Peeps Cupcakes With A Candy Bar Surprise

I’ve recently decided that I need to start planning a trip to Maryland.

Why?

Oh, I’m so very glad that you asked.


Peeps and Company


Did you click? Tell me you clicked. Tell me you clicked and saw one of the awesomest stores in all of creation……Peeps and Company. That’s right, a whole store dedicated to Peeps…and…..Hot Tamales. 


Can you believe such a thing even exists? 


It is almost too much. Take a moment to process….I understand. I too, was overwhelmed at first.


It’s really about time that the Peeps people figured out they needed a store to sell them year round. Easter is just not enough. I mean, Peeps are basically sugar covered sugar. In the shape of a cute little chick.


What could be better than that?


I’ll tell you what could be better. A chocolate cupcake with a Peep on top. No…wait…a chocolate cupcake with a tiny candy bar inside and a Peep on top. Want to make some? Sure you do.


INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes: (recipe adapted from Hello, Cupcake!)
1 box (18.25 oz) Duncan Hines Devil’s Food cake mix
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
24 Milky Way Miniatures


Frosting: (recipe from Cupcakes From the Cake Mix Doctor)
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
3 to 5 tablespoons hot water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Marshmallow Peeps
White nonpareils, for decorating.

Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.


Put all the cake ingredients in a large bowl except for the Milky Ways. Beat with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer.


Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full with batter. After they are all filled, add a Milky Way to each. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 – 20 minutes. Remove cupcakes from baking pans and place on wire rack. Allow to cool completely.


Make the frosting:


Place butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combines, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the confectioners sugar and 3 tablespoons of the water. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Add up to 1 tablespoon more warm water if the frosting is too stiff.


Frost cupcakes, edge in nonpareils, and top with the Peep of your choice!!


If you want to buy the brown grease proof cupcake liners I use, you can buy them here.

And this link will take you to your very own bottle of white nonpareils. I  giant heart nonpareils. Even if I still can’t figure out how to pronounce them correctly.

I’m glad we got talk about Peeps today. It was fun. 


Happy Wednesday!!!