Mini Party Cupcakes

Miniature Party Bites!

I love these miniature little cupcakes for several reasons:

1) They are so darn easy  to make!!

2) They look beautiful and require little to no decorating skills

3) They add the perfect amount of “pazzaz” to any birthday party!

So let’s get started! For these cupcake you will need a miniature cupcake pan and miniature cupcake liners.

I chose to make a vanilla butter cake as my base – you can use whatever yummy recipe you feel comfortable with.

Vanilla Butter Cake:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. In measuring cup, mix milk and vanilla.
3. In large bowl, with mixer at medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until smooth, scraping the bowl occasionally with a  spatula.
4. Pour batter into cupcake liners (I usually fill them close to the top of the liner that way they puff up nicely) and bake for about 18-20 minutes.
5. Let cool completely before frosting the cupcakes.

 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: 

• 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tbs of heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 tsp of lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp of orange juice
• Rainbow colored sanding sugar

1. With an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter. Mix on low until well blended.
2. Continue mixer on medium for another two minutes. 
3. Add vanilla and whipping cream, beating on medium for another minute.
4. Now here’s my secret…I add a little bit of lemon and orange juice to this frosting. This gives it a hint of fruity flavor that makes the mini cupcake even more fun! Kids love it too! Omit this step if you want a pure vanilla buttercream
5. Frosting should be light and fluffy.

Fill a piping bag with your frosting. Cut the tip off so there is a small hole. Pipe the frosting onto each cupcake – leaving only a dollop of frosting on each – do not worry about spreading out or piping in a design.

Pour your multi-colored sanding sugar onto a plate.

Dip each frosted cupcake into the sprinkles – smashing the frosting down around the top of the cupcake.

And there you have it – gorgeous, colorful, and delicious cupcakes that were super easy to make!! You’re cupcakes are going to be a hit at any party you bring them too. I just know it!

Stay sweet xoxo

Stay Calm Cupcake!

** Follow me on Twitter @ StayCalmCupcake – I only need 27 more followers and I will give away 2 free cupcake kits!! **

Strawberry White Chocolate Cupcakes

Hello Readers!

I am so sorry for being absent for over a week. I have been busy traveling for work, baking for birthday parties, and celebrating my boyfriends 25th! No worries, though, I am back…and with a fabulous recipe to share!

Strawberry White Chocolate Cupcakes - Yum!

I made these cupcakes for my cousins birthday this month. These decadent white chocolate cupcakes are topped with a yummy strawberry vanilla swirl frosting and can add the perfect touch of “girly” to any party.

Enjoy the recipe! xoxo

White Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift together the 2 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In small saucepan, melt 6 ounces white chocolate and hot water over low heat. Stir until smooth, and allow to cool to room temperature. You can also melt the chocolate in your microwave for 1 min (in incriments of 30 seconds)
4. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 1 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition.
5. Stir in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix in melted white chocolate and 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
6. Pour batter into cupcake liners and bake for 18-22 minutes. The tops will be slighlty browned.

Strawberry Vanilla Frosting

Vanilla

• 2/3 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Beat 2/3 cup of butter in a bowl until smooth and glossy. Beat in the vanilla, followed by the confectioners’ sugar. Add the cream and  whip on high speed until light and fluffy.

Strawberry Frosting (From MarthaStewart.com)

• 1/2 cup whole frozen strawberries, thawed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, firm and slightly cold
• Pinch of coarse salt
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place strawberries in the bowl of a small food processor; process until pureed. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce mixer speed and slowly add confectioners’ sugar; beat until well combined. Add vanilla and 3 tablespoons strawberry puree (save any remaining strawberry puree for another use); mix until just blended. Do not overmix or frosting will incorporate too much air. Frosting consistency should be dense and creamy, like ice cream.

For the two-tone frosting effect, I used the same technique from my “Paintball Cupcakes” (https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/paintball-cupcakes/)

Til next time, Stay Sweet!!

Double The Fun : Cupcake Toppers

I usuall try to bake something on Tuesday nights. Pat plays on a pool league every tuesday, so I have some time to myself , and what better activity than baking!! Last night I made funfetti cupcakes with buttercream frosting and topped them with the mini- cupcakes from last weeks blog entry (https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/double-cup-cupcakes/).

They were so much fun to make and turned out great!! I’m already thinking of all the other ways I can use theses cute little toppers!

               

I’m Obsessed!

Summer time is best time of year! Lately, I have found that I’m obessed with these sweet summer goodies. Enjoy!

1)      New York and Company Shorts!! They have the cutest styles and are very reasonably priced. The thing I am loving most about them, is how sophisticated I feel when I put them on. Now that I’m older, I don’t want to wear a miniature cut-off version of jean shorts – I want a more tailored look. Tailored is sexy, tailored is the new mini-short – right? Well it is for me! My favorite style is the GRAMERCY short! I have to admit, I own every color and every pattern Best part is, you can put these shorts with heels or sandals – very versatile. I’ll admit it, I’m obsessed!

2)      Scrunchy Hair. I have always liked scrunching my hair, but not until recently did I perfect how to get that easy-spirit, wavy beach hair look. I love this look because it takes me all of 5 minutes to accomplish– and it’s perfect for those humid nights out on the town. I always use Aussie Scrunch Spray – It’s a miracle worker! Curly, scrunched hair is hair that you don’t have to stress over – and that’s why I’m loving it this summer. Easy, flirty, fun!

Sis and I - Scrunched hair was perfect for that windy day!

3)   Cupcakes! C’mon, you knew I was going to say something about cupcakes 😉 Currently I’m obsessed with my Wilton’s frosting swirl tip #6b – It’s only $1.69 and gives me the perfect frosting swirl on every cupcake! If you want your cupcakes to look “professionally done” go buy the tip – you’ll be so glad you did.

Pretty In Pink Cupcakes - used frosting tip #6B

4)      Loose-fitting blouses and dresses. I have found that Tj Maxx and Marshalls have the best deals on cute “flowy” dresses and tops. I call them “flowy” because I’m not sure how else to describe them. Lately, I’m drawn to bolder patterns, often with bright colors or flowers. A loose fitting shirt looks great with a cinched waist belt and a long necklace or just draped over your one shoulder for a more care-free and relaxed  look (which I have to admit, I rarely pull off well). These looks are fun, and easy to get away with during the summer. So for now, I am definitely enjoying the less form-fitting wardrobe options.

5)      Bows!!! Ok, ok ok, I have to admit it; I’m head over heels in love with any and all things bows!! It comes as no surprise to me that I have a penchant for bows, pink, and anything else that’s screams Barbie doll grown up. If it has a bow on, I’ll buy it. It could be the ugliest thing ever, say a pair of metallic silver 6 in heels, but once I see the bow, which happened to be huge and draping over the left side of the shoe, I am convinced I have to be the owner of them. Luckily, in that particular instance, Pat talked me out of it. They were pretty gaudy now that I think about it. I’m still sickeningly obsessed though – If it has a bow, consider it bought!

6)      Friday’s Off – yup I said it. I have Friday’s off all summer and I’m not ashamed to be bragging about it. I have fallen in-love with 3 day weekends and am dreading  the day I have to give them up. Summer time is truly the best time of year!

What better way to enjoy a Friday off then on an inflatable Slip-N-Slide!!

Enjoy this slideshow of things I love! Til next time, stay sweet xoxo

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Birthday Baking Advice

Today is my birthday. I am still pretty unsure about turning another year older, but I figure that to celebrate, I will give you, my readers, some “gifts” of baking advice. So please enjoy 🙂

1.       Allrecipes.com and Joyofbaking.com

My favorite recipe finder online is “allrecipes.com”. I have never once used a recipe of theirs that didn’t turn out fabulous. They have all types of recipes, from lunch, to dinner, to dessert. If you can think it up, allrecipes.com will have a tried and tested recipe for you to make it. I have used this site to find everything from fruit dip, to lemon crusted chicken, to quiche. I think you will find it a valuable resource when in the kitchen. I sure do!

Now for baking, I prefer to use joyofbaking.com – they have a decent selection of recipes, and they always give you such thorough directions. It’s hard to mess something up when they tell you every single step, word for word. My only set back is that they don’t have as wide of a variety as I would hope for. They do update their recipes regularly though, which makes it easy to find new one when desired. I think you will enjoy this site if you are looking for a really good cake, cupcake, or cookie recipe!

2.       Always Add More Vanilla

Here’s a little trick that I started doing awhile ago…I always add a smidge extra vanilla than what the recipe calls for. I have found that often times recipes will call for small amounts of “pure vanilla extract”. Well if you are like me and only buy (mostly because it’s more reasonably priced) “Imitation Vanilla Flavoring” then you should certainly add a little more than recommended. Pure vanilla has a much stronger scent and flour than that of imitation – this is why it’s safe to add extra even thought the recipe doesn’t call for it. This trick hasn’t failed me yet.

3.       Taste It Before You Give It

I would NEVER, I repeat NEVER give baked goods to someone without first tasting them myself. The last thing you want to do is give someone a cupcake that you accidently used salt in, instead of sugar – not that I’ve ever done that ;). Even if I’m baking a cake, I will cut a small (unnoticeable once iced) section from the cake and taste it. It saves from a lot of embarrassment and ensures that your friends and family aren’t going to be forced to lie to your face and spit out the treat behind your back. It’s that simple, just don’t give it before you try it!

4.       Don’t Improvise Unless You Know Your Ingredients

A good rule of thumb I have is to follow the recipe to the “t” – unless you have tried a variation before and have been pleased with the results. I’ll admit that I’m not always measuring exactly one cup of flour – it might be a little over, perhaps a little under – that’s not a cake breaker. I’m talking about using water, when the recipe calls for milk, that is a no no. I have a friend, love her dearly, but she always calls me asking if she can “substitute this for that”. My answer is always “no”. She normally disregards my advice and uses an ingredient that she thinks will work instead of what the recipe called for. It never fails, I always get a call back saying “you were right, it’s hard as a brick”. Or “you were right, it won’t even bake!” It’s now a running joke between us. She’s too funny! I think she is finally learning to take my advice and not use substitutions though– once she sticks to the recipe, her treats will always be delish!!

It hard to resist the urge to substitute when you think it will work out just fine. Unfortunately though, substitutions rarely work unless you know your ingredients extremely well –something I haven’t even mastered yet. Speaking of, anybody know the equivalent to a can of evaporated cane juice?? I dint think so – haha

So there it is, my sweet treat readers , a little gift of advice for those of you that share the same baking enthusiasm that I do. Speaking of baking (when aren’t I? )I wonder what type of delicious birthday dessert I will have tonight. Cheesecake, chocolate cake, vanilla with raspberry swirls……I could go on for hours. So, until next time, stay sweet! xoxo

Cherry-Limeade Cupcakes. Happy Birthday..to Me!