Double Peanut Butter Cake

So this time I tried a peanut butter cake. I like peanut butter but I am not a HUGE fan of it. I am open to new things so I thought what the heck, I'll try it and if it's good, it's good and if it's not I'll just give it to someone else who LOVES it. 

Sites Pic:

My pics:  

Ingredients: (cake)

• 1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/4 Cup Butter, Softened
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1-1/2 Cups all-purpose Flour
• 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 3/4 Cup Milk

(Frosting):

• 1/3 Cup Chunky Peanut Butter
• 3 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
• 3 Cups Confectioners' Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1-1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Directions:

In a bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. Mix well. Pour into a greased 9 in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. For frosting, cream peanut butter and butter. Add sugar, milk and vanilla; mix until smooth. Frost cake. Yield: 9 servings.

I used vanilla flavoured soya milk which I thought was quite good. I also used 100% pure Vanilla extract which I actually made myself. Oh and I also had only crunchy peanut butter which was also 100% peanut butter instead of all that crap they put in the other peanut butter. Anyway as for how it all turned out, it was for me just OK. I liked it better after it was chilled and I also thought the frosting was a bit too sweet. For the sweet tooths out there that would be perfect for you ;-). My friends liked this more than I, to each it's own. So if you are a peanut butter lover, try this out! It is worth it!! 

P.s. Sorry if you are allergic to nuts ;-P Tune in another time haha. 

For more info on this cake and the site: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Double-Peanut-Butter-Cake

Red Velvet Cupcakes

For my first post, I thought I would go with one of my favourite looking cupcakes :

Red Velvet. Mmmmm...

I got the recipe from : www.joyofbaking.com

and I have to say they usually have really good recipes!! So this site is a safe bet for anyone interested in baking anything ;).

The cupcakes were just right in their texture and taste!! I absolutely loved them, but I did not make the frosting ( I was too lazy so I'll have to review that frosting another time ) I just used basic chocolate frosting from the store and it was just as good :) !!  They weren't too sweet and not too bland, they were just right! For myself I prefer to have desserts right in the middle where they aren't SO sweet that you can only eat one piece! So if you are that kind of sweet tooth, I would not suggest these to you or just dunk the cupcake in sugar if you need more haha ;).

Unfortunately, I did not have a picture of them, so the next time I make them with the actual frosting, I will have a picture, I promise. I will use the site picture then, which would probably be A LOT better than mine haha.

Ingredients:
Red Velvet Cupcakes:

1 1/4 cups (125 grams) sifted cake flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons (10 grams) regular or Dutch-processed 

1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature cocoa powder

3/4 cups (150 grams) granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk

1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring

1/2 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup (30 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

1/3 cup (80 ml) cold heavy whipping cream (double cream) (35-40% butterfat)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line 12 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners.

In a large bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter. 

Working quickly, divide the batter evenly among the 12  muffin cups and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18 - 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes and them remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting. Either spread the frosting with a knife or offset spatula, or use a large 1M Wilton open star decorating tip to pipe the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to pipe. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.

Makes 12 cupcakes.

If you would like to see more:  http://www.joyofbaking.com/RedVelvetCupcakes.html

Oh if you also read about the vinegar and baking soda, I know it sounds odd ( I at first thought that it was a mistake in the recipe) but I did it, and it turned out great. You can barely tell that there is vinegar in this recipe. What do you guys think you'd add the vinegar and baking soda for? What does it do to the recipe??