Cupcakes Week 52!!!!!!

I'm done!! and my waist line couldn't be happier!!! WAHOO!!!

and instead of posting on a Friday, i'm doing it today because i am soooo happy!!! well, and tomorrow is my birthday :)

Vanilla Sour Cream with Fudge Icing

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup fine white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large egg at room temperature
2 large egg yolks at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (love Madagascar vanilla in these!)
1/2 cup full fat sour cream at room temperature


FOR THE ICING:

2 ounces of dark baking chocolate
2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (you can go with baking chocolate or even chocolate chips)
2/3 cup unsalted butter @ room temperature
1 1/3 cups sifted icing sugar
1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract


MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 350F
GREASE 12 muffin cups or LINE with paper liners (I am always a fan of liners!)
IN A LARGE BOWL, whisk together first four ingredients
WITH ELECTRIC HAND-MIXER, add all other ingredients and blend until combined
DIVIDE batter evenly among muffin cups
BAKE for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean
ALLOW to cool in muffin tin 5 minutes
REMOVE cupcakes and allow to cool 1/2 hr on a cooling rack before icing


MAKE THE ICING:

CHOP chocolate into small pieces
IN A SMALL MICROWAVE SAFE BOWL, combine dark and semisweet chocolate
MICROWAVE 30 seconds at 50% power
STIR and microwave again 30 seconds at 50% power
STIR and if melted then great ! If not, back in it goes
ONCE MELTED, allow to cool to room temperature
IN SEPARATE LARGE BOWL, whip butter with electric hand-mixer until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes at medium speed)
SIFT in icing sugar and mix until blended (1 minute at medium speed should do it!).
ADD vanilla extract and mix til combined.
ADD cooled chocolate mixture and blend until well combined.

ICE the cupcakes: I used a 1M Swirl Wilton piping tip.

Cupcakes Week 51

Butterscotch Cupcakes

Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Butterscotch
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons Scotch (or other whisky)
1/4 cup 35% cream, hot
2 tablespoons salted butter
Vanilla buttercream icing
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons 35% cream, hot
Directions
Cupcakes
With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place paper or silicone liners in 9 or 12 muffin cups.
In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar with the vanilla using an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk. Divide the batter among the muffin cups.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly. Unmould and finish cooling on a rack.
Butterscotch
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil. Cook until the mixture turns golden-brown. Off the heat, add the Scotch, the cream and butter. Continue stirring until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
Vanilla buttercream icing
In a bowl, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cream in a thin stream and continue beating until smooth. Set aside.
Assembly
Using a apple corer or a melon baller, cut a pocket from the centre of each cupcake, removing about 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of cake without cutting through. Fill the pocket with 15 ml (1 tablespoon) butterscotch. Ice the cupcakes with the buttercream icing.

Cupcakes Week 50

BANANA SPLIT CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS
1 box Duncan Hines French Vanilla Cake Mix
1 stick butter, melted
4 eggs
3/4 cup water
2 medium sized ripe bananas, mashed
7 oz jar marshmallow creme (or fluff)
For Frosting:
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup sliced strawberries, pureed into a pulp
5-6 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate sauce
Sprinkles
Chopped almonds
Maraschino Cherries
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin tins with liners.
In the bowl of a mixer, combine cake mix, melted butter, eggs, water, and mashed bananas. Beat on low for 1 minute. Increase speed to medium high and beat for 2 minutes more. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter and bake for about 15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Remove cupcakes from tins and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
Once cupcakes are cool, prepare frosting:
In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter and strawberries and beat on medium until combined. Slowly add powdered sugar on low until just mixed. Increase speed to medium high and beat for about1 minute.
Cut holes in the top of cupcakes with a sharp knife, about 1/3 of the way into the cupcake. Fill holes with a spoonful of marshmallow creme, then pipe or spread frosting on top. Top with chocolate syrup, chopped almonds, sprinkles and a cherry.
Notes:
For the strawberries, I used unsweetened frozen sliced strawberries. I thawed out a cup, then pulsed them in the food processor.
In the frosting, start out with one cup of powdered sugar. If the frosting seems to runny after beating it, add the other cup or more if necessary.

Cupcakes Week 49

Guava Cupcakes
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup guava nectar
2 cups guava pastry filling
1 recipe guava buttercream (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans with paper liners.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined.

Alternately add the flour mixture with the guava nectar, beginning and ending with the flour. Fill was muffin cups with the batter, ¾ full (I use a 2 ounce scoop). Bake about 20 minutes (rotating pan after about 10 minutes) until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out (almost) clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before filling. Makes 24-30 cupcakes

To fill the cupcakes, hold the cupcake in one hand. Use a paring knife, a large round up or a cupcake plunger, cut a small hole in the center of cooled cupcakes. Use the guava filling to fill the cupcake. Top with buttercream.

Guava Buttercream

1 lb. unsalted butter, room temperature
1 lb. confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. guava nectar
1/8 tsp. of salt
¼ cup guava pastry filling
In a medium bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract and salt and beat the mixture at low speed just until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth. Add guava nectar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spoon in guava filling and mix until combined. If the butter begins to break, keep beating. Top the cupcakes as desired.

Cupcakes Week 48

Sweet Tooth? Child of the 80s? Or maybe you watch Toddlers and Tiaras like I do, and crave a pixie stick afterward. These are for you

Pixie Stick Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix
12 ounces mixed berry 7-Up*
1 small envelope each cherry, orange, grape and berry blue (or tropical punch) Kool-Aid drink mix
Pixie Frosting (recipe & ingredients follow)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with about 15-18 paper liners and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, beat together the cake mix and 7-Up... that's it! No eggs, no oil--nothing! Just soda and mix. Beat until creamy, about 2 minutes. Spoon about 3/4 cup of batter into two separate small bowls (3/4 cup batter per bowl). Stir in one packet of grape mix into one small bowl, and one packet of the berry blue mix into the other small bowl until each bowl is blended and flavored. If desired, tint the batter with purple or blue food coloring to enhance the color.

3. Put a heaping Tablespoon of white batter into each muffin tin. Then, top the white batter with one small teaspoon each of grape and berry blue batter. Using a sharp knife, swirl the grape, berry blue and vanilla batters together very lightly. Bake for approx. 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with light moist crumbs. Cool completely.

Now make your Pixie Frosting!

Pixie Frosting

2/3 cup butter, softened
2 tsp lemon juice
About 4 cups powdered sugar
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and lemon juice until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add powdered sugar, about one cup at a time, until light and fluffy. Divide frosting evenly among two bowls.

2. Stir half a packet of cherry drink mix into one bowl, and half a packet of orange drink mix into the other until combined. Portion frosting among two piping bags and pipe orange frosting onto cooled cupcakes and top with cherry frosting. If desired, sprinkle frosted tops with more powdered drink mix or Pixie Stick powder for an extra pucker punch.

**Note: if you can't find mixed berry 7-Up, substitute it with 12 ounces (1 can) of regular or cherry-flavored 7-Up. I like the lightness soda adds to cake mix and the mixed berry flavor adds just a subtle sweetness to the cake that is so good.

Cupcakes Week 47

It's almost Valentine's Day so why not make something hot and spicy ;)

Red Hot Cupcakes
For the white cupcakes:
2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
12 tbsp butter, at room temperature
2 whole eggs + 2 egg whites, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
5-10 red hots per cupcake

For the red hot syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup red hots

For the red hot frosting:
1 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp red hot syrup
1/4 cup crushed red hots
* If you want to frost all 24 cupcakes with as much frosting as I've pictured above (which is probably too much, but it's pretty) you'll want to double this recipe. If you want a less sweet version, try folding in 1/2-1 cup of whipped cream to break it up

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with 24 cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add eggs and egg whites one at a time, beating on low between each addition. Add vanilla.
- Add flour slowly in 3 additions, alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour.
- Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full and place 5-10 red hots in each cupcake, using a clean finger to push them halfway down into the batter.
- Bake 15-17 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

- For the red hot syrup, bring water to a simmer in a small saucepan.
- Add red hots and stir occasionally until completely melted. A gummy clump of red hots will form, but keep stirring and eventually it will break up and melt.
- Allow syrup to reduce for 15-30 minutes.

- For the frosting, beat butter in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, until completely mixed.
- Add the red hot syrup and beat until well combined.
- Mix in crushed red hots (I used a food processor to crush them).
- Poke holes in the tops of the cupcakes and brush some red hot syrup on each before frosting.
- Load frosting into a piping bag fit with a large tip and decorate as desired.

Cupcakes Week 46

YUM!!

Sweet Potato-Pecan Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 large eggs
1 (16-oz.) can mashed sweet potatoes
2/3 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnish: coarsely chopped pecans
Preparation

1. Place pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan.
2. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted, stirring once after 4 minutes.
3. Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
4. Whisk together mashed sweet potatoes, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with sweet potato mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Fold in toasted pecans. Place foil baking cups in muffin pans, and coat with vegetable cooking spray; spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full.
5. Bake at 350° for 28 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Remove immediately from pans, and cool 50 minutes to 1 hour or until completely cool. Spread cupcakes evenly with Cream Cheese Frosting. Garnish, if desired.

Some fun for your Superbowl cupcakes!

Being from Massachusetts, you know I'm excited for Sunday!

Here's a little something I made to jazz up the cupcakes a little for this weekend. And of course, i refuse to make them team neutral, or make them for the Giants ;)

GO PATS!!

Here are a couple freebies for ya :) Clink on the names for the download

Cupcakes Wrappers

Cupcake Toppers

Cupcakes Week 45

A little wine to start your weekend off right? I think so!

Blackberry Cabernet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Macerated Berry Mixture | Makes 1 cup:

3 cups blackberries
½ cup Cabernet Sauvignon
1 tablespoon sugar
Cupcake:

1 cup (4.5 ounces) all purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (7.3 ounces) sugar
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) SCHARFFEN BERGER Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and warm
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup Blackberry mixture
Blackberry Cabernet Frosting:

5 large egg whites
11/2 cup sugar
4 sticks unsalted butter, diced and softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup Blackberry Mixture
Instructions:

Macerated Berry Mixture:

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and gently stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove mixture from refrigerator and place in a blender or food processor and process for 1-2 minutes to puree.

Cupcake:

1. Add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a blow and mix thoroughly to combine. Add the butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for one minute. Add the butter and egg mixture and beat for 20 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the blackberry mixture. Beat for 20-30 seconds until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin enough to pour. Divide it evenly among the lined cups. Bake 18-22 minutes in 350 degrees just until a toothpick inserted into a few of the cupcakes comes out clean. Set the pan on a rack to cool. Frost the cupcakes when they are completely cool.

TIP: For light tender cupcakes, spoon flour and cocoa lightly into measuring cups (instead of dipping the cups into the flour or cocoa) and then sweep the measures level without tapping or shaking them.

Blackberry Cabernet Frosting:

1. Combine egg whites and sugar in a bowl placed over simmering water. Bring mixture to 150 degrees F while whisking constantly.
2. Transfer mixture to stand mixer bowl, fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on medium speed until mixture cools and doubles in volume (about 10 minutes).
3. Add butter in one piece at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. The mixture may appear clumpy and almost curdled looking-this is normal. Keep mixing and it will become even and smooth again. Add salt and vanilla and mix to combine. Add blackberry mixture and mix to combine.

Cupcakes Week 44

Italian Cream Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS
Cupcakes:
1 box French Vanilla cake mix
1 stick of butter, melted
4 eggs
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup pecans, finely diced
1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Frosting:
1 stick butter, slightly softened
8 oz block cream cheese, slightly softened
4 Tablespoons Cream of Coconut
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup coconut and 1/2 cup pecans, combined (for garnish…I toasted mine on the stove but this is optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, combine cake mix, butter, eggs, cream of coconut, and water. Beat on low speed for about a minute. Scrape sides of bowl and increase speed to medium high and beat for another minute. Fold in coconut and pecans.
3. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Place on a cooling rack until completely cool.
4. In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, and cream of coconut until combined. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat on low until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat for a minute and half. Frost cupcakes and top with coconut and pecans.

Cupcakes Week 43

Chocolate Banana Cake
ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup ripe banana (about 1 banana)
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with paper liners.

In a small bowl, mash the banana with a fork. Whisk in the coconut milk, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract until incorporated. Mixture will still be a little lumpy because of the nature of the banana, but whisk out as many large lumps as you can. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour in banana mixture. Stir until just smooth (do not overmix).

Pour into liners, filling each with 3 tablespoons of batter (cups should be no more than 2/3 full). Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Frost as desired.

Cupcakes Week 42

Who doesn't love Cinnamon Toast Crunch? I've never met anyone who doesn't!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

Cinnamon Cake:
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
¾ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup sour cream
Vanilla Cake Mix (not white cake mix)
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

(There used to be cereal pieces in the batter, but that has been removed due to comments saying it's better without it)

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Buttercream:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder
(Crush the cereal in a bag and then sift out 2/3 cup)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with 20-22 cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, gently combine eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla.
3. Mix in sour cream.
4. Add cake mix and cinnamon and mix until smooth.
5. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.
6. Buttercream: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Adjust the consistency using milk if it is too thick.
7. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with cinnamon sugar and Cinnamon Toast Crunch squares.

Cupcakes Week 41

And of course to ring in the New Year we would need some blubby!

May you all have an amazing and safe evening, and here's to a great 2012!

Champagne Cupcakes with Champagne Buttercream
Servings: About 20-22 cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes

2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 and 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup champagne
6 egg whites

For the buttercream frosting

3 and 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons champagne, at room temperature
For the spun sugar
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water

Instructions
1. For the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until very light and fluffy.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then blend into creamed mixture alternately with champagne.
5. In another large clean bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
6. Fold 1/3 of the whites into batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining egg whites.
7. Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
9. For the frosting: With an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter.
10. Mix on low until well blended, and then on medium for another two minutes.
11. Add vanilla and champagne, beating on medium for another minute.
12. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
13. For the spun sugar: Secure a long-handled wooden spoon under a heavy cutting board on the edge of the counter, with the handle facing out and extending over the edge.
14. Place newspapers on the floor, directly under the cutting board. (Believe me, you will need them as this can get messy….)
15. Prepare an ice-water bath.
16. Bring sugar, corn syrup, and the water to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
17. Stop stirring.
18. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.
19. Cook until the mixture turns pale amber and registers 300 degrees (hard-crack stage) on the candy thermometer.
20. Plunge pan into ice bath to stop the cooking; let cool, stirring occasionally, until caramel registers 250 degrees. ***Be careful. The pan is hot and will steam very strongly when you cool it so rapidly.
21. Dip the tines of a fork into the caramel.
22. Holding the fork about 2 feet above the spoon handle, swing caramel back and forth like a pendulum in long arcs, allowing strands to fall in threads over the handles. **You will most likely lose a lot to the floor below; hence, the newspapers.
23. Let stand until ready to use, then gently gather some of the strands and shaped as desired. You can break them for shorter pieces
24. Garnish the cupcakes with the spun sugar.

Cupcakes Week 40

Since the season is almost over, and starbucks is almost done with their holiday flavors, I needed a way to capture them before it was gone. so here you go!


Gingerbread Latte Cupcake

Ingredients:
Gingerbread Cupcake:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
1 large egg, beaten lightly
1/2 cup strong, very hot coffee
1 teaspoon baking soda
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon thinly sliced crystallized ginger
Instructions:

To make the cupcakes:

Add flour, the ground ginger, the cinnamon, the cloves, the allspice, and the salt in a bowl and sift.
Add 1/2 stick of the butter and granulated sugar in bowl and beat until mixture is pale and fluffy. Add molasses and egg beat until the mixture is smooth. In a measuring cup combine the baking soda with 1/2 cup very hot strong coffee water and stir until baking soda is dissolved. Stir the baking soda mixture into the molasses mixture (the mixture will appear curdled) and the combined molasses and baking soda mixture into the flour mixture, stir until ingredients are well combined.
Fill cupcake liners halfway. Bake the cupcakes on the middle rack of a 350 degree °F. oven for about 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. (Cupcakes will be flat on top.) Transfer the cupcakes to a rack to cool completely before frosting.
To make the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

Add cream cheese, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla into a bowl and beat until fluffy and smooth. Add in the zest and lemon juice and beat to combine. Chill frosting for 30 minutes before using.

Cupcakes Week 39

Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes
1 cup (4.5 ounces) all purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (7.3 ounces) sugar
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) SCHARFFEN BERGER Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and warm
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee (recommended: Starbucks Via)
1/2 cup hot coffee
3/4 cup chopped peppermint Andes
Instructions:

1. Add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a blow and mix thoroughly to combine. Add the butter, eggs, and peppermint extract and beat on medium speed for one minute. Add the butter and egg mixture and beat for 20 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the instant coffee and the hot coffee. Beat for 20-30 seconds until the batter is smooth. Fold in chopped peppermint Andes. The batter will be thin enough to pour. Divide it evenly among the lined cups. Bake 18-22 minutes just until a toothpick inserted into a few of the cupcakes comes out clean. Set the pan on a rack to cool. Frost the cupcakes when they are completely cool. Store and serve at room temperature.

TIP: For light tender cupcakes, spoon flour and cocoa lightly into measuring cups (instead of dipping the cups into the flour or cocoa) and then sweep the measures level without tapping or shaking them.

Peppermint Swiss Meringue Buttercream

5 large egg whites
11/2 cup sugar
4 sticks unsalted butter, diced and softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions:

Combine egg whites and sugar in a bowl placed over simmering water. Bring mixture to 150 degrees F while whisking constantly.
Transfer mixture to stand mixer bowl, fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on medium high speed (speed 8 on a KitchenAid stand mixer) until mixture cools and doubles in volume and forms soft medium peaks; about 10-12 minutes).
Add butter in one piece at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. The mixture may appear clumpy and almost curdled looking at first-this is normal. Keep mixing and it will become even and smooth again.
Add salt and peppermint extract and mix to combine.
Chocolate Pouring Sauce

2/3 cups dark chocolate
2 tablespoons heavy cream
4 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted
4-5 tablespoons water, warm
Instructions:

Place chocolate and heavy cream in a bowl over simmering water. Let chocolate and cream sit for 2-3 minutes to melt without stirring. Then slowly stir mixture to combine.
Add powdered sugar and mix to combine.
Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition until pouring consistency is reached.
Set aside and let sauce cool to warm.
To Assemble Cupcake:

Frost cooled cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Freeze frosted cupcakes for ten minutes. Drizzle chocolate pouring sauce over frosting (reheat chocolate pour in microwave as needed to keep pouring consistency). Sprinkle chopped peppermint Andes on chocolate sauce. Finish with a peppermint candy on top.

Cupcakes Week 38

It's Dec. which means it's time to start making some Christmasy cupcakes!

Candy Can Kiss Brownie Cupcakes

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
1 c. flour

For the buttercream you’ll need:

Two sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
2 c. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla extract (or peppermint would also be delicious!)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (F).

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a microwave safe bowl for 90 seconds to two minutes, on high. Stir the mixture until all the chocolate is melted and combined with the butter. Stir in the sugar until it’s well combined, and then add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and salt, and stir until creamy. Finally, add the flour and stir until just combined.

Fill paper-lined mini cupcake tins with a heaping tablespoon of the brownie batter. Press one Candy Cane Hershey Kiss into the center, and cover with a little bit more of the batter, so the candy is fully covered (the little peak of the kiss might be visible, that’s okay). Bake for about 23-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the brownie comes out clean. Keep an eye on them, you don’t want to overbake.

Allow to cool, then make the buttercream.

Whip the butter until creamy, then add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until it’s fluffy. Whip in the vanilla and then give it a taste and make sure you don’t need more of anything.

To get the candy cane stripes, paint a couple of red stripes of food coloring gel straight up the side of a pastry bag. Then fill with buttercream, and pipe onto the brownies as usual. (If you’re doing this method, you may need to add another stick of butter and cup of powdered sugar to the buttercream recipe to ensure you’ll have enough for all the brownies—piping uses more frosting than just spreading it on.)

Finish with some chunky sugar sprinkles for a frosty touch. And enjoy!

Cupcakes Week 37

YUM!

Butterscotch Cupcakes

Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Butterscotch
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons Scotch (or other whisky)
1/4 cup 35% cream, hot
2 tablespoons salted butter
Vanilla buttercream icing
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons 35% cream, hot
Directions
Cupcakes
With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place paper or silicone liners in 9 or 12 muffin cups.
In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar with the vanilla using an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk. Divide the batter among the muffin cups.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly. Unmould and finish cooling on a rack.
Butterscotch
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil. Cook until the mixture turns golden-brown. Off the heat, add the Scotch, the cream and butter. Continue stirring until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
Vanilla buttercream icing
In a bowl, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cream in a thin stream and continue beating until smooth. Set aside.
Assembly
Using a apple corer or a melon baller, cut a pocket from the centre of each cupcake, removing about 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of cake without cutting through. Fill the pocket with 15 ml (1 tablespoon) butterscotch. Ice the cupcakes with the buttercream icing.

Cupcakes Week 36

Hope your Thanksgiving was fantastic and filled with food!

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 15-oz can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup half and half

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper or silicone liners. *If using paper liners, evenly coat them with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and half and half until well combined.

Add in dry ingredients and whisk until no streaks of flour remain and batter is smooth.

Distribute batter evenly in the muffin tin. (they should be about 3/4 of the way full.)

Bake for 20 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan. (They will sink as they are cooling.)

Chill cupcakes before serving. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

Makes 12

Cupcakes Week 35

Chai Cream Cupcake Recipe

1¾ cups cake flour
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
4 Chai Spiced Tea Bags
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, cut-up
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1½ tablespoons vanilla extract


Heat milk in microwave until hot (about 60-90 seconds). Steep 3 Chai tea bags in milk 10-15 minutes. While tea is steeping, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut open remaining tea bag and grind until fine. (I used my electric coffee grinder.) In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sift together, flours, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground Chai tea; mix to combine. Add butter and mix until coated with flour.


Once tea has steeped, squeeze milk from tea bags and discard bags. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together eggs, tea-steeped milk, and vanilla. Mixing at medium speed, slowly add wet ingredients, pausing to scrap the bowl a couple of times. Beat the batter until ingredients are thoroughly combined, being careful to not over beat.


Line cupcake pans with paper liners. Using a large scoop, fill each liner about two-thirds full. Bake until cake tester comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Makes about 24 cupcakes.


Cream Cheese Frosting


2-8 ounces packages cream cheese at room temperature
1 stick (8 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 pounds sifted confectioners' (powdered) sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract


Cinnamon for dusting
Cinnamon sticks for garnish


In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and cream cheese until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add confectioners' sugar until thoroughly incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and mix to combine.


Once cupcakes have cooled, pipe cupcakes with frosting. Dust lightly with cinnamon and garnish with half of a cinnamon stick if desired.

Cupcakes Week 34

Cupcakes are amazing. Wine is amazing. Together it's phenomenal!

Sauvignon Blanc Wine Cupcakes

CUPCAKES
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Sauvignon Blanc wine
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
FROSTING
6 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Sauvignon Blanc wine
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
GARNISH
Yellow decorator sugar crystals
Edible yellow pearls
Directions

1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, water, 1/2 cup wine, oil, eggs and 2 teaspoons lemon peel. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).
2 Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter and salt with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat in 1/3 cup wine and 1 teaspoon lemon peel. If frosting is too thick, beat in more wine a few drops at a time. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with yellow sugar and pearls.