Blog / Site Rav!

A few weeks ago I found out about Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery from my Iron Cupcake:Earth Challenge blog. Lyndsey from Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery , is so sweet and her online store offers great nostalgic baking items as well as amazing cupcake supplies. I have been searching for brown cupcake liners and she offers them for a great price! I also ordered pink foil liners and vanilla bean paste. The paste is great because you get an entire bottle for the price of two vanilla beans from the grocery store. Because I was sick and rushing to order I made a big boo-boo and she was so nice to send me the free items for being a member of IC, plus a couple additional sample items. I truly cannot wait to use my new items, and trust me I will let you know when I do! Please visit: Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery

Happy Baking!

Daring Bakers: French Yule Log

Daring Bakers December Challenge: French Yule Log


This month's challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux.They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand.


I made this wonderful Yule Log o' Joy twice; once on Christmas Eve and once today. I almost threw in the towel after the first attempt but due to being sick I just figured that my mind was too foggy and that the Christmas stresses had beaten the daring baker in me. Today, with a lot less stress I pulled out the eighteen page recipe and all that encompassed this joyous holiday dessert. While my log now lay in the freezer hardening, I just now hope that the parchment paper comes off my dacquoise and that I can frost it with ease. Either way I am proud of my accomplishment and I will enjoy every inch of this precious yule log. My friends and I will be enjoying the log at our annual "core" New Year's Eve party. Thank you to all the daring bakers who gave advice and for all that fit this into their busy holiday schedules. Now, what shall the new year bring us DB's? If you wish to become a member of DB please click the Daring Baker logo on the right hand side of my page to join.



If you wish to have this recipe for your holiday celebrations next year please comment and I would be happy to forward it to you.



The frosting hasn't even set yet, but I had to post these to get my entry in for the deadline. I will be posting more after tomorrow when I actually get to eat it!

Christmas Tree Kŭp’kāks

These didn't start out like I wanted. They were supposed to be Jim's Titan team colors of white and green. I wanted to put basketballs in them but all I could find were candles or rubber bouncy balls. I ended up using some candies I had bought to make them look like Christmas trees. The cake was Betty Crocker Golden Recipe, I added a tablespoon of vanilla bean paste. For the frosting I used a traditional vanilla bean buttercream; half mixed with Wilton green leaf food gel. Oh, keep on watching my blog. . .there is more to come!

Peppermint Mocha Kŭp’kāks

I don't know how many of you have had the pleasure of indulging into Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered Jo-Jo's or not but they are simply irresistible. This cupcake is my take on their scrumptious cookie. It is a basic chocolate cake recipe, actually the third I have experimented with over the last week and it was okay. A little dryer than my normal cake, but very good, not too sweet, not too chocolaty. The frosting is two flavors; red is peppermint and the brown is well, chocolate. It was a great pairing because it wasn't overly minty. The only complaint I have is that the red turned mouths and teeth pink. The first of many holiday cakes. . .more to come.

Pretty, Pretty Princess Cupcakes

Last weekend we celebrated our niece, Makayla's fourth birthday party at our house. Now, anyone who knows Miss Makayla know's that she is a princess, and a Disney Princess-themed party was due. Another great quality about Kay is that she loves chocolate and cake/cake and chocolate. I knew that I needed an extra chocolaty cake recipe and frosting that was fit for any Queen in training. These darling little cakes were so cute and could cure any chocoholics chocolate craving!



Rich Chocolate Cake:
(Adapted from Toll House)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
2. Beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk.
3. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup.
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely

Sorta-Chocolaty Buttercream Frosting

(Adapted from iheartcuppcakes-retirement cupcakes )

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• pink and purple food coloring. I used Wilton coloring gel in rose and purple.

Directions:

1. Beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl. Add 5 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, cocoa powder and vanilla, beat until combined. Add more powdered sugar until you get to the consistency you want (not too stiff so that its hard to pipe)
2. Take out half of the buttercream and using pink food coloring, tint to desired shade.
3. Add purple food coloring, tint to desired shade, to the remaining half and beat to combine.
4. To assemble cupcake—Fill pastry bag with both the pink and purple buttercream frosting, one on opposite side from the other. Do not mix them together to keep the colors separate until you pipe onto the cupcake.

I had extra batter so I decided to bake two small heart cakes for her cake. I piped on frosting with a star tip.