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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Creamy Nutella Frosting

I first had this frosting when I was at a baby shower and they were so delicious that I obsessed about them for weeks until I finally came up with an excuse to make the frosting myself! It's so simple and yummy. I obviously went with a whole "chocolate overload" thing because in my book, you can never have too much chocolate. However, this frosting would be great on a ton of different things, so go ahead and whip up a batch!
Creamy Nutella Frosting

Creamy Nutella Frosting Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup Nutella
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
*(2 Tbl heavy whipping cream)

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar on low until well blended. Add Nutella and mix well. Add vanilla and salt until incorporated. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.
* The original recipe called for 2 Tablespoons of whipping cream. It would make the frosting lighter and fluffier, but I didn't have any whipping cream on hand and I was in such desperate need to satisfy my craving that time could not be spared to go to the store to pick some up. If you want a fluffier texture versus a creamy texture then go ahead and add the whipping cream at the end and beat  for 2 minutes until the frosting gets fluffy and lighter in color.

This made enough frosting for me to decorate 24 cupcakes like the one in the picture with enough frosting left over for a couple more cupcakes! Since I only had 24 cupcakes nothing was to be done except just eat the frosting--plain. It would be good with strawberries or graham crackers though.

If you want the chocolate garnish on top just melt some chocolate chips in a ziploc and then take a tiny snip off the corner of the bag. Drizzle on top.

recipe adapted from kitchentreaty

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes


The first time I made these they were for a Harry Potter Party and we dubbed them "cauldron cakes." Since then, they've been a star at whatever event I make them for. They have a miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cup baked into the middle of each cupcake! YUM! But, the frosting is still probably the best part, and is so easy to swirl on to cupcakes. You'll look so talented! Easy Peasy. These cupcakes are from a Cake Mix, but you could be ambitious and make it from scratch.

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes



Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients-

Chocolate Cake Mix or your favorite recipe
Miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Frosting Ingredients-

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, don't use old-fashioned or natural brand
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
1 pinch table salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon heavy cream (I just used skim milk)


Directions:
Make cupcake mix. Drop an unwrapped Reese's Miniature into each cupcake. Bake as directed. Let cool completely.
Frosting-
Mix butter and peanut butter at medium-high speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar and salt; mix, about 45 seconds. Add vanilla and heavy cream (or whatever milk you have), and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.

Top with miniature chocolate chips, chocolate syrup drizzle, or quartered Reese's Miniatures. (or all 3. I won't tell...)


Frosting Recipe-
http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-peanut-butter-buttercream-frosting-172801#ixzz1RvhAvbWs