X is for Coca Cola: Coca Cola Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting (Jennifer)

Hello dear readers!

Growing up, all soft drinks were considered "Coke" in my eyes. Were you like that? Some friends called it "pop", others called it "soda", but to me, it was always "Coke." Now, that could have meant I wanted "root beer", so then of course, you'd have to ask, but usually, it meant "Coca Cola" that sweet, sugary stuff in the red can with the swirly white writing on the side. We didn't get to drink it very often, but when we did, boy, was it delightful! So, to have a chance to incorporate this classic drink into a cupcake....yes, please!

Coca Cola Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
from Sprinkle Bakes

Cupcakes:
1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. plus 1/8  tsp. baking soda
1/2  tsp. salt
1 eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line a cupcake pan with baking papers.
2. In a small saucepan, heat Coca-Cola, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until butter is melted. Add sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

3. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together.

4. In a small bowl, whisk egg until just beaten, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. Gently stir flour mixture into cocoa mixture. 

5. Use a 1/4 cup measure to pour batter into the cupcake papers.  Bake cupcakes for 25 minutes or until cake springs back when pressed in the middle.

6. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. 

Note: Diet cola cannot be used as a substitute for regular cola in this recipe.

Salted peanut butter frosting:4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 tsp salt
3-4 tbsp. heavy cream
Sea salt for sprinkling
Chocolate jimmies
Ground salted peanuts

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine powdered sugar, butter, peanut butter and salt.  Mix on low speed until just combined, then switch to high speed.  

2. Add heavy cream one tablespoon and beat until mixture is lightened and smooth.  Transfer to a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped.  Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. 

3. Garnish with jimmies, ground peanuts and a sprinkling of sea salt.



Review: While these cupcakes didn't taste much like Coca Cola, I still thought they turned out well. My favorite part was the peanut butter frosting! That recipe is definitely a keeper and one that I could see myself using in countless other ways (other kinds of cupcakes, brownies, oh my!). Enjoy!

Jessica's Secret Ingredient is Yellow Curry!!