Two Level Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Two Level Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Cupcake Hero bakes cupcakes from a new ingredient, each month. This month is peanut butter, certainly a beloved ingredient. I have not done much baking with peanut butter, recently. I think, the last time, was when my granddaughter dictated the details of a cupcake she wanted. I baked it and frosted it and she and her little brother decorated it.

I have decided to make a chocolate and peanut butter cupcake again but a completely different one. This one has two levels of cake, one level of ganache and some peanut butter chips. Yes, it is yum.

First, I made the chocolate layer and before putting it, into the oven, added the peanut butter layer.

Chocolate layer: (layer was based adapted from Ina Garten's chocolate cupcakes and peanut butter icing)

Ingredients:

Method for chocolate layer:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Use liners in each of the muffin tins.

Cream margarine with white and brown sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. (takes about three minutes)

Add egg and vanilla extract and beat at low speed.

In a separate bowl, blend Rice milk, sour cream and coffee. Set aside.

In a third bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt.

On low speed alternately add the liquid and dry mixtures in thirds.

Continue to mix until well blended.

I used a tablespoon size cookie scoop to place batter in each cupcake pans.

Method for peanut butter layer:

Cream sugar and margarine on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add peanut butter and continue to beat until blended on low speed.

Add vanilla extract.

Add eggs and Rice milk and blend.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Mix into margarine/sugar mixture.

Use a teaspoon cookie scooper to place batter on top of chocolate batter. Gently smooth down.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 35 minutes. (I had to keep putting mine back. The toothpick came out dry but when I cut the first one, the peanut butter layer looked undone. Keep checking until peanut butter layer has darkened slightly.

Ganache:

1/2 cup non dairy whipped topping (Not whipped)

4 ounces of chocolate.

Microwave chocolate until it is melted. I check every fifteen seconds until a teaspoons could mix the chocolate.

Add whipped topping to chocolate and microwave additional seconds until it can be blended with chocolate.

Allow it to cool slightly and put ganache on top of each cupcake.

Put 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips on top of each cupcake to decorate.

Eat and enjoy.