Saturday, June 4, 2011

PB&J Cupcakes


A few weeks ago, a representative from Hero Fruit Spreadables sent me an email asking if I would be interested in reviewing their product. Well, who doesn't like to try new things? Of course I agreed, and look at the lovely basket of goodies that arrived at my door:



Isn't that the cutest little banana spreader?



Now, I had seen these fruit spreads before, but frankly, since they are marketed for kids, I had little reason to look at them closely. What caught my interest in the initial email, though, were the flavors that the spreads come in: Strawberry Red Currant, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Cherry Banana. Strawberry and Cherry Banana? I mentioned those to the hubby and his ears perked right up! I have to admit that we stopped and pick up a jar of the Cherry Banana even before I got the package in the mail---we just had to try it.

I think everyone has those little childhood favorites that they still indulge in. For me, I remember my mother mushing up bananas and adding a little sugar and cream....it was so smooth--I loved it! Maybe that's what attracted both Pete and me to the banana element in these fruit spreads. The texture is so smooth, no seeds or lumps, and the banana is real--there aren't any artificial ingredients. Huh--there isn't any High Fructose Corn Syrup, either!

While I loved the taste of these spreads (the Mixed Berry turned out to be my favorite) on my peanut butter sandwich, my mission was to pair up the fruit spreads and peanut butter in another form, something that kids and adults could both enjoy. How about a cupcake? Yes, please. I did scan the Internet for ideas and eventually came up with my own version:

PB&J Cupcakes

1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 ° F.

Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Lightly spray each liner with cooking spray.

Sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, peanut butter and sugar together for two minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, on at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour and the milk, half at a time, beating until just blended.

Spoon the batter evenly into each paper liner. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely.

Pipe or spread frosting on each cooled cupcake, leaving a well in the middle. Place about a teaspoon of fruit spread, jam or jelly in the middle of each cupcake.

Frosting:

4 tablespoons butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup smooth peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
½ cup seedless fruit spread, jam or jelly

In a medium sized bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Add the powder sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating after each addition. Add the milk and beat until creamy.



Take them out of the oven before they get too brown...they should still be a little light in color.


 

I used the Strawberry Banana flavor with this batch, but any of the flavors will work.



Now, aren't these cute?


 

Not the most attractive picture, but it does show the crumb. These cupcakes will be a little more dense than from a box, but not so dense that they are dry. If you refrigerate the cupcakes, allow them to sit out at room temperature for a bit before you serve them.



I liked the peanut butter flavored cake, but next time I might try a chocolate version....

I have to say, since I started thinking about all of the ways I could combine the peanut butter and jelly, I couldn't get this little tune out of my head:



 I'm evil. Now the song is in your head.

A few more things about Hero Fruit Spreadables---they are sold exclusively at Super Target stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.49. Besides being free of artificial ingredients, they contain more fruit than traditional jams, and, just so you know this isn't a fly by night company, Hero first started making natural fruit jams in Switzerland in 1886!
 
Just for the record, I did receive free product in order to write this review. Am I lucky or what? Now, I'm thinking maybe a PB&J Cinnamon Roll might be in order......


7 comments:

  1. Great review, I am finding I love targer products so I will try this with my daughter.

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  2. These sound delicious, Cathy. I will have to look around for the product, something without high fructose corn syrup must be good.

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  3. Ellerinize sağlık,çok güzel görünüyor.Sevgiletrrrr..

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  4. These are so cute - love the jelly on the top!

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  5. Yummm these look amazing! I've never seen these spreads before. They sound great! Very gourmet.

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  6. I think that was the perfect way to use those fruit spreads. PB & J is still my favorite combination.

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  7. I just know these cupcakes would be a big hit in our family, especially for my granddaughter who has a fascination for PB&J lately. I think we used to get this jelly when we lived in Germany.

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