Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!

Inspired by the Super Bowl, no doubt, I chose to make some festive Super Bowl cupcakes. And since both teams are fitted with the same three colors (makes my job easier) it was no problem trying to remain neutral with the fondant topped cupcakes.



Green buttercream to mimic grass which was so yummy!

Chocolate Chip cupcakes with a green buttercream!

 I must say, this being my first attempt at fondant toppers, I'm pretty impressed with myself!  Don't allow the idea of doing this scare you away. Just think of it as playing with eatable Play-Dough!

Happy baking,
Lauren

Chocolate Graham Cracker Cupcakes with a Marshmallow Frosting



Tis the season to experiment! At least, that's what I keep explaining to my family every time I say, "I'm gonna try making ______ cupcakes today." I don't think they really mind. I mean, who would when they're able to reap all the benefits and try all of them out?!

First you put a graham cracker crust at the bottom of the cupcake liners with pieces of bittersweet chocolate

After scooping in the batter I put the remaining graham cracker crumbs on the top

TAH-DAA! They turned out perfect!

After making the marshmallow frosting (YUMMM!) they were ready to present to the fam (!).

 

I gotta say, these turned out... MMMMM GOOD! For you chocolate luuuuvers out there, the little bits of bittersweet chocolate is like a little bit of chocolatey goodness. And if you're not a big fan, take out the bittersweet... easy peasy.

But my one point of advice is this: make them. Make them quick! They are so delicious and just... Mmmm, yumm!

Happy baking,
Lauren

Gingerbread Cupcakes with a Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

There are many smells associated with Christmas--pine trees, craneberry, hot chocolate... But I think the most frequented memory for what Christmas smells like, are whenever someone bakes or decorates gingerbread. The flavor combination of the nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and of course mollasses (which surprisingly smells disgusting in the jar--no worries, the flavor bakes down) is pure genius! Whoever came up with this years ago should be given a medal of something.

Ever since I started baking cupcakes, I knew the minute the Christmas holiday rolled around, I'd try my first batch of Gingerbread Cupcakes. My mom wanted me to make my Red Velvet, but I knew I was going to need to pull a fast one and get these in somehow.  The challenge though was which recipe I'd tweak...

For the gingerbread I used the a recipe I found online. The main thing I changed is replacing water with a special and more delicious liquid I shall keep as my little secret. For you experienced bakers out there, I'm sure it won't take you too long to think of the replacment liquid I used.

Gingerbread Cupcakes
Recipe: Taste of Home

I liked the way this recipe had a mayple cream cheese frosting because most recipes I've found always ask for a cinnamon; which would be absolutely delicious as well. But in the name of experimentation, I decided to go with the mayple. Instead of using the recipe at the bottom, I used my own brown sugar cream cheese recipe I've used a number of times and new would be a perfect match. All that needed tweaking was a to add a 1/4 cup of good mayple syrup.

I must say, finally getting the opportunity to make something new and classic was such a great experience for me this Christmas season. I definitely know I have a winner for next year!

ps: I added the small touch of little sugar cookie men on top, but you can do anything from sugared ginger or simply sprinkling some cinnamon over them! It's up to you.

Happy baking,
Lauren

Cupcake blurp...

First of all, can I explain the excitement and slight frustration over these new blogger features and images?! Sheesh, awesome and obnoxious at the same time...

ANYWAYS...

So I'm reading this book called Water, Stone, Heart by Will North (loved his first... I think I blogged about it?) and it is set in Ireland. The only cupcake that comes to mind to back is a chocolate irish creme cake with a mocha cream cheese frosting. My mouth just slightly watered thinking about... But I'm curious, got any better ideas?

Mmmmm, I think I'm going to go read before I drift off to sleep and start teaching my lovely students again tomorrow. I kind of want to make these cupcakes ASAP! They sound delish!

Happy reading and sweet dreams,
Lauren

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

Ladies and Gentlemen, Hi! Hello! What's up? What's happening? I know it's been a while and for that, I grovel at the ground with apologies. In my defense, I've been "hard at work" finishing a book which took me far too long to finish... Slow start? Complicated pronunciations? New author? I don't know WHAT it was, but I'm sure one or two or all had something to do with this prolonged absence of mine.

Not that any of the above mentioned "issues" had any effect on the overall enjoyment of this book. I truly did enjoy it... once I got the hang of it. Sometimes that happens, ya know?!

By Mary Kay Andrews

In honor of the setting of said book (birth state and all around favorite city in the States: Savannah, Georgia) I made Peach Cobbler Cupcakes.

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes with a Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

I'll admit, I've never even made a peach cobbler before. Have had my share a time or a dozen, but never made. So making this was a true test of faith and personal baking talents! But thanks to the watchful Baking Angels above, they came out delish. Now, if only I could have had them WHILE I was reading Savannah Blues -- that would have been southern perfection.


Happy reading, baking or both,
Lauren

A Southern Girls Destiny

I finally did it. I made red velvet cupcakes and... wait for it... they were good! They were better than good, they were a divine gift sent from God Himself! I shouldn't sound so shocked, really. Without sounding too boastful or arrogant with my skills in the kitchen, I'm a good baker (I get that from my Mom). But I have never... never ever ever ever, made red velvet before.

Red Velvet Cupcakes (Paula Dean)
with a Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting (Baked Perfection)

As a southern girl, I knew this was a slight crime to have never at least attempted it. Red velvet is a staple in any southern person's baking archives and I've certainly tasted my fair share of other's. I know I originally said I was going to make the red velvet recipe from Baked Perfection, but there was something very important missing from her recipe: cocoa. YUP, she had not one teaspoon of cocoa; I thought that was strange. So, my Mom sent me Paula Dean's (you may have heard of her? southern woman with excellent baking credentials) and as I scrolled down her list of ingredients, boom, I found the cocoa... but only 1 teaspoon? Again, I found that to be strange.

Happy Easter!

But with my faith in all things Paula Dean, I continued to mix and add, mix and add until finally! they were done. Oh, and did I mention I did a little remix and still used Baked Perfection's BROWN SUGAR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING?! Nope, I'm not kidding--they are out of this world.... If I do say so myself.

Happy baking,
Lauren

Easter is For Jesus.... and Baking!

I've had the itch to bake for weeks now! Check that, months! Maybe it's because with my new life style (aka gym 4 days a week + a trainer + massive amounts of protein and goodforya body stuff) I don't/can't eat all the yummy yum yums I want. So to supplement this urge - this need - I've been researching new cupcake recipes to try and new decorating skills to perfect. And yes, I'll even admit I've been increasingly inspired by how Georgetown Cupcakes DECORATES (I didn't say taste juuust yet) their cupcakes; so simple, so cute and just my speed.


Georgetown Cupcakes



My Mom, knowing how much of a cupcake fanatic I am, sent me this link to an amazing blog and the red velvet cupcakes she made (see link below). Since, not only am I in the serious mood to bake, but I have to make red velvet cupcakes for a friends Bridal Shower, I figure this coming week of spring break for me (HAIL YES!) will be the perfect time to hunker down and get 'ta bakin'!

Red Velvet Cupcakes



Wish me luck! Although I don't really believe in luck... soooo, wish me good baking! I'll post pictures once they've been made.

Happy baking,

Lauren