cupcake challenge ::: week 6 ~ malted milk

My oldest was reminiscing the other day about practical jokes he has pulled off and got onto one that he treasures.  It was the first one he pulled off that involved someone besides his younger brother and sisters. This inspired the cupcake them for this week.  But before the recipe I'm going to share his joke with all y'all.

The sister missionaries came over one afternoon for a little visit and I had made cupcakes that morning for us to have as a treat.  The sisters had shared a message with us and we were all enjoying the cupcakes.  One of the sisters asked what was in the cupcakes.  When I had told her one of the ingredients was crushed up Whoppers she asked, "How do you crush them up?"  My oldest popped up with a grin and said, "With my teeth." 

Both of the sisters turned green and stopped eating.  I had to quickly pull out the little device we used to crush the Whoppers and show them before they lost their cupcakes. 

Meanwhile my son is rolling with laughter and quite proud of the reaction he got from his little joke.  And still after several years he still rolls with laughter when he thinks about it.  To this day whenever we have the missionaries over he will ask if we can make these cupcakes.

chocolate malted milk shake cupcakes
3/4 cup malted milk candies, crushed
3/4 cup chocolate malted milk powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup half-and-half or light cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with 24 paper liners.  Mix together the chocolate malted milk powder, flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is mixed in, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla and mix it in.

Keep mixing and add the flour mix and half-and-half a little at a time alternating between the two.  Fold in the crushed malted milk candies.

Fill the liners about 3/4 full and bake for about 20 minutes till done. This makes about 24 cupcakes.

The cupcakes do bake up a little 'flat.'

chocolate malted milk frosting
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup chocolate malted milk powder
2 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
whipped cream (use the recipe from this post but omit the chocolate)
chocolate malted milk candies

Mix the butter, chocolate malted milk powder, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.  Gradually add the half-and-half and vanilla until the frosting is the right consistency.

Frost the cupcake, top with a dollop of whipped cream, and chocolate malted milk candy.  I cut a bendy straw down to size and stuck it into the cupcake.

Now if any of y'all want to make malted milk cupcakes this week please drop a link in the comments so I can see what you have made.