When the cold weather starts to bite, I start to bake. I don’t know why. The Christmas-ness of it, I guess.
See evidence A:
Erm, yes. My stove really is THAT dirty. Unfortunately the cold weather doesn’t make me want to CLEAN.
Friday night I dragged Libbie out in the cold to Target, to which I had a gift card, so I could buy baking supplies. A cart full of butter, eggs, oats, M&Ms, chocolate chips, and a size 18 month shirt later, I was back at home and tucked Libbie in. Then I was tired. Heh.
I did make Crystal’s Lazy Granola on Friday and then called it a night.
But Saturday I was back in the kitchen with a vengeance and started to attack these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes.
I followed the cake recipe exactly, so I’m not going to repost it here–you can see it at that link. It is a very tasty chocolate cake recipe and the surprise peanut butter ball on the inside only adds extra goodness! I ended up only making 18 cupcakes rather than 24, but I think I filled the cups a little too full trying to cover the PB ball.
I forgot to get Cool Whip at the store so I had to improvise on the peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Here’s what I did.
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 T butter, softened
2/3 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted or whisked
With a electric mixer, whip the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until well mixed. Add peanut butter. With mixer on low, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until you reach desired consistency.
(Make sure you refrigerate anything you make with cream cheese frosting, of course!)
I didn’t have any tools with which to pipe the frosting on nicely, but they still taste pretty darn good. The frosting is heavenly. These 12 are all sitting nicely in my Wilton cupcake/cake carrier, ready to go to work tomorrow. To a party for me. Because I don’t have anyone to feed them to here, and I’m not going to eat them all by myself!
Linked to Mouthwatering Mondays, Tasty Tuesday, and Cupcake Tuesdays.
I don't think most people always have their stove tops clean. Don't sweat the little stuff, Jess.
Amen to Jennie! I'm finding myself baking lately too. (not cleaning either) I made sugar cookies with frosting, then sat down to eat the frosting. Holiday traditions at their best.
That Peanut butter frosting just sounds so delicious!
So much to do it's hard to keep up with Christmas around the corner.
vickie
Those sound and look soooo good! And puh-leeze. My stove is almost always crazy filthy. (CanNOT believe I just said that…)
The cupcakes were AWESOME! A new personal favorite. We are going to miss your sweet contributions around here Jessie.
Oh yum, chocolate and peanut butter!!!
Just wanted to let you know I am hosting a Holiday Treats week this week and will be posting a new recipe everyday, hope you stop by to check it out and maybe link up some of your holiday treats like these.
My kitchen looked identical just the other day after baking 2 different kinds of Christmas cookies – I wish I had taken some pictures! Thank goodness for my husband, who's pretty good about cleaning up after my baking episodes. Because if it were up to me, we'd be in trouble!
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese frosting?? Be still my heart!
Those look fabulous!! Thanks so much for the visit to my blog. 
I wish I had one of these to try! That frosting sounds sooo yummy!
I hope you'll link up at my Christmas Recipe event this Thursday!
Amazing! I love chocolate and peanut butter together! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Cupcake Tuesday!
Merry Christmas!
~Liz
Your cupcakes look amazing! I would love to come over and eat a few with you since I can't make them at home, my kiddos are allergic to peanuts
Such a bummer!
Visitng from Sweet Tooth Friday!
~Rachel @ cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com
Chocolate and peanut is one of my favorite flavor combination. Those look extra yummy.
Chocolate and peanut butter are a great combo!