Award Winning PB Brownie Cupcakes!

What do you do when your husband emails you that there is going to be a bake-off competition at his work?

I know what I do.

My competitive bone comes out and I get to business making award winning treats!

Here is Part 1 What You'll Need:

- 1 package of Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownies

- Peanut Butter cups

- 3 eggs

- 1/4 cup water

- 1/2 cup oil

Mix ingredients according to the brownie package instructions, excluding the pb cups.

Preheat your oven to 350º

Place liners in your cupcake tin.

Fill each liner a little over 1/2 way with brownie mix

Place 1 Peanut Butter cup face down in the batter.

Gently push it into the batter until mostly covered or it hits the bottom.

Bake approximately 24 minutes, check for done-ness periodically as different ovens cook at varying rates.

Remove and place on wire rack to cool.

So we already have brownies with a wonderful hidden surprise, but I think we need to add a little extra something!

How does Peanut Butter Frosting sound?

That's what I thought!!!

Here is Part 2 of What You'll Need:

- 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 1/4 cup butter softened (ignore my 2 sticks, I was making a double batch)

- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

- 3 tablespoons milk

-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

- 1/8 teaspoon salt

Beat the butter and peanut butter together until smooth.

Add remaining 4 ingredients and mix until you feel the need to eat it all by itself smooth

Place your frosting in a piping bag, or if you don't have one a large ziplock bag will work fine.

(If using a ziplock bag, cut the corner off)

Now pipe your frosting onto each brownie.

It'll look something like this...

As if this wasn't enough peanut butter and chocolate...we still need to make these just a bit sweeter!

It's time to add some chocolate ganache (a glorified term for, in this case, a thick chocolate syrup)

Here is Part 3 of What You'll Need:

- At least 4oz of bittersweet chocolate cut into small pieces (I recommend 8 oz, in the event your ganache is not thick enough you can gradually add more chocolate to get the desired consistancy)

- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

- 2 tablespoons honey

- 2 tablespoons vanilla

-2 tablespoons light Karo syrup

Over medium heat...

...pour your whipping cream into small sauce pan and heat until almost boiling, but don't boil.

Pour cream over chocolate and allow to sit for 5 minutes.

Slowly whisk chocolate and cream together.

Now whisk in the honey, Karo, and vanilla.

Allow to sit for 15 minutes.

If the desired consistency is not reached gradually add more chocolate.

Once desired consistency is met...

Drizzle ganache over peanut butter frosting.

And now for the finishing touch.

You can use either regular small peanut butter cups or if you find these mini pb cups use these.

Garnish each treat with one!

Isn't it the prettiest thing ever?

Look at that.

Aren't you drooling...

Well fortunate for me they were a hit.

Out of 30 entries, one of which was from a spouse who runs a bakery, I came in 3rd!

Here is the picture of the bronze whisk I was awarded!

It's hanging on my fridge to remind me that baking makes me happy!

So after Butterfinger Cookies and these Reese's Brownie Cupcakes, I think I'm off to a good start on incorporating the candy aisle into baked goods...

What will we come up with next?!

I hope you have A Blessed Tuesday!