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. 





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.