PEANUT BUTTER LAVA FUDGE CUPCAKES

The softest, most tender chocolate cupcake ever, filled to the brim with luscious hot fudge sauce, frosted with whipped, fluffy peanut butter frosting and finished of with French chocolate sprinkles and a chocolate-covered pretzel.  This is a chocolate and peanut butter lover dream come true!

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE HOT FUDGE SAUCE:

•  5 oz (140g) finely chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
•  2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (1/2oz/ 15g) cocoa powder (I used Hershey's)
•  6 tablespoons light corn syrup
•  2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (1 1/8oz/ 32g) sugar
•  3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
•  3 tablespoons milk (use water instead for a darker chocolate taste)
•  Pinch of salt
•  1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4oz/ 21g) unsalted butter
•  1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

FOR THE CUPCAKES: (YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE YOUR FAVORITE CAKE MIX FOR A SHORTCUT)

•  1/2 cup (4oz/ 114g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
•  1 1/2 cups (10 1/2oz/ 298g) light brown sugar, packed
•  2 egg, at room temperature
•  1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  1/2 cup (1 1/2oz/ 42g) unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process*
•  1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
•  1/4 teaspoon salt
•  1 1/2 cups (6.4oz/ 180g) cake flour* (see note for substitution)
•  2/3 cups (5 1/3oz/ 150g) sour cream, at room temperature
•  3/4 cups (177ml) hot water (or coffee)*

PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING:

•  1 1/4 cups (10oz/ 283g) unsalted butter, softened but still slightly cool
•  1 1/3 cups (12 3/4oz/ 360g) creamy peanut butter*
•  3 tablespoons heavy cream
•  2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  Pinch of salt
•  2 1/4 cups (9oz/ 255g) confectioners sugar (sift if lumpy)

FOR GARNISH: (OPTIONAL)

•  16 to 17 storebought or homemade chocolate-covered pretzels*
•  Chocolate sprinkles, chopped peanuts or crushed pretzel, for garnish
•  1/2oz (15g) melted chocolate, for sticking garnish to the cupcake rim

INSTRUCTIONS
TO MAKE THE HOT FUDGE SAUCE: (COULD BE MADE UP TO 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE & REFRIGERATED)

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and !smooth, 1 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the cocoa until dissolved. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine together the corn syrup, sugar, cream, milk, and salt. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, whisk in the butter and vanilla. Cool the mixture slightly, about 2 minutes. Then whisk in the melted chocolate mixture until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly before using.

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 350F/180F. Line 2 cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl, if using a handheld mixer), whisk the butter on high speed until smooth.
3. Add the brown sugar and mix together until slightly lightened in color, about 3 minutes.
4. Scrape down the bowl, then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Add in the vanilla and continue mixing until lightened more in color and texture and looks fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl.
6. Add the cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and mix until well blended. Scrape down the bowl.
7. With the mixer on lowest speed, add one-third of the flour, followed by half of the sour cream, then mix to blend. Then add the second third of the flour, followed by the rest of the sour cream, mix again. End with the remaining flour and mix just until combined. Scrape the bowl as needed.
8. With the mixer running on medium low speed, drizzle in the hot water (or coffee) and mix until very smooth, about 1 minute. Batter will be very thin and soupy.
9. Portion the batter evenly among the cupcake liners (I like to use a 3 tablespoon measure ice cream scoop) until 2/3 full.
10. Bake until the tops spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes clean or with a few cooked crumbs attached, 16 to 17 minutes. Start checking after 15 minutes. The cupcakes might deflate slightly after they come out of the oven, but should NOT look sunken. If the do sink, that means they were underbaked. They should have slightly domed tops.
11. Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before filling and frosting.
12. While the cupcakes are baking and cooling, make the frosting (instructions below)

Read more please visit : cleobuttera.com

Share this post