Protein shakes are really good to have, especially after a workout. For months, I have just had the regular powder in some water, and it can be not as satisfying as I would like.
Until, I came upon this recipe for a peanut butter cup protein shake. It is so delish and satisfies my sweet tooth and surprisingly really tastes like a Peanut Butter Cup! It also doesn’t add too many more calories, which I am all about!
Chocolate Cupcakes with a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Center and Cream Cheese Frosting
CCCCCDCCCF … aka Heaven in your Mouth
I first discovered these beauties on a trip when my dear friend made a white cupcake with a peanut butter cookie in the middle and chocolate ganache frosting. I thought to myself, “Self, these cupcakes are the devil but you should make your own version with way more chocolate in them because I’m sure you can do that and only eat 1, maybe 2 of them.” This is how I talk myself into making rich, buttery treats and what follows is several justifications on why I should eat more than 1, maybe 2. But that’s a post for a different day. Right now, let’s get you started on making the most delicious cupcakes you will ever stuff into your mouth.
Now, sometimes I’m all about baking from scratch. It’s a real art and super satisfying when you take a group of ingredients and make it into something magical. So, if you want to make your cake batter and frosting from scratch, you go girl. I, however, have 3 kids
circling my feet at this very moment. They are like sharks and the cookie dough is the blood they seek. So, for this particular recipe, I’m going with a cake mix and pre-made frosting. I do always make the cookie dough from scratch though, for 2 reasons. 1 – Raw eggs. Now I’m not too good to put a dollop or 7 of cookie dough in my mouth if it has raw egg in it, but apparently, you are not supposed to do that. I also have a niece with an egg allergy and who am I to tell her she can’t have one of my delicious cupcakes? 2 – There will be leftover cookie dough, oh yes, leftover delicious cookie dough that you can use specifically for eating cookie dough.
So first, you have to make some cookie dough. Delicious cookie dough. You can buy ready-made cookie dough in a tube or those already shaped raw cookie dough packages. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about the raw egg thing though. I go with the classic Tollhouse recipe, with the exception of the
eggs. **For each egg, substitute 2 tablespoons of milk.
Just so we’re clear… I’m not from Kentucky. I’ve never even been there. But I love Kentucky Derby Pie.
I was first introduced to this heavenly concoction by a neighbor, who actually is from Kentucky. Her broad, half-Samoan sons all played high school football, and to raise the money necessary to fund this activity, the sons would go door to door in the neighborhood, selling her famous homemade Kentucky Derby Pies.
They made a killing. The entire subdivision was waiting with baited breath for football season to begin. Or, I might just be assuming that, because that’s the way I felt. I gladly spent every dollar in my wallet on those pies.
Oh, and?… my pie was still warm when it was delivered!! I wish that woman would have some more football playing sons to sell me derby pies.
Oh, the heavenly aroma of chocolate chips and pecans in a flaky pie crust!
This is a super important list to keep on hand. This will save the day when you thought you had an ingredient, but when you went to get it, there was only a few granules left. So keep it on hand for those times when it is much needed.
Allspice – 1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves.
Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon
1/3 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar or
1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup yogurt or buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup)
Bread Crumbs (Dry) – 1 cup
3 slices of bread, crumbled.
Butter – 1 cup
1 cup of regular margarine or
1 cup of vegetable shortening (for baking) or
1 cup of oil (but only if melted butter is called for)
To see the complete list with many more substitutions, CLICK HERE
