These decadent confections are crowned with a sumptuous, peanut-butter-forward frosting to create the ultimate sweet ending to your autumnal gathering in the library.
Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting
Serves: 20
Ingredients
- ¼ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup boiling water
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting (recipe follows)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line 20 wells of a 24-well mini muffin pan with mini baking cups.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and ½ cup boiling water until cocoa dissolves and mixture is smooth.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar at high speed with a mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Beat in cocoa mixture at low speed until incorporated.
- Using a levered 1-tablespoon scoop, portion batter into prepared wells of muffin pan.
- Bake until a wooden pick inserted in centers of cupcakes comes out clean, approximately 12 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely before removing from pan.
- Place Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large open-star tip (Wilton #1M). Pipe a frosting rosette onto each cupcake.
- Serve immediately, or place in an airtight container, refrigerate, and serve within 3 days. Let come to room temperature before serving.
Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting
Serves: makes 1½ cups
For peanut butter lovers, this dreamy and luscious topping, containing the legume in the form of chips and a spread, is the pièce de résistance.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces peanut butter chips, melted and cooled
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅜ cup creamy peanut butter
- ⅜ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat together melted peanut butter chips, cream cheese, and peanut butter with a mixer at medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
- In another medium bowl, vigorously whisk cream until soft peaks form. Beat cream mixture into peanut butter mixture at medium-low speed just until combined. Use immediately.
