This is my current favourite and by far, the most-produced cupcake combination in the kitchen, and I finally felt a need to blog about them. The very first chocolate and peanut butter combination came from here (pardon the quality of those photos heh), which is also a cupcake, but has a different cake recipe. It's a bit more troublesome as it uses the traditional "whip-the-butter-and-sugar" route. The second combination came from here, which is a layered cake with jam and peanut butter I made for my friend's birthday - and that is the combination I've stuck with ever since.
The chocolate cake is my current favourite chocolate cake base recipe - making it is super easy as it's a one-bowl recipe. Texture wise, it's heavier and richer than a genoise so it holds fillings well but not too overwhelmingly rich that makes you sick of the cake after a few mouthfuls. The use of a good-quality cocoa powder really helps to bring out the chocolatey note in these cupcakes.
I love filled cupcakes as it makes cupcakes so much more interesting. Imagine the surprise when you find that there's something hidden inside the cupcake! Fillings add in a whole new dimension of flavour and also help to keep the cupcakes moist. I've filled them with strawberry jelly, cream cheese frosting, chocolate mousse etc. I'm thinking of an exotic flavour to fill them in the next time, maybe sesame?
And if you love peanut butter, this frosting is definitely something to die for. I love it because I can control the amount of sweetness with salt (I love peanut butter that is more on the salty side). It's also creamy and so delicious with the chocolate cake base.
Making these cupcakes is not difficult and all the components can be made all on the same day. But what I like and tend to do is to bake the cupcakes a day before, then fill and frost them the next day before the party. You can also make the cupcakes even earlier and keep them in the refrigerator, just let them come to room temperature before serving so the frosting and mousse can soften.
So let's get baking!
Step-by-step Photos | |
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Cupcakes | |
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| 1) Measure the wet ingredients and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. | 2) Sift in the dry ingredients. |
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| 3) Beat the heck out of the mixture until fully incorporated. | 4) Divide the batter and bake until the cupcakes are done |
Chocolate Mousse | |
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| 1) Melt some dark chocolate and let it cool. | 2) Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks formed. |
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| 3) Fold in the whipped cream. | 4) And ta-da! Your mousse is ready. |
Peanut Butter Frosting | |
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| 1) Measure all the frosting ingredients. | 2) Beat until light and creamy. |
Assembly | |
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| 1) Grab your cooled cupcakes. | 2) Cut out a cone from the cupcakes so you have a cavity. |
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| 3) Fill the cavities with the chocolate mousse. I am super generous with the amount of mousse filled. | 4) Replace the top of the cupcake, it's okay if it doesn't cover the mousse completely. |
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| 5) Frost the cupcake with the peanut butter frosting. | 6) And decorate them if desired! |
I’m submitting this to Best Recipes for Everyone May 2015 Event (Theme: My Favourite Desserts), organised by Fion of XuanHom’s Mom and co-hosted by Aunty Young.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mousse Filling and Peanut Butter Frosting
INGREDIENTS
Cupcakes
- 115 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature (½ cup)
- 115 grams caster sugar, ½ cup
- 200 grams brown sugar, 1 cup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 375 ml full-fat milk, at room temperature (1½ cups)
- 2 large eggs
- 250 grams all-purpose flour, 2 cups
- 60 grams good quality cocoa powder, like Varlhona (½ cup)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon coarse salt
Chocolate Mousse
- 85 ml heavy cream, minimum 32% fat (⅓ cup)
- 80 grams good-quality dark chocolate, melted and cooled
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 170 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature (¾ cup)
- 225 grams peanut butter, 1 cup
- 165 to 185 grams icing sugar, sifted (1⅓ to 1½ cups)
- ½ teaspoon table salt, more if desired
Assembly
- Chocolate balls, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Line cupcake moulds with paper liners and set aside.
- Measure the butter, caster sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, milk and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer, mix the mixture on low for 1 minute, then on high speed for 3 minutes, scrapping down the sides occasionally.
- Fill the cupcake liners about ¾ full and bake for 22 to 25 minutes until cake is risen and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely.
Chocolate Mousse
- Place the cream in a chilled mixing bowl. Whip the cream until soft peaks formed. Fold the cream into the cooled, melted chocolate until fully incorporated. If not using immediately, chill the mousse in the refridgerator.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- Place the butter, peanut butter, icing sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Beat for 5 to 7 minutes until light and creamy. Taste and add more salt or icing sugar to get desired sweetness and stiffness.
Assembly
- Using a small paring knife, cut a cone out of the cupcake. Fill with chocolate mousse to the top. Cut off most of the small end of the cone and replace the top on top of the cupcake.
- Place the peanut butter frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and frost the cupcakes. Decorate with chocolate balls if using.
- Store the cupcakes in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let the cupcakes come to room temperature (let them sit on the table counter for about 15 to 20 minutes) before serving.
Charlie says
Yum these look amazing! Your peanut butter frosting looks so light and fluffy!! Will defiantly have to make these sometime soon <3
Jasline N. says
Thank you Charlie! Let me know how it goes for you!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
Chocolate and peanut butter is probably my favorite combo ever. This sounds like heaven in a dessert 🙂
Jasline N. says
Thanks Cathleen, it's so many people's favourite combination!
kitchenriffs says
I love the combo of chocolate and peanut butter! One of the best combos. Ever! You've outdone yourself with these cupcakes -- really good stuff. Thanks so much!
Jasline N. says
Thanks John! Agree with you on the best combos! 😉
Liz Berg says
What magnificent cupcakes---and filling with chocolate mousse makes them SO irresistible!!!
Jasline N. says
Thanks Liz! They are a very yummy combination indeed!
Raymund says
Wow look at that beauty, I wanna lick those icing from my screen 🙂
Jasline N. says
Haha let me get you a tissue Raymund! 😉
Karen (Luvswesavory) says
Hi Jasline,
Definitely these chocolate + mousse + creamy peanut butter frosting cupcakes are yummy-licious. But I could only admire your lovely pictures ... cos my waistline is beyond expansion. .. sob sob!
Jasline N. says
Hi Karen! Awwww I know what you mean, but I'm sure just 1 won't hurt, let's exercise together!
Monica says
What a sensational cupcake creation! The chocolate mousse filling totally makes it for me but as you well know, it's the thought behind every component. This chocolate-peanut butter combination is dreamy for a chocolate and pb lover like me! So nice...
Jasline N. says
Thank you Monica, I'm glad I found a chocolate and pb lover, hooray! I'll see if I can whip up any chocolate and pb combinations in the future 😉
neela manogar says
Cup cakes are so tempting. Wonderful clicks.
Jasline N. says
Thank you Neela!
Aunty Young says
Hi Jasline, these looks like such sinfully delicious cupcakes! Also, you've decorated them beautifully. Really love them. Thanks for sharing them at BREE. 🙂
Jasline N. says
Thank you Aunty Young for the compliments! Glad to be a part of this event. 🙂
Juliana says
Wow Jasline, these cupcakes are so cute...and I love the combination of chocolate cake, mousse and peanut butter frosting.
Have a great week 🙂
Jasline N. says
Thanks Juliana, it's my favourite combination right now. Have a great week too!
Choc Chip Uru says
Your cupcakes are perfection, they look delicious 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Jasline N. says
Thank you so much my friend!
All That I'm Eating says
These look so good and I love the idea of that chocolate mousse filling.
Jasline N. says
Hi Caroline, thank you! The mousse helps to keep the cupcakes moist!
Blackswan says
Omg, I'm salivating now! Love your food shots, dear! xoxo
Jasline N. says
Thank you so much Shirley! 🙂
Mir says
Your photos are great! Beyond great! Don't ever say otherwise.
And these cupcakes are probably my dream flavor. I would totally pay some serious cash for these at a local cupcakery!
Jasline N. says
Hi Mir, you totally made my day, thank you so much for leaving such sweet comments! If I have the chance to meet you, I'll made this for you, for free! 😉
厨苑食谱 says
看到这被挤了满满的内餡， 我好想一口咬下呢！ 嘻嘻。。
Jasline N. says
谢谢你 May! 我这次做太多馅了，所以一直~~~挤馅进去哈哈。
Rumbling Tummy says
Looking at your lovely cupcakes makes me misses them.
Jasline N. says
Hi Edith, thank you! Wish I can send one your way!
Mimi Bakery House says
These are absolutely a fantastic idea...choc...mousse...peanut butter...oh sounds so goood!!!
Jasline N. says
Yes it's a delicious combination that has never gone wrong for me before!
Vivian Pang says
Looks very attractive and feel like want some now! These lovely cupcakes are really great to serve crowd.
Jasline N. says
Hi Vivian, thank you! They are indeed a great way to please the crowd 🙂
elabakes says
Oh man, these look so perfect!
Jasline N. says
Aww thank you!
Georgina says
These cupcakes look really delicious! Beautiful photographs too...
Jasline N. says
Hi Georgina, thank you so much for the sweet comments!
bentodays says
Looks super yummy! Gorgeous food photography, and this is making me so hungry late at night!
Jasline N. says
Hi Jean! Haha reading food blogs at night is such a dangerous thing to do!
Sokehah Cheah says
I like your pictures, they're so pretty and the paper cups too. But your bakes look very tempting too!
Jasline N. says
Hi Cheah! Thank you so much! I love the paper cups too because it's so pretty but they are a little troublesome to eat because it's quite hard to peel them :p
Daniela says
Oh Jasline,
You know that I'm a chocoholic and these cupcakes look like heaven to me!
Jasline N. says
Hi Daniela I fixed the spelling error 😉 Thank you so much for the compliments! Chocolate never fails to please 😉