Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

My father-in-law has a peanut butter sandwich every day for lunch so when his 86th birthday was this weekend I knew what kind of sweet I would be making him.  We got to spend a nice weekend together at the beach.  I used my usual go to chocolate cake recipe from www.hersheys.com.  The chocolate/peanut butter combination was perfect.  

Ingredients: (makes 12 cupcakes, double recipe to make a full batch of 24)
Cupcakes
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup + 6 tbsp all purpose flour
6 tbsp Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water
36 mini Reese's peanut butter cups (24 chopped and 12 for garnish)

Frosting
1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 cup peanut butter (not chunky)
4 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream

Ganache
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp light corn syrup

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tin with 12 paper wrappers.  Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add egg, milk, oil and vanilla extract.  Beat on medium speed for two minutes.  Stir in boiling water.  Batter will be very thin.

Pour batter into paper liners about 3/4 full.  Cut 24 mini peanut butter cups in 1/2.  Put 4 pieces into each cupcake liner.

Bake cupcakes for 15-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the cake part comes out clean.  While cupcakes are cooling you can make the frosting.

In medium mixing bowl beat softened butter and peanut butter until combined.  Add confectioners sugar and heavy cream and mix until desired consistency is reached.  Add more heavy cream if necessary.  Pour into piping bag and frost cupcakes as desired.

Make ganache by putting heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl and heating on high for 1 minute. Immediately stir in chocolate chips and stir until melted.  Add 1 tbsp corn syrup and stir until smooth and shiny.  Drizzle over top of  cupcakes.

Top cupcakes with mini peanut butter cup.

Enjoy!!



Linked at: http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com, http://www.ducksnarow.com/, http://momstestkitchen.com/, http://thenymelrosefamily.com/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com, http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/, http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/, http://www.mostlyhomemademom.com/, http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/, http://www.thejennyevolution.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com, http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/, http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/