Sugar High Friday #41 - Sweet Gifts - Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Cupcakes

Here we are again. You, me. More cupcakes. I know, I know, what's with all the cupcakes? Well, I'm not done yet. There will be more... just wait. I've discovered about myself over the past few years that my sweet tooth goes in cycles. The craving that pops up at the most random times though is for cupcakes. The last batch I made ended up reminding me of my favorite birthday cake growing up. As far as I can remember, from my 11th birthday on, I always asked for Devil's Food with cream cheese frosting. It was always from a box and a can of frosting. The Red Velvet cupcakes that I just made convinced me that I don't have to go back to the boxes. The frosting was amazing. So, now I find myself making cupcakes again already. Why do I warn that there will be more? Oh, because I saw another recipe that I know I have to try soon too for, yes, more cupcakes. This time, it goes back to the Devil's Food type of cake - anyway, that will just have to wait a little longer.

You see, Aidan still has an allergic reaction to too much dairy. Giving him a cupcake full of butter and lots of cream cheese and butter on top was just too much. So, since that is definately not a fair thing to do to a four-year old, here we are again. It actually works quite well, because the theme for this month's Sugar High Friday, the lovely event created by Jennifer, The Domestic Goddess, is Sweet Gifts, as chosen by this month's host, Danielle of Habeas Brulee.

So, this time around the cupcakes are one of Aidan's favorite combinations (along with a large population of the world I'm sure). They are Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Cupcakes. Long name, great treat. I've been eyeing this recipe for probably four years. I just never got around to making them until now. I've tried to make note of it below, but the only change I made to the original recipe I found in the magazine was to substitute the coffee with more buttermilk. First off, I'm not giving my crazed four-year old any amount of caffeine or enhancement that he can take out on me with his excess of energy to my lack thereof. Secondly, we just don't keep the stuff or drink it. Back in my previous life I'll admit to being an absolute caffeine and coffee fiend. However, too many headaches cured me of it, even though I am still jealous of those than can have it. I just jealously smell the fumes. So, if coffee is your cup of tea, so to speak, then by all means use it. That said, I don't really think it needed it at all. The cupcake texture was moist, perfect and very chocolately without it.

Danielle's idea was based around something you make for someone else and the story to go with it. I generally end up making everything with someone else in mind, so it was really fun to just think about doing something for someone. Since cupcakes were the order of the day, and Aidan is one of my favorite people to make a special treat for, this challenge was a natural fit. He is the best big brother to Cole in the whole entire world. He has handled all of the turmoil our lives have been thrown into for the past five months with amazing humor, patience and kindness towards "our baby." I think that a lot of kids really would have had the sibling rivalry amped up on them when their world gets rocked the way ours did. He has been a champ. A bored, sometimes frustrated champ. But a real champ none-the-less. He is such a good, good boy. We love both of our boys so much. I'm lucky to have them. So, here is a sweet gift for my sweetheart.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Cupcakes
(August/September 2004 Issue of Cooking Pleasures)

TRUFFLES
6 oz. white chocolate, chopped
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

CUPCAKES
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk (or ½ cup buttermilk & ½ cup strong coffee, cooled to room temperature)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

FROSTING
1/2 cup whipping cream
3.5 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

TRUFFLES
Place white chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium just until chocolate is soft; stir until smooth. Whisk in ¼ cup peanut butter until smooth.

Refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes or until firm. Using 1 tablespoon each, roll chocolate mixture into 12 (1-inch) balls; place on waxed paper-lined plate. Roll each ball in cocoa powder to coat completely. Freeze on lined plate 1 to 3 hours or until frozen solid. (Truffles can be frozen overnight.)

CUPCAKES
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with cupcake liners; spray bottom of liners with nonstick cooking spray. Sift flour, sugar, ½ cup cocoa powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl; combine with a whisk.

Place buttermilk, eggs and vanilla into a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed until blended. Reduce speed to medium-low; slowly beat in flour mixture. Add melted butter. Increase speed to medium-high; beat 2 minutes.

Divide batter equally among muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full.

Gently drop frozen truffle into center of each batter-filled cup. Do not push truffle into batter (it will sink during baking).

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpicks inserted in centers come out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely.

FROSTING
Place cream in small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove pan from heat. Place chopped chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir with a whisk to combine. Add 4 tablespoons peanut butter, the corn syrup, and the vanilla; stir until smooth. Place the bowl in an ice bath and keep stirring to cool to room temperature. Place mixture into a mixing bowl, or using a handheld mixture, whip the confectioner's sugar into the frosting until lighter. It will still be thick, just not as "ganache" like. Top each cupcake as desired.