Monday, January 31, 2011

Cupcakes galore!


I have had cupcakes on the brain a lot lately, between decorating Lucy's room in cupcakes, doing her announcement in cupcakes and dressing her in anything having to do with cupcakes, and all of us calling her our little cupcake. So I thought it fitting to send out a few cupcakes along with Lucy's announcement to say thank you to those who helped me before and after her arrival. Sorry these pics aren't the best, I almost forgot to get a picture. It was a little crazy doing this after having a baby but I did it with my mom's help.

I had so much fun doing these gourmet flavors. I got the recipes from a new book, 101 gourmet cupcakes in 10 minutes. I tweaked a few just so they wouldn't be so dense. Here are all the recipes:
Key Lime Pie (my favorite)
1 box white cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup half and half
3 Tbsp key lime juice
2 Tbsp. oil
Mix all together for 2 minutes then pour 1 Tbsp into each paper liner. Then mix 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 3 Tbsp key lime juice together and divide between each cupcake (approx. 1 Tbsp) then top with remaining batter. Bake 350 for 15-18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly.
Top with prepared whipping cream (2 cups cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar).
Garnish with key lime zest.

Root Beer Float
1 white cake mix
1 cup of rootbeer
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp. rootbeer flavoring
Mix together for 2 minutes. This is more dense but still yummy. Bake 350 for 15-18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly.
Frosting:
1 stick butter
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
4 Tbsp milk or cream
1 to 2 tsp. rootbeer flavoring
Mix together and frost cupcakes.
Garnish: Cut a straw and insert in the center.

Pink Lemonade
1 box white cake mix
3/4 cup pink lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
3 drops red food coloring
Mix together until smooth. Pour into liners.
Bake @ 350 for 15-18 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Frosting:
1 stick butter
I added 6 oz. of cream cheese but the recipe doesn't call for it
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. milk or cream
2 drops red food coloring
2 tsp. pink lemonade concentrate, maybe little more depending on how tart you want it. You can also use lemon flavoring but I didn't think it was strong enough.
Garnish with lemon fruit slice

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
3 Tbsp. oil
1 bag peanut butter cups
Mix everything except cups together and put 2 tbsp of batter into liners then put 2 pb cups into each liner, then top with remaining batter. Bake 350 for 15-18 min or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Frosting:
1 stick butter
1/3 cup cocoa
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp. milk or cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
Garnish: Peanut Butter chocolate chips