#LazyGirl Chocolate Fudge Snickers Stuffed Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

So, I attempted to shorten up the title of this blog post but, in reality, I just couldn't. Lets call it what it is. These are my #LazyGirl Chocolate Fudge Snickers Stuffed Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting. Trust me, I could've extended it even further but, then you probably wouldn't have clicked on the link. It sounds totally complicated and unreasonable to complete on a working girl's schedule and a #20Something budget BUT, rest assured. It's not. I'll let you in on a little secret: I cheated. Yikes! And...that's why I labeled this post #LazyGirl.

I pride myself on being a health-conscious person for the most part but, as we've all experienced, sometimes my sweet tooth takes over and I find myself desperately in need of a sinful dessert. When I was in middle school, my vice was Snickers. And, although I do my best to stay away from replacing my dinner with chocolate bars in my adult life, I still try to sneak this candy into recipes here and there so that I can reminisce on my IDGAF-days. I made these cupcakes for a coworker's going away party last month because I have an office full of hungry, savage men {my dedicated taste-testers} and I knew that I couldn't show up with anything less than a decadent, rich dessert. According to them, this is the best dish I've made in my 4 years of working here. Let me just tell you - that's kind of a big deal. 

I'll start from the beginning here; I searched online the day before for an easy recipe that was both stuffed, cheap, and quick. Nada. So, I figured that I could create one using a little bit of creativity, some candy, and a box-o-cake. Gasp! Did she say that she used BOXED CAKE? AND she used store-bought icing? Suuuuureee did, ladies. I said that I wanted to make a dish for the office, not sacrifice my sanity, wallet, and precious sleep. Although, I did wake up at 4am to stuff, ice, and decorate these bad boys. But, that's just because I get into the office super early and have the longest commute imaginable when the city is under construction. Which, hint: it always is. 

ANYWAY, that's beside the point because you, my friend, don't have to wake up at 4am to complete these cupcakes. You can sleep in until 1pm if you want and scarf all of these babies down in bed when you wake up. No judgment here. But, before you can scarf them down, I guess I'm going to have to show you how to make them, huh? Well, let's begin:

Materials:
Makes 24 cupcakes

-(1) Box Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
-(1) Container Betty Crocker Whipped Buttercream Frosting
-(1) 8oz Bag Snickers Bites
-(1/4) Cup Salted Peanuts, chopped
-(1) Giaradelli Caramel Sauce
-(3) Eggs
-(1/2) Cup Vegetable Oil
-(1 1/4) Cup Water
-(24) Cupcake Liners
-Piping Bag 
-Piping Bag Tip

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Pour cake mix, eggs, water, and oil into large bowl. Mix until smooth. 
3. Pour mix into cupcake liners in tin. (Hint: using an ice cream scooper for this step makes the process much easier and tidier) Once finished, tap tin on counter to set. 
4. Bake cupcakes, approximately 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
5. Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool for at least 2 hours or overnight. (Do not put cupcakes in refrigerator)
6. Using bottom end of fork or other utensil, carefully scoop out a small hole in the middle of each cupcake and put contents on a plate. 
7. Add (1) Snickers bite to the middle of each cupcake where contents were removed.
8. Replace the contents of each cupcake over top of the Snickers bite to even out cupcake top. 
9. Secure the piping bag tip on the piping bag. Place the piping bag in a large glass in order to steadily fill the bag with icing. Using a spatula, add icing to piping bag and push to bottom. 
10. Twist and apply pressure to piping bag until icing starts to come out of bottom. Using a circular motion from the outside inward, apply icing to each cupcake evenly. Refill piping bag, if necessary. Repeat until all cupcakes are complete.
11. Pour out the remainder of Snickers bites onto a plate. Using knife, cut each bite in half. Decorate top of cupcakes with Snickers bites. 
12. Using knife, chop peanuts into small pieces. Sprinkle over top of cupcakes.
    
13. Drizzle caramel sauce on top of each cupcake to finish.
14. Enjoy!

Now, for the fun/messy part of these cupcakes - decorating! Don't be shy with your toppings, the crunch of the peanuts and stickiness of the caramel sauce are the icing on the cake. But...literally.

Oli is always the best behaved little helper when I'm making cupcakes. Shocker.

Let me know in the comments how your #LazyGirl Chocolate Fudge Snickers Stuffed Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting turned out.

Have a fabulous remainder of the week, everyone. Don't forget to check back with me on Saturday for the latest edition of Weekend Links!

XO Anna Elizabeth