{Healthier} Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl "Cupcakes"

Are these muffins? Are these cupcakes? Are they some sort of healthier hybrid?? We may never know. But-for simplicity's sake...we'll call them cupcakes. Even though they have no frosting...and are actually acceptable for breakfast...

...just....go with me on this.

These cupcakes are made with whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt, egg whites, TWO bananas, and  swirl of peanut butter (or-in my case-homemade almond peanut butter). They also have unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips which are perfectly fine. And...and I mean...there's also a little bit of all purpose flour, sugar, and some peanut butter chips. But not much of them! So I definitely still ate these as my healthy snack and for breakfast. (Not that I've never eaten a full on cupcake or cookie for breakfast...I have...I just, ya know, felt semi-bad about it.)

My brother and I were big fans of these--which makes sense. They combine chocolate, banana, and peanut butter. Which we love. Our only complaint is a wish that there was more peanut butter sooo---if you wanna be extra generous with your peanut butter swirl...I certainly would approve. Michael didn't adore these (he thought they were fine), largely because they have a fairly obvious banana flavor and he is not a banana fan. But that's ok! They're so moist and soft and there's gooey chocolate chips (if you're smart and eat these warm) and a bit of peanut butter and just...mmm. They're delicious enough that I don't mind not sharing!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes-Cupcake Day!

As you may be aware...I only have 2 cupcake recipes on this blog. Which is crazy, I know. It's just....cookies....ya know? BUT I am so excited that I got an excuse to make you guys another cupcake because today is CUPCAKE DAY! I mean...not officially...but myself and some other bloggers dubbed it such because we're all sharing cupcake recipes. You get the idea. It's a good thing.

And look....I'm gonna tell you straight up....I registered for some piping tips and pastry bags. Because...I mean...look at that frosting. I apologize. These turned out way prettier in my head. Try your best to forgive me lack of decorating skills, mk? Thanks, guys. You're the best.

These cupcakes led to Michael's co-workers accusing me of witchcraft. This is due to my, apparently, delectable treats + the fact that the cookie dough inside the cupcake "magically" didn't bake. 

I'm not a witch (in spite of my Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed loving young self's hopes and dreams). And I'm not even a magician who will protect my secret. Because it's not a secret-it's just a filling! You add the cookie dough into the cupcake after it's baked (I used the "cone" method that's detailed below as well as in this post---and, for the record, thus far those are the only cupcakes I've made that I've really been super into. But that makes sense because choc/pb cupakes are usually what I like best when I buy them, too.).

They are pretty tasty, though. There's a gorgeously fluffy brown sugar cake that you fill with the eggless cookie dough and top with-my favorite component-the chocolate chip cookie dough frosting. That frosting is the bomb dot com. Best part. Now...as previously stated....I'm not obsessed with cupcakes. I just wasn't head over heels for the cake itself (there's nothing wrong with it, this was just my own general "meh"-ness about non-chocolate cakes) and Michael is attempting to cut back slightly on the sweets (he'd like to not think he's fat in our wedding pictures-he's not fat for the record). And that is why these were sent to his work, I was accused of witchcraft, and they were devoured within 20 minutes of Michael getting there. I'm spoiling his co-workers and I'm okay with that.

Spoil your co-workers. Or friends. Or family. Or YOURSELF!

Now go check out the tons of other completely drool-worthy cupcake recipes we have for you!!

• Hot Cocoa Cupcakes by The Redhead Baker
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes by The Cooking Actress
• Vanilla Candy Cane Cupcakes by Noshing With The Nolands
• Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Nerds Cupcakes by Amy's Confectionery Adventures
• Vegan Midori Melon Cupcakes by NinjaBaker
• Chocolate Bourbon Cupcakes with Candied Butter Pecan Frosting by From Gate to Plate
• Dark Chocolate Rum Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream by Lemony Thyme
• Gingerbread cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting by Eva Bakes
• Cranberry Apple Cupcakes by The Pajama Chef
• Almond Joy Cupcakes by Our Eating Habits
• Buttered Rum Cupcakes by Adventures in All Things Food
• Maple Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cone Head Cupcakes with Ice Cream Frosting by The Spiffy Cookie
• Candied Buddha's Hand-Eggnog Cupcakes by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Almond Joy Cupcakes by Food Lust People Love
• Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting for 2 by Kate's Recipe Box
• Cranberry Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream by Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Peppermint Patty Cupcakes by Comfortably Domestic
• Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Biscoff Marshmallow Buttercream by Making Miracles
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting by {i love} my disorganized life
• Lemon Cupcakes by Miss Information
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes by Kosher Kitchen
• Peppermint Cream Cookie Cupcakes by Take a Bite Out of Boca
• Cupcake Christmas Wreath by Lick the Spoon

Milk Bar Inspired Cereal Milk Cupcakes-Guest Post with The Brunette Baker

Jenny. Oh Jenny Jenny Jenny. Jenny is The Brunette Baker. Guys....her blog name alone....I already have a bunch in common with her-we're brunettes and we bake! Instant friendship! Ha jk but no really-I think I discovered her via instagram and she was so sweet and so funny and just crazy nice and supportive to me on there that it was like...impossible not to wanna be her best friend. This girl is seriously gorgeous and smart and BAKES SO MANY DELICIOUS THINGS IT'S LIKE OMGEEE GET IN MY BELLY! Like...I can't...I can't even make you wait any longer for this recipe. You guys are gonna love it:

Hey kids! I'm Jenny over at The Brunette Baker and I'm super chuffed for the opportunity to have a small walk on role here at The Cooking Actress.

It should come as no surprise to her readers, or anyone that is blessed to know her, that Kayle is truly something special. I’ve had the utmost pleasure of meeting her through the love of blogging. Although I haven't met her in person (YET), she's the sort of person you don't need to meet in the flesh to know what an amazing girl she is. She's a talented and smart girl with incredible beauty - inside and out. In fact, her heart is bigger than all the Hollywood egos put together. Needless to say, this girl is going places.

I will not be surprised to see her on the red carpet in the near future, wearing a gorgeous vintage Valentino gown donning a jewel-encrusted Balenciaga clutch as the dashing Michael, wearing Armani, escorts her while 10,000 camera flashes go wild. I’ll, of course, be in my living room, wearing my cupcake flannel pajamas and holding a bucket of fried chicken, jumping up and down, screaming, ‘OH MY GARSH! I KNOW HER! I knew her when she made those Browned Butter Brownies and Michael chugged a can of Spaghettio’s!” Then I’ll probably choke on a chicken bo-. Sorry. Tangent.

Anyway. Miss Kayle moved from The Big Apple back to Ohio. I know how tough it is moving in the same town, let alone a couple States away. I was only happy to oblige when she reached out to her blogger friends to help her while she readjusts to her surroundings.

New York City has always appealed to me. When I was 18 before heading off to university, a group of girls and I would hop the 6am bus to Port Authority almost every Saturday and explore all the amazing things the city had to offer. I was only a budding foodie back then, so I didn't have the appreciation I did once I hit my 20s and all ten of my 29th birthdays.

It's been a few years since I've been back to the city, but my memory does not fail me. Eileen's on Cleveland has some proper cheesecake, Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate is moan-worthy, Veniero's on East 11th has the bestest cannoli, and of course, there's William Greenberg's for Black & White Cookies.

Of course, there have been several desserteries (totally a word, yes?) that have popped up since my last visit and have been calling me to visit. Bouchon Bakery (I would secretly like one of everything in that bakery to follow me home), Wafels And Dinges (OMG. Hello?!) And Momofuku's Milk Bar.

I have had the pleasure of hitting Milk Bar’s Toronto location quite a few times (and I'm proud to say I'm officially the first Canadian customer to try their cereal milk soft serve – sorry, I’m milking that bragging right. Pun totally intended) and I can honestly say it's one of the most unique desserteries (Oop. There's that word again) out there. I can’t say there is one thing I tried that I didn’t like. In fact, I wanted to #EATALLTHECOOKIES.

So, to celebrate the NYC-TORONTO-OHIO-BLOGGER-FRIENDS connection (I’m sorry. I have no idea why I was screaming just then), I made some Milk Bar Inspired Cereal Milk Cupcakes. Instead of using the traditional cornflakes Milk Bar uses, I used one of my favourite cereals, Capt'n Crunch. Because, why not?

Keep reaching for the stars, Kayle, and feeding my eyes with your gorgeous creations.

I big, red, puffy heart you.

Xo

S'mores Cupcakes

I'm a pretty good big sister.

Baby (and by baby I mean 22 years old) brother has a birthday and what do I do? I ask him repeatedly what he wants me to make him, waiting through his "I don't knows" until he finally helps me decide on: s'mores cupcakes.

Which he ate 5 of within a 2 hour period.

Now, I'm not gonna lie to you: I've been dreaming up my idea of the perfect s'mores cupcake and this is not it. I had neither the ingredients nor equipment (read: KA stand mixer) to pull that off at this point, so I sort of mushed together a few recipes and ideas to come up with these. And, even though they're not perfect, they're pretty danged awesome.

Oh and you wanna know something funny? This is only the 2nd cupcake recipe I've made. Ever. And the last time I made cupcakes (these AMAZING dark chocolate peanut butter cupcakes-which I actually like even better than these) was 2 years ago. I KNOW. What kind of sweet-toothed food blogger am I?? It's because of my relationship with cookies. I just....given the choice...am pretty much gonna pick cookies every time. Sorry cupcakes, you're great every once in awhile, but I just can't quit cookies!

Oh and...the actual cake part of these cupcakes? Vegan. Totally didn't intend that but there ya go. Now...the cupcakes themselves as a whole aren't vegan because of the little graham cracker crust and the marshmallows but I'm sure you can easily make some tweaks or substitutions to vegan-ify the whole thing. Just a fun fact.

Now let's take stock:

• Broke me out of my 2 year long cupcake dry spell? check
• Buttery graham cracker crust on bottom of the cupcake? check
• Dark, moist (and vegan) chocolate cake? check
• Toasty marshmallow goodness up top (which is super quick and easy and means you don't have to dirty dishes by making frosting)?? checkity check check!

They're messy and fun and tasty and make you so happy that it's summer. Just like a regular s'more. :D

Mini Raspberry Swirl Cheesecakes

I know I've been a terrible tease.

I shared all those photos of the deliciousness that I made for Michael's birthday, and I haven't shared any of the recipes yet. I'm truly sorry.

I promise-I will eventually get around to posting them all! 

In the meantime, if there are any that you're absolutely dying to have, like, right this second-let me know. I'll make sure to put them on here A-tothe-SAP.

So. Cheesecake. Not my cup of tea. Just being honest-I'm not a fan.

That said-I'm aware I'm a minority on this. And Michael, like, completely loves cheesecake. So, I decided to be nice, and make him these adorable mini raspberry cheesecakes for his birthday. And boy, these have lasted! Warning: this recipe makes A LOT. Be prepared for tons of leftovers. That, or make these for a big party or something. I'm serious. We just finished the last of them. His birthday was almost a month ago. Yeah. I also had a really hard time just baking the large volume (#1-I only have 1 muffin tin and #2-only so much room in my oven), I had to do multiple batches and that led to some difficulty. And, after the first batch all sunk down and cracked, I decided to do a water bath for the rest-which is annoying, but I completely recommend you do. All of the difficulties were worth it, though, when I saw how much Michael loves them! Michael likes the size a lot-they're great portions. He says the graham cracker crust is really good and the consistency is nice and fluffy and light-not too heavy like some cheesecakes can be. And there's raspberry-which he really loves. So, all in all, a winner :). I definitely recommend you try these sometime!

Red White and Blue-Berry Shortcake Cupcakes-Guest Post with Kristina of Whipped

OK, so I have one more amazing guest post for you before I'm back! This is just as exciting as the last one. Kristina from Whipped is here to share a great 4th of July themed recipe for you! I have to tell you, Kristina is not only an amazing blogger with gorgeous photos, a fun and friendly voice, and scrumptious (plus healthy?!) recipes, but she has also become my BFF--best foodie friend. She's moving to NYC this September for culinary school and I CANNOT wait! Michael is worried I may leave him to spend all my time with her. But then again, he wants her to be at the apartment all the time so she and I can both feed him goodies. Spoiled boy :P Anyway! These cupcakes/shortcakes look so perfect for summer (you can even wear a bikini after eating one, I say it's ok!) and Michael positively drooled over these when he saw the photos! (They're refreshing and have berries so he's obviously ALL OVER THIS!) Now, read the rest of this post, enjoy the wonderousness that is Kristina, then go check out her blog and read every morsel of awesomeness on there! And while you're at it, you should really keep up to date with her through the twitter, that facebook, and of course pinterest!  And I will be back in full force next week! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

OK, so, things are about to get crazy. 

And not just because of these cupcakes (which I'm totally gonna talk about in like a minute).

Last night, my cousin Amy and her friend came to visit me! Amy is one of my oldest cousins, but she's the one I always felt like I could relate to-the one that was most like me (which she sometimes takes as an insult *harumph* :P). I also adore her husband Uriah (who I may have had a crush on when I was like 6 and they'll never let me hear the end of it)-and now that I have Michael he gets along with them both really well, too, and is actually a lot like Uriah, lol. Anyway, Amy and Uriah have moved around a lot, and of course now I live in NY, so I don't get to see them nearly enough. Plus, barely anyone (other than my mom) ever visits me! So I am so so so excited for Amy's visit and we're going to have lots of fun! I'm telling you all this so you know why I may be less active for the next few days...and then for like...a week afterward. You see, Amy leaves on Monday (to her next destination: Atlantic City), and then early Tuesday morning I leave to go to Ohio for a visit! Michael's brothers have a joint (one from college and one from high school) graduation party that coming weekend, so he'll also be coming up after work on Friday. So I'll also be a little less...present...whilst I'm in Ohio. Don't worry, though, you'll still have plenty of delicious posts to read while I'm away ;).

Speaking of delicious! CUPCAKES! These are the first (and, unfortunately, so far the only) cupcakes I have ever made (not counting making boxed funfetti with my mom)! As I've mentioned before, in spite of the trendiness of cupcakes, cookies hold my heart. This does not mean, though, that I don't appreciate a good cupcake now and again. Because I totally do. Especially if they have filling. I had my first "gourmet" filled cupcake at Crumbs and I have never turned back. They are superior in every way to non-filled cupcakes. I love them. Mmm. These cupcakes are amazing! Perfect dark chocolate cupcakes with a rich peanut butter mousse frosting. Umm...awesome. The original recipe didn't have them as being filled but, like I said, every cupcake is better with filling. It was a good call. I really love these cupcakes. Honestly, best cupcakes I've ever had. Ever. And apparently I'm a natural! I did one of the most MacGyver'y ways of frosting these cupcakes (Ziploc bag-no piping tip), and had no idea how to frost a cupcake. Somehow, I inadvertently stumbled upon an actual frosting technique (I learned later) that looks like a rose (which is so kismet since I LOVE roses-my favorite flower!). And filling the cupcakes is super easy too (although I actually read about how to do that)-instructions are below. Now that I'm talking about this, I sort of want to make some cupcakes again. I think it's about time ;).