Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

These were a LOT of work but they did impress our guests.  We all liked them but I am not sure I liked them enough to make them again.   The buttercream took a while to make.

Notes:

• When preparing buttercream, make sure the butter is soft, or it won't easily incorporate into the buttercream.
• If you don't have a pastry bag or tip, fill a zip-lock bag with buttercream and then snip 1/2 inch off corner.
• Avoid letting the bowl touch the simmering water, or it will overheat the mixture.
• You will have leftover chocolate coating. This is purposefully done so that there is enough to easily dip each cupcake. Freeze leftovers for the next time.
• Store the cupcakes in a cool, dry place to enjoy a creamy, soft buttercream. For continued storage, refrigerate. Before serving, allow cupcakes to come to room temperature to re-soften the buttercream.

Special equipment: standard size muffin pan, paper cupcake cups, instant read thermometer, mug, pastry bag, pastry tip

Ingredients

yield: 10 cupcakes, active time 1 hour, total time 3 hours

• For the Chocolate Cupcakes:
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•  
• For the Peanut Butter Buttercream:
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
•  
• For the Chocolate Coating:
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Procedures

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pan with 10 cupcake cups. In medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt until combined; set aside.

In large bowl, whisk sugar, buttermilk, oil, egg, and vanilla until combined and smooth. Whisk in dry mixture until smooth. Spoon batter into cupcake cups, dividing evenly. Bake until center is just set, about 25 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to wire rack to cool completely.

While cupcakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream. In bowl of standing mixer, whisk sugar, egg whites, and salt until combined. Set bowl over pan of simmering water and gently whisk until mixture registers 160 degrees F on instant read thermometer. Immediately transfer to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until mixture resembles shaving cream and is just cool. On medium speed, whip in butter, one piece at a time, until combined and creamy. Add peanut butter and vanilla and beat until smooth. Transfer buttercream to pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip (#808).

Pipe about 1/3 cup frosting onto each cupcake. Chill cupcakes in fridge until buttercream is completely firm, about 1 hour. 

When cupcakes have chilled, make the chocolate coating. Place chocolate and oil in a medium bowl and place over a pan of barely simmering water. Gently whisk until chocolate has just melted and mixture is smooth. Transfer to a large mug.

Holding cupcake by the bottom, carefully dip in chocolate to submerge all of the frosting. Pull up and let excess chocolate drop off for a few seconds before turning cupcake right side up. Transfer to cooling rack and repeat with remaining cupcakes. Let cupcakes rest a few minutes to allow chocolate to set and buttercream to soften before serving.