TGIF Cupcakes Recipe

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Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

This recipe was inspired by a book I read last week. I don’t know if it’s like this for anyone else, but there always seems to be a food theme in every book I read…. or at least there is in my mind.

And maybe “theme” is a bit too strong of a word. But do you know what I mean? You’re reading a book, and maybe it’s set in Antebellum South, and the main character eats a lot of cornbread smothered in honey and butter. All of a sudden, all I can think about is cornbread and honey.

Or the main characters frequently hang out at the local pizza joint. Now all I want to eat is pizza.

You get the picture.

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

In last week’s book (which was #3 in the Porter Family Novel series by Becky Wade), a side character (who was the main character in #2) works in a bakery, and this is cupcake is her Friday specialty. The moment I read the description, I knew I wanted to recreate it for you guys.

And so…. ta-da!

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

This has been one of my favorite recipes that I’ve made in a while, and I’m thinking that it needs to be recreated into a layer cake, a poke cake… possible fudge? Definitely into a cookie. So expect more TGIF treats to grace the blog before too long.

And I think these flavors are perfectly timed for Fall. They’re rich with deep notes of toffee and butterscotch and just perfect for winter comfort sweatpants food.

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

TGIF Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

  • 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla paste or extract
  • 2-1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2-1/2 cups flour
  • 1-1/4 cups milk
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 5 tablespoons milk

Toppings:

  • Heath Toffee Bits
  • Chocolate Shavings
  • Butterscotch Caramel Sundae Sauce (I bought mine at Target)

Instructions

Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. In a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well in between each addition.
  3. Add the vanilla, baking powder, salt, flour, and milk. Mix just until batter forms. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  4. Line or grease 2 cupcake pans (24 cupcakes) and divide batter evenly among the cups.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes.

Frosting:

  1. Cream together the peanut butter and butter.
  2. Mix in the vanilla and a cup of powdered sugar.
  3. Continue to add the powdered sugar a cup at a time, alternating with the milk. Scrape down the sides as needed.

Assembly:

Frost each cooled cupcake with the frosting and top with toffee, chocolate shavings, and a drizzle of butterscotch caramel sauce.

Vanilla cupcakes studded with chocolate chips and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate shavings, toffee, and butterscotch caramel. A cupcake worthy of the name TGIF!

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