Good Morning

Everything tastes better when its homemade!

Sweet Blueberry Muffins

with a

Crunchy Streusel Topping

Sweet Spot

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

1 ~ C. ~ Brown Sugar
1/2 ~ T. ~ White Sugar
1/2 ~ C. ~ Coconut oil
1 ~ T. ~ Butter (softened)
2 ~ L. ~ Eggs
1 ~ T. ~ Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 ~ C. ~ Pastry Flour
1/2 ~ t. ~ Salt
1 ~ t. ~ Baking Powder
1/4 ~ t. ~ Baking soda
1 1/2 ~ C. ~ Chocolate Chips
1 1/2 ~ C. ~ Coconut

 

 

Preheat oven to 375°F

Use a stand mixer to cream both sugars, oil & butter. Incorporate eggs & vanilla.

In a separate mixing bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder & baking soda. Toss in the chocolate chips & coconut.
 

 

Now combine all ingredients. Don't over mix.

I used a tablespoon to measure out even scoops onto baking sheets.

Leave a couple inches between each scoop.

Yields 26-34 cookies.

Bake 5-8 minutes. I rotate my sheet pans after 4 minutes.

 After the cookies get a nice golden edge remove from oven.

Let sit for a few minutes before transferring to cooling racks.

 

 

I am so pleased with how these turned out. Soft, chewy & a little cakey.

Give the recipe a try and tell me if you love them as much as I do!!

 

Always!

Perfect Match

Peanut Butter Cupcakes w/ Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

They are like two peas in a pod & when paired together it is heavenly.

I am excited to share with you, so let's dive in!

Preheat your oven to 350°F

Line cupcake tins (12-15)

Peanut Butter Batter

1  C.   Pastry Flour (I used whole wheat)
1/4  C.   A.P. Flour
2  T.   Baking Powder
1/2  t.   Baking Soda
1/2  t.   Salt
1/3  C.   Canola Oil
1/3  C. + 1  T.   Peanut Butter (natural)
3/4  C.   Brown Sugar
2  Large   Eggs
1  t.   Vanilla Extract
1  C.   Buttermilk

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2  C.  Heavy Whipping Cream

4  T.  Butter (softened)

8  oz.  Cream Cheese (softened)

1/4  t. Vanilla Extract

1/4  C.  Cocoa Powder



Let's Bake!

Two For One

So I had some extra lime frosting leftover from the

Cherry Limeade Cupcakes.

I'm thinking Raspberry Cupcakes would pair nicely with the lime frosting.

Check back to find out how it goes!!

Or feel free to leave your thoughts.

What should I do with the extra frosting?

 

Frosting vs. Icing

 

Frosting is thick & fluffy. 

It has a creamy butter taste.

Typically used to cover cakes and cupcakes.

 

 

 

 Icing is thin & runny.

It has a smooth sugary taste.

Typically used as a glaze for bundt cakes or cookies.

 

 

But let's be honest. Both are divine with any sweet treat!

Thirst Quencher

If I may say so myself... These cupcakes turned out amazing.

Moist cherry cupcakes with tangy lime cream cheese frosting. It's my favorite Sonic beverage in fluffy cupcake shape!

I know you want these in your kitchen, so let's get started.

 

Cherry Cupcake Batter

1  C.   Pastry Flour (I used whole wheat)

1/4  C.  A.P. Flour
1 ¼  Tsp.  Baking Powder
1/2  Tsp.  Baking Soda
1/2  Tsp.  Salt
1/3  C.  Oil
4  Tbl.  Butter (softened)
3/4  C.  Sugar
2  Large  Eggs
1/2  C.  Buttermilk
1/4  C.  Cherry Juice
1 ½  Tsp.  Vanilla Extract
1 ½  C.  Cherries (chopped)

Lime Frosting

1/2  C.  Heavy Whipping Cream

4  Tbl.  Butter (softened)

8  Oz.  Cream Cheese (softened)

1/4  Tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Tbl. Lime Juice (I used fresh)

2  Tsp. Lime Zest


Preheat oven to 350°F
Prepare cupcake pan with 12-15 liners

Now for the fun part...

Finally

Cinnamon Cake with Apple Compote & Brown Sugar Buttercream

Don't you just hate when a delicious pie has a soggy crust or sticks to the dish. I want the spiced apple insides with a moist cinnamon cake. The end result gives you a wonderful mix between pie and cake. Big smiles all around!

 

Cinnamon Cake Recipe

1 ~ Cup ~ ~ Cake Flour
½ ~ Cup ~ ~ All Purpose Flour
½ ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Baking Powder
1 ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Baking Soda
¼ ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Salt
1 ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Nutmeg
1 ~ Tablespoon ~ ~ Cinnamon
½ ~ Cup ~ ~ Butter (softened)
¾ ~ Cup ~ ~ Sugar
2 ~ Large ~ ~ Eggs
1 ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Vanilla
¾ ~ Cup ~ ~ Milk

 

Brown Sugar Buttercream

8 ~ Tablespoons ~ ~ Butter (softened)
2 ~ Tablespoons ~ ~ Heavy Whipping Cream (cold)
3 ~ Tablespoons ~ ~ Brown Sugar
¼ ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Cinnamon
2½ ~ Cups ~ ~ Powdered Sugar (sifted)

Apple Compote

3 ~ Medium ~ ~ Apples
½ ~ Cup ~ ~ Water
½ ~ Tablespoon ~ ~ Cinnamon
1/3 ~ Cup ~ ~ Sugar
2 ~ Tablespoon ~ ~ Brown Sugar
¼ ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Nutmeg
¼ ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Apple Pie Spice

Now for the fun part

Show your Mom some Love

Bake her a cake for her special day

Homemade with love is always the best!

Sonic Drive-In

I love the Cherry Limeade.

A little Sweet. A little Tart.

How about a cherry cupcake with lime frosting?!?!

Check back tomorrow :)

 

One Two Step

OK, maybe a few more than two.

I want to show you how to level, fill, assemble, frost and decorate a cake. Lots of pictures for you, woohoo!!

 

 

~ Things you'll need ~

~ Cake
~ Frosting
~ Cooling rack
~ Parchment Paper
~ Bread knife
~ 9in. & 13in. Offset Spatula
~ Pastry bag
~ Decorating tips (#12, #21, #48)

 

 

Step 1 ~ Bake the Cake! Do not skip this step! :)

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes then, cool on a rack lined with parchment paper (for easy transportation) for about 15 minutes. If the cake is too warm it will want to fall apart. No good. Just wait.

 

 

Step 2 ~ Level that Hump

As much as I love those beautiful humps on my cupcakes, it's a no no in cake land. You'll want to use your bread knife to level off the top. Place one hand (not the holding the knife) palm down on top of the cake. Take the hand with the knife and slowly cut horizontally across the top. Similar to butterflying a chicken breast or cutting through a bagel. Save the top for the sneaky hands in the kitchen when a cake has just come out of the oven!

 

 

Cupcakes Are Mesmerizing

Piece of Pie, Piece of Cake

My mind has been bursting with ideas of how to deconstruct delicious treats I enjoy and turn them into cupcakes. 

Lately apple pie ideas have been following. I know there are recipes for apple cake but, I am thinking a cinnamon cupcake filled with apple cinnamon compote and icing lattice work to complete the apple pie look. Mmmm, maybe cinnamon & nutmeg icing. Oh yum. Just image this lovely pie in cupcake form! I would love to hear any suggestions about treats you would like me to turn into a cupcake. It will be fun!! ;) Check out tomorrow's post to see just how my apple pie cupcakes turn out.  

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut

I know I do! Over the weekend I had a craving for Almond Joy. Then I thought how yummy it would be to turn one of my favorite candy bars into a cupcake. Yup, this is happening!

I thought maybe a coconut cupcake with chocolate frosting and chopped almonds. Then I remembered a delicious chocolate cupcake recipe I have on hand and thought I could add coconut flavoring. Whip up some coconut cream cheese frosting, add some almonds maybe in the batter. Oh so delicious.

Below is the chocolate cupcake recipe, along with the cream cheese frosting recipe. Everything you'll need to enjoy an Almond Joy cupcake.

Chocolate Almond Cupcakes

3 ~ Cups ~ ~ Sugar
2 3/4 ~ Cups ~ ~ Pastry Flour
1 1/8 ~ Cups ~ ~ Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 ~ Teaspoons ~ ~Baking Powder
2 1/4 ~ Teaspoons ~ ~ Baking Soda
1 1/2 ~ Teaspoons ~ ~ Salt
3 ~ Large ~ ~ Eggs
1 1/2 ~ Cups ~ ~ Milk
3/4 ~ Cup ~ ~ Canola Oil
2 ~ Teaspoons ~ ~ Vanilla Extract
1 1/4 ~ Cups ~ ~ Coffee (freshly brewed, cooled)
1/4 ~ Cup ~ ~ Coconut Rum
1 ~ Cup ~ ~ Almonds (raw, rough chopped)
*Yields 36 Cupcakes

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 ~ Cup ~ ~ Butter (softened)
8 ~ Ounces ~ ~ Cream Cheese (softened)
4 ~ Cups ~ ~ Powdered Sugar (sifted)
1 ~ Teaspoon ~ ~ Vanilla Extract
2 ~ Teaspoons ~ ~ Coconut Extract
1 ~ Cup ~ ~ Coconut (sweetened, finely chopped)

Let's get started

It's Cupcake Tuesday

 

 

 

Everyone Wants to Lick the Bowl

 

Woohoo, It's Monday 

Said No One, Ever

Have a Cupcake
Heck, have a few. 

For the past 3 days a burglar has broken into my home. 

The odd thing is the burglar takes only one thing each day.

The first day my strawberry cupcakes went missing.

The second day my lemon cupcakes were gone

The third day my double chocolate cupcakes disappeared.

But one the third day something was left behind on the empty cupcake platter.

A note. It was from the burglar.

I should get started. 

I don't want other items to go missing.

I wonder how many I should bake.

While I've got your attention check out the rest of my blog.

Decorate and eat cake!