Certain dates should be seared into long-term memories. Mom’s birthday. Your wedding anniversary. Pay days. June 6, 1944. Why the last one? June 6 is otherwise known as D-Day when the Allied Forces invaded Nazi Germany occupied France during World War II. This invasion is crucial to the ultimate end of this 6-year-long global war and the downfall of radical tyranny.
Paramount to this defeat was the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. With a crew of 10 men, a B-17 was expected to survive about 11 missions. Missions were flown as often as two to three days in a row and as few as once a week. The weather, crew availability, bomber maintenance, and other factors dictated how often an 8 to 12 hour long mission took place. Once a crew flew 25 successful missions, their ticket to rotate home to the U.S. of A was given. However, the survival rate for a crew averaged below 50%.
B-17s were known for their durability. The plane’s infrastructure and engines could withstand significant damage while still being in flight. On a typical heavy bombing mission, as many as 72 B-17s filled the skies in squadrons of 9 to 12 planes. Each bomber was outfitted with 5 gun turrets–bottom ball turret, tail turret, top turret, and two waist gun turrets. This level of ammunition was necessary to protect the 6,000 pounds of ordinances onboard and eliminating enemy fighters. Of the 12,732 B-17s built during WWII, 4,735 bombers (about 47,735 crew members) were shot down across the world.
Over the years, we’ve visited our share of B-17s in locations across our great nation. The most famous bomber, and the first to successfully complete 25 missions over Europe, is the Memphis Belle. Named by its pilot, Robert K. Morgan, the Memphis Belle honored Morgan’s girlfriend Margaret Polk…a native of Memphis, TN. From 1946 to 2005, the bomber was on display in Memphis under an arched structure. After years of neglect and vandalism, the Memphis Belle was relocated to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH and restored. It sits as a prominent static display for visitors to marvel at its assets.
The Memphis Belle’s crew was a part of the larger 91st Bomb Group attached to the Eighth Air Force, otherwise known as the Mighty 8th. This group was responsible for flying combat missions over Europe. The National Mighty Eighth Museum in Savannah, Georgia honors this brave group of men (and women) who served through wartime mementos like bomber jackets and everyday items. Volunteers at this museum continue to restore their B-17, the City of Savannah.
Other B-17s we’ve visited include the Nine-O-Nine, which unfortunately crashed in 2019 during a Wings of Freedom tour in Connecticut. Seven crew members were lost in this crash.
Our favorite bomber is the Sentimental Journey, located in Mesa, AZ at the Commemorative Air Force museum. Son A is a volunteer mechanic on this B-17, which remains as only 1 of 4 remaining Warbirds still flying on tour today. The plane was built in 1944 for the Army Air Force, and was delivered to the Pacific Theater in 1945. It never saw war-time service, but was used as a training bomber and later as a fire bomber. The Commemorative Air Force acquired Sentimental Journey in 1978 when it was fully restored.
What’s lesser known about the Sentimental Journey is its Hollywood fame and attachment to director/producer Steven Spielberg. In the slapstick comedy 1941 directed by Spielberg in 1979, the plane is prominently featured on the tarmac during a speech given by Robert Stack’s character, Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell. (The movie trailer is here. Look for Sentimental Journey at about 1:20.) The bomber was later outfitted in 2024 with microphones to record the most accurate engine sounds for the series Masters of the Air. Son A’s pilot buddy Dan flew the plane for the production crew. He told us they wanted him to backfire the plane on a couple of occasions, much to his chagrin.
A perk of having a kid who works on a Warbird is being able to tour it when no one else can climb onboard. What’s even better is sitting in the pilot and co-pilot’s seats! Take a look at what’s inside the Sentimental Journey. As always, we thank our veterans and current service members for their sacrifices!
I can’t think of a better pairing than Son A and a vintage Warbird. It’s as good as, well, peanut butter and chocolate. Which leads me to today’s recipe…the Buckeye Cupcake. The Buckeye is a native tree in Ohio, which happens to be where Memphis Belle is on display today. But the Buckeye candy is also native to O-hi-o. The decadent candy is a peanut butter ball almost dipped in chocolate, and loosely resembles a Buckeye nut. The Buckeye Cupcake is a moist cocoa-based cupcake, loaded up with nutty peanut butter filling and drizzled with smooth chocolate ganache. Each component of this recipe is a cinch to stir and whip up, and takes less time to assemble than a typical decorated cupcake. I challenge you to not make these! Enjoy!
Buckeye Cupcakes
Moist cocoa cupcakes loaded with creamy peanut butter filling, and drizzled with rich chocolate ganache. What could be more heavenly?!
- Prep Time: 15-20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25-28 Minutes
- Total Time: About 1-1/2 Hours
- Yield: 24 Standard Cupcakes OR 12 Jumbo Cupcakes 1x
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. granulated sugar
2 T. cornstarch
3/4 c. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt (table, kosher or sea)
2 tsp. espresso powder*
4 large eggs, at room temperature and lightly beaten
3/4 c. vegetable or canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1–1/4 c. water*
For the Peanut Butter Filling:
4 c. powdered sugar
1–1/2 c. peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. milk (whole or 2%)
For the Chocolate Ganache:
2/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1 T. light corn syrup
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter baking chips, and/or chopped salted peanuts (For Garnish)
Instructions
To Make the Chocolate Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a 24 size muffin cup tray, spray with nonstick flour bakers spray or line with cupcake liners; or spray a 12 jumbo size muffin/cupcake pans. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add all liquid ingredients and blend until well combined and lump free. Pour batter into cupcake cups to about 3/4 full. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pans to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto rack to cool completely.
To Make Peanut Butter Filling:
While cupcakes are cooling, combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla. using a hand-held or standing mixer. Mixture will be shaggy looking. Add milk and beat until filling is thick, smooth and fluffy.
To Make Chocolate Ganache:
Just before assembly, in a medium-sized, microwave safe bowl, combine semisweet chocolate chips, cream, and corn syrup. Microwave on high for 45-60 seconds or until cream boils. Remove bowl from microwave and stir mixture until evenly combined and smooth. If necessary, reheat ganache in the microwave for 10 second intervals until ganache is pourable and easy to drizzle. Ganache will firm up to a soft consistency on room temperature cupcakes.
To Assemble Cupcakes:
Using a sharp knife, core out about a 1-inch core from the center of each standard size cupcake (if using jumbo, increase to about 2-inches across). Save cake scraps for snacking on. Use a tablespoon or an ice cream scooper to portion and place a dollop of peanut butter filling into each cupcake (use about 2 T. of filling for jumbo size cupcakes). Drizzle chocolate ganache over filled cupcakes and garnish with baking chips and/or chopped peanuts. Serve immediately or store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
*If you don’t have espresso powder, omit the it but use 1 cup water and 1/4 cup strong coffee.
IMNPB
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