Reese's Stuffed Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

I've been wanting to put this recipe together for a while.  The thought of a Reese's peanut butter cup stuffed inside a cupcake...topped with peanut butter frosting...and more Reese's...OH MY!!!!  It is simply a melt-in-your-mouth dream come true!!  My hubby's response to trying his first cupcake was a muffled mouth full of "mmmm hmmmm", shaking his head in approval, and pointing to the empty cupcake liner.  I think it is a keeper!!

(printable recipe) 

24 Cupcakes:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 1/3c water
1/3c creamy peanut butter

1/3c oil
3 eggs
36 Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups

Frosting:

1/3 c. vegetable shortening

1/3 c. butter

3/4 c. peanut butter 

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 cups (approx. 1 lb.) powdered sugar

4-6 Tbsp. milk 

Unwrap Reese’s cups, use 24 for the cupcakes.  Chop the remaining 12 to top the frosting. Mix together cake ingredients for 2 minutes until well mixed.  Fill each cupcake liner with 2 Tbsp. of batter and press a Reese's cup into each.  Top each cupcake with 1 Tbsp. more of the batter to cover Reese's.  Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes.  Let cool completely.

Cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Frost each cupcake and top with chopped Reese's.

Source:  cupcake "mooched" from www.foodbeast.com, frosting "mooched" from www.wilton.com

This recipe was featured on Recipe Lion at http://www.recipelionblog.com/food-trend-stuffed-cupcakes/
and Celebrations at Home at http://celebrationsathomeblog.com/2012/04/link-party-spotlight-2.html 
also at Beyond the Picket Fence at http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2012/04/under-100-linky-party_11.html?showComment=1334200555716
posted on Good Recipes Online