Put Some Pumpkin In It!

Lu!

Your next challenge is to combine pumpkin with one of your favorite flavors.....coffee, chocolate, peanutbutter.....what will it be?

Candy Inspired Cupcakes!

So this post is very much overdue, and I especially know this because I made these cupcakes back when I was still wearing tank tops and shorts in the 90 degree weather back home, and am posting about it while snow sits on the streets and trees around my apartment up in MA. So many changes!

I had a great time making these cupcakes-there are so many decoration possibilities and flexibility which is what I really loved about this challenge. My family is also slightly obsessed with Almond Joys, which is why I find them tucked into all these random corners in our kitchen-we hide them from each other because otherwise you'd never get any! So my parents loved the cupcakes, I loved making them=winning!! ;)

I found this recipe on a great blog that did a series of candy bar inspired cupcakes. Definitely go check it out!

**Rachel's Next Challenge: Who doesn't love Rocky Road ice cream?! You're challenge is to bake something Rocky Road Inspired (cookies, cupcakes, anything!) Heres a recipe a friend of mine put on her own cooking blog if you want to try this.

Conquering the Triple Threat

Lu challenged me to make a cake that featured three distinct layers. It took me some time to decide what cake I wanted to make and my ideas ranged from strawberry champagne to a mango pineapple peach conoction. I finally decided on.......

Triple Threat Cake (Peanut Butter, Banana and Chocolate) which I created from a hodgepodge of recipes in my Cupcakes cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens coobook and Hershey's website.

I baked the middle layer first so that by the time the first layer was cool enough to use I could begin cake assembly and by the time I was done with the first two layers the thrid would be cool enough to frost. Here are the recipes:

First Layer: Peanut Butter (adapted from Cupcakes)
Ingredients:

• 4 tbsps softened butter
• 1 1/8 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 5/8 cups all purpouse flour
• 2tsp baking poweder
• 1/3 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a round baking pan.
2. Beat butter, sugar and peanbut butter  together until well mixed and creamy.
3.  Add eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
4. Stir in flour and powder, alternating with the milk.
5. Pour batter into cake pan and bake for 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

Second Layer: Banana (BHG)
Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups all purpouse flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup ripe mashed bananas (3)
• 3/4 cup sour milk/buttermilk (I used milk and vinegar)
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Let eggs stand at room temp for half an hour. Grease a baking pan and set aside.
2.Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.
3.Add bananas, milk, shortening and vanilla. Beat on low until combined.
4.Beat in eggs
5.Bake at 350 for 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

Third Layer: Chocolate (adapted from Hershey's)
Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cup all purpouse flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 cup softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 cup milk

1.Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
2.Add butter, sour cream, eggs, milk and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 3 minutes.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan.  and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Frosting: PB Cream Cheese
Ingredients:
7 cups powdered sugar
2 softened bricks cream cheese
2/3 cups PB

Beat ingredients until smooth and fluffy.

Filling:
3 bananas, sliced
lemon juice

Thinkly slice bananas. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Place slices between layers.

If desired top with a chocolate ganache made from either cream and chocolate or butter and chocolate (butter will make it thickerr faster)

Rating? The usual bearer of baked goods at my husband's work declared me "Baker of the Month" and told Mike that I should open a bakery.  And the entire cake was eaten that day!