I have been mad about sweets lately. Notably cupcakes. Notably chocolate brownie cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Mind you, I haven’t been eating them. Even when I make them I haven’t been eating them (except the eensiest weensiest taste to make sure the frosting was acceptable.
You want the recipe, don’t you? Oh come on, say yes.
Here’s something that makes my heart happy. The prettiest most delicate cupcake liner as a start
which I filled with my recipe for Gluten-Free Brownie Moelleux, and baked for a little less time, maybe about 18 minutes for the first batch, 15 for the second. The knife came out clean, but to be honest – it wouldn’t have mattered if it hadn’t. That’s what moelleux is all about, baby.
It made 17 cupcakes.
I would like to make your life easy and say 18, but I just couldn’t stretch it far enough. So it was 17.
Miam! (that means “yum” in French).
And now for the coup de grace. (Or the fall from grace by French standards because it involves peanut butter and they don’t even consider that fit for human consumption). The frosting.
Take 100 grams of butter (7 tablespoons) and a cup of peanut butter and whip that together.
Add a teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of large-grain sea salt. You heard me. A whole teaspoon. You’ll think you’re eating salted peanut butter caramel that’s been whipped into a frenzied cloud.
Add in alternance 2 cups of confectioner sugar and 1/3 cup milk.
Et voila.
Now if you’re a dolt like me, you’ll appreciate the following tutorial for using a decorating bag.
First, you have to put one of the pieces inside the bag.
Then you cut off the excess plastic til the piece slides right to the end of the plastic bag.
Choose your end and put it inside the bolt, and then screw that ensemble on to the piece inside the plastic bag. This makes your bag leak-free. (And is really the only way to do it, which any sensible person will know. No one would try it any other way and squirt frosting on the wall in an overzealous, geyser, for instance). Psshhht.
Pose the ensemble in a tall glass
and fill it with good and forbidden things (you’ve already had your licks)
then clip it with something glamorous if you want to avoid having icky messy hands.
And go to town!
Screeeeeeeech.
Tutorial ends here. Okay why does my frosting look like poop?
Oh, I know. I can call it “Paris Sidewalks.”
Do you think I might have used the wrong end or something? Maybe I needed one with teeth? Or maybe I’m just nul (French word for loser) at decorating?
Let’s just get off our baking high horse and take out the spatula.
Aah there. Much better.
But I promise you it was a hit.
Good. Delectably good.
Recipe:
Makes enough frosting for 17 cupcakes
(and one lick to make sure it tastes good. Maybe two licks to double-check).
100 grams of unsalted butter, or 7 tablespoons
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon large grain sea salt
2 cups confectioner sugar
1/3 cup milk
Andi says
Yum! Thanks for sharing – love the photos!
dusty earth mother says
Those… look… dreamy. By the way, I ate that entire box of chocolates you gave me in three days. THREE. days.
ladyjennie says
Aw – I would have eaten them in two.
Hopper says
I love the pictures!! Whoever shot them is very talented! Could it be your hubby? If it’s you…I’m IMPRESSED-you have a GREAT talent!
ladyjennie says
It was me (blush)! We have a good camera on auto focus, so that helps. I don’t even have to edit or photoshop (although sometimes I probably should).
Jessica D Torres says
These cupcakes sound delicious. I love sea salt caramels so I imagine I would also love sea salt and peanut butter. I will have to try these the next time I am in a baking mood.
Stacia says
Miam! You had me at chocolate and peanut butter. I don’t suppose Europe is big on Reese’s peanut butter cups, either? Damn. I’m doomed.
(And I thought they looked like poop, too, but wasn’t going to say anything. Thanks for the laugh!)
ladyjennie says
They do look like it, don’t they? Our local store got Reese’s peanut butter cups as a specialty item but my spoiled children thought it was awful. (spoiled by consistently good french chocolates). My son was wiping his tongue to get rid of the taste.
citymouse says
They look yummy either way! I adore chocolate and peanut butter together.
Carole says
Too funny!
I don’t dare make these, because I’d eat them all, but I want those cupcake liners!
The photo of your daughter is fantastic.
ladyjennie says
I got those liners in Michaels while in the States. So you have easier access to them than I do. They don’t sell those here (or at least not easy to find, and rarely decorated). My husband shot the photo of my daughter, as he does most of the family portraits. I did the rest though. 🙂
ModernMom says
Oh they look fabulous! I am writing the icing recipe down now! (and yes, you just needed to use a different tip…with “teeth”)
Mrs.Mayhem says
I am definitely going to make a batch of these! Yum! Thank you for the hilarious tutorial. Loved it.
liz says
I have never heard of PB frosting, but it makes sense! Why NOT include the wonderment of peanut butter as a topping to a cupcake?!
Marinka says
OMG, they look insanely good! And yes, like poop! What am I saying?!
Rach says
Just came across your blog via SITS and I’m so glad I did! What a beautiful blog! And I love your story about how you and your husband met and fell in love. How beautiful! You made a gorgeous bride, too! 🙂
Those cupcakes look delightful and I just love the cupcake liners! Precious!
joann mannix says
Oh My. Oh My. Peanut butter and chocolate are my absolute favorite combination. I die for peanut butter pie. This looks heavenly. My daughter came in the room and was reading over my shoulder and said, “Oh Mom, we have to make those!” And we will. Salty and sweet. Peanut butter and chocolate. Thank you so, so much.
And how could you not eat one? You are a strong woman.
mep says
My mouth is watering. I have had an almost constant craving for peanut butter since my Sweet P was born ten months ago. I will be making this frosting soon and think my boys would enjoy it if I piped it turd-style.
Tracie says
They don’t eat peanut butter in France? I am all sorts of sad now.
But just thinking about those yummy cupcakes is making me happy. I would not have near the self control that you seem to have….and it is very possible that I could eat an entire batch by myself.
Tammy says
That sounds so good! I am going to save that recipe because it looks so easy and I usually have all those ingredients.
Thanks for stopping by from SITS the other day. I love making new friends! Enjoy! 😉
Homschlr4ever says
Why does everyone post something I so want to eat but shouldn’t? notice I didn’t say can’t – diabetic but there are ways around that – don’t tell my doctor, wait you’re in France – HA. I’m making these tonight. My students will love them as will my daughters. I have to say though the decorating bag made the frosting look like, what Rue (my baby pit bull) does sometimes so I’ll stick with just smearing it on.
I’ve really enjoyed your blog and thanks for introducing Marinka. You both give me a laugh and really that’s all I ask for in my life.
Mom says
Do you know how uncanny it is to see a variation of your youthful face in that of my granddaughter’s? She looks so much like you used to!
Adrienne says
Those look yummy! Your pics are excellent! Thanks for coming by and leaving the diet advice. I agree that diet would help. I struggle with that as a parent. My kids are SUPER picky eaters! Doesn’t it always seem the kids that need certain foods are always the picky ones?? My nephew(who has no behavior problems) loves salad! Go figure!
Jana@AnAttitudeAdjustment says
They look great! I’ve been making red velvet cupcakes lately and would like to try more varieties. It’s interesting–it seems I can avoid eating cupcakes (besides the one I have after I finish them) more than cookies. So maybe they’re the best bet. I make them and them give them away. Cookies, on the other hand…. Those I keep. (Which doesn’t help my muffin-top.)
Carole, Terry's friend. Now retired in Maine says
Hi Jenny,
Terry told me about your bog and I love it! You are very talented. Also enjoy seeing your darling “babies” as they grow.
I love to, laugh, too, and whenever Terry & I and the spouses are together, we do a lot of that.
Hugs, Carole
MommaKiss says
So your “screeeetch” made me giggle!!! Paris Sidewalks, nice. We have a kiddo w/ a peanut allergy and selfishly I soooo miss peanut butter! These look heavenly.