Chubby Hubby Cupcakes...Hubba Hubba ;)

What comes to mind when you hear the words Chubby Hubby?

My first thought is something that is really unhealthy for you, and very rich, and very fattening....and ohh so good! 

I am so right.

 Drooling yet? 

I never could have imagined so many flavors in one cupcake...I guess that is why I had to make these giant ones. See how big those suckers are? 

They are a yellow cake battery, peanut buttery, chocolate ganachey, sweet and salty crunchy good time. Ohhhh yeah!

These take a little bit of extra work to make but in all reality, sitting down and eating one of these totally makes all the sweat and hard work worth it! Now lets get down to business here and get you making them yourselves!

I got this recipe over @ Annie's Eats. Thank goodness for such talent :)

Here is what you will need to get these babies started...

For the cupcakes:

 3 cups cake flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp

 1½ cups sugar
1 cups malted milk powder
5 large eggs, at room temp
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1¼ cups buttermilk, at room temp

For the ganache filling:

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temp
1½ cups coarsely chopped pretzels

For the frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Pinch of coarse salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. heavy cream  

And of course some pretzels and whatever else you want to garnish with!

Get that oven preheated to 350 degrees F and lets get to mixin'.

In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add in the sugar, mixing for 1 minute after each addition. Blend in the malted milk powder. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl and mixing well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing each addition just until incorporated.  

Got all that? Great! 

Divide the batter into liners in your cupcake pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Now you can start the ganache. Put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Put the cream into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and pour the hot cream over the chocolate; let stand 1-2 minutes. Whisk together until it becomes smooth. Whisk in the butter 1 tablespoon at a time until completely incorporated. Let stand at room temperature, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened. 

Now you get to stuff your cupcakes, yes!!

 The way I did it was cut out a hole in the center of each of the cupcakes.

 Using a spoon, fill ganache a little over half way full into the holes. 

Then I chopped up some pretzel M&M's and sprinkled a few into each of the holes just to the top.

You could also use chopped up pretzels, or chopped up anything! Whatever you may be craving that day, throw it in there!

Lets get this frosting started so we can frost our cupcakes and dig in!

Combine the butter and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar and salt. With the mixer on low speed, mix in the vanilla and cream just until incorporated. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and whip until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Do not even try it to see what it tastes like, because you will not stop! I used a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off to frost my cupcakes since I was out of pastry bags, worked just fine! Now frost and then top with whatever your little heart desires. I used some pretzel M&M's, some crushed pretzel M&M's and some whole mini pretzels. 

Ta Da!

 You can totally see why these are called Chubby Hubby cupcakes. I mean, if you fed these to your hubby...he might get chubby. Well, anyone might get chubby. 

Oh and a piece of advice, don't try to eat one of these without a glass of milk on hand. I tried and I failed. Just warning you. 

These cupcakes got a 10 out of 10 from all who tried one, they are a "must make again" for sure!

Enjoy!

  
I partied @
Whimsy Wednesday 
Frugal Friday
Sweets For A Saturday
Serenity Saturday
Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Whats Cooking Wednesday
Shine On Fridays
Show Off Monday