Triple Peanut Butter Cupcakes

My dad LOVES peanut butter.  Peanut butter and jelly.  Peanut butter on toast.  Peanut butter and syrup.  That's right, peanut butter and syrup.  As in pancake syrup.  One of those delicacies I remember from my childhood.  Peanut butter mixed together with pancake syrup, served with white bread.  I haven't had that one in a long time.  So for his birthday, I wanted to make a dessert that screamed peanut butter without screaming peanut butter and syrup.  (Ewww, that sounds so gross now that I'm old.)  So I decided on Triple Peanut Butter Cupcakes.  That would be the triple threat of Peanut Butter cake, Peanut Butter buttercream frosting and topped with Peanut Buttery Reese's Pieces candies.  I think you get the message, he loves peanut butter. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Dad!

The Triple Peanut Butter Cupcake Party

Cream shortening and sugar together.
Add eggs.

Add peanut butter and mix until creamy.
Alternate adding flour mixture

And milk mixture.

Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full

Bake about 25 minutes or until golden.
Cool completely before frosting.

Combine powdered sugar and butter.

Add vanilla, peanut butter and milk.
Beat until fluffy and desired consistency.

Frost cooled cupcakes.

Garnish with Reese's Pieces.

Enjoy!  It beats peanut butter and syrup,
but just barely according to my dad!

Triple Peanut Butter Cupcakes

2/3 cups shortening
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream shortening and sugar together.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add peanut butter and beat until smooth.  Combine milk and vanilla.  Combine flour and baking powder.  Slowly add these to peanut butter mixture alternating between flour mixture and milk mixture.  Begin and end with flour mixture.  Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full with batter.  Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean.  Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Prep Time:  Approximately 10 minutes     Cook Time:  Approximately 25 minutes

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
1 pound powdered sugar
1 stick salted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 tablespoons whole milk
Reese's Pieces Candy for garnish

Cream powdered sugar and butter together in a bowl with electric mixer.  Add peanut butter.  Mix well.  Add vanilla.  (Mixture may appear grainy at this point, it will smooth out when the milk is added.)  Add milk a little at a time until frosting becomes smooth and spreadable.  Beat until fluffy and desired consistency.  Frost cooled cupcakes and garnish with peanut butter candies.