French Vanilla Berry and Double Fudge Cupcakes

 

Double Fudge Cupcake

 I love chocolate! So it is no suprise to me that I am obsessed with this chocolate cupcake. It’s a moist chocolate cupcake topped with rich chocolate frosting. The recipe is pretty simple too! It’s an adapted version of my Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes(https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/chocolate-caramel-cupcakes/) Follow the same recipe just leave out  the caramels. For the frosting, I used the same recipe (in the link above) but replaced the 1/4 cup of vegetable shortening with 1/4 cup of butter. I love a recipe that can make two different cupcakes!!

French Vanilla Berry

Now, for my French Vanilla Berry cupcakes! These cupcakes are so perfectly light and fluffy that you almost dont feel guilty for eating 3 of them in one sitting more than one. I used a traditional vanilla cake recipe and added some key ingredients. I used 1 tablespoon of French Vanilla flavoring (I like Wilton’s, but there are many brands that I’m sure will do just fine) and then I add 2 tablespoons of french vanilla cofee creamer. Weird, I know! But it works like a charm.

Now, for the berry part of this cupcake! I have written about my double berry buttercream recipe in a previous post. This frosting is similiar but it is double berry cream cheese rather than buttercream. Both are so delicous, but I find that the buttercream is better for cake filling and the creamcheese is better for cupcakes.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 box of strawberries (at least 15 strawberries)
• 1 bog of blueberries (2 ½ cups)
• 3 cups of sugar
• ¼ cup of cornstarch

1 package of cream cheese (8 oz)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened

2 tsp of vanilla extract

5 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons milk

2 tbs of lemon juice

Directions

With the first set ingredients, you are going to make the berry jam.

1. Wash the berries
2. Cut the strawberries
3. Place berries in a bowl and mash them together (I used a potato masher)
4. Pour berries into a pan and add 3 cups of sugar and lemon juice.
5. Stir until combined
6. Let boil (stirring occasionally) for 7-10 minutes until it starts to thicken.
7. Turn to low heat and add cornstarch (be sure to add the cornstarch to cold water before adding it to the hot mixture – reference the directions on the side of the cornstarch box)
8. Remove from heat, let cool completely

Using the second set of ingredients:

1. Cream the creamcheese and butter with electric mixer.
2. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.
3. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until it appears fluffy.
4. At this point, add in 2 1/2  cups of the cooled berry filling. (You might need more depending on how much of the berry flavor you want to taste)
5. Mix togethert until well combined
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before using.

 ** Don’t forget to sign up for the Bake It Pretty Giveaway! Deadline is October 4th.

Read my Sept. 21st post for deatils!!**

Cupcake “Must – Haves”

One of the reason’s I started this blog, aside from sharing my passion for baking (and all things cupcakes!) was to create a venue wherein ideas are shared, passions are explored, and resources are given often. Over the past couple days I have contemplated deleting my ranting and raving Mel Gibson blog – It just doesn’t seem to fit into my overall goal of what I envisioned my blog to be about. But since I think it might hold some validity for someone (even if it’s only one woman) out there, I am going to leave it.

In order to redeem myself though – I have come up with a fun list of cupcake products (they are all pretty reasonably priced too!!) for you to enjoy. Have fun  “shopping” 🙂

Cupcake Liners! A huge collection of the most adorable cupcake liners ever. They are pretty cheap too, ranging from $3-$4 for 45 liners. http://www.layercakeshop.com/index.php/Shop/Baking/Baking-Cups/View-all-products.html

Sprinkles! All organized by color, these sprinkle options are fabulous. Prices range from $2-$3. I can’t seem to decide which ones I want to buy! http://www.layercakeshop.com/index.php/Shop/Decorating/Sprinkles/View-all-products.html

Bakery Labels! Don’t forget to label your box of cupcakes..these labels are on sale for only $2 (a roll of 25 labels) http://www.bakeitpretty.com/item_33/Bakery-Labels.htm

Cupcake Key Cover! I need one of these for sure 🙂 $8 for a pack of 6 – that means you can share with your friends too. http://www.fredflare.com//customer/product.php?productid=5643&cat=254

Cupcake T-shirts! Some really cute designs and lots of different styles. Price range from $12-$25 http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/Cupcake?cmp=knc–g–us–lib–apparel–search-e–Cupcake_t-shirts&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=lib–apparel&utm_content=search-e&utm_term=cupcake_t-shirts&gclid=COCdmr7j7aICFRrXnAod9UjYdg

Mini Cupcake Maker! Makes batches of 5 mini cupcakes (or muffins) in under 5 minutes – I’m impressed. At only $16 bucks,  I might need to try this thing out. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=cupcake&cid=4994642654940599221&ei=9iA_TN_LH4zywAX0ubWKDg&sa=title&ved=0CDoQ8wIwBjgA#p

Cup-a-Cake! The cutest, individual cupcake holders. Great for lunches, picnics, little surprises, shoot… I might even put one in my purse. These hold a single cupcake in place so well that you can tumble it or even drop it and the cupcake will not move. Prices range from $2-$6. http://www.cupacake.com/

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Well that’s all for now. If you have purchased or tried any of these products and have reviews, please let me know. I’m always interested in what works and what doesn’t.

Til next time, stay sweet! xoxo

S’more Sweets!

 

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Toasted Marshmallow S’more Cupcakes

Ingredients

Makes 2 dozen – Recipe can also be found at http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-graham-cracker-cupcake-with-toasted-marshmallow?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/our-best-cupcakes#slide_6

• 2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• Marshmallow Frosting

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard muffin tins with cupcake liners; set aside.

2.  Sift 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix ingredients together on low speed.

3.  In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.

4.  Place graham cracker crumbs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined.

5.  Place 1 tablespoon graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping.

6.  Place 2 teaspoons chocolate in each muffin cup. Transfer muffin tins to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake, rotating pans halfway through baking, until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.

7.  Transfer frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a large plain round or French tip (such as Ateco #867 or Ateco #809). Pipe frosting in a spiral motion on each cupcake. Transfer cupcakes to a baking sheet. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the frosting, taking care not to burn the cupcake liners. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container, up to 2 days.

Bittersweet Cupcakes

 I recently baked strawberry supreme cupcakes and old-fashion vanilla cupcakes.

I knew I didn’t have time to make the batter from scratch, especially on a week night, so I used box cake (I know, I can hear the gasps now). I altered it though, and I was happy to find that they turned out fabulous!

“Semi-Homemade” Strawberry Cupcakes

 1 Box of Duncan Hines Strawberry Cake Mix

 1 cup of finely diced strawberries

 2 tsp of strawberry flavoring

 1 tsp of pink food coloring

Make the batter according to the directions on the box

Add in diced strawberries – mix well

Add extra flavoring and food coloring – mix well

For the icing, I used my recipe for butter-cream icing. Feel free to use whichever homemade frosting you like most. It’s important to have homemade icing though, it counteracts the “box cake “ 🙂

Old-Fashion Vanilla Cupcakes

 1 Box of Duncan Hines Vanilla Cake Mix

 1 tsp vanilla extract

 2 tbsp of water (in addition to what the box calls for)

Bake according to box direction – Add frosting. I suggest cream-cheese or chocolate.

Pretty In Pink Cupcakes! Good Luck Erin!!

Now enjoy the cupcakes that took you half the time to bake but taste just as fabulous!

Cupcakes are the sweetest gift you could give someone. It shows them you took the time out of your day to bake them something –and seriously, who doesn’t LOVE cupcakes??

Enjoy the tricks, and don’t think that cupcakes are only for birthdays. Cupcakes are good all year round!

Til next time, stay sweet. xoxo