Peanut butter cupcakes

Peanut butter cupcakes, need I say more? are you hooked already?

I can't imagine anyone disliking peanut butter apart from the people with nut allergies, I apologies but let me tell you; you are missing out. Let's just not talk about the fact my dad doesn't like it, although he does like satay sauce but I didn't think to get him to try one of these, and my sister doesn't like the peanut butter/chocolate combination, talk about blasphemy!

When I first found this recipe I couldn't wait to try it, although I spend a lot of time looking at food and recipes I'd never actually seen a peanut butter cupcake recipe, maybe I've just been blind for years but low and behold some genius blessed us with this creation. 

Recipe modified from the Primrose Bakery

75g butter/margarine
130g smooth peanut butter
190g dark soft brown sugar
2 free-range eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
120g plain flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
60ml milk of your choosing at room temperature

For the Icing
Butter
Icing sugar
Cocoa powder
Milk

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 and line or grease a muffin tray.
Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar until well incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time ensuring each is well mixed in, then stir in the vanilla.
Combine the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add one third of the flour mixture and beat well, then add one third of the milk and beat again. Repeat the steps until all the flour and milk are mixed in.
Spoon the mixture into the cases, filling them roughly two-thirds full.
Bake for 20 minutes until slightly raised and golden brown, a skewer or toothpick should come out clean.
Makes 12 cupcakes

The Icing
When I make my icing (especially chocolate) I usually just make it up and never measure it out, maybe one day I will remember and come up with the ultimate taste sensation in icing, but here is a rough guide.
Put a few heaped spoonfuls of butter in a bowl add icing sugar until sweet then add a few spoonfuls of cocoa powder and a splash of milk (I'm not talking about a reservoir, just a small partially dried up lake) you may then need to add more of one or more ingredients. Dip your finger in as many times as you need until it tastes just right.
If you're a little lost or not so sure, just google chocolate icing I'm sure there are multiple wondrous concoctions out there.

 Sit on the sofa, put your feet up and enjoy your peanut buttery goodness! just try not to drop crumbs everywhere!