Last week, my little man turned two. I think I was almost more excited about his second birthday than I was his first. Something about the fact he was able to understand and look forward to the big day made it all the more fun. For the days leading up to it, he would say "Birthday- coming up!" He even walked around practicing singing Happy Birthday to himself. And when asked what he was going to get for his birthday, he'd answer "Cake!" We're not big cake eaters, but I knew I couldn't deny him some kind of birthday cake.
For his actual birthday, I made his very favorite dinner, homemade pizza topped with his favorite vegetable, mushrooms. I was all set to make pumpkin cupcakes for dessert, but last minute I began to worry that the others joining us for dinner wouldn't care for them. With limited time, I had to find a recipe that I could make with what I had on hand. That ended up being peanut butter cupcakes specked with coarsely chopped bittersweet chips and topped with peanut butter buttercream. I'm pretty glad I changed my mind, because these were so awesome!
1/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup creamy or chunky natural peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
1/4 cup bittersweet chips, coarsely chopped (or mini chips would work well too)
1/3 cup creamy or chunky natural peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
1/4 cup bittersweet chips, coarsely chopped (or mini chips would work well too)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tin with cupcake liners.
In a stand mixer, beat together butter and peanut butter at medium speed until smooth. Beat in sugars until well mixed. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a seperate bowl. Add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in chocolate pieces until mixed well.
Spoon batter into cupcake liners, filling 2/3 full. Bake 23-25 minutes, or until cupcakes spring back when touched and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for ten minutes. Remove cupcakes to rack and cool completely.
Peanut Butter Buttercream, from Martha Stewart
2/3 cup natural creamy peanut butter (I used crunchy and it was fine)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
Fine salt (optional- I actually forgot all about it)
Cream peanut butter and butter together with a stand mixture fitted with the paddle attachment at high speed. On low speed, mix in the sugar until combined, then beat mixture on high until fluffy and smooth. Add salt to taste, if desired. Use immediately.
*This recipe is supposed to yield 1 cup. I would say it was closer to twice that.
I garnished mine with milk chocolate shavings. I think a small peanut butter cup would be great too!
And now, just because I like to show off my super cute kid, here's some pictures from his birthday trip to the The Lowry Park Zoo. We had a group of 17, which included 6 little ones, for a chilly but really fun day.
Prior to leaving, opening a gift from his cousin.
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
Fine salt (optional- I actually forgot all about it)
Cream peanut butter and butter together with a stand mixture fitted with the paddle attachment at high speed. On low speed, mix in the sugar until combined, then beat mixture on high until fluffy and smooth. Add salt to taste, if desired. Use immediately.
*This recipe is supposed to yield 1 cup. I would say it was closer to twice that.
I garnished mine with milk chocolate shavings. I think a small peanut butter cup would be great too!And now, just because I like to show off my super cute kid, here's some pictures from his birthday trip to the The Lowry Park Zoo. We had a group of 17, which included 6 little ones, for a chilly but really fun day.
Prior to leaving, opening a gift from his cousin. 
Checking out the Orangutans
Taking a carousel ride with Nana 
Watching the Mama Rhino doing laps 
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