The Infernal Resur-Reese's

I know I've baked for Skeletonwitch before, but:
A) They're super awesome, Midwest metal Gods
B) They're well overdue for a new recipe baked in their honor and
C) Their new record makes me want to bake so hard!!
I don't know about you, but I feel like Skeletonwitch just keeps getting better and better. Each of their records are distinctly different, yet consistently full of black, thrashy, goodness. They show nothing but respect for their influences and originators of metal, as they carve out their own well-deserved position in metal history.
Nothing compares to their live shows. I've had the privilege, on several occasions, to witness them unleash the mayhem on a more than deserving crowd. If Overkill played a show with Mercyful Fate, and Immortal, Skeletonwitch would round out the bill nicely. Here's hoping that one day this show will be a reality. A girl can dream, can't she?
Follow their fucking hilarious tour adventures on Twitter. Especially if you like to read about cats, beer, dinosaur world, and flat tires.
In honor of these eternal road warriors, I suggest you pair these cupcakes with a microwaved gas station cheeseburger, and a Miller High Life... or ten.

Skeletonwitch:
The Infernal Resur-Reese's





Makes 18

Metal Constituents:

• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 cup chocolate chips

For the Frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• Pinch salt
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 1/2 Tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup Reese's Pieces (about 2 small bags), Crushed Beyond Dust
• 18 mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups

Merciless Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tin with baking cups, and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together both sugars and butter until well combined.
4. Add peanut butter, beat until smooth.
5. Beat in egg and vanilla.
6. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk in 5 additions, starting and ending with flour mixture.
7. Fold in chocolate chips.
8. Fill baking cups about 2/3 full.
9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean.
10. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. To make the frosting: Beat together sugar, butter, and salt until creamy.
12. Add peanut butter and beat well.
13. Add milk and beat until smooth and creamy.
14. Put Reese's Pieces in a big Ziploc bag, and beat the hell out of them with a rolling pin, hammer, meat cleaver, etc. A food processor works too, but failed to help me release my pent-up aggression.
15. Fold Reese's Pieces that have been crushed beyond dust, into the frosting.
16. Frost completely cooled cupcakes.
17. Top each cupcake with a mini Reese's Peanut Butter cup.
18. On the cake of the holy ones, feed.

Here is some live footage of Skeletonwitch playing "The Infernal Resurrection" in Toulouse, France. Enjoy!

Also, I think it's hilarious that Dustin kept accidentally calling these cakes "Infernal Reese-Erections." Peanut Butter boner!

Beyond the Permafrosting

Originally from Athens Ohio, Skeletonwitch embodies everything I love about metal: Dark lyrics, fast guitars, and aesthetically pleasing album artwork.
I missed them the last time they played in Chicago, despite the helpful efforts of the left-handed guitarist's sister Stacy. They're playing here again soon, so I've cleared my calendar. I hope they like cupcakes, 'cause I plan on baking them a batch of these!


10/25/2008
Nate, Chance,and Scott from Skeletonwitch enjoying Beyond the Permafrosting cupcakes with me and this kid I was going out with at the time:


For these cakes, I recommend a recipe originally posted by the brilliant cupcake queen Natalie over at Bake and Destroy. When she refers to them as "The Best Chocolate Cupcakes," she's not exaggerating.

Skeletonwitch: Beyond the Permafrosting Cupcakes



Makes 16

Metal Constituents:

• 1 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chocolate chips

For the Permafrosting:

• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 4 Tbsp. milk
• 1 Package Berry Blue Kool-Aid (unsweetened)

Merciless Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. Mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and buttermilk until smooth.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Scoop batter into cupcake papers and bake 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the cakes, comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, before removing to a rack to cool completely.
8. To make the Permafrosting: Beat sugar, butter, milk and Kool-Aid in a large bowl on low speed until well blended and smooth.
9. Frost completely cooled cupcakes
10. Enjoy this subzero torture under the black winter sky.

Here's some footage of Skeletonwitch playing "Beyond the Permafrost."
Enjoy!