Baby Mama Cupcakes

I made these today to take to my dear friend Kate who just birthed a baby. I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies (sorry, I had to), but I do know a thing or 2 about cupcakes. And these are good cupcakes. Kate's older daughter saw them from across the room and ran full speed toward the tray, calling out "Bites Bites!"
Her 2 week old sister, however, seemed unaware of the cupcakes and was content to attempt to eat my face...which was fine by me :)

So anyway, this one goes out to all the baby's mamas, mamas...

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Cupcakes:
(Bake at 350 )

1 & 2/3 Cup all-purpose flour
1/2 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 & 1/4 Cup granulated raw sugar
1/2 Cup Earth Balance vegan "butter", softened
1 Cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla

1.) Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, & salt in a bowl. Set aside.

2.) In another bowl, cream together sugar, vanilla, and "butter."

3.) Slowly add in dry ingredients until well incorporated and then beat until smooth.

4.) Distribute among 12 lined cupcake tins, filling each 2/3 of the way full.

5.) Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.

6.) Allow to cool completely before frosting.

(recipe adapted from Vegan on the Cheap by Robin Robertson)

Peanut Butter Frosting

You can play around with the peanut butter to sugar ratio. The first time I made them, I used more peanut butter than sugar. I liked it, but it was a pretty intense peanut butter experience. It was more like peanut butter that kind of has a frosting quality to it, where the way it is listed below is more like frosting that has peanut butter flavor. Derek compared it to the inside of those little Reese's pieces candies. So, if you find yourself in 1982 with a tray of these cupcakes, stay the hell away from E.T.
He will straight up jack your shit.

1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons almond or other non-dairy milk
1 square of a vegan dark chocolate bar, for grating.

1.) Combine all ingredients (except chocolate bar) and beat until smooth.

2.) Frost your cupcakes & then use a fine grater (not a cheese grater, crazies) to dust the tops of the cupcakes with dark chocolate.

Eat up & share with the baby-havers in your life. Or keep them to yourself. I can't make these decisions for you.