Jelly Filled Cupcakes with Peanut Butter frosting

   Well, hello there! Baking has seriously become of my very favorite past times this summer. Cookies, cupcakes, cookies, cupcakes...yeah, that's pretty much the extent of what I've been making other than one attempt at making granola that turned into an epic fail. Though I have stuck with two basic sweets, I have tried quite a few variations, one of which I'm pleased as punch to share with you all today; Jelly Filled Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting.
   Peanut butter is, perhaps, one of the greatest foods created and pairing jelly with it? Nostalgic perfection. My brother ate peanut butter and (grape) jelly sandwiches every day when we were kids. These cupcakes remind me of many lunchtimes at our well loved, wooden kitchen table, after a morning of school at home and once my dad had gotten home for his lunch break. After lunch when my dad went back to work my mom, brother, and I would all gather at the kitchen window to blow kisses and wave goodbye as he backed out of the drive way. I like these cupcakes for many reasons.

Jelly Filled Cupcakes

Directions

   I just used a yellow cake mix and followed the directions on the box for the cupcakes. I'm all for made from scratch but when it comes to cake and cupcakes, I kinda suck. After baking the cupcakes, allow them to cool and then use a knife to make a hole down through the middle of each cupcake. Spoon your favorite jelly (honey is delicious too) into the middle of each cupcake and then use your finger to squish it in so the cupcake has jelly all the way through. When they're all bursting with sweet, sticky jelly, it's time to frost them.

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting (found here)

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons milk, or as needed

2 cups confectioners sugar

Directions

   Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer (mine's broken so I just used a spoon and my muscles). Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy. 

   I hope you'll try these cupcakes and perhaps be reminded of your sandwich-filled childhood. And... don't you love my new tablecloth???