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If you read MBA on a regular basis, you may recall me mentioning that I teach junior high. Some of my students know that I’m a food blogger as well – in fact, one came back after summer break saying that I shouldn’t be his teacher anymore because he saw my show on Food Network. I laughed it off, but his grandma further explained that he confused me with Rachel Ray and told everyone that his teacher is a famous TV cook! I assure you that Food Network is not in my current or near future, but I sure did get a chuckle out of that one.
I teach in an alternative school, where many of the students in my classroom have made their way to our program because they struggled with maintaining appropriate behavior in a typical setting. However, they are a great group of kids that are willing to learn, we just need to be a little more creative with our approach.
At the beginning of the year, I hung a large illustration of a jar on the wall and told them that once they filled up the jar with 100 marbles I would let them plan a party – my treat. Well, they did it in record time, so one morning I allowed them to compile a list their party ideas. After tallying up their lists which included items such as pizza, popcorn, a movie, and Hot Cheetos, we noticed a definite trend. These kids wanted cupcakes and they specifically stated that store bought cupcakes would not do – they wanted homemade cupcakes with lots of frosting – made by yours truly!
I scanned my pantry and realized that I still had a bag of Take 5 candy bars that I purchased for another project. Immediately I had the idea for Take 5 Cupcakes – what kid doesn’t love chocolate, peanut butter, pretzels and caramel? And combine that awesomeness with cake and frosting – how could they be bad?
I used my favorite doctored up cake mix because it’s easy, delicious and yields a nice, thick batter that is perfect for baking candy bars into. Then I added on a big swirl of peanut butter buttercream, a drizzle of chocolate glaze and finished them off with a piece of a Take 5 candy bar. Pure chocolate peanut butter heaven! The kids loved them and are already eagerly planning their next marble party and more importantly – the next cupcake flavor!
Take 5 Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 18.25 ounce package devil’s food cake mix
- 1 5.9 ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup warm water
- 24 Fun Size Take 5 Candy Bars; cut in half
For the Peanut Butter Buttercream
- 3 sticks unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar sifted
- 6-8 tablespoons heavy cream if using milk, amount will be less
For the Chocolate Glaze
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped into very small pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cupcakes
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla and water. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until well combined.
- 3. Using a large cookie scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells; about 3 tablespoons of batter per well. Press 1/2 Fun Size Take 5 candy bar into the center of each cupcake. Use a small spoon to spread the batter over the candy bar.
- 4. Bake in preheated oven for 20-24 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. There may be a small sink hole in the top of the cupcakes from the candy bars, that’s okay - you’ll cover that with frosting. Allow cupcakes to cool inside muffin tins for about 10 minutes.
- 5. Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack. Once cupcakes are cool, prepare your frosting.
For the Peanut Butter Buttercream
- 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended.
- 2. Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
- 3. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Prepare Chocolate Glaze.
For the Chocolate Glaze
- 1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the heavy cream until very hot, but not boiling.
- 2. Place chocolate pieces in a heat safe bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Whisk the cream and chocolate until smooth and thoroughly combined. Whisk in the honey, corn syrup, and vanilla. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes. Do not let the glaze sit for too long or it will harden up before you spoon it over the frosting.
- 3. Spoon the glaze on the tops of the frosted cupcakes, allowing it to drip down the sides a little bit. Don’t add too much glaze or it will drip all over your liners.
- 4. If desired, finish each cupcake with a piece of a Take 5 candy bar.
OMG these look amazing….Take 5 is one of my fave candy bars so this is pure genius!!!
The world needs more teachers like you. Committed, creative and passionate about their craft. I bet your students love to learn because they enjoy while doing it. Your cupcakes mirror your positive attitude and passion for food. You are an inspiration to many of us…and a generous one at that, for sharing your recipe! Thanks!
What a decadent, perfect cupcake!
Lucky kids! I want a party like that! What a great way to reward them.
I love this! They are so beautiful, Jamie!
I haven’t read thoughts from your previous commenters, so I don’t know what they generally are thinking. However, I don’t care what kind of food you lovingly planned, paid for, prepared and carried to school with you. The fact that you “gave” to them and taught them trust and rewarded them for whatever behavior skills or academic skills were learned, you are a bright and shining star! Oh yea, you are a great blogger as well and your food photos are beautiful and creative. Just remember what you leave with and in those kids in that school is the best gift you are leaving in this world. Kudos! Yes, we do need to be good to ourselves, and continue with the things or actions that maintain balance and keep us happy so that we can “just keep swimming.” Right? Thanks for sharing such a sweet story with all of us. Its good to be reminded of important things in life.
AmyRuth
I want these in my tummy right now!! I love Take 5, yum! Also, I think your party idea is so great-my grandma taught at an alternative high school in my hometown (Massillon, OH) for most of her life and she loved it. :)
LOveeee YOU !!! :D
*droooling* these look ahhhmazing!! My guy would definitely love these, such a good idea!
These look amazing! I really want to try your recipe for the cupcakes especially because I am curious on the doctored up recipe!