Frosted Sugar Cookies for Valentine’s Day

Frosted Sugar Cookies for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2012 by · 8 Comments

One of the things I baked this weekend as a part of the Valentine’s Day Love Boxes I made were my favorite sugar cookies frosted and decorated.  I make these cookies several times a year and I devour at least a dozen of them myself every time.

I’ve posted the recipe before (Spring Sugar Cookies) for the cookies, but have since then added my own homemade buttercream to the mix instead of a jar of pre-made frosting.

So, here they are together… my favorite sugar cookie recipe with my favorite vanilla buttercream recipe.

These cookies are full of flavor, soft, and puff up perfectly when baking. The frosting, it’s smooth, creamy and so delicious!!

Print
Roll & Cut Sugar Cookies

Prep Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Yield: 5-6 dozen cookies (depending on cookie cutter size)

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup shortening
  • ¾ unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 5 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • heart shaped cookie cutters

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and shortening.
  2. Add the sugar, eggs, and almond extract and mix on high until light and fluffy – about 4-5 minutes.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. Add the flour to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Make sure you are scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
  5. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Roll dough ¼ inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut with cookie cutter and place on baking sheet.
  8. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until cookies are a delicate golden color. NOTE: Mine only take 6 minutes! Do not let the edges get too brown, you want the bottoms to just barely start to turn a golden color.
  9. Remove immediately from pan to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
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Perfect Vanilla Buttercream

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Enough to frost 5-6 dozen cookies with left-overs

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • the seeds of one Madagascar vanilla bean
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2lbs powdered sugar
  • 1/4-1/2 cup Madagascar vanilla bean infused heavy whipping cream (Recipe here)
  • pink food gel – optional
  • sprinkles – optional

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds and mix until combined.
  3. 1lb at a time, add the powdered sugar. Begin on low speed and increase speed until mixture becomes smooth. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
  4. After each addition of sugar, add 3-4 tbsp of cream. Beat on high to combine.
  5. Add as much cream as you want until you have a smooth, spreadable consistency. NOTE: I like to make this buttercream a little thinner than what I’d make if I was using it for cupcakes, so I add more cream.
  6. Once you have your desired consistency, beat on high for 4-5 minutes.
  7. If you want to tint the frosting, add as much gel as you want until you get the color you need. Scrape sides/bottom of bowl to make sure it’s all uniform in color.
  8. Frost cookies and decorate with sprinkles!
  9. EAT!
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Filed Under: almond extract, buttercream, buttercream, cookies, frosted cookies, frosting and icing, recipes, sugar cookies, valentine's day, vanilla, vanilla frosting
Thin Mint Cupcakes

Thin Mint Cupcakes

January 25, 2012 by · 20 Comments

It’s totally that time of year… GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME!

I can’t resist.  I bought 10 boxes.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  10 boxes.

2 to eat (with in the first 24  hours).

8 to bake with.

Yeah… you read that correctly.  8 boxes to bake with.

Last year I made Samoa Cupcakes and Tagalong Brownies.  This year… I started with Thin Mint Cupcakes.  These cupcakes are a super decadent chocolate cake filled with a whipped chocolate ganache topped with a mint buttercream.  Serious amounts of NOM NOM NOM.

PS…. This is my new favorite chocolate cake recipe.  I know it’s got beer in it… but I’m totally using it for every chocolate cake I make from now on!!

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes

1 bottle of Guinness Stout Beer
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp espresso powder
1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pans with liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter on medium-high heat.  Add the vanilla beer, whisk together and heat until it just begins to simmer.  Whisk in the cocoa powder and espresso powder and heat until it just begins to bubble up.  DO NOT BOIL.  Remove from heat and whisk until smooth.   Cool slightly.
  4. In the meantime, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sour cream.  Slowly pour in the slightly cooled chocolate mixture. NOTE:  DO THIS SLOW! You don’t want to cook the eggs, so start pouring a very small amount of the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture… DO NOT DUMP IT IN ALL AT ONCE.
  5. In three parts, add the flour mixture to the chocolate/egg mixture.  Whisk until smooth.  Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure everything is incorporated.
  6. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter.
  7. Bake 18-20 minutes, rotating pan after 12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Cool in pan for 3-4 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before filling and frosting.

Whipped Chocolate Ganache

4 oz dark chocolate, chopped

1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp corn syrup

1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

  1. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium glass bowl.
  2. In a small sauce pan, heat the heavy cream and corn syrup just until it bubbles.
  3. Pour heavy cream over chocolate and stir until smooth.  If the chocolate doesn’t melt all the way, place the bowl over a double boiler and continue to stir until smooth.
  4. Mix in the butter and extract.
  5. Allow ganache to cool to room temperature.
  6. Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the cooled ganache until fluffy.  Don’t over mix or it will get grainy.

Vanilla Bean Peppermint Buttercream

12 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
4 tbsp cream cheese, room temperature
2 lbs powdered sugar
1/2 cup Madagascar Vanilla Bean Cream
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
pinch of salt
Wilton Green Food Gel

  1.  Cream together the butter and cream cheese.
  2. Add half the powdered sugar and mix on high until incorporated and smooth.
  3. Beat in half the vanilla bean cream until smooth.  Scrape the sides of the bowl, making sure all the sugar is combined.
  4. Add the remaining sugar and the peppermint extract.
  5. Mix in the food gel until it’s the color you desire.
  6. Add remaining vanilla bean cream until you get the consistency you want.  Mix on high 3-4 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

To Assemble Cupcakes:

Thin Mint Cookies
Peppermint Buttercream
Chocolate Shavings
Piping bag & large round tip
Apple corer

  1. Core each cupcake using the apple corer.
  2. Fill each cupcake with whipped ganache.  (I filled a disposable piping bag, cut off the top and filled each one with that.)
  3. Using a large round tip and a piping  bag, pipe a round swirl of buttercream on to each cupcake.
  4. Top with a Thin Mint cookie and chocolate shavings.
  5. EAT! ENJOY!

And this is what you do when you have left over peppermint buttercream.  NOM NOM NOM

Filed Under: buttercream, buttercream, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, cookie cupcakes, cookie cupcakes, cream cheese, cupcake recipes, filled cupcakes, frosting and icing, ganache, ganache, girl scout cookie cupcakes, Madagascar vanilla beans, mint cupcakes, peppermint, peppermint and mint, recipes, whipped cream, whipping cream
Breakfast Cupcakes

Breakfast Cupcakes

January 10, 2012 by · 7 Comments

I have these gorgeous bananas sitting on my counter right now.  Long, bright yellow, soft but still a bit firm, not too over ripe… perfect for baking.  I’ve also got about 10 strips of bacon.  Oh and I’m craving peanut butter buttercream.

So yeah… I made a cupcake… with all those things in it.

I started with a basic banana cupcake base, added some maple syrup, chopped up some bacon and BAM… YUM!  Then, I topped the whole thing with my favorite peanut butter buttercream and a chunk of crispy bacon that’s been drizzled with maple syrup.

So yeah… you could totally eat this cupcake for breakfast.

PS… So, I’d love to share the peanut butter buttercream with you, but a certain baker in Seattle would kick my ass for sharing it with you.   You’ll have to use your own pb buttercream for these cupcakes.  (PS,  it’s not a cream cheese based frosting either… all butter, baby!)

Banana & Bacon Maple Cupcakes
Makes 18 cupcakes

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp banana extract
3 large bananas, diced and lightly mashed (we want lots of banana chunks and just a little bit of mush)
1/4 cup maple syrup

7-8 strips of crispy bacon, diced

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the butter and 1 egg and mix 7-8 strokes.
  4. Add the second egg and mix until combined, about 4-5 strokes.
  5. Add the bananas, vanilla extract and maple syrup and fold in with a spatula until combined.
  6. Fold in the diced bacon, making sure the sides and bottom of bowl have been scraped and combined.  Do not over mix the batter!
  7. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  8. Let cool in pans for 3-4 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Top with your favorite peanut butter buttercream and a chunk of bacon soaked in maple syrup.

 

Filed Under: bacon, banana, buttercream, cupcake recipes, frosting and icing, fruity cupcakes, maple, peanut butter, peanut butter frosting, recipes, savory cupcakes
Peanut Butter Trifle

Peanut Butter Trifle

November 28, 2011 by · 3 Comments

I had an order for peanut butter cupcakes today… but for whatever reason, they wanted to come away from their liners.  So… I made them twice.  Not wanting to waste the first batch of perfectly good cake, I decided I needed to put something together with the cake and left over candies and buttercream.

And thus… the Peanut Butter Trifle was born!

Layers and layers of goodness starting at the bottom and working up… we’ve got:

Peanut butter cake

Reese’s Pieces

Peanut Butter Buttercream

Peanut butter cake

Dark Chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Buttercream

Peanut Butter cake

Peanut Butter buttercream

Mini Chocolate chips

and a Reese’s Pieces on top!

My hubby and daughter devoured it tonight after dinner.

YUM!

 

 

Filed Under: buttercream, cake, desserts, peanut butter, recipes, trifle
Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes

October 21, 2011 by · 16 Comments

I’ve made apple cupcakes a million times. I’m most known for my Tree Hugger Apple cupcakes which I debuted at Cupcake Camp Seattle a few years ago. I’ve made them dozens of times for family and friends. The only problem with these cupcakes is the amount of time they take and the number of steps needed to make them. I wanted to come up with a simpler, yet equally as delicious version of an apple cupcake that could be made in one bowl.

Now, there’s no getting around prepping the apples in butter, sugar and spices. That’s just a MUST for these cupcakes, especially if you want them filled. If you wanted to skip the filling step, you could add the cooked apples to your batter before baking and omit the raw apples from the batter. You’d have swirls of cinnamon and apple throughout the cupcake. YUM!

But, I wanted filled cupcakes this time so I chopped up half a large apple and put that in the batter. I’ll fill the cupcakes when they’re cool with the cooked apple mixture.

I topped these cupcakes with an apple, cinnamon and caramel buttercream… it took has chunks of apples running through it. Super good… super sweet!

Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup milk (you could use apple juice too)
1/2 cup chopped apples

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line your cupcake pan with liners.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugars.
  3. One at a time, mix in the eggs. Add the vanilla then beat on high for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
  4. Sift into the batter the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix by hand about 5-6 strokes.
  5. Add the milk and mix only until all the flour and milk are incorporated.
  6. Gently fold in the apples. Do not over mix!
  7. Bake for 17-19 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Leave in pan for 3-4 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Filling
1 large apple, chopped
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk mixed with 1 heaping tbsp corn starch

  1. In a medium pan, melt the butter on medium-high heat.
  2. Add the apples, sugars and vanilla and stir. Cook until bubbling, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the milk + cornstarch mixture and bring to a bubble. Cook for 1-2 minutes until thickens.
  4. Remove from heat and continue to stir for about 1 minute.
  5. Set aside to cool.
  6. Fill cupcakes and reserve remaining apple mixture for buttercream.
Apple Cinnamon Buttercream
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 lb powdered sugar, sifted
2-3 tbsp heavy cream
remaining apple mixture
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
  1. Cream together the butter and shortening.
  2. Add about 1/2 the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
  3. Add 1-2 tbsp cream and mix until combined.
  4. Add all of the remaining apple mixture, cinnamon and salt.  Mix until smooth.
  5. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
  6. Add enough cream until you get the consistency you desire.
  7. Scrape sides of bowl and mix on high for 1 minute.
  8. Frost cupcakes and drizzle your favorite caramel sauce over frosting.
Assembly
  1. Core the center of your cupcakes out.
  2. Fill with apple filling.
  3. Top with apple cinnamon buttercream.
  4. Drizzle with your favorite caramel syrup.
Filed Under: apple, buttercream, buttercream, caramel, cinnamon, cupcake recipes, filled cupcakes, frosting and icing, fruit frosting, fruity cupcakes, recipes, seasonal, spiced
Chocolate & Banana Cupcakes with PB Buttercream

Chocolate & Banana Cupcakes with PB Buttercream

October 16, 2011 by · 2 Comments

I’ve been dying to make peanut butter frosting for a while now.  I was waiting for a reason to make these, but then decided I needed no reason and just whipped some up.  I love this recipe because it’s a one bowl batter.  My FAVORITE kind.

Now, I wanted to make these really strong in banana flavor, so I used banana extract and did not add the typical spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc).  If you wanted to turn these into a muffin, I’d suggest adding a few spices, using a bit of brown sugar instead of white and creating a crumble for the top.  But, since I’m topping these with a peanut butter frosting, I really wanted a strong banana flavor not to be overwhelmed by the frosting.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Makes 18 cupcakes

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 ripe medium bananas, smashed
2 large eggs
1/2 tbsp banana extract
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add in the melted butter, bananas,  eggs, banana extract and sour cream.  Mix together with a whisk about 10 strokes.
  4. Add the chocolate chips. Switch to a spatula, scrape the sides of the bowl and mix another 10 strokes.
  5. Fill liners 2/3-3/4 full with batter.
  6. Bake 22-24 minutes or until tops of cupcakes are golden brown.
  7. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes enough to frost 18 cupcakes

12 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup peanut butter, heaping
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup milk or heavy cream
pinch of salt (optional)

melted chocolate
banana slices

  1. Cream the butter until smooth.  Add the peanut butter and cream together on high until smooth.
  2. 1/2 cup at a time, beat in the powdered sugar.  In between sugar additions, add 1-2 tbsp milk.  You may not need all the milk, but you will use all the sugar.  (I used the heavy whipping cream and only used about half of the 1/3 of a cup I poured out.)
  3. Add the pinch of salt and mix together until smooth and fluffy.  (The salt is added to cut the sweetness, if you like a super sweet frosting, omit the salt.)
  4. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.
  5. Drizzle melted chocolate over frosting and garnish with a fresh banana slice.
Filed Under: banana, buttercream, buttercream, cupcake recipes, featured, frosting and icing, fruity cupcakes, peanut butter, peanut butter frosting, recipes
Banana bites

Banana bites

October 16, 2011 by · 1 Comment

After making my Chocolate & Banana cupcakes, I had some extra peanut butter buttercream, banana slices, and melted chocolate.  So, I decided to make a little treat for the family!

 

Banana Bites! 
Sliced bananas
Peanut butter buttercream
Melted Chocolate

  1. Squeeze a dollop of buttercream on a banana slice.
  2. Add a dot of chocolate on top.
  3. Pop in your mouth and enjoy!
Filed Under: banana, buttercream, chocolate, peanut butter, recipes, snacks, tips & tricks
Shirley Temple Mini Cupcakes

Shirley Temple Mini Cupcakes

August 17, 2011 by · 9 Comments

Hola friends! :) A few weeks ago I came across Shirley Temple cupcakes from The Curvy Carrot and I knew I haaaaad to make them!  I decided to go the mini route, just because they’re so cute, especially with a little cherry on top, but either way-they’ll be a big hit!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: almond extract, buttercream, buttercream, cherry, cupcake recipes, featured, frosting and icing, fruity cupcakes, mini, posts by jenn, recipes
Itty Bitty Bumblebee

Itty Bitty Bumblebee

August 7, 2011 by · 3 Comments

I don’t mess around too much with classic cupcake combos… like chocolate & vanilla.  I have a fav chocolate cake recipe that I love and I’ve recently become attached to the most amazing, light & fluffy vanilla buttercream but, when it comes to dressin’ them up a bit… that’s where I get to have a little bit of fun!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, buttercream, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, cupcake recipes, cupcake toppers, frosting and icing, posts by jenn, Uncategorized, vanilla, vanilla frosting
Chocolate Chip Pancake With Maple Syrup Buttercream

Chocolate Chip Pancake With Maple Syrup Buttercream

July 2, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Happy weekend, JavaCupcakers! For those of you in the US, Happy 4th of July weekend! These cupcakes are a great way to start off your weekend ;)

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, cupcake recipes, frosting and icing, maple frosting, posts by jenn, recipes
Double Doodle & Mini Doodle Cupcakes

Double Doodle & Mini Doodle Cupcakes

June 24, 2011 by · 2 Comments

If you love Snickerdoodles, then these cupcakes are the ultimate in Snickerdoodle.  These “Double Doodle” cupcakes are packed full of cinnamon, sugar and flavor! Sure to be a crowd pleaser at any party! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, cinnamon, cinnamon buttercream or frosting, cookie cupcakes, cookies, cupcake recipes, frosting and icing, recipes, Snickerdoodle Week
Javachip Cupcakes

Javachip Cupcakes

May 25, 2011 by · 6 Comments

One of my resolutions this year was to give up Starbucks… every. single. day.  Delicious, but uber expensive.  Ask my mint.com account ;) To make things easier we started using our coffee maker in the office and I brought in some fun coffee cups from home…for the most part, this resolution = big time success.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate frosting, Coffee, cupcake recipes, frosting and icing, posts by jenn, recipes, Starbucks
Birthday Trio

Birthday Trio

May 18, 2011 by · 1 Comment

Hey folks ;) sorry things have been a little quiet around here from me lately… life has kind of been super busy lately.  Good busy, but still super busy.  I haven’t had much time to write posts, but have no fear I have been baking!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: banana, buttercream, caramel, chocolate, cream cheese, posts by jenn, strawberry, vanilla
Raspberry Jam Cupcakes

Raspberry Jam Cupcakes

May 7, 2011 by · 2 Comments

My mom died last year just after Mother’s Day… so this year is kinda difficult for me.  I’m in a new country, away from family and missing my Mom.   So, what did I decide to do to make things a little easier?  Make cupcakes for my new friends who are all fantastic mothers! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, cupcake recipes, featured, fruit, fruity cupcakes, raspberry, recipes, vanilla
Raspberry Almond Cupcakes & Dark Chocolate Buttercream

Raspberry Almond Cupcakes & Dark Chocolate Buttercream

April 13, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

It’s been kind of a long week over here on my side of the world….and I don’t feel like Friday will be here soon enough *le*sigh*  My solution?  Bake, of course!  I’ve had these cupcakes saved for a long long long time and never got around to making them.  I’m glad that I finally took some time to whip them up, because they totally made me feel better!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, buttercream, chocolate, chocolate frosting, cream cheese, cupcake recipes, frosting and icing, fruit, fruity cupcakes, posts by jenn, recipes
Take yourself to Hawaii with Aloha Cupcakes

Take yourself to Hawaii with Aloha Cupcakes

April 10, 2011 by · 4 Comments

It’s Spring here…. sunshine everywhere and the temperature is getting warmer! Which means tropical fruits and lots of them!  I picked up a pineapple and mango just thinking we’d cut them open and eat them. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, cupcake recipes, featured, fruit, fruity cupcakes, perfect for spring, recipes
Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

April 4, 2011 by · 8 Comments

What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks?  I’m a sucker for a good Caramel Macchiato, iced or hot… but stirred, I like it when the milk is mixed together with the coffee… all that caramely goodness with whipped cream=divine. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, caramel, Coffee, posts by jenn, recipes
Buttercream

Buttercream

February 20, 2011 by · 4 Comments

I’m on a mission to perfect my buttercream recipe and I need your help!  The current recipe I have now comes out thick and heavy and I’d really prefer a lighter, smoother consistency. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, featured, survey
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2011 by · 4 Comments

With cupcake orders this weekend and requests from Emily’s teacher… it was time to make some more super sweet love cupcakes!  This year, I made them with a twist! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, dipped, filled cupcakes, ganache, holiday, recipes, valentine's day, vanilla
Triple Lemon Cupcakes

Triple Lemon Cupcakes

December 4, 2010 by · 1 Comment

It’s Apple Cup today! GO HUSKIES!  What better reason to make a batch of cupcakes than a football game with my alma mater’s biggest rival?!? [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, curd, featured, filled cupcakes, fruit, lemon, perfect for spring, recipes
Candy Cane Cupcakes

Candy Cane Cupcakes

November 21, 2010 by · 12 Comments

I’m not gonna lie… I’m kinda over pumpkin and spice.  I’ve made breads, cookies, and whoopie pies out of pumpkin and I’m all pumpkin’d out! So when it came time to bake cupcakes for Will Bake for Food, I decided chocolate and peppermint was the next best thing! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, featured, peppermint, peppermint and mint, recipes
Appledoodle Cupcakes

Appledoodle Cupcakes

October 26, 2010 by · Leave a Comment

I had a very special request by Carrie of Bella Cupcake Couture.  ”Tree Hugger Apple” cupcakes for her birthday! [Read more...]

Filed Under: brown sugar, buttercream, caramel, cinnamon, featured, filled cupcakes, fruit, recipes
Spiced Mocha Cupcakes – a new recipe!

Spiced Mocha Cupcakes – a new recipe!

October 19, 2010 by · 1 Comment

It’s been a while since I’ve been creative in the kitchen and come up with a new recipe!  This last weekend for the Tacoma Harvest Fair, I wanted to create cupcakes using fall flavors, but one that would stay moist for a couple days because I was baking ahead of time. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, cinnamon, Coffee, recipes, seasonal, spiced
Mini Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

Mini Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

August 7, 2010 by · 6 Comments

It’s been over three months… three long months since I’ve baked a cupcake.  Today, I reclaimed my excitement, desire, and drive to bake again thanks to an old friend who called and asked me to make cupcakes for an upcoming bridal shower.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, featured, filled cupcakes, fruit, mini, recipes, vanilla
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

April 21, 2010 by · 18 Comments

It’s SPRING and I’ve got the FEVER!  Fresh fruit is everywhere and I am buying a lot of it! I had about a flat of strawberries and these beautiful lemons in my kitchen and an itch to come up with a new recipe. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, cupcake of the month, featured, fruit, recipes
Dark Chocolate Buttercream

Dark Chocolate Buttercream

April 17, 2010 by · Leave a Comment

I have yet to find a really good dark in color, dark chocolate buttercream.  Today, I think I came pretty close to perfection. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, recipes
White Butter Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

White Butter Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

April 5, 2010 by · 2 Comments

This weekend was Easter and I was a baking fool! I made two bunny cakes and three dozen cupcakes! Yummm-0! The cupcakes I made were a White Butter cupcake with a classic Vanilla Buttercream frosting.  Delish! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, recipes, vanilla
Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes

Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes

March 26, 2010 by · 6 Comments
JavaCupcake Note:  This is a re-post of a recipe from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody! She has so many amazing recipes for bakers, you’ll have to check them all out! [Read more...]
Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, featured, filled cupcakes, guest blogger, recipes
Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

February 18, 2010 by · 3 Comments


I was in the mood for a simple cupcake since the last few I’ve made have been pretty elaborate. What’s more simple than a white cupcake with chocolate chips? YUM! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, recipes
Buttercream roses & leaves

Buttercream roses & leaves

February 18, 2010 by · 3 Comments


I’ve been researching how to make buttercream roses for cupcakes I’ll be doing this spring. [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, flowers, tips & tricks, video
Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes Revisited

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes Revisited

January 30, 2010 by · 17 Comments

I had an order for my Irish Car Bomb cupcakes so I decided to try something new with them. [Read more...]

Filed Under: alcohol, buttercream, ganache, recipes, St. Patrick's Day
Tree Hugger Apple

Tree Hugger Apple

January 25, 2010 by · 12 Comments
I was asked by Foodies@Work (on Twitter @foodiesatwork) to write a guest blog for their site.  They wanted me to come up with a cupcake that reflected the Pacific Northwest.  At first, I instantly thought seafood!! But reconsidered because I’m certain that a lobster cupcake wouldn’t be that tasty.  So I decided on apples. [Read more...]
Filed Under: buttercream, filled cupcakes, fruit, guest blogger, recipes
White Velvet Raspberry

White Velvet Raspberry

January 18, 2010 by · 8 Comments
It was Tracy’s grandmothers 84th birthday and she wanted cupcakes! She wasn’t a big fan of chocolate so a white cake was ordered and wanted to add a bit of color with raspberries.  So what I came up with was this White Velvet Raspberry filled cupcakes topped with Vanilla Buttercream and a fresh raspberry! [Read more...]
Filed Under: buttercream, fruit, recipes, velvet

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

January 9, 2010 by · 5 Comments
It’s a week into 2010 and I’m making my first round of cupcakes for the new year!  I’ve been brainstorming what my “signature” cupcake could possibly be and it dawned on my that DUH! Peanut Butter and Chocolate! My favorite food combination.

For this Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake, I started with my recipe for super moist chocolate cupcakes and tweaked it just a little bit and they came out perfectly.  I have a feeling that this recipe might become a part of whatever my signature cupcake is.  I’ve got it pretty much perfected.

To top the cupcake, I wanted a peanut butter buttercream and this particular recipe came from Mermaid Sweets.  I did my thing, adapted it some and I think it came out pretty good… a bit sweeter than I had wanted, but it’s still pretty damn delicious!

Finally, I quartered mini Reese’s peanut butter cups to garnish the top.  They look like HEAVEN to me! But… seeing that it’s 2:30am, I should probably wait until tomorrow to try one.  Otherwise, I’ll be up ALL NIGHT.  hehe

Click on image for recipe!

Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate, filled cupcakes, peanut butter, recipes
Cookies-N-Creme Cupcakes

Cookies-N-Creme Cupcakes

December 29, 2009 by · 3 Comments
Today is my niece Ashley’s 8th birthday party and she has requested for me to make her cupcakes!! She picked out these yummy looking Oreo Cupcakes from a book I got for Christmas for me to make! So, of course, I had to put my own spin on them!! Here’s what I came up with! Enjoy! [Read more...]
Filed Under: buttercream, cookies, recipes, vanilla

Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Cupcakes

October 14, 2009 by · 3 Comments

Yes… It’s been a over a month since I last blogged and even longer since I’ve made cupcakes. But, with one month down of this deployment, I was feeling like I could get back into the swing of things again. My friend Heather and I decided to get our kids together to make cupcakes… and with her favorite food in the world being cookie dough, I came up with this recipe!

Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Cupcakes topped with Chocolate Buttercream and Chocolate Chips

Click on image above for recipe
Filed Under: brown sugar, buttercream, chocolate, cookies, recipes

Blueberry Madness!

August 22, 2009 by · 7 Comments

Blueberries are in season here in Washington and my husband let me buy A TON of them!!! First, I made blueberry muffins and then… then I found a recipe from one of my favorite cupcake shops for a Blueberry Cupcake!!!! Mmmm I couldn’t resist!! The recipe for Blueberry cupcakes with Blueberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream is from Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle and can be found here. My mother-in-law is in town and it happens to be her birthday so I made here these delicious treats to celebrate!

Here is a photo journey of the cupcakes that turned out to be a big hit with my family!

The blueberries cooking to make the puree… it smelled so good!!
I added 1/4 cup of sugar to the recipe here also.

The batter just before it hit the cups!

Oh yes, that is puree swirled on top of the cupcakes!

Just out of the oven…. mmmmmmm.
Topped with meringue buttercream and a blueberry!!

Blueberry perfection.

A couple of notes about the recipe…
I, personally, did not care for the meringue buttercream. This recipe, the frosting turns out very buttery in flavor. When my family tried the cupcake, they said it was very rich but when paired with the cupcake it was perfect. I think if I were to make this again, I would add more sugar and add less butter. Also, I think I’d make just my favorite buttercream recipe and add the blueberry puree for flavor. Another suggestion was that I put whole blueberries in the cupcake as well. Just some things to think about :) Enjoy!
Filed Under: buttercream, fruit, meringue, recipes

Happy 16th Jack!

June 17, 2009 by · 14 Comments

This weeks order for cuppies comes from my former class mate, Deb. We took an amazing class together at UW called Body Image & Art which changed my life. Deb’s son, Jack is turning 16 and Deb is helping him celebrate by throwing him a birthday party on his last day of school and she has hired me to do the cupcakes!!

They wanted chocoalte cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting but also wanted tiger paws, tiger stripes, the color blue and “Happy 16th Jack” somehwere on the cupcakes. I was able to incorporate everything but the tiger stripes. Everytime I tried to pipe them onto the cupcakes, they just looked horrible. So, it’s just paws for these cupcakes! Jack’s high school (Stadium in Tacoma) colors are blue and orange… so I used the orange as a secondary color for these little master pieces.

I made 4 dozen total. Not all are shown in the pictures. :)

I deliver them this afternoon and can’t wait to see if they like them!!

Happy 16th Birthday Jack!!



Filed Under: buttercream, chocolate

Strawberry filled White Butter Cupcakes

April 25, 2009 by · 25 Comments

My niece’s birthday party is this afternoon and my sister has hired me to bake cupcakes for the event!! White cupcakes with strawberry frosting is what they wanted… I thought I should kick it up a notch and do a little better.  I made White Butter Cupcakes filled with strawberry and topped with Strawberry buttercream and fresh strawberries! [Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, filled cupcakes, fruit, recipes
Rainbow Cupcakes

Rainbow Cupcakes

April 4, 2009 by · 13 Comments

And finally, the last cupcakes I made were a tri-color cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting. While making the lemon cupcake batter, I saved some aside that did not have the lemon, leaving a basic vanilla batter. I separated that into three and colored two of them pink and green. I spooned each color into the cups to creak the rainbow effect! :) For my first attempt, I think they turned out really great!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: buttercream, perfect for spring, rainbow, recipes, vanilla