peanut butter

i'm a fan of speedy & delicious baking which is why the cupcake part is only semi-homemade. the frosting though- that's all me. after shelling out $3 a cupcake for Hello Cupcake!'s Peanut Butter Blossom several times in the past few months, I decided I needed to try and replicate their delicious peanut buttery frosting for my self.

banana cupcakes:
-white or yellow cake mix
-2 bananas (thawed if frozen)

mash up the bananas and add to the cake mix at the end. use an ice cream scoop* to place even amounts of batter into regular or mini-sized cupcake wrappers.

* i used to roll my eyes when i saw people doing this but it helps so much that i'm completely converted!
it makes all of your cupcakes even-sized

peanut butter frosting:

1 stick of butter, softened

1 1/2 cups of JIF peanut butter

2 1/2 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

3 tbsp. half & half or cream

first combine the softened stick of butter and peanut butter and whip them together until the mixture is lighter in color and you can't see any chunks of butter, this takes a few minutes (3-5) but it's the most important step because if it isn't right then the frosting will be very greasy. next, add the almond extract. then begin to slowly add the confectioner's sugar and mix well - add the half & half a little at a time to thin the mixture. you can add more confectioner's sugar or more half & half to achieve a consistency that you like, i kept mine pretty thick.