Tuesday 16 November 2010

Peanut butter cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery book

Regular readers will know that cupcakes are not something I'm usually interested in baking - give me the simpler, more homely fairy cake anyday. But occasionally a recipe will take my fancy, and given the love for peanut butter that I've developed over the summer (and which has been responsible for giving me my figure back) I quite fancied trying these. I've had Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery book for a while, but this is the first thing I've made from it - the cake is a regular cupcake mixture (using milk as well as butter/milk/sugar) but with dark brown sugar and peanut butter to give it a toffeey, peanutty taste. The frosting is milk chocolate - literally just dairy milk mixed with a little cream and butter. The book suggested decorating with peanut butter chips, but I didn't have any of those, so used some chocolate vermicelli instead.

Unfortunately I have identified that it seem to be either wheat or gluten which is the main culprit evil good for me (and not so much dairy); I had a nibble of these before we had sussed this out and they were seriously YUM so I will have to find a way of de-wheatizing them. Still, K was quite happy to finish them off!

11 comments:

  1. I adore peanut butter! I can't suggest a wheat free alternative but was thinking that Reuse's Pieces might make good peanut butter chips?

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  2. I am getting obsessed with peanut butter here! Chocolate peanut butter is a delicious combination - I want to make these!

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  3. I love, love, love peanut butter and will eat it in any way shape or form! A good looking mostly gluten free baking book is red velvet chocolate heartache by Harry east wood. She uses a lot of veg in the cake mixture too to lighten things up. I bought it so that I could cook for my lil bro who was diagnosed as coeliac, havnt cooked anything from it yet though. If you get diagnosed by the doctor you can get a lot of flour and stuff on prescription, so maybe check it out. Sorry for sounding like a know it all mum.

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  4. Try Spelt products: spelt is an ancient form of wheat, and people who are wheat sensitive are often okay with spelt bread etc.

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  5. ooh Verity they look absolutely delicious.

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  6. I've been doing the GF thing for a year and a half now. I've had good luck just subbing in Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Flour for desserts, but I eat more brownies than cakes. Also, I'm not sure if Bob's Red Mill is sold in your area!

    I'd also recommend getting your hands on the Flying Apron's Cookbook: it's vegan as well as GF (which'll help with your dairy stuff) and the recipes I've tried have worked and tasted delicious! :)

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  7. They look yummy. Can you do rice flour? I saw someone else had mentioned spelt, that does work for some people and another one I've heard of (that I probably won't spell correctly which may make it worthless :/) is quinoa. We had good luck with rice flour and even pastas made with rice when we had to briefly go gluten free. Hope you are able to find a good substitute!

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  8. As you know I have a bit of a weakness for peanut butter, my sister has this book so I may have to borrow it and make a batch!

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  9. Roisin - yes, the book suggested those but not sure where to get it from!

    LE - I have that book but not tried anything from it yet. I've had the test for coeliac disease and it came back negative so I'm not eligible for stuff on prescription :(

    CTssaud - I need to try cutting out gluten first and then introducing spelt as spelt has gluten in it, but I agree, it's a great substitute.

    Joan - they were!

    Eva - did it make you feel better?

    Susan - yes, rice flour is ok, but it has an odd texture. I've found a recipe on the side of the packet for peanut butter cookies so quite excited about that!

    Dot - to be honest, they're good but not as good as PB straight from the jar...

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  10. It must be a nightmare to try to de-wheat cakes. I do wonder if I shouldn't test if I am reacting to either wheat or milk as well.. but in a way I like being in denial.

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  11. I actually love cupcakes but they're not easy! I've tried several cookbooks and they just don't look like the store bought ones when I make them. I've just gotten Martha Stewart's cupcake book so I'll try that. I'm not usually a fan of hers but to get my cupcakes right, I'll try anything. I'll check out this book you mentioned.

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