Funky Fresh Tie-Dye Cupcakes

What is more fun than Tie-Die?! Well, Tie-Die Cupcakes, of course! These colorful cupcakes are the perfect addition to any birthday party. With a simple vanilla base, the recipe is quick and virtually impossible to mess up. Get creative with your own color combinations and make your next party funky fresh!

Here’s the recipe – Enjoy!

Tie-Dye Cupcakes

Makes 15-18 Cupcakes

You’ll Need:

~ 2 cups all-purpose flour
~ 1 ½ cups sugar
~ 1 tablespoon baking powder
~ ½  cup milk

~ ¾  cup water
~ 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
~ ½  cup butter, softened
~ 3 eggs

~ 3 different colors of food coloring

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your over to 350 degree
2. With a whisk, combine flour, sugar, baking powder
3. Add in the milk and whisk to combine.
4. Add water, vanilla, butter, and eggs. Combine with an electric mixer then beat two more minutes.
5. Divide the batter into 3 small bowls
6. Color each bowl of batter a different color
7. Line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners
8. 8. Starting with one color, put a spoonful of batter into each liner
9. Alternate colors until cupcake liners are ¾ full
10. Bake at 350 for 12-15 Minutes.

Vanilla Frosting

• 2 Sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature
• 4 cups of powdered sugar
• 2 tbs of vanilla extract
• 3 colors of food coloring

In an electric mixer cream the butter until light and fluffy. I usually beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes.

Slowly add in one cup of powdered sugar at a time. Mixing in between each addition

Add in the vanilla extract, mix to combine

(If your frosting is too thin – add more powder sugar. If your frosting is too thick, add in a tbs of milk.)

How to decorate with multi-colored frosting

• Separate the frosting into 3 small bowls. Using food coloring, color each bowl a different color.
• Cut the tip off your piping bag, insert the piping tip.
• Use a medium size cup and fold the piping bag over the edges – this makes it easier to fill the piping bag with frosting.
• Using a spoon or spatula, put one of the colored frostings into the piping bag. Alternate colors until your piping bag is filled with multi-colored frosting.
• Pipe frosting onto each cupcake. Add sprinkles if you desire.

There you have it! Let me now f you have any questions.

Until next time, Stay Sweet!

Jill

Chocolate Caramel Spice Frosting

Hello Friends!

Can you believe that March is almost over, Spring is here, and Easter is right around the corner! I honestly didn’t even realize just how close Easter was until I actually looked at a calendar. I plan to work on some fun Easter cupcakes this weekend so I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures and share with you some of my tips for creating the perfect Easter cupcake treats. For today though, I want to share a recipe for some sinfully delicious frosting.

Chocolate Caramel Spice frosting is perfect for almost any cake flavor. I suggest making a batch of the frosting first, tasting it (try not to eat it all) and then deciding what flavor cake you think it will best accompany. So far my favorite cakes to use with this frosting have been:

• Chocolate Coffee Cake
• French Vanilla Cake
• Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cake

I’ve worked hard on perfecting the recipe and am so happy to finally be able to share it with you!

Chocolate Caramel Spice Frosting

What You’ll Need:

1. 2 sticks of unsalted butter (room temperature)
2. 1/3 cup of cream-cheese (room temperature)
3. ¼ cup of milk chocolate chips
4. 15-20 caramel squares
5. 2 tbs of heavy cream
6. 2 cups of powdered sugar (sifted)
7. 2 1/2 tbs of cinnamon

The Process

• Start by unwrapping all of your caramel squares. Place them in a pan on the stove over medium heat.
• Stirring the squares constantly, add the heavy cream.
• Continue cooking until the caramel is melted and you have a nice caramel sauce. Let cool (do not put in the fridge though)
• In a mixer, cream together your butter and cream-cheese until it is light and fluffy.
• Add in 1 ½ cups of the powdered sugar and all of the cinnamon – continue mixing for 1-2 minutes until well combined.
• In a microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate chips (usually 40 seconds does it) Make sure the chocolate is melted smooth and does not have any chunks left in it.
• Pour the melted chocolate in the mixer and mix for 1 minute.
• Add in the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar – mix well.
• Pour in the cooled caramel sauce – mix for 1 minute or until frosting is smooth.

** If your frosting is too thin – add more powdered sugar. **

There you have it – another great “go-to” frosting recipe! If you have questions about the recipe, let me know. I hope you all enjoy the recipe as much as I do.

Stay Sweet!

xo, Jill

Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

So here it is friends, the long awaited and much requested Key Lime Pie Cupcake recipe! Just in time for all of the  green festivities that St. Patrick’s Day brings us next month.

This tart and tangy, sweet and sassy cupcake certainly packs a punch. It is a guaranteed hit with anyone who loves Key Lime Pie as much as I do….which admittedly, is too much! 🙂

Enjoy!

Key Lime Cupcake

Makes 24 Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 6 cups cake flour sifted
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 8 egg whites
• 1 Lime
• 3 tbs of Lime Jello Mix (dry)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Fill Cupcake pan with liners
2. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Set aside.
4. Beat egg whites with hand mixer until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.
5. With your stand mixer at slow speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk. Beat well after each addition.
6. Add in 3 tbs of dry Lime Jello mix – mix well to incorporate
7. Beat in 1/3 cup of lime juice
8. Beat in vanilla extract.
9. Gently fold egg whites into batter.
10. Pour batter into prepared pans.
11. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until tops are lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean.

 

Whip Cream Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups heavy cream

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in the bowl of your stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth.

While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream.

Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue.

Continue mixing until the frosting can hold a firm peak. Do not over beat though.

Decorations:

• The zest of one lime
• 15 graham crackers, crushed
• Lime green sanding sugar

Once your cupcakes have cooled and your frosting is ready – pipe frosting onto each cupcake. Place the graham cracker crumbles on a plate and roll the edge of the cupcake in the crumbs. Sprinkle each cupcake with lime zest. Finish with a few lime green sugar sprinkles.

There you  have it! Fun, festive, and delicious!!  Until next time, Stay Sweet!

Xo, Jill

Butterfinger Cupcakes

 

Happy Wednesday! How’s everyone holding up? With only 18 days until Christmas, I’m sure you’re all as busy as I am.

Believe it or not, I still don’t have my tree up or any decorations in my house! I do have the bulk of my gifts bought though– that counts for something, right? I also have been baking up a storm, but I’m sure that doesn’t surprise any of you 🙂

Today, I actually wanted to take a break from the traditional holiday treats  and feature a cupcake that is one of my absolute favorites! It’s a Butterfinger cupcake, and I guarantee it will fit in just fine at any holiday event or get-together. Enjoy the recipe!! Xoxo

Here’s What you’ll need:

Cupcakes:

• 1 stick Butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 3/4 Cup Flour
• 1 tbs Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 cup of finely crushed Butterfinger (I use a food processor )
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 tbs Vanilla

Frosting:

• 2 sticks of butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups of powder sugar
• 1/3 cup of cream cheese
• 1 tbs of vanilla extract
• 2 cups of crushed Butterfinger (approx 4 candy bars)

Cupcake Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In your mixer (or with a handheld mixer) beat the butter until it is soft, then add sugar and continue to beat for about 3 minutes.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until they are well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients(Cocoa Powder, Flour, Salt, Baking Powder)  and whisk them until they are well combined
5. Add the mixture of dry ingredients to the butter and sugar. Mix well until combined
6. Mix in crushed Butterfinger
7. Add the liquids (milk & vanilla), scrape down bowl and beat to combine.
8. Fill cupcake liners and bake for 20-22 minutes.

While your cupcakes are baking, let’s work on the frosting!

Frosting Directions:

1. In your mixer beat the butter and cream cheese on med-high speed until light and fluffy.
2. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing well between each cup
3. Mix in the vanilla, mix for 1 minute
4. Add in the crushed Butterfinger and mix for another minute.

** If your frosting is too thick, add a small amount of milk or creamer. If your frosting is too thin, add some extra powdered sugar **

 

Later this week I will be sharing a recipe for Snow-Cap Cupcakes! Have a great week everyone. Stay Sweet!!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

 

Happy Friday! It feels so good to know that in a few hours, my weekend will be here! I recently made red velvet cupcakes for a friends birthday and rembered just how much I love this recipe. Its such a great recipe that I am recycling this post from when I originally posted in over a year ago. Enjoy!

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Red Velvet cake and I used to have a bittersweet relationship…I could never get the recipe “just right”. That was until I found a recipe that I actually like, and am capable of creating. I adapted this recipe from Bobbly Flay’s show “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”. Enjoy the recipe, and enjoy all the praises you’ll get when you pass these little guys out.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

adapted from “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”

Makes 16 Large cupcakes – 24 regular size cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 4 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 ½  granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 3  large eggs
• 2 tsp of red food coloring
• 1/8 cup of water
• 2 tsp of vanilla
• 1 ¼ tsp of vinegar (white or apple cider)

Directions

Preheat oven 350 degrees F.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a bowl and set aside. (**Sifting is very important here – I usually skip sifting, but I don’t skip it in this recipe because without sifting, your cupcakes won’t be fluffy and moist.)

In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix oil, sugar, and buttermilk until combined. Add eggs, food coloring, vinegar, vanilla and water and mix well. Add the dry ingredients a little bit at a time and mix on low, scraping down sides occasionally, and mix until just combined. Be sure not to over mix, or the batter will come out tough.

Line your cupcake pan with paper liners, scoop the batter into the liners and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Let cool

 Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 packages of 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 tbs of vanilla extract
• 1 tbs heavy whipping cream
• 2 Sticks of unsalted Butter

Cream together cream cheese and butter – Mix on high speed up soft and well combined

Add the powder sugar one cup at a time – mixing thoroughly after each cup

Add in the vanilla and mix well

Beat on medium high speed until desired consistency is achieved.

ENJOY!!

Candy Apple Cupcakes

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend filled with yummy sweets and lots of relaxing. My weekend was packed with lots of baking, birthday parties, and puppy love. If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that I recently got a new pup. His name is Hugo and he is such a love. I’m a new dog mom, so if any of you have advice, don’t be shy. Fill me in!

Let’s get to the sweet stuff though. I’ve been busy in the kitchen getting ready to launch all of my fall flavors on my Etsy shop. In doing so, I have come up with some awesome recipes that are sure to be huge hits at your office parties, family dinners, holiday get-togethers, and more.

I really love the flavor combination that a candy apple provides. With the start of school, it seemed like the perfect time to make candy apple cupcakes. A little sweet, a little tart, a lot of yummy! Almost a year ago, a friend of mine sent me a recipe for Caramel Apple Cupcakes. This recipes is very similar, but with a twist in the frosting.

Enjoy the recipe. Xoxo

Candy Apple Cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 large eggs

1 Tbs of lemon juice
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup applesauce
1 cup shredded or finely chopped, Granny Smith apples

Directions:

1.       Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prep a cupcake pan with liners.

2.       In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3.       In a mixer, stir the eggs, butter, and applesauce and lemon juice. Mix until combined. Carefully add the dry ingredients.

4.       Peel and slice the apple. Then using a grater, grate the apple into fine shreds, like cheese. You can also chop it finely which works just as well. Now stir the shredded apples into the batter mixture.

5.       Bake for 15-20 mins, I find that 18 minutes works best. You don’t want the inside of the cupcake to be mushy.

Photo from Just Jenn Recipes

Candy Flavored Frosting

I used a vanilla frosting base and drizzle red candy syrup over the top. I have seen people forgo the frosting and just dip the cupcake into the candy syrup (photo below). Either way will work and either way will be delicious!

For the frosting:

2 sticks of butter (unsalted)
1/2 cup butter (salted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1tsp cinnamon
1Tbs of Apple Juice
½ Tbs of lemon juice

1.      In a mixer, beat 2 sticks of butter until light and fluffy. Add in 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix for 1 minute. Let sit

2.      In a saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar. When they are melted and bubbly, add the milk. Carefully raise the heat and bring the mixture to a quick boil. Careful – you don’t want to burn it. Once it foams up and turns that lovely caramel color, take it off the heat immediately.

3.      Remove pan from heat and stir in the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar and vanilla, cinnamon and both apple and lemon juice, mixing until frosting is smooth.

4.      Let cool completely

5.      Once cool, slowly pour into your mixer and combine with the butter and sugar you previously prepared. Mix until light and fluffy. If your frosting is to thin, add more powdered sugar.

Mini Cupcakes dipped in Candy Apple Topping. Photo by HonestFare.com

Candy Drizzle

• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons red food coloring

1. Bring water, sugar, corn syrup to a boil in a small pot, add food coloring and reduce heat to a simmer. Watch the pot carefully cook it this way for about 20 minutes. After 12 minutes, check the temp using a candy thermometer .You need the candy to reach 310°F                                            (If you don’t have a candy thermometer, use the water test. Drip a few drops of the hot candy into a small bowl of room temp water. When the candy holds its form or makes ribbons, it is done.)
2.  When candy is done, drizzle it over each cupcake. It will harden and make a very delicious topping for y our Candy Apple Cupcakes.

Stay Sweet and have a great week! xoxo

Red, White, and Blue!

Is everyone ready for some fun 4^th of July Cupcake ideas?? Ok good, me too! I’ll start with my really fun, and really easy Red, White, and Blue Minis.

What you will need:

• Vanilla or White Cake Cupcake Batter. My favorite recipe is this one!
• Red and Blue food coloring
• Vanilla Frosting (Great Buttercream recipe here)
• White Mini Cupcake liners
• Festive Sprinkles
• 3 medium size bowls

Directions:

1. Split the cake batter into 3 different bowls
2. Dye one bowl of batter red, and one blue
3. Place your cupcake liners in your cupcake pan
4. Start by putting a small amount of red batter at the bottom of each cupcake liner
5. Follow that by putting the plain vanilla batter in each cupcake liner on top of the red
6. Finish with a small amount of blue batter in each liner
7. Bake according to direction in recipe
8. Once your cupcakes are completely cooled, frost them. Do not use too much frosting, a little dollop will work just fine
9. Pour your festive sprinkles on a plate – I like to combine a bunch of different types of sprinkles.
10. Turn your frosted cupcake upside down and dunk it in the sprinkles on the plate

It’s as easy as that! Absolutely the perfect size for kids to enjoy at a 4^th of July BBQ!

You can use the same technique to make Jumbo cupcakes too. Just use a bigger cupcake pan and more batter 🙂

Like the idea of cupcake jars?

Just layer the cake and frosting in a red white and blue pattern and voila – the perfect 4^th of July picnic dessert!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week and is ready for a relaxing holiday weekend.

Happy 4th of July my loves!

Stay Sweet,

Jill

Banana Nut Crunch Cupcake Topping

Happy Thursday!

Need a quick trick to spice up your Vanilla cupcakes? How about a Banana Nut Crunch topping that bakes right into your delicious cupcake?

This topping is so simple and turns a traditional vanilla cupcake into a yummy banana treat.

Banana Nut Crunch Cupcake - Unfrosted

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 Cups of Pecans
• 1 Banana
• 2 Cups of Dried Banana Chips
• ½ cup of honey granola
• 1 tbs of cinnamon
• 2 tbs of Brown Sugar

What to do:

1. Using a food processor, grind the pecans to small little chunks
2. Slice your banana into small cubes
3. Place your dried banana chips in a ziplock bag and lightly crush them with the palm of your hand. You do not want these pieces too small.
4. Combine a all of your ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well
5. After you have poured the batter for your vanilla cupcakes – place a spoonful of the topping mixture on top of each unbaked cupcake
6. Bake according to your cupcake recipe
7. When your cupcakes are done baking, the mixture will be baked on top of your Vanilla cupcake! Crunchy and delicious!  I like to top these with Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese Frosting!

Enjoy!

Xoxo, Jill

I Need a Cupcake Fix!

Apple Spice and Buttercream

As much as I’m loving being part of the Shop Til You Drop Blog Crawl, I am desperately missing the sweet presence of cupcake on my blog! So I am going to remedy that with a delicious recipe for Apple Spice Muffin Cupcakes. Yum!!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup finely chopped, peeled apple
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Directions

Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Add eggs, butter, and applesauce.  Mix for 2 minutes at slow speed.  Scrape bowl.  Mix at medium speed for 1 minute.  Scrape bowl, and stir in chopped apples and walnuts.

Your oven should be preheated to 350 degrees.  spoon cupcake batter into cupcake pans lined with paper or foil cupcake liners.

Bake your cupcakes for 15-20 minutes.  Remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.

Top with Buttercream Frosting and Enjoy!

Marshmallow Love!

Marshmallow Whip Frosting

To be honest, I often get tired of using classic vanilla frosting for my cupcakes. I know it’s a favorite of many, but I like to mix it up a little. This Marshmallow frosting is the perfect way  to add some variety your cupcakes!

It’s a great addition to chocolate cupcakes, lemon cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, or my favorite..coconut cupcakes! Enjoy xo

Looks Delish!

Marshmallow Whip – From the book “Baking: From my home to yours”

1/2 cup egg whites (about 4 large)
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup water
1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract – 1/2 tablespoon of Marshmallow flavoring

1. Put the egg whites in your mixer bowl or in another large bowl – Make sure the bowl you use is 100% dry.
2. Put the sugar, cream of tartar and water in a small saucepan and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, cover the pan and boil for 3 minutes.
3. Uncover your saucepan and allow the syrup to boil until it reaches 242 degrees F on the candy thermometer. While the syrup is cooking, start beating the egg whites on medium-low speed.
4. Remove mixture from heat – let cool until temperature reaches 235 degrees.
5. When the syrup is at about 235 degrees F, begin beating the egg whites on medium speed with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer. If the whites form firm, shiny peaks before the syrup reaches temperature, reduce the mixer speed to low and keep mixing the whites until the syrup catches up. With the mixer at medium speed, and standing back slightly, carefully pour in the hot syrup, pouring it between the beater(s) and the side of the bowl.
6.  Add the vanilla and marshmallow flavoring and keep beating the whites at medium speed until they reach room temperature, about 5 minutes.

Use Marshmallow Frosting for a Smore's Cupcake!

Don’t forget to to join in on the Shop Til You Drop Blog Crawl! Another great giveaway starts tomorrow!

~*~ All images are from weheartit.com ~*~