Sunday, June 26, 2011

Rise and Shine Cupcakes

Who said cupcakes were only for dessert? Not me. :) Yesterday I baked some brown sugar cupcakes. As I was working on the frosting it decided it didn't want to work with me. So I was left with two dozen cupcakes without frosting.

I searched the Internet and stumbled upon a glaze on MarthaStewart.com. Then I decided to adapt it and see how it turned out. After sampling the product it reminded me of something I would eat for breakfast. It falls into the same category with a cinnamon roll, coffee cake, or monkey bread! The only thing that was missing was a cup of coffee!! When you are ready to eat, remove the wrapper and warm the cupcake in the microwave for a few seconds or until the glaze starts to melt down.


Brown Sugar Cupcake:
  • 3 cups of cake flour 
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 6oz (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup of milk (I used reduced fat)
  • 4 extra large eggs (large will work as well)
  • 2 tsp of pure vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl combine cake flour, salt, baking powder, and brown sugars. Mix on low speed to combine. Add in butter and sour cream. In a separate bowl whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. Add mix into the flour mixture. Fill cupcake liners. Bake for 18 minutes. Yields about 24 cupcakes.

Glaze:
  • 4oz (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2-3 tablespoons of dark brown sugar (more to taste)

Melt stick of butter into a sauce pan at medium heat. Once golden brown pour melted butter into a bowl. Add sugars, vanilla, and milk. Mix together. For a thinner glaze add another tablespoon of milk. Spoon onto cupcakes. Refrigerate cupcakes to make the glaze firm. 


Happy Baking,
AJ


Recipes adapted from Martha Stewart  and The Frosted Cake n' Cookie blog

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Peace Corps Cupcakes

A long time friend was in need of cupcakes for an important family celebration, and she asked me to help out! Her daughter was returning home from her volunteer work with the Peace Corps. After college at Texas A&M, Courtney got her first assignment, working with an Indo-Fijian (Hindu) community in Fiji. She stayed for quite some time and is now returning home.

In honor of the special event, I whipped up a few dozen cupcakes - Peace Corps style. :)

Cookies and cream, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, vanilla with buttercream frosting
The liners that I used...since you couldn't see them in the other photo
When I was preparing this design Courtney's Mom, Nancy, sent me a link to her blog so I could check out some of her adventures in Fiji. I read a few stories about all of the things she was working to teach the people in the community. Tasks ranged from opening email accounts to brushing your teeth! It looked like an amazing experience, and I think it takes an equally amazing person to carry it out!

Welcome back Courtney. Enjoy your cupcakes!

Happy Baking,
AJ

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Snickerdoodle Saturday

I have been on a baking hiatus, and in need of a cupcake or 10. To satisfy the craving I decided to try out a new flavor, Snickerdoodle. Everyone always loves the cookies so I figured the cupcakes would also be a hit. I adapted a Martha Stewart recipe to make these cinnamon sugary treats.


They turned out just as I had expected. The top of the cupcake is even a little crunchy, just like a cookie! These should hold me over for a week or so. :) Up next is another new recipe...Pecan Praline. Stay tuned to see how they turn out.

Happy Baking,
AJ