Vanilla Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting

I love chocolate and peanut butter, it's the best combo in the world.  I thought if I like chocolate and peanut butter so much, I bet vanilla and peanut butter would be a great combo as well.  I was right.  I made vanilla peanut butter cup cupcakes with peanut butter frosting.  Yummy.  I put a miniature peanut butter cup in the bottom of each cupcake liner, filled it with vanilla batter and frosted with peanut butter frosting when cooled.  Extra yummy.  I have found a new love and it's name is peanut butter frosting !!  Where have you been all my life?  Can you believe this was my first encounter with peanut butter frosting? I can guarantee it won't be my last. 

Isn't this pretty !!  I was practicing my frosting roses !!  I love, love, love them.

Hello peanut butter cup, I see you down there just waiting to be eaten.

Vanilla Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting

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Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

4 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

24 mini peanut butter cups



Peanut butter frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons milk, or as needed

2 cups confectioners sugar


Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  Place one mini peanut butter cup into each paper liner; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts; beat until ingredients are incorporated.


Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.


Frosting Directions:
Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes.

Once your vanilla cupcakes have cooled, frost with your peanut butter frosting.  Use any remaining peanut butter cups to garnish cupcakes.