Happy Halloween! Is there any better Halloween treat than a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? The correct answer is no, no there is not! It seemed like the appropriate treat to bake for my Halloween party this evening… and there is even a Reese’s baked into the center of the cupcake! I love a good surprise when people bite in.

I don’t have any clever anecdotal story for these cupcakes… I just love Peanut Butter and Chocolate. I also had a lot of fun with the Halloween decorations for these cupcakes, I dyed the frosting a bright orange and created little witches hats to top the cupcakes.  I made the monster and zombie brains cupcakes in other flavors.

Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cupcakes

From Make Bake Celebrate

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons Hershey’s cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 12 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (snack size)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line cupcake pan with liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, mix together 1c sugar, 3/4c +2T flour, 1/4c + 2T cocoa, 3/4t baking powder, 3/4t baking soda, and 1/2t salt until fully combined.
3. Add in 1 egg, 1/2c milk, 1/4c oil, and 1t vanilla extract. Pour in 1/2c boiling water and beat for 2 minutes.
4. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full and add a Reese’s snack size cup on top. Then fill to about 2/3 full.
5. Bake for 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool. Freeze for later if time allows.

Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

From Make Bake Celebrate

Makes enough for 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 4oz cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter (I love Skippy’s Natural)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons milk
• Crushed up or Small Reese’s cups to top

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, beat together 1/2c salted butter and 4oz cream cheese. Add in 1/2t vanilla extract. Once blended, add in 1/2c + 2T peanut butter until fully combined.
2. Slowly add in 2c powdered sugar.
3. Add in 1-2T milk, 1 Tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
4. Frost cupcakes, and top with Reese’s Cup or crumbles!

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Happy Baking!

– SugarB