Saturday, May 11, 2013

Reese's & Banana GRADUATION CAPcakes


IT'S GRADUATION WEEKEND!!! A big congratulations to my 3L friends -- YOU DID IT! I'm so proud of you guys. Make sure you don't forget me when you're all hotshot lawyers :) In honor of your big day, I made treats (shocker, right??). Now go out there and do great things (while munching on one of these sweet treats)!
CONGRATULATIONS!








What you'll need for...

the Cupcakes: 
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 overripe bananas
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup flour
- 12 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups


the Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting:


- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1-2 tbsp milk 

- 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Graduation Cap Toppers:
- 12 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- 12 squares of chocolate [about two bars]






How you make...

the Cupcakes:

Start by preheating the over to 350 degrees. Then beat together the peanut butter, bananas, and the sugar until creamy. Mix in the vegetable oil, eggs, buttermilk, and baking soda. Next, gradually mix in the flour until batter is formed. Line a muffin tin and place an unwrapped Reese's Cup in the bottom of each cup and pour batter over each Reese's Cup. Bake the cupcakes for 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool on a wire rack.


the Frosting:

Meanwhile, use a stand mixer and whisk together the peanut butter and the butter. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and the cocoa. Add the vanilla and the milk in between the powdered sugar to help keep the consistency smooth (only adding as much milk as needed for desired consistency, make sure that you don't add it all at once). Then frost the cupcakes!

the Toppers:

Open and remove all packaging. Cut the bars of chocolate into square pieces. Use a lighter to melt the center of the square just a little and quickly affix the reese's cup to the square. Repeat until all of the caps are made! Refrigerate to allow them to harden. Then place them on the top of cupcake and VIOLA! HAPPY GRADUATION!!!