

I recently bought a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-cake mix (on sale), and I didn’t read the fine print:
Frosting Not Included.
Sure, the “peanut butter” filling was included, the chocolate cake mix was included, and they even provided a little piping bag to help you put the filling in the cupcake. But nothing to hide the filling’s… entry point.
Time for a little experimentation. I wanted to make something more unique than your basic chocolate frosting, so I searched my cupboard and found another sale item: Reese’s Peanut Butter Bells, the holiday version of their mini-cups.
Let’s get the party started!
PEANUT BUTTER CUP FROSTING

Frosts 12 cupcakes
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 cup butter flavored shortening
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 to 4 tablespoons milk, as needed
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 12 – 16 mini peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped
- Whip the shortening for about 30 seconds with an electric mixer, low speed to soften.
- Add 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar and mix, low to medium speed, until blended.
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of milk, then 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar and mix well.
- Add cocoa powder, peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon of milk.
- Slowly add the remaining confectioner’s sugar, adding milk 1 teaspoon at a time as needed if the frosting is too thick.
- Fold in the chopped peanut butter cups.
That’s it! Pretty simple. I thought my first post should be an impromptu recipe. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.