P1. Heart of the Batter

Looking to make a special treat for the special someone? Valentine’s Day is just right around the corner and quickly approaching.  I got just the perfect dessert for you to make the special someone! These cupcakes will indulge you into just the perfect amount of flavor. They are rich in strawberry flavor. And if you cut the cupcake down the middle it has a nice visual affect as well. If you cut it down the middle it looks like a heart inside of the cupcake. These cupcakes are super easy to make and only take 30 minutes to make. And it serves 6 jumbo sized cupcakes. To make the cupcakes you will need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large eggs, vanilla extract, strawberry-flavored milk, strawberries, confectioners’ sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, unsalted butter, heavy cream, and more strawberries. How-to:

HOW TO MAKE THE CUPCAKES:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then line a 6-cup jumbo muffin pan with paper liners.

Step 2: Whisk 1 ½ cups of flour with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoons of salt in a bowl.
Step 3: Beat 1 stick of unsalted butter and ¾ cups of granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium to high speed until mixture is light and fluffy. This will be about 3 minutes.

Step 4: Now beat in 2 large eggs but one at a time, and then beat in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Then reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with ½ cup of strawberry flavored milk, beginning and ending with flour, until just combined.

Step 5: divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffing cups. Next bake until a toothpick comes out clean, for about 25 to 30 minutes. Then let cool 5 minutes in the pan, and then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Now using a paring knife, cut a cone-shaped piece of cake out of the tip of each cupcake(about the same size as the strawberries), stopping about ½ inch from the bottom. Then stuff with the strawberries, then cover with a small piece of removed cake.

MAKING THE FROSTING:

Step 1: sift 2 cups of confectioners’ sugar and ½ cup of cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Then transfer half of the sugar- cocoa mixture to a larger bowl.

Step 2: Then add ½ cup of unsalted butter and ¼ cup of heavy cream and beat with a mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Then add the remaining sugar-cocoa mixture and ¼ cup of cream and beat until fluffy.

Step 3: Now transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe onto the cupcakes.

Step 4: Top each cupcake with a strawberry half.

Just a little ending note from me to you. You don’t have to make your own chocolate frosting but it adds a little more flavor and a little extra love.

O2. Crispy Peanut Butter Bars

This next recipe is personally one of my favorite dessert bars of all! These crispy peanut butter bars are super delicious but take a while to serve them. On the bright side it only takes 20 minutes to make them, but it takes at least 1 hour for them to chill. For this recipe you will need: peanut butter chips, butter, crisp rice cereal, semisweet chocolate chips, light corn syrup, and honey-roasted peanuts. Now on to how to make them!

Step 1: line a 13 by 9 inch baking pan with nonstick foil to expand about 2 inches with the foil coming out over the ends of the pan.

Step 2: Microwave 1 bag (10 ounce) of peanut butter chips with 1 stick of butter in a large glass bowl and stir at 20 second intervals, until blended smooth.

·         1 stick of butter is equivalent to ½ cup

Step 3: add 6 ½ of the crisp rice cereal and stir until evenly coated. Then spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan, pressing into an even layer.

Step 4: Next place the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes or until firm.

Step 5: Now melt 1 bag (12 ounces) of chocolate chips as directed on the bag itself. Then add ½ cup of light corn syrup and stir until blended. Then spread that over the cereal mixture; and sprinkle with ½ cup of the finely chopped nuts.

Step 6: Refrigerate for 1 hour to firm

Step 7: lift the foil by the ends onto a cutting board. Then cut the bars crosswire into 10 strips and cut each strip into 6 different bars.

ENJOY!

Nutrient Fact: in each bar there is 89 calories, 2 grams of protein, 11 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fat, 4mg of cholesterol, and 61 mg of sodium.