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

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough Cupcakes. Yum!!

It’s Wednesday! That means halfway through the week. You made it this far, I think it’s time for a super indulgent treat! How about some chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes? These cupcakes are so good, that I have a hard time sharing them. This recipe is fool-proof and will be one you use for many events to come. I promise!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Chocolate Cake: I always use this chocolate recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting:

Recipe from The Cupcake Review

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

1. Cream the butter and brown sugar in a small bowl. Add water and vanilla and mix well. Add flour and salt and stir to combine. Stir in mini chocolate chips (optional).
2. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

• 1-3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 1-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, unsalted butter, salt, and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary.
2. Add milk and continue mixing until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary. With the mixer running, slowly add remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, mix until well combined.
3. At this point you can mix in the eggless cookie dough mixture that you placed in the fridge. Mix in enough cookie dough to suit your taste. I like a lot 🙂

Frost your chocolate cupcakes with this delicious cookie dough frosting, top with some mini chocolate chips, or even some choco9late jimmies, and enjoy!!

Have a great rest of your week my friends. Stay Sweet!

Xo, Jill

Summer Flower Cupcakes

 

Summer Lovin'

Hello my loves! Today I am so excited to share a super fun recipe with you!

This weekend I was asked to cater a special “going away” luncheon. I decided to make summer flower cupcakes. They were so easy and the guests loved them! The set up and decorations were really fun too.

Let’s get started!

Summer Flower Cupcakes

Ingredients for the Cake

• 6 cups white flour sifted

• 2 tablespoons baking powder

• 1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened

• 3 cups granulated sugar

• 2 cups milk

• 2 tbs of Vanilla Extract

• 12 egg whites

Directions for the Cake

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Fill cupcake pan with cupcake 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 until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.

5. With mixer at slow speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk.

6. Beat well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.

7. Gently fold egg whites into batter.

8. Pour into cupcake liners.

9. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Bright Colored Marshmallows make these flowers POP!

Ingredients for the frosting and the decoration:

• One bag of mini, colored marshmallows

• 1 stick of unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 stick of salted butter (softened)
• 4 cups of powdered sugar (sifted)
• 3 tbs of half and half
• 1 tbs of vanilla

Directions

1. In your stand mixer, cream the butter on medium high until it turns white and fluffy (about 5 minutes)
2. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time- mixing on medium speed
3. Add the half and half and the  vanilla – mix well for 2 minutes or until well combined
4. If you want thicker buttercream – add more powdered sugar.

1. Once your frosting is finished, set aside
2. Cut the mini marshmallows is half, creating little petals
3. After your cupcakes have cooled completely, frost them. For best results, I used a piping bag to pie the frosting in a swirl on the cupcake. This gave the cupcakes a more polished look once the petals were placed on top.
4. Starting at the outside edge of the cupcake, place the petals all around. Do this for 3 layers. Finish by putting a different color marshmallow in the center. I used yellow.

***Important note: These cupcakes should not be left uncovered or refrigerated, it makes the marshmallow petals dry put and look shriveled up.

Perfect Little Flower Pots

For the display, I used some pots from the gardening section of my local grocery store, covered them with some ribbon, and placed Styrofoam inside of them. I covered the Styrofoam with some green “grass” and placed the cupcakes on skewers and stuck them into the pot. It turned out really cute and people were amazed at how creative the cupcakes were. The best part was, these cupcakes were one of the easiest things I have done in a while.

 

These cute cupcakes are a must for your next event! Let me know if you have any questions about the recipe.

 

Stay sweet!

xoxo, Jill

 

A Few Of My Favorites!

Happy June 9^th! I turn 24 today and can’t help but be thankful for the  wonderfully blessed past year I have had. What better way to celebrate than to share this occasion with my amazing blog readers, facebook fans, twitter followers, and cupcake enthusiasts!

So, what helped make this past year so special? Well it’s simple….. YOU did! In the past year my blog and cupcake shop has grown exponentially. I could not have done it without the support of friends and family like you guys. While I have never personally met some of you, the encouragement you have given me along the way has been immeasurable . There are days when my “blogger” friends cheer me up more than the actual people around me. You guys inspire me and motivate me. And for that I say “Thank you!” Never stop being creative, the world needs more people like you 🙂

Enjoy this collection of great recipes that I have found through my blog friends over the past year. Each is a sweet treat that I know will be a hit if you decide to make it.

My favorite recipes from a few of my favorite blogs:

Peach Crumb Bars by Brown Eyed Baker

Lime Zest Cookies by Sweet and Crumby

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins by Sweet Peas Kitchen

Cheesecake Picnic Jars by My Bakign Addiction

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies by Recipe Girl

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies by Sweet and Crumby

Have a super sweet day my friends. xoxo

-Jill

You Owe My Mom a Thank-You

Celebrate your Mom on May 8th

If you’re asking “Why on earth do I need to say thank you to this chick’s mom?”, let me help clear things up for you.

Almost a year ago, my mom gave a little bag full of cupcake related goodies. Some stickers, a cupcake mug, some notecards, and a magnet. The set of note cards said “Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake”. It was then that I was inspired to start my “Stay Calm, Have a Cupcake” blog and from there, open up my online cupcake store, “Stay Calm Cupcake Shop”.  See? You really do owe my Mom a thank you – without her, this blog might not even exist! 🙂

For some reason the 6  simple words on that set note cards really resonated with me. It was a message so simple and so obvious – just stay calm!

I began blogging shortly after with the philosophy that cupcakes are the perfect 5 minute escape from the craziness that can surround us at times. It’s just as important to me now, as it was a year ago, to remind each of you to take a few moments for yourself. Breath deeply, stop worrying, and eat a cupcake. Not because it takes good, or because it’s the “chic” dessert at the moment, but because we all need a couple of minutes to re-group. And honestly, you deserve it! It’s ok to quietly admit we feel overwhelmed while we sit down and take the first calming bite of a delicious vanilla cupcake with homemade buttercream frosting.

So this is for you Mom. Thanks for inspiring me to slow down and continue to pursue my dreams of baking in a greater way than I could have ever imagined.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mom’s who have undoubtedly inspired your children in one way or another!

Stay Sweet and Stay Calm! The solution is only a cupcake away!

xoxo, Jill

Cinco De Mayo! Drink Up!

Adorable photo from we heartit.com

You absolutely CANNOT celebrate Cinco De Mayo without the Margarita! And what better way  to enjoy the fresh lime and tequilla combo, than in a cupcake version!

Enjoy mi amigos!! xoxo

Margarita Cupcakes

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3 limes, zested and juiced
1.5 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners. (Which I think is pretty obvious, but I figured I’d say it anyway)

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

Using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.

One at a time, add in the eggs. Mix well after each addition.

Add in the lime juice, lime zest and vanilla and beat well. Make sure your lime zest is small rather than large chunks – it will give the cupcake better texture.

Beat the flour mixture into the bowl. Do this in three additions, starting with the flour mixture and adding the buttermilk after the first and second flour additions.

Fill the cupcake liners about half-full with the batter (Again, obvious)

Bake 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cupcakes will not brown so don’t be alarmed if they still look white.

Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes.

Tequilla Lime Buttercream

2 cups sugar
8 large egg whites
Pinch of sea salt (a pink is about ½ tsp.)
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

1 tsp of vanilla
3 tbsp. tequila (maybe more depending on the kind of day you’ve had)

Combine sugar, egg whites and salt in a medium sauce pan and heat until it reaches 160 degrees F and the sugar has completely dissolved.

Transfer to a stand mixer and beat on medium-high until stiff peaks form and it has cooled to room temperature. This takes awhile – so don’t get discouraged, just practice patience…or have a drink of that tequila.

Add in the butter, two tablespoons at a time — mixing well after each addition.

The mixture may start to look curdled…just keep mixing it and, eventually, it will look like frosting.

Stir in the lime juice and tequila.

**Before piping the frosting onto the cupcakes, I make a mixture of half lime half tequila to brush on the top of my cupcakes – This gives it a more authentic margarita taste vs. a lime cupcake with a kick. Trust me, you’ll want to do this **

Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes

Decorate with a slice of fresh lime (or a candy lime) and green sprinkles.

I added straws to mine because I thought it looked cute – but it’s not necessary.

Enjoy!

Sweet Tooth Inspiration

So Simple - So True

Every now and then, I like to browse the pages of weheartit.com to find some delcious cupcake inspiration. Please enjoy today’s really sweet photo inspirations!

Sweet Sugary Stars

I just think these blue and yellow star cupcakes are so adorable. They would be perfect for a little boy baby shower! I don’t know why, but I love the combination of light yellow and pastel blue!

Simple and Elegant

Piping frosting in the shape of a rose is a classic! These cupcakes look so delightfully elegant with the pastel decorations on each of them.

Cupcake Garden!

I am officially obsessed with this idea! Baking chocolate cupcakes in little pots and using frosting or fondant to make little sprigs of grass and leaves. It is just too adorable!! I’m making these ASAP!

Breakfast Cupcakes

These cupcakes give me a legitimate excuse to eat cupcakes for breakfast! Come on, you know you still love Fruit Loops, putting them on a cupcake is nothing short of genius!

Cookie Dough Deluxe

This reminds me that I still need to post the recipe for cookie dough frosting….I’m warning you, it’s highly addictive. I’m talking so addictive you might not get to frost your cupcakes because you ate it all. Wait..I didn’t do that 🙂

Well that’s all for today my sweets. Hope you are all having a fabulous Tuesday. Stay Sweet!

xoxo, Jill

Let’s Get Nutty!

Photo by Elinor Carucci

I’m in the mood for something nutty and delicious. I’m thinking a butter pecan cupcake would be the perfect treat right about now! But since my chances of having a cupcake magically appear next to me are pretty slim, I will share this recipe with you instead. Talking about cupcakes is almost as good as eating them..right?

This recipe is simple and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

Ingredients for the Cupcake (makes 12 cupcakes):

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
½ of a well beaten egg
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup of milk
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine your flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Cream together the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Beat in the egg and vanilla into your creamed butter.
Mix in half of the flour mixture, followed by ½ of the milk.
And now the rest of the flour, mix well.
Add the rest of the milk, mix well.
Fold in the pecans.
Fill your cupcake liners and bake for 24 minutes.

Now, for my favorite part of this cupcake…Honey Brown Sugar Frosting! I recently came up with this recipe and LOVE it – it’s such a nice change from the traditional Vanilla Frosting.

1 stick (1/4 cup) of Butter
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup icing sugar
2 Tbs of honey
Pinch of cinnamon

In a saucepan on medium heat, bring the butter and milk to a boil.  Slowly add in the brown sugar, honey and cinnamon.  Reduce the temperature to medium low. Stir frequently so your brown sugar doesn’t burn on the bottom. Let boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm temp.

Whisk the icing sugar into the lukewarm mixture. Keep stirring until smooth and desired consistency is reached.

If your icing is too thin, just add some more icing  sugar.

Frost your cupcakes and enjoy! You can add some chopped pecans to the top of your cupcake for a perfect garnish!

Til next time, stay sweet!

xoxo, Jill

Classic Buttercream

*Image from weheartit.com*

I realized the other day that I don’t have one single post that gives a very basic buttercream recipe.  Shame on me!

Buttercream is perfect on any flavor cupcake, and is great for cake decorating as well. I love this recipe because I can easily adapt it to make any other flavor I dream up.

So here it is, my favorite buttercream frosting recipe!

Stay Calm Cupcake Buttercream

Ingredients

• 1 stick of unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 stick of salted butter (softened)
• 4 cups of powdered sugar (sifted)
• 3 tbs of half and half
• 1 tbs of vanilla

Directions

1. In your stand mixer, cream the butter on medium high until it turns white and fluffy (about 5 minutes)
2. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time- mixing on medium speed
3. Add the half and half and the  vanilla – mix well for 2 minutes or until well combined
4. If you want thicker buttercream – add more powdered sugar.

This is a perfect base frosting for many other yummy frosting flavors.

Add any of the following ingredients to change the flavor:

• Fresh raspberry puree
• Mint Extract
• Peanut Butter
• Lemon Zest
• Lime Zest
• Orange Zest
• Apricot Jam
• Oreo Cookie Crumbs
• And lots more – just get creative!

Stay Sweet,

xoxo Jill

Pistachio Cupcakes

Pistachio Cupcakes - Green for St. Patty's Day

Hello Sweets!

I have to apologize – I have not blogged since the 1st of March! I have no good excuse, but I have been so busy baking, and shipping orders. Not to mention, I was deathly ill the past 7 days! But I’m back and ready to share some awesome recipes with you.

Pistachio anyone??

I recently had a request for Pistachio cupcakes….I was initially terrified at the idea because I had never even tried to make these kind of cupcakes before. To my suprise however, I found a lovely recipe that took me no longer than 15 minutes to whip together. I don’t normally like pistachio muffins, cupcakes, or even pistachio’s in general – but these cupcakes are good!

So I hope you enjoy the recipe, because it is sure to impress anyone who bites into these little green cups of nuttiness.

Pistachio Cupcakes

(Adapted from Martha Stwearts Pistachio and Raspberry Recipe)

Makes 15

• 1 cup whole unsalted pistachios, plus 1/4 cup slivered or chopped
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 drop of green food coloring (if desired)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Process whole pistachios, sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground.
3. Add butter, vanilla, and eggs, and process until smooth. Add flour, and pulse until just combined.
4. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each halfway. Bake for 24-28 minutes
5. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 2 days.

I topped mine with the cream cheese frosting I use for my red velvet cupcakes – but any vanilla frosting would be just as yummy!! Enjoy!!

Stay Sweet,

xoxo Jill