.  I did chill it after the final layer for quite awhile - say 30 minutes.  Which is an eternity when you are waiting to try it.  I loved it, in fact I am eating it right now :)


Turtle Bark - Recipe by Hugs and Cookies XOXO (slightly modified)

-16 oz dark chocolate chips
-1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons pecans (separated)

Caramel Filling:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 5 tablespoons heavy cream

1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.

2.  For the Caramel Filling (You can do this!):
Put sugar and water into a saucepan over medium low heat stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Increase heat to high using the handle of the pot to give the pot a swirl to keep the mixture moving.  Do not stir directly at this point.  The mixture will start to bubble when it turns medium amber in color (approximately 5-7 minutes), add the butter and heavy cream to the saucepan.  The mixture will bubble a lot!!  Whisk to combine.  Set aside and cool completely.  Reserve 2 tablespoons for topping.

3.  Pour half of the melted chocolate into your pan and smooth.  Place pan in refrigerator for at least 5 minutes. 

4.  Remove from refrigerator and pour all of caramel except 2 tablespoons into pan.  Gently sprinkle 1/2 cup of pecans onto the caramel and press into caramel lightly with your hand.  Place in refrigerator for 7-10 minutes. 

5.  Pour remaining chocolate on top and refrigerate for 20 minutes so the bark can set.

6.  When bark is set sprinkle top with 2 tablespoons of pecans.  Place your remaining 2 tablespoons of caramel in plastic sandwich bag.  Cut small corner of bag off and drizzle caramel over pecans.  Enjoy!!!

Shared With:

Sweetology - Tea Party Tuesday
Crazy for Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Junk in Their Trunk - Link it Up Wednesday
These Peas Taste Funny - Link It Up Thursday