Peach Blueberry Pie

August 16, 2011 by 4 Comments

There haven’t been many recipes that I’ve seen online where I turn around and make them within 24 hours of seeing them.  I mean let’s be real here, I probably read 40 blogs a day and scan through dozens of recipes.  That’s a lot of food.

So, when I saw what Joy the Baker posted yesterday and the urge to get back in my kitchen and bake came over me I just KNEW that it was going to be this pie.

See last week, I made over 150 cupcakes in 4 days.  That may not seem like a lot of cupcakes for an established bakery, but for a stay-at-home mom who only has two good cupcake pans and and can only bake one pan at a time…. 150 cupcakes is no small feat.  I burnt

out after those four days of baking and vowed I was going to take this week off.  I said THE ENTIRE WEEK I WILL NOT BAKE.

Well, it’s Tuesday and I baked a pie.  But really, can we call that really baking?  It was more like slicing and mixing and rolling.  I guess the pie baked, but I didn’t really make anything.  lol I even used a premade pie crust.  I totally cheated.  :D

But, let me tell you… there is NOTHING BETTER than a slice of WARM peach and blueberry pie with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream.  I took a piece that was waaay too big for me and I ATE ALL OF IT.  Ok, not ALL, my daughter helped me with half but I WANTED to eat all of it!!

I used Joy’s recipe for the pie filling, changed things just a bit to accommodate for what I had in my kitchen and I used a pre-made pie crust… but seriously friends, this pie was one of the best I’ve ever made!

Peach Blueberry Pie
Adapted from Joy the Baker

Pillsbury Premade Pie Crust

about 3 pounds ripe peaches (I used 8 small peaches)

1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup (heaping) sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
scant 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp all spice
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
juice from one lemon

1 egg, beaten, for egg wash

2 tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, for topping crust before baking

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Lightly spray 9-in pie dish with cooking spray. Place the rack in the center of the oven.
  2. To make the filling, wash and slice peaches. In a medium bowl, combine peach slices and blueberries. In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, spices, flour, and cornstarch. Pour the sugar mixture over the fruit, and gently toss together with a wooden spoon. Stir in the lemon juice. Place bowl of fruit in the fridge to rest while you roll the crust out.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll one piece of the Pillsbury pie dough out into about a 13-inch round. Fold the dough in half and gently lift onto pie dish and unfold. Gently press into the base of the pan, being careful not to tear or stretch the dough.
  4. Add the pie filling to the pan making sure it’s spread evenly.
  5. Roll out the top crust just as you did the bottom crust. Use a cookie cutter to cut out a few small shapes in the top dough. Set cut outs aside. Fold the dough in half and gently place it on top of the pie filling.
  6. With a small knife, trim the crust, leaving about 3/4-inch overhang. With your fingers press the top and bottom crusts together and fold under. Use a fork or your fingers to crimp the edges of the dough.
  7. Brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
  8. Arrange the reserved dough cut outs on top. Use a little egg wash on the backs to “glue” them to the pie.
  9. Place pie, on a cookie sheet, in the oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 350 and bake for 35-45 more minutes. Remove from the oven when crust is browned and golden, and the juices are bubbling. You may want to check it after 20-25 minutes to see if the crust is browning too much on the edges. If they are, cover with a pie crust round/protector or foil.
  10. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack and allow to cool for 2 hours before serving.
  11. Serve warm with ice cream!
  12. Enjoy!
Filed Under: blueberry, featured, fruit, peaches, perfect for spring, pie, recipes

Cherry Limeade Cupcakes

July 29, 2011 by 43 Comments

As soon as I saw the recipe for Cherry Limeade cupcakes on Annie’s Eats I was certain it would make it into the rotation sometime this summer.  I put the call out to my friends that I’d be making them this week and got a couple orders for these little summer goodies.

The recipe from Annie’s Eats was a pretty basic recipe, but I wanted to kick things up a bit and really bring out the lime flavor.  In the original recipe, they noted that most of the lime flavor came from the lime syrup that was drizzed on top, but I really wanted a punch of lime to come through in the cake itself.  I zested two limes and pressed that into the sugar, bringing out the natural oils and flavors creating a lime sugar.  I also added the juice of the two limes into the batter.   I also added a bit more lime juice concentrate than the original recipe called for too.  :)  And a few other tricks.

I’m really happy with the intense lime flavor of these cupcakes.  Paired with the sweet cherry frosting, it’s a perfect summer treat!

Enjoy!

Cherry Limeade Cupcakes
Makes 4 dozen cupcakes

Cake
5 1/4 cups flour*
3/4 cup corn starch*
1 tsp salt
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 limes, zested and juiced

10 oz can of limeade concentrate or lime margarita concentrate, thawed and at room temperature

6 eggs

1 cup milk
1/3 cup hot water

*NOTE: This combo of corn starch and flour is to make cake flour.  If you have cake flour on hand, use 6 cups of it.

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. In a medium bowl, prepare the sugar by working the lime zest into sugar by pressing the back of a spatula down into sugar, thus releasing the oils from the zest into the sugar. This process should take about five minutes, and the sugar will become very fragrant. Set aside.
  3. In another large bowl, sift together the flour, corn starch, salt, baking powder and soda three times.  You really want to make sure the corn starch is very incorporated into the flour.  Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth.  Add the lime sugar and mix on high until light and fluffy.
  5. Add the entire can of limeade concentrate and lime juice.  Mix until combined.  Don’t worry if it appears curdled… it’s normal at this point!
  6. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated.
  7. In three parts, add the flour mixture.  Between each addition of flour, add half the milk.  Mix only until the flour is just combined.
  8. Add the hot water and mix by hand until incorporated.  DO NOT OVER MIX!
  9. Fill liners 2/3 full, or use an ice cream scoop to distribute one full scoop into each liner.
  10. Bake for 17-19 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  11. Cool in pans for 5-10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
Lime Syrup
1 10 oz can of lime juice concentrate or lime margarita concentrate, thawed
1 cup powdered sugar
  1. Whisk together the powdered sugar and thawed concentrate until all the sugar has dissolved into the concentrate.
  2. Once the cupcakes are cool cool, poke 7-10 holes in each cupcake with a toothpick.  Drizzle a tablespoon of syrup over each cupcake, allowing it to soak into the cake.
Cherry Buttercream
Double this recipe to have enough to frost 4 dozen lime cupcakes

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 lb powdered sugar, sifted
5-6 tbsp Maraschino cherry juice
3-4 tbsp heavy whipping cream
1/8 tsp Wilton Christmas Red food color gel

Maraschino cherries, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth.
  2. Add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, to the butter.  Cream after each addition.
  3. After half the sugar has been added, add the cherry juice and mix until combined.
  4. Add enough whipping cream until you get your desired consistency, you may not need all of it, or you might want to add more.
  5. Mix in the coloring.
  6. After everything has been combined, mix on high for 30 seconds.
  7. Pipe onto cupcakes and top with a cherry and lime for garnish.
Tips & Tricks – Lemon & Lime Sugar
When using lemon or lime in a recipe, to really add a punch of flavor, zest the fruit into your sugar before creaming with the butter.  By working the zest into the sugar, you’ll create a fragrant sugar full of the oils and acids from the fruit creating an extra dimension of flavor to your cupcakes that will really make them stand out!  I do this almost every time I use lemon or lime and it really creates an exceptional product!  Good luck!
Filed Under: cherry, cupcake recipes, featured, frosting and icing, fruit, fruit frosting, fruity cupcakes, lime, recipes, tips & tricks, top posts sidebar

Chocolate Amaretto Mini Cupcakes

July 19, 2011 by 2 Comments

For some reason I thought of Amaretto today. I don’t know why… but it just came to me. It might have been because of the Amaertti German biscuits I bought at the German store today (which are SO GOOD). But the point is… I’m making these cupcakes! Ha! So, I ran BACK to the local German store and picked up a 700ml bottle of Italian Amaretto (for only €3,99!! liquor is so cheap here!) and came up with this recipe for Chocolate Amaretto cupcakes!

Since these are mini’s I won’t be drenching them in the Amaretto like I did the regular size cupcakes, but you definitely should poke some holes in your cupcakes and drench them with more of this delicious liquor if you decide to make regular size cupcakes with this recipe. I’m pretty sure that’d be just a little too much Amaretto for such a small cupcake, since there is Amaretto in the cake, ganache and the buttercream!

 

I’m bringing these to an FRG meeting tomorrow. (For those of you who don’t know… FRG = Family Readiness Group in the Army. I’m the FRG Leader of my husband’s company in the Army and it’s my first meeting after taking the job. I want to make a good impression!) I’m pretty sure these will be a hit with not only the other FRG Leaders but the soldiers who will be there!

Chocolate Amaretto Cupcakes
Makes 24 mini cupcakes and about 6 regular size cupcakes

1 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and line your cupcake pan with mini nut cups or mini cupcake liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, oil, sugar egg, and amaretto.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  4. In two parts, gently whisk the flour into the wet mixture.  Mix until all the clumps are out.  Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
  5. For minis: Scoop batter into liners about 1/2-2/3 full.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. For regular size: Scoop batter into liners about 2/3 full.  Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes until removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Amaretto Ganache
This made enough to dip all the cupcakes with 1/2 left over

4 oz semi-sweet bakers chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup whipping cream (I actually ran out of whipping cream, so I used 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup coconut milk)
3 tbsp Amaretto liquor, separated
1 tbsp butter

  1.  Chop the chocolate and place it in a glass bowl.
  2. In a double boiler, bring the cream and 2 tbsp Amaretto to a boil.
  3. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds.
  4. Stir until smooth.
  5. Add the butter and 1 tbsp Amaretto and stir until incorporated.
  6. Dip the tops of cooled cupcakes in the ganache.  Set aside before to firm up frosting.

Chocolate Amaretto Buttercream
Makes enough to frost all the cupcakes in the above recipe

1/2 cup (1 stick)unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 lb powdered sugar, sifted
2 tbsp amaretto liqueur
2-3 tbsp whipping cream

Amaretti biscuit cookies

  1. Sift together the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder.
  2. Cream the butter until smooth.
  3. 1 cup at a time, add the sugar/cocoa.   Mix until smooth.
  4. Add the amaretto and mix until incorporated.
  5. Add the whipping cream until you get the consistency and texture you desire.
  6. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 30 seconds on high.
  7. Pipe a dollop of buttercream onto each cupcake.  Top with an Amaretti biscuit cookie.

Filed Under: alcohol, alcohol cupcakes, chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, cupcake recipes, featured, ganache, recipes

Mozart White Chocolate Cupcakes

July 15, 2011 by 4 Comments

A few weekends ago, my family and I took a little weekend trip to Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg is home to many things including Mozart and the classic film, The Sound of Music. Also in Salzburg you’ll find Mozart Chocolate Ball, made by a Salzburg confectioner in 1890 and named after Mozart.

I picked up a trio of Mozart Chocolate Liquors which included a white chocolate liqueur… which meant that I had to make a White Chocolate cupcake!

What I came up with was this delicious little piece of white chocolate heaven…

White chocolate cake drenched with Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur topped with a white chocolate & Mozart Liqueur buttercream. I call these White Chocolate Mozart cupcakes!

These would be amazing filled with strawberries too… I’m just sayin’… white chocolate + strawberries = yum!

Mozart White Chocolate Cupcakes
Makes about 12 cupcakes, maybe a couple more

1 ½ cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp clear vanilla extract
3 oz white bakers chocolate, melted
¼ cup milk
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup hot water

¼ cup white chocolate Mozart liquor

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a measuring cup that pours, mix together the milk and sour cream.
  4. Using a double boiler on medium-high heat.  Melt the chocolate.  Set aside to cool.
  5. In the meantime, using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar.
  6. Add the egg whites one at a time and mix until incorporated.  Scrape the sides of the bowl.
  7. Mix in the vanilla.
  8. On medium, slowly pour the chocolate into the egg/sugar/butter mixture.  Scrape the sides and mix until completely combined.
  9. Add the flour and milk/sour cream alternating, beginning and ending with flour.  Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix only until combined.
  10. Add the hot water and mix just until incorporated.
  11. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full with batter.
  12. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  13. Cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  14. After the cupcakes have completely cooled, poke 10-15 holes with a toothpick in each cupcake.  Brush the liquor over the top, making sure it soaks into the cupcake.

Mozart White Chocolate Frosting

1oz bakers white chocolate, melted
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp Mozart white chocolate liqueur
1 tsp vanilla
¼ cup milk or cream
1lb sifted powdered sugar

  1. Cream the butter.
  2. While that is creaming, melt the white chocolate using a double boiler.  Cool slightly after melted.
  3. Mix in the liquor and vanilla to the butter.
  4. Slowly drizzle the melted chocolate into the butter mixture until completely incorporated, scraping the sides.
  5. One cup at a time, add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.  Scrape the sides of the bowl.
  6. Add the milk until you get the consistency you desire.
  7. Mix on high for 3 minutes.
Filed Under: cupcake recipes, featured, frosting and icing, recipes, white chocolate cupcakes, white chocolate frosting

Peanut Butter & Jelly

July 15, 2011 by 2 Comments

Seriously, who doesn’t love  a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?  I grew up eating them for lunch almost everyday day.  If it wasn’t for lunch, it was a snack.  And although as an adult, I don’t each them as often I did as a kid, they are still a staple in my daughter’s life.

This cupcake is a really moist cupcake filled with my favorite raspberry jam.  The frosting is a twist on a classic peanut butter frosting because it has a bit of cocoa powder in it too.   I made them for a 4th of July party and they were a HUGE it!

Peanut butter Cupcakes
Makes about 2 dozen cupcakes

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt

½ cup butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups sugar
½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract

½ cup sour cream
½ cup milk

1/3 cup hot water

½ cup raspberry jam

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.
  3. Cream together the butter, peanut butter and sugar.
  4. Add the vanilla and mix until incorporated.
  5. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix on high 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  6. Mix together the sour cream and milk.
  7. Add the flour and sour cream/milk, alternating, beginning and ending with the flour.  Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix only until incorporated.
  8. Add the hot water and stir until combined.
  9. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minute or until a toothpic comes out clean.
  10. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then remove to wire wrack to cool completely.
  11. Core the center of the cupcakes and fill with raspberry jam.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 lb (3-4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
¼ cup whipping cream

  1. Cream together the peanut butter and butter.
  2. Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
  3. One cup at a time, add the sugar mixture and mix until creamy.
  4. Add the vanilla and just enough cream until you reach you desired consistency.
  5. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix on high for 30 seconds.
Filed Under: cupcake recipes, featured, filled cupcakes, jam and jelly cupcakes, peanut butter, peanut butter cupcakes, recipes

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

July 10, 2011 by 8 Comments

Hola cupcakers! :) Hope that you’re all having a great weekend! I’m a little behind on posting, because July is a crazy busy month for us, but I’m always baking (of course!) these mint chocolate chip cupcakes were a big deal at work :) hope you like them too!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: chocolate, chocolate cupcakes, cupcake recipes, featured, peppermint and mint, posts by jenn, recipes

Independence Day Cupcakes

June 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

With the 4th of July right around the corner, I wanted to share with you these Independence Day cupcakes I made!  These cupcakes will be available to purchase at Emi Nails & Coffee Bar in Grafenwoehr. [Read more...]

Filed Under: cream cheese frosting, cupcake recipes, decorating ideas, featured, filled cupcakes, flags, frosting and icing, holiday, recipes, seasonal, seasonal and holiday cupcakes, velvet cupcakes

Butterfinger Ice Cream Cake

June 29, 2011 by 21 Comments

Every year my husband wants an ice cream cake for his birthday.  Unfortunately, he’s usually in Iraq on his birthday… but not this year!! He’s home this year and I wanted to make his ice cream cake super special by making it myself.  He requested a Butterfinger ice cream cake!  [Read more...]

Filed Under: cake, candy, featured, ice cream & ice cream cakes, recipes, top posts sidebar

What is a Snickerdoodle?

June 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

To kick off Snickerdoodle week, I thought it’d be important to explain what exactly a Snickerdoodle is!  Well, my friends, a snickerdoodle is a delicious cookie that has been rolled in cinnamon and sugar.  Similar to a sugar cookie, but just a little bit different. [Read more...]

Filed Under: cinnamon, cookies, featured, Snickerdoodle Week

Caramel Creme Latte cupcakes

May 30, 2011 by 21 Comments

When my good friend Chrissy asked me to make cupcakes for her in-laws that were coming to visit her family here in Germany, I couldn’t say no.  Joe and Liz are from Oregon and love coffee, so I thought what better than a coffee based cupcake!  [Read more...]

Filed Under: caramel, caramel cupcakes, Coffee, cupcake recipes, featured, recipes

Raspberry Jam Cupcakes

May 7, 2011 by 6 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

Samoa Cupcakes

April 27, 2011 by 30 Comments

Several weeks ago I ordered many many boxes of Girl Scout cookies from my beautiful niece, Ashley.  Well… I’ve been holding on to those cookies until I had enough time to create the cupcake made from one of the most popular GS cookies, the Samoa.  And you know what… I think I’ve done it.    [Read more...]

Filed Under: caramel, coconut, cookie cupcakes, cookies, cupcake recipes, featured, girl scout cookie cupcakes, recipes, top posts sidebar

Take yourself to Hawaii with Aloha Cupcakes

April 10, 2011 by 6 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

What the French Toast?!

April 8, 2011 by 5 Comments

Breakfast cupcakes are pretty much the best thing ever in my house right now.  Blueberry pancake cupcakes?  Big hit!  French toast & bacon cupcakes?! BIGGER HIT!! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cinnamon, cream cheese, cupcake recipes, featured, french toast, posts by jenn, recipes

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

March 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I was inspired by With Sprinkles on Top (who also made these cookies) to try them myself.  I mean really, how can you go wrong with homemade chocolate chip cookies and Oreos? [Read more...]

Filed Under: chocolate, cookies, featured, recipes

Peanut Butter Ball Cupcakes

March 25, 2011 by 18 Comments

Horray for my first batch of cupcakes in Germany!  Now, I didn’t have all my tools… no Kitchen Aid, no scoop for the batter, no bowls or scrapers or pans or liners… So, I bought new ones!! [Read more...]

Filed Under: chocolate, featured, filled cupcakes, peanut butter, recipes, top posts sidebar

My first cupcake in Germany!

March 13, 2011 by 13 Comments

I almost missed these cupcakes.  Which, would have been an epic tragedy all in itself.  Luckily, my daughter spotted these in a little cafe close to our hotel here in Grafenwöhr, Germany.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, featured, Germany

Welcome Jenn!

March 2, 2011 by 2 Comments

I have some super exciting news to share with you!  I have decided to add a couple new writers to my blog!  With my big move to Germany, now just days away, I thought it would be a great time to add some new, fun content to my blog. [Read more...]

Filed Under: featured, posts by jenn

Drenched in Kahlua Cupcakes

February 28, 2011 by 8 Comments

Yesterday was a great day.  Yes, my friends, it was National Kahlua Day.  So what did I do?  I ran to the closest liquor store that’s open on Mondays and bought myself a little, errr, big bottle of my favorite liquor. [Read more...]

Filed Under: alcohol, chocolate, featured, recipes, top posts sidebar

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

Very Berry Cheesecake Muffins

February 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I’ve got this deck of cupcake cards… each card has a different recipe. I don’t know why I’ve never used it before, but the other day I was flipping through it and saw a recipe for a cheesecake cupcake that I used as the inspiration for this muffin! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cream cheese, featured, fruit, muffins, recipes

Yummers 2 the 3rd Power Cupcake Factory

February 17, 2011 by 5 Comments

A new cupcake shop opened in the South Puget Sound over the weekend and I’ve been so excited to check them out! So today, I drove the 15 minutes from my house down to Parkland to meet Amber at her new shop, Yummers 2 the 3rd Power Cupcake Factory! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, featured, pacific nw cupcakes

We’re Moving! (Survey Inside)

February 16, 2011 by 1 Comment

Yes, it’s true… I am leaving the Pacific Northwest in just a few short weeks and am moving my whole family to Germany!  My husband is being stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany for at least three years and I will be taking my blog with me! [Read more...]

Filed Under: featured, Germany, life, survey

Simply Sweet Cupcakes & Bite Me Cupcakes – Snohomish, WA

February 4, 2011 by 4 Comments

Last weekend my husband and I took the 75 minute drive from Tacoma to Snohomish to taste test cupcakes from Simply Sweet Cupcakes & Bite Me Cupcakes.   While we were in the quaint little town, we also got our fingers on some pie and pizza… who knew this simple city nessled in the valley would be full of such delicious treats?! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, featured, pacific nw cupcakes

It’s My Bloggy Birthday! (And a GIVEAWAY!)

February 1, 2011 by 4 Comments

Or, it WAS my bloggy birthday.  Until I totally forgot about it and am now wriring about it a month late!!! haha Well, JavaCupcake turned TWO bloggy years old in January and it’s been another successful year of blogging!!   [Read more...]

Filed Under: contests/giveaways, featured, year in review

February 2011 – Cupcake of the Month

February 1, 2011 by 4 Comments

Love is in the air… isn’t it?  Oh… and party hats!! Cause February is the month of my birthday!!! Horrraaayyy!   To celebrate, I’ve chosen a cupcake that is a combination of two of my favorite things:  Chocolate and Raspberry! [Read more...]

Filed Under: chocolate, cupcake of the month, featured, pacific nw cupcakes

The 12th Man does Cupcakes!

January 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Seattle Seahawks are in the playoffs, baby!!! Hecks yeah! So in typical 12th man spirit, bakers around the Pacific Northwest have put their best foot forward and have come up with some spectacular Seahawks cupcakes! [Read more...]

Filed Under: featured, pacific nw cupcakes, sports

Cute kitties gone BAD & a few lessons learned

January 14, 2011 by 5 Comments

If my cats didn’t have their moments when they were so cute… if I didn’t feel guilty at the thought of getting rid of my cats… if one of them wasn’t a gift to my daughter for her birthday… [Read more...]

Filed Under: disasters, featured, fruit, strawberry, tips & tricks, white chocolate

Viva La Cupcake – Happy Birthday Elvis!

January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On January 8, 1935 one of the most popular musicians was born, Elvis Presley.  Elvis loved fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches… weird, I know.  So to honor “The King” I made my version of his favorite sandwich, in a cupcake!   [Read more...]

Filed Under: banana, featured, mini, peanut butter, recipes, video

Giant Snickerdoodles

January 6, 2011 by 2 Comments

Earlier this week I went down to Olympia, WA on a quest to find cupcakes. Olympia failed me. I did not find one single cupcake in Olympia. [Read more...]

Filed Under: cinnamon, cookies, featured, recipes

Red Robin jumped on the cupcake bandwagon!

January 6, 2011 by 6 Comments

Last month on a last minute dinner out with my family, I was sitting at Red Robin when my husband freaked out and pointed to the table top display at our table.   [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, featured

Favorite People & Moments of 2010

December 31, 2010 by 4 Comments

I can not even begin to explain to you what an amazing year this has been for me.  I have met so many amazing people in the cupcake industry, it feels like a second family! [Read more...]

Filed Under: best of 2010, featured, year in review

Top 10 Recipes of 2010 (non-cupcake)

December 28, 2010 by 1 Comment

In 2009, I blogged mainly about cupcakes.  But in 2010 I decided I would include all the fabulous recipes I’ve made… even a few that weren’t baked items like soup and ice cream!  [Read more...]

Filed Under: best of 2010, featured, top 10, year in review

Top 10 Cupcake Recipes of 2010

December 27, 2010 by 5 Comments

2010 was an amazing year for cupcakes.  I made so many cupcakes, it was hard to keep count!! This was my second year of blogging and my second year of trying new things, new recipes and coming up with new flavor combinations. [Read more...]

Filed Under: best of 2010, featured, top 10, year in review

Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes

December 14, 2010 by 14 Comments

I’ve never used molasses before, I’ve never made gingerbread before. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever had more than maybe a couple gingerbread anythings in my life. So why am I making gingerbread cupcakes and cookies? Because it’s Christmas!! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cinnamon, Coffee, featured, gingerbread, seasonal, spiced

Cupcakes Take the Cake Birthday Bash Recap & Photos

December 10, 2010 by 6 Comments

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 will go down in history as one of the best night’s of my life.  The Cupcakes Take the Cake 6th Birthday Bash in Seattle was one the biggest events I’ve put on in my adult, professional career and I am definitely more proud of this accomplishment [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcakes take the cake, events/meet ups, featured

Triple Lemon Cupcakes

December 4, 2010 by 3 Comments

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

Guest Blogger: Ryan makes Gingerbread Cupcakes

November 30, 2010 by 1 Comment
JavaCupcake Note: This is a guest blog post from Ryan of Ryan’s Baking Blog. I recently came across Ryan’s blog and have to admit… I’m an instant fan.  Any man who can hold his own with a spatula and whisk… I’m a fan of.   [Read more...]
Filed Under: featured, gingerbread, guest blogger, holiday, recipes

Candy Cane Cupcakes

November 21, 2010 by 13 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, top posts sidebar

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

November 12, 2010 by 5 Comments

What’s all the fuss about? Whoopie what? Huh? Seriously, the first time I heard about Whoopie Pies, I had to google it. Today, when I posted on Facebook I was making them, my friends and family texted me asking “WTF” they were.   [Read more...]

Filed Under: cinnamon, cream cheese, featured, misc. baked goods, pumpkin, recipes, seasonal