Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

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Cupcakes have been trendy for the last five years.  Everyone has an opinion about each place – the cake part is too dry, the frosting is too much, it needs more sugar, there is too much butter, etc.  Well T.W.O. can ensure you with this Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake recipe you won’t be disappointed. A glass of milk is required to complete this dessert!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:
– 1 devil food cake mix
– eggs
– vegetable oil
– 2 teaspoons vanilla
– 1 stick butter, softened
– 1 cup creamy peanut butter + 1 Tablespoon
– 2 tablespoons milk
– 1 tablespoon vanilla creamer
– 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
– 3 teaspoons vanilla
– mini peanut butter cups
Directions:
1.  Make cupcakes as stated on the box.  Add vanilla to the mix.  Beat well.
2. Place in muffin tins lined with cupcake holders. Place the batter in the cups.  Add a mini peanut butter cup to each muffin tin.  Cook as required.
3. While the cupcakes are cooking, beat the butter until fluffy.  Add the peanut butter, milk, and creamer.  Slowly add in the confectioners sugar and vanilla.  Mix until all ingredients make a nice frosting.
4.  Once the cupcakes are finished baking and cooled, its time to decorate.

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Happy Baking,

T.W.O. signature

 

Goat Cheese, Honey & Pistachio Mini Cheesecakes with Meyer Lemon Curd

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Cheesecake – they come in all different flavors, sizes and presentations.  Bet you haven’t had a cheesecake with pistachio, goat cheese, honey, lemon curd and crème fraîche. Well if you have – – you are pretty lucky! If you haven’t…don’t worry, T.W.O. has this delicious, flavorful, satisfying Spring dessert recipe for you!


Goat Cheese, Honey & Pistachio Mini Cheesecakes with Meyer Lemon Curd

Ingredients:

For the pistachio crust:
– 1 heaping cup de-shelled, roasted, and salted pistachios
– 1/4 cup granulated sugar
– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:
– 1 (11-ounce) log mild goat cheese, room temperature
– 1 (11-ounce) log mild honey goat cheese, room temperature
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 1 cup crème fraîche room temperature
– 3 tablespoons good-quality honey
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 6 large eggs

For the Meyer lemon cream:
– 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 2 large egg yolks
– 3 teaspoons Meyer lemon zest
– 3/4 cup Meyer lemon juice
– 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. For the pistachio crust, combine pistachios and sugar in food processor until it becomes a fine meal. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the melted butter. Transfer the crust to a spring form pan.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating, refrigerate the crusts until chilled. Bake the crusts for 10 to 12 minutes until set. Cool completely before filling.
3. For the filling, lower oven temperature to 300°F. Combine the goat cheese and sugar in the kitchen aid. Add the crème fraîche, honey, vanilla, mix well. Add the eggs one at a time, and mix until just combined; do not over mix.
4. Add the filling to the top of the pistachio crust. Place the cheesecake in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes depending on your oven. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, put the cheesecake in the oven overnight.
5. For the Meyer lemon curd cream the butter and sugar in a KitchenAid mixer until light and fluffy.. Slowly add the eggs and yolks and beat for 1 minute, until well combined. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla. Note: The mixture will become curdled and lumpy – – – don’t be alarmed!
6. Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly. The cream will become thicker, so be sure to not overcook. Once the curd can coat the back of the spoon, transfer to another bowl and press plastic directly on the surface. Let cool at room temperature. Add to the top of the cheesecake and let it refrigerate for a couple hours.
7. When you are ready to serve, top with pistachios and a lemon slice….bon appetite!


 

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Happy Baking!

T.W.O. signature

Mud Pie Motherload

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Mud Pie has been a traditional birthday cake in T.W.O.’s family since we were babies. These past couple of years, we decided to step up our game and make the motherload of all mud pies. If this doesn’t get your taste buds excited, I don’t know what will. Peanut butter, chocolate, ganache, ice cream, oreo cookie crust and candy….we cover all the necessary ingredients.


Mud Pie Motherload

Ingredients:

Crust:
– 7 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
– 1 package oreo cookie box
Ganache:
– 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate
– 2 cup heavy cream
– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Filling:
– 1.5 quartz chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream, softened*
– 1.5 quartz coffee ice cream, softened*
– ½ cup crunchy peanut butter
– 1 ounce dark chocolate, finely chopped, for garnish
– 4 peanut butter cups, finely chopped for garnish
– 1 heath bar, finely chopped for garnish

Directions:

For the crust:

  1. Coat the inside of a 9-inch springform pan with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter.
  2. Place cookies in food processor and pulse until ground. Add melted butter to the crumbs and mix. Press mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan and freeze until it’s good and set, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften and make the ganache.

For the ganache:

  1. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside.
  2. Place cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Pour cream over chocolate and let stand until chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir gently until smooth then stir in butter, one piece at a time. let cool slightly before using.

For the assembly:

  1. When ice cream is softened, spread one of the flavors of ice cream over the cookie crust and smooth the top.
  2. Spread peanut butter over the ice cream.
  3. Pour half of the ganache over the top and smooth and place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove pie from the freezer and top with the second ice cream flavor.
  5. Pour the remaning ganche on top. Spread evenly.
  6. Top with chopped chocolate candy and put in the freezer. For best results let the pie freeze for 5 hours or over night if possible.
  7. When you are ready to serve, let the pie stand for 5 minutes prior to cutting. Plate and serve!

 

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Happy Baking!

T.W.O. signature