Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
by Spicy Icecream
Makes 10
• 90g unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 225g dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 85g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup plain flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting
• 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
• ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
• 50g salted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2-4 teaspoons thickened cream, if needed
For the cupcakes, preheat the oven 350°F and line 10 standard muffin cups with paper liners. Combine butter and 225g chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from over the water and whisk both sugars into chocolate mixture and eggs one at a time. Whisk in vanilla, flour, salt and remaining chopped chocolate.
Divide between muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes or until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.
For frosting, place icing sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until mixture is smooth, adding cream by teaspoonfuls if frosting is too thick. Taste and add more salt if desired.
For sautéed bananas, melt butter in a small frypan over medium heat. Place banana slices in the pan, cooking for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Turn to cook the other side and drain on absorbent paper.
Spread frosting in swirls over cooled cupcakes, and top with a slice of sautéed banana.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the size of Dorothy’s Kansas, it’s nothing new to know that Marchesa as well as Rodarte are the only two design duos here on our side of the pond creating some of the most magical and enchanting fashion our generation has ever seen. That’s why we were keen to see just what inspires them. Check out our video interview below to see what’s in that pretty little head of theirs!
Is it really just me…or is Paris like an orgasmic experience? (Really, I couldn’t think of another analogy, forgive me). You wait, and wait, and the excitement as well as anxiety builds up to the point where you are never quite sure what you will get. Everyone claims how wonderful it is, nothing compares, on and so forth. But I do wonder sometimes, just what will it be like when I finally…arrive!
Crystals, gems, and stones aren’t just for healing power and clarity a la Spencer Pratt; they also make lovely jewelry and intriguing statement pieces. You’ll be sure to realign all of your chakras with Debra Baxter’s crystal brass knuckle ring…and maybe those in the nearby vicinity, too!
Designer Natalie Dissel fuses these gems with precious gold or silver to create an almost fairytale-perfect piece of whimsical jewelry. We are loving her Amethyst Rough Rock Ring and Giant Rose Quartz Ring and want them on our little fingers immediately!
This dyed sorbet and carrot Tiffany necklace by Gemma Redux is what I would call an authentic conversation starter! (Not to mention, we are like white on rice for any accesory with food names in the description.) The chains make it a little less informal, which makes it a versatile piece that can be worn whether dressed up or down.
Maybe Bona Drag’s Unearthen Necklace is more your style, with a stunning crystal encased in a .22 caliber antique bullet casing, for when you’re feeling especially superheroine chic! Not to mention the beautiful packaging the necklace comes in, you may simply never want to take it out.
And if you can’t take the heat, get out the kitchen in Lauren Moshi’s adorable gem heart babydoll dress. Sometimes its just the idea that counts!
Don’t be weary to add a crystal or stone-inspired jewelry piece to your collection, because no matter the trend Dujour girls wear, we always look great with our cheeky smiles, wiggle in our hips, and perfected hair flip!
Now, off to find a new mantra and cleanse my chakras, sweethearts!
Sorry New Zealand designers, Dujour has found a new mascot in Miss Unkon! We’ve not seen a brand this in tune with our dreamy, whimsical, feminine aesthetic since…well ever! It’s definitely love at first sight.
For ss10, Miss Unkon’s collection oozes so much glorious ruffles, flowers and baby-doll pink to turn us into pure addicts who will need a daily fix. Not one to make a good girl go bad all the way, Miss Unkon serves us a tolerable dose of cheekiness and mischief as well.
The latest Spring Summer 2010-11 lookbook, Love is Like a Dreamland, is boho chic hits the streets. At times we want to head to Woodstock with our daisy headbands, while other looks leave us dreaming of a white unicorn to whisk us away to our prince. Whatever you end up feeling, Miss Unkon has got us all tickled pink this season. So once you’ve picked your jaw off the floor and wiped the drool off the keyboard, shop the dream of a collection here!
