Creamy Peanut Butter Ice Cream + Chocolate Cupcake + Edible Chocolate Cups = Ice Cream Cupcake Peanut Butter Cups = Frozen Indulgence x 10.
I made these about two and a half weeks ago and I've waited until now to share them. Guilty.
Back in the very beginning of June, I heard about the 2012 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest. Basically, the rules are that you have to concoct some sort of combination of ice cream and cupcake. And basically, I heard the words "ice cream" and "cupcake" and I was in.
My gears started ticking right away, my concentration quickly shifted to all things sweet, and I was tossing ideas around in my head all day until I finally came up with the right idea, the idea that I liked and that I could also see fleshed out. It was a little ambitious in my mind, as I wasn't quite sure if everything would work out exactly as I pictured, but I was set on trying. And... It Worked! Score 1 for the girl who probably had chocolate all over herself by the end of the day. :)
Here's the breakdown: You make chocolate cups just like you'd see for any peanut butter cups, ridges and all, to act as the edible packages for these frozen treats. Then you fill them halfway with to-die-for, who-knew-I'd-be-crazy-about-this Peanut Butter Ice Cream (it's David Lebovitz', so you know it's good). On top of the ice cream you add half a freshly baked Chocolate Cupcake. Then, you seal the package with more chocolate, and you've got yourself Ice Cream Cupcake Peanut Butter Cups. Then you grab a bowl (because things might get messy) and dig in.
P.S. This recipe has a lot of steps, but I really laid it all out in detail for you (below) to make it easier. Don't be intimidated by the length!!
PrintIce Cream Cupcake Peanut Butter Cups
Kick Peanut Butter Cups up a notch by filling them with Chocolate Cupcakes and Peanut Butter Ice Cream!
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 peanut butter cups
Ingredients
Chocolate Cups
- generous 2 cups good quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, divided*
Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ⅔ cup half-n-half
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
Chocolate Cupcakes
- ⅜ cup unsweetened good quality cocoa powder
- ⅜ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter, softened (½ a stick)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup yogurt (Use any kind; I used nonfat Greek yogurt)
Chocolate Top Coat
- 1 cup good quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate*
Instructions
Method of Preparation**
- Do the first coating for the chocolate cups.
- While the cups are freezing after the first coating, prepare the mixture for the peanut butter ice cream. Chill in fridge.
- Do the second coating for the chocolate cups.
- While the cups are freezing again, make the chocolate cupcakes.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, peel the liners off of the chocolate cups. Freeze until ready to assemble peanut butter cups.
- Once the cupcakes are cool, churn/freeze the peanut butter ice cream. Meanwhile, slice the cupcakes to prepare for assembly.
- Assemble the peanut butter cups as soon as the ice cream has finished churning, or freeze the ice cream for no more than one hour after churning and then assemble.
- Freeze the assembled cups.
- Add the final chocolate coating to the tops of the cups.
- Freeze until ready to serve.
Make the Chocolate Cups:
- Line 12 cups in a standard size muffin tin with paper liners. It seems helpful to place a drop of honey in the bottom of each muffin cup and press the paper liners in on top so that they stick. This way, they won't move around quite as much when you're coating them with chocolate. Be sure to use muffin liners that fit your tin well and don't scrunch up inside.
- Melt a generous cup of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat. As soon as the chocolate begins to melt, stir continuously until smooth.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the melted chocolate over the insides of the muffin liners, starting at the bottom of each one and moving outward and up against the sides. Make sure you cover all of the liners' grooves, checking from every angle including the top view. If you find any small spots that your brush can't fill, use a toothpick. Use all of the melted chocolate, making a thick first coat for each cup. Return the chocolate to the double boiler if needed during this process to remelt/reheat. Alternatively, keep the chocolate over the double boiler, removed from the stove, so it stays warm while you work. If the chocolate gets too cool, it will become gloppy and hard to use.
- Place the chocolate cups in the freezer for about 30 minutes, until firm. Meanwhile, prepare the ice cream mixture and chill.
- Once the first coating for the chocolate cups has set, melt another cup of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in the double boiler. Coat the chocolate cups with a second layer of melted chocolate, being sure to cover the first coat entirely. Again, you can use a toothpick to fill in any small missed spots that the pastry brush can't get to. Return the chocolate cups to the freezer for about an hour, until solid. Meanwhile, make the chocolate cupcakes.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, remove the chocolate cups from the freezer and gently lift them out of the muffin tin. If the edges are stuck to the tin, run a toothpick along the outsides to loosen the cups. Once you can spin them around in the tin, you should be able to get them out. Carefully peel the muffin liners off of the cups. Be patient with this step, and if you get to a problem spot, start again at a different location. If the cups get too soft and feel like they're giving in to the pressure of your hands, place them back into the freezer for a bit and then continue.
- Place the chocolate cups in an airtight container and return to the freezer until ready to assemble the peanut butter cups.
Make the Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- If you don't already have your ice cream freezer bowl in the freezer, place it in now.
- Combine the peanut butter, sugar, half-n-half, vanilla, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth, pausing to wipe down the sides if needed.
- Chill mixture in the fridge thoroughly while you finish preparing the chocolate cups and make the chocolate cupcakes. For reference, you need to chill the mixture about 2 hours at least, until very cold.
- Once the other components of the peanut butter cups are ready, freeze the chilled ice cream mixture in your ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Assemble peanut butter cups immediately after ice cream is done churning/freezing, or place ice cream in the freezer for no more than one hour (to firm up slightly) before assembling.
- Store leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer.
Make the Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease (not line) 6 cups in a standard size muffin tin.***
- Sift together the cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Whisk lightly if needed to evenly combine.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and egg yolk one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
- Add ½ of the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing in at lowest speed until somewhat incorporated but still streaked throughout the batter. Add the yogurt in the same way, until partially incorporated. Add the remaining dry ingredient mixture and mix until all ingredients are just combined with no streaks.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, gently leveling out the tops. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcakes comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes, and then place on a wire rack to cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use. While the cupcakes are cooling, remove the paper liners from the chocolate cups.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled and while the ice cream is churning, slice the cupcakes into 3 sections. The ideas is to make two halves that will go into two separate peanut butter cups, with a thin middle section that can be set aside.**** Starting from the bottom of the cupcake, move the knife up to the height of half of a chocolate cup and make one slice here. Make the second slice at the bottom of the cupcake's dome. Grasp the dome as you make this second slice in order to get a clean cut. You should be able to fit each cupcake half narrow side (or dome side) down into a chocolate cup so that the top will line up with top of the chocolate cup once you fill the bottom half with ice cream. Click here for a diagram of how to slice the cupcakes.
Assemble the Peanut Butter Cups:
- Scoop ice cream into each peanut butter cup to fill halfway. Place a cupcake half on top, dome side or narrow side down. Put a bit of pressure on top to sink the cupcake in so the top is level with the top of the chocolate cup. If you added to much ice cream and it is coming up around the cupcake, you may need to remove some and try again. Place assembled peanut butter cups in an airtight container and freeze immediately, until the ice cream is solid. I recommend letting them freeze overnight.
- Melt chocolate for topping peanut butter cups in a double boiler as previously instructed over medium heat. Working with one cup at a time, spoon some melted chocolate onto the top. Use a spatula to push the chocolate gently toward the edges of the cup until all openings are completely sealed with chocolate. Use an icing spatula to lightly smooth the melted chocolate. Again, don't let the melted chocolate get cool and gloppy during this process. Place finished peanut butter cups in the freezer until ready to serve.
- Enjoy immediately upon serving.
Notes
*Being that the idea of Peanut Butter Cups is that they’re wrapped in a layer of solid chocolate, use a chocolate you really like.
**Since this recipe has quite a few steps, the Method of Preparation is there to guide you in regards to getting everything done in the most efficient amount of time. I would recommend starting this recipe the morning before the day you plan to serve the Peanut Butter Cups.
***If you're like me and only have one standard size muffin tin, remove the chocolate cups from the tin as previously instructed at this point and place on a tray to continue freezing. Make sure the chocolate on the cups isn’t too soft before trying to move them.
****I suggest eating the leftover middle slivers of cupcake with some of the extra peanut butter ice cream!
Chocolate Cups Adapted From: Jessie's Kitchen Chronicles
Peanut Butter Ice Cream Adapted From: Annie's Eats, Originally From: The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
Chocolate Cupcakes Adapted From: Martha Stewart
As part of my participation in the 2012 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest, this recipe is also linked to Scoopalicious
amaara
hi.. i know I'm late but still wanted to let you know I made them (last month!!) and they were amazing!! i made them in two days because I had never baked before this.. but they turned out so good I had to keep on telling myself not to reach for another one! my husband i dare say is more in love with me now!! so thank you for this delicious recipe!
alexandra
That's awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. I think that's amazing that you decided to conquer the recipe, and honestly, I don't blame you for splitting it into two days! I'm so happy that everything turned out well and you and your husband enjoyed the ice cream cupcakes. :)
Emily
I am going to attempt to make these in less than 6 hours for my twin friends consecutive day birthdays! Homemade Icecream Time Travel Device: When your icecream mixture is complete, to chill it faster place it in gallon ziplocks in a bowl of icewater. Big surface area= fast chill time (like 15 minutes).
alexandra
I love that ice cream time travel tip! Thanks so much for sharing; I'm madly impatient about those things! I hope you all enjoy the ice cream cupcakes. :)
amaara
hi,
I was wondering what brand of chocolate (instead of chocolate chips) would you recommend for the chocolate cup?
and also the image link isn't working..
P.S. thanks for the fabulous recipe and congratulations for the award
alexandra
Hi Amaara,
If you have a favorite kind of chocolate that you typically use for baking, I would go with that. I personally like Ghirardelli chocolate, and I also use Trader Joe's Pound Plus bars (not sure if that is accessible to you). Really, any well-known, high quality brand is great, but pick something with a cocoa content of about 60% if possible.
Which image link isn't working?
And thanks so much!
Gautami
Hello,
I made these yesterday. wooow.....they consume a lot of time....too many elements...haha.......at first the chocolate cupcake liners were breaking......so I gave them a thicker coat.......I loved the flavor of icecream.......It was 10 pm, so did not taste them....but they look awesome......next time I will make the chocolate liners one day earlier.
Thank You,
Gautami
alexandra
I'm so thrilled that you took the time to make these! It is a long process with a lot of steps, but sometimes you have to work to get something really good, you know? I hope you enjoy them, and would love to hear once you give them a try! That's a good idea to make the liners a day ahead; it would make the process a bit less overwhelming. :)
Alicia
Hi. I would like to make these for my husbands birthday but I was wondering if you had to have an ice cream maker for to make the ice cream? I have a Magi Mix and I was wondering if I could put it all in their and then freeze it?
Thanks
alicia
alexandra
Hi Alicia,
I've never heard of a Magi Mix, but I looked it up online. I saw two different products with that name; I'm assuming you're referring to the food processor? If so, I don't think that would work. You might want to check out this post about making ice cream without an ice cream maker. I've heard that people have success with the method described. You could also, of course, use store-bough peanut butter ice cream if all else fails, but I would aim for homemade if possible!
Hope everything turns out well; let me know!
Vera Zecevic – Cupcakes Garden
So sweet cupcakes! I really like black/white contrast and chocolate around! Perfect! I would like to showcase them on my cupcake recipes and ideas blog.
brighteyedbaker
Feel free to showcase them on your blog as long as you're adding a link back to my original post. Thanks!
I'm glad you like them so much. :)
Vera Zecevic - Cupcakes Garden
These cupcakes look adorable! Really creative black and white ideas! It looks these are delicious too!
brighteyedbaker
They're over the top good! Thanks :)
Tracy {Pale Yellow}
These cupcakes look delicious! Congratulations on your win over at the Cupcake project!
brighteyedbaker
They are pretty yummy. :) Thank you!
Agos
Congrats! They look awesome :)
brighteyedbaker
Thanks! I actually had no idea I'd won until I saw your comment. Thanks for leading me to the good news. :)
TidyMom
My husband would flip if I made these for him!!!
brighteyedbaker
That's so funny; if only he might be so lucky, right?!
chica chocolatina
Ohhh.... I am so in love with these, they look wonderful!
brighteyedbaker
Thanks! They're quite the ice cream fix :)
Emma
Wow, love these!
And peanut butter ice cream, I've never made this. I think I would love it on it's own tbh or even with warm chocolate brownies.
brighteyedbaker
The peanut butter ice cream is amazing on its own. I never thought I would be that crazy about it, being that it doesn't have chocolate(!), but I really had to resist sitting there and eating it all!
Suzanne
Wow. That's just about all I can say. These look fabulous. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
brighteyedbaker
Of course, and thank you so much :)