Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough and Toasted Marshmallow Cupcakes


I think I am arriving!

I had my baby in July, and things have been a bit of a scramble since then.

I'm not saying things are calm now. But it's a devil I know rather than a devil I don't.


Not the baby, he's not a devil. It's an expression. Geez.

Also I have lived here in Oregon for over a year now, and I think I'm finally getting used to it.

There is so much beauty in Oregon, and I always knew that, but last year all I could see was...rain.


That might happen this year too. It's still early, as far as the cold part of the year goes.

Also it hasn't been quite so rainy this fall. Also I'm not horribly morning sick!

Bonus.


But I feel like I'm a little better able to see what's around me now. Trees taller than most buildings in Utah.

Green things that grow on other green things (moss on ferns on lichens on trees with vines around the whole thing).

Big, slatey boulders furry with moss.


It's not so much that I don't still miss my home. I just have, you know. Another one.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough and Toasted Marshmallow Cupcakes (taken from Joy the Baker...I have to admit her pictures are much better than mine! Feel free to visit to see more of these delicious babies...)

Let's eat something sweet! Yay! These cupcakes were the first non-survival mode thing I made after baby was born (yes, I'm backlogged on photos again :)). Lots of steps but don't be discouraged! You're basically making three desserts and assembling them together. Just stay on target, all will be will.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups cane sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup organic canola oil
2 teaspoons white vinegar
2 cups cold water

For the Cookie Dough Balls:

1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (i know we’re not baking them, it’s for flavor)
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons natural peanut butter (if you have a nut allergy, 2 tablespoons of yogurt will work as a binder as well)
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

For the Meringue:

4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
large pinch of salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners and set aside.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, water, vanilla extract and vinegar.

Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients being careful not to overmix. The mixture will be quite wet, but that’s ok.

Pour the batter until the cups are two thirds full and place in the oven for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cup comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then place on a wire rack until completely cool before topping with cookie dough ball.

For the Cookie Dough Balls:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment (or with a large bowl and a wooden spoon) cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes in the machine. Beat in peanut butter (or yogurt if using) along with the vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add all at once to the butter and sugar mixture and stir until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips.

Spoon a scant tablespoons size amount of dough in your hand. Roll into a ball and place on a cookie sheet. Make 24 little cookie dough balls, and refrigerate until ready to top the cupcakes.

For the Meringue:

In a large pot, bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer.

In a large, heat-proof bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, corn syrup and salt. The mixture will be grainy, because of the sugar.

Place bowl over simmering water and whisk as it heats. The sugar will dissolve after about 5 minutes. Keep and eye on the mixture, it shouldn’t get warm enough to cook the eggs. Yucky.

Transfer the egg white and sugar mixture to the bowl of an electric stand mixer. With a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, on high, until stiff peaks form (about 5 minutes) The mixture will be fluffy and glossy and look like melted marshmallows. It’ll be sticky too. Beat in the vanilla extract last. Cover, and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes.

To Assemble Cupcakes:

Use a small paring knife to cut a 3/4-inch whole out of the top/center of the cupcakes. Don’t cut the whole center of the cupcake out… just make a little hole for the dough ball to rest without rolling off.

Place dough balls on top of cupcakes.

Place meringue frosting in a pastry bag (or large Ziplock bag) fitted with a medium-large tip. Use your instincts for the size of the tip. Any size (star or round) medium tip will do for frosting these cupcakes. Pipe frosting around the edges of the cupcake and over the dough ball in a circular motion. Frost all cupcakes.

Turn on oven broiler. Yea… it’s about to get real.

Place 12 cupcakes on a baking sheet. Place cupcakes under the broiler for about 1 minute. Don’t even close the broiler door. Keep an eye on them as they toast. You may need to remove the cupcakes and rotate the pan to ensure that they cook evenly. Once toasted, remove cupcakes, and toast the remaining 12 in the same fashion.

Serve cupcakes!

Cupcakes will last, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days. They’re delicious.

9 comments:

Ana Regalado said...

Your post made me laugh :D Not the baby for sure :) 3 of my fave food in a cupcake ? I'm sure it's taste out of this world ;D

Cakebrain said...

Wow! The cupcake that is everything to everyone!

jeannesioux said...

OOooooo....Yumm.

LynnieBee said...

Wow, those are STUNNING!!!

Vee said...

That looks unbelievable delicious! I'm very jealous of you and anyone else that got to eat those!

Unknown said...

glad u use canola oil to substitude butter, cup cakes looks delish! ;)

Anonymous said...

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Watch out for those devils, unless they are deviled eggs or devils food cake :-)

Take care and have a wonderful week :-)

Divya Yadava said...

Oooh...those sound so creative! It's like all my favorite things in one cupcake. I want one now!

amlamonte said...

thanks for showin up all y'alls! elies i have to confess i don't ALWAYS substitute canola oil for butter...:)