Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts

Friday, November 13, 2009

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes



I'm here! I haven't forgotten about my blog- I have just been occupied with other things... work, school and my internship being the most time consuming. And let me just add, there are only 4 weeks until I graduate!! (Even less really, because of Thanksgiving break). I am soo excited and ready. It's been a long time coming and I can't believe I will finally be DONE with school :)

Now, for these yummy cupcakes... I made them for my boyfriend's birthday, he just turned 24 also!  Remember his cake last year... well he tried to get me to do something very specific this year too-

 Boone Pickens Stadium...



Right after I finished laughing at him, I told him no. I enjoy a challenge, but like I have the time right now to construct THAT. 

So, he got these instead...


They aren't exactly a stadium, but he liked them :)

And it gave me a chance to try out a recipe I'd saved a while back.  They were pretty easy and tasted like a peanut butter cup, mmm!

Here's the recipe if you would like to try them:

Peanut Butter Cupcakes
adapted from TLC Cooking

1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups milk


1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 18 standard (2-1/2-inch) muffin pan cups with foil baking cups.
2. Beat butter and peanut butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth; beat in sugars until well mixed. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when touched and toothpicks inserted in centers come out clean.
5. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes to racks; cool completely before frosting.

***I filled my cupcakes before frosting with a little bit of a peanut butter and butter mixture.  Warm about a 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 2 tbsp of butter in the microwave and with a piping bag, fill each cupcake.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting
 
4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 to 5 tablespoons milk, divided
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
 
Combine powdered sugar, cocoa, 4 tablespoons milk and peanut butter in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at low speed until smooth, scraping bowl frequently. Beat in additional 1 tablespoon milk until of desired spreading consistency. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Happy Birthday to ME!! :)



I'm 24 today!

*Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes!  I truly appreciate you taking the time :)

I had a GREAT birthday by the way... My boyfriend threw me a little surprise party with family & friends!  I was shocked and so excited- no one has ever done anything so thoughtful and special for me like that <3  He planned every detail with our moms- how cute is that!

I think I'll keep him :)
-ash

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I want to Bake It Pretty, too!






That's right... I too have fallen in love with Bake It Pretty. I just HAD to order myself a few things, which I rarely do online with stuff like this, because I don't want to allow myself to go crazy!

But I've been wanting some for so long, I DID IT! Some big piping tips and colorful, solid cupcake liners: my favorite!

Plus, I haven't had the time to bake anything lately, so I am pretty excited to have these coming my way :)

Go see their stuff for yourself, they have so much to choose from!

Have a good one,
Ash

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Pretty in Pink


This weekend had me busy making cake, mini cupcakes and tons of cake bites for a shower honoring mommy-to-be and her baby girl!


The vanilla cake was filled with fresh raspberry buttercream and frosted in vanilla buttercream.

(Below is the guest of honor :)

I was disappointed when the icing "puckered" a little on the side, but it wasn't too bad I guess... (see the bottom tier)


Thank you Becky for taking pictures for me! (In my mad rush to get things dropped off, I decided to forget trying to get any good ones myself)
Anyway, from what I hear, the shower was a success and the Mama-to-be was very pleased :)

Now... back to my "puckered" icing problem. Is there some recipe for buttercream that goes on more smoothly?
How do you get your icing smooth? I am open to suggestions if anyone's got any! I am getting better at it with time, but I know there has got to be someone who has a little trick up their sleeve!!!

Thanks!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Cookie Monster Cupcakes!


I found a picture of cookie monster cupcakes online a few months back and saved it immediately! I knew the idea would be perfect for my sweet nephew Jake at his 2nd birthday party. He loves his "Cookie"...(that's what he calls his little cookie monster stuffed animal that he sleeps with :)


These are chocolate chip cupcakes with buttercream frosting. I used the piping tip # 233 (usually used to create "grass") and piped cookie monster's fur onto the cupcake. Then I used vanilla candy melts for the eyes, piping a little milk chocolate onto them for the center. And finally, I just crammed in a little cookie where his mouth goes!


And here's a candid shot of the birthday boy at his party! He was so excited to finally see his "blue cake" that he kept asking for. When I held him up to see them on the table he yelled, "COOKIE!" haha :)
I love you so much Jake, Happy 2nd Birthday!
love Aunt Ashy

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Mickey Mouse Cupcakes

Here are some of the Mickey themed cupcakes and cookies I made for a little boy on his 2nd birthday. Half were butter recipe and the other half chocolate fudge; all were topped with fresh vanilla buttercream. The polka dots and Mickey ears are fondant.


Sunday, May 3, 2009

Sweet & Simple

These red velvet cake bites and pink vanilla cupcakes are for my grandmother. She turned 78 today :) Happy Birthday Mimi!!






Saturday, March 21, 2009

A Barbie Party!

My precious niece Kyleigh Brooke just turned 5! She and I are very close and I am sad to see her growing so quickly :(
I have made her cake every year (Pooh, Dora & Boots, Ariel and Bunny cakes in the last 4 years) and this year she requested something "Barbie!" I decided hot pink and purple cupcakes would be cute. Have a look...



Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Wedding Shower

Here are the 50 butter recipe cupcakes I made for a wedding shower. I got to use my new cupcake stand for the first time! How do ya like it?
Thank you Tia for taking the photo :)




And I also got to use my new Cupcake Courier, thanks Mom!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

My Valentine!

You will be seeing some new and exciting cupcakes very soon! My boyfriend got me some beautiful flowers for Valentine's day along with this book...


I had seen it before on Bakerella's blog, but I thought I could probably find all of the ideas online... Well I was surprised to see so many ideas I had never seen, all compiled into one book! I am excited to try them out and share them with you :)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Cupcakes!

These cupcakes were made for Isabella's 5th birthday party! I made a total of 60 chocolate and butter recipe, and topped them with a fluffy buttercream icing. I added a hint of coconut extract to the buttercream and it turned out great!



And one of several cupcakes my niece Kyleigh helped to make a few days later... using the same buttercream, yum!