Stout Cupcakes with Stout Glaze

It has been a busy week for me. On two, off one, on one, off one. so on and so forth. Well anyway here I am with the next cupcake. A stout cupcake, made with Guinness beer. I bought a beer that was labeled extra stout not sure if that made a difference. I am not fond of the dark beers. The taste is too heavy for me but I thought I would try it anyway.

The cake is like a spice cake with and orange zest spiked with beer. Wow what a cake. Not sure if I liked it or not. The cake did turn out perfectly, soft and moist and light. For me I think the spice in the batter was a little strong. The glaze was perfect though.

I missed baking a cupcake on my last day off for a couple of reasons. The first being I had one day to squeeze in allot of stuff. We first went to look at a potential location for my husbands business (more on that at another time) and then the dogs needed to go to the vet for their own problems. One is old with a bum hip and the other needed blood work to test further for her allergies, she's allergic to everything.
i ended the day watching my son pitch a baseball game. By the way the umpire sucked. I know I am probably not the most impartial person but my son had a very narrow strike zone where as the other teams pitcher had a very big strike zone.

Well no matter. Back to baking today. Again the reactions to the cupcakes is mixed. Its a good cupcake but a bit much on the spices.

Till next baking time.

Blueberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream frosting



Today's cupcake. Where do I begin.

Blueberry cupcakes, lighter than their muffin counter part. I got up early this morning sent the boys off to school and began making my cupcakes.

They came out beautifully, and I placed them on the counter to dry. The house smelled like a little piece of heaven. While they were still in the muffin pans cooling I took Grandma to the doctor and planned on frosting them when I got back. Planned changed as you can see from the picture.

Upon walking into the kitchen to my horror I found the tins half empty. I made 24 full size and 24 mini cupcakes. I only found 8 regular and 15 mini. Damn dog. We have a Mastiff Sheppard mix who apparently remained in the house. cupcakes and wrappers all gone.

At any rate the cupcakes are perfect.

Well any stout cupcake are next.

Till next baking time.

Banana Pecan Cupcake with Caramel Butter-cream



Today was a good day.
It was partly cloudy, in the sixties and windy.
Its always windy here.

Today I made Banana Pecan cupcakes.
I have to let you know I love banana bread,
but this is soooo much better.
It is lite and moist and has a fresh taste to it.

The frosting is amazing.
It was another one of those that you make in three parts.
I first made some homemade caramel.
Didn't know I could do that, but I did.
Then I had to whip the butter,
then warm the egg white and sugar mixture.
Then I whipped it all together to create this flavorful super dooper light frosting.

I sometime wish y'all could taste and smell these creations of mine.

I have to make note of my middle son Trevor,
he hates trying new things.
So when I had the cupcakes in the oven I asked him
if he was gonna try the cupcakes, he asked what they were and said
"NO"

But would you believe that he did try one and then said
"can I have the other one on your plate, Mom"

My little guy loves my cupcakes and tells me how good they are all the time.
He even took a picture for me of these.

I love my boys.


Till next baking time.

Tiramasu Cupcake with Marscapone frosting.



Ok on Monday I made Tiramasu cupcakes. These cupcakes were a little intense to make. First I made the cupcakes which called for a lot of eggs, supposedly to make the cake more stable for a glaze to be pored on top. The glaze was simple Marsala wine, strong coffee and a bit of sugar. The frosting was made with marscapone cheese. Its an Italian sweet cream cheese, not sweet when by its self, but what ever. Each individual section didn't taste good to me. the cake was spongy, the wine sauce bitter and the frosting didn't seem right to me, but once the wine sauce was poured onto the cakes and the frosting applied it all came together. As you can see from the picture it wasn't one of the prettiest cupcakes I have made but it turned out kinda of tasty. I have never had Tiramasu before so I have nothing to compare it to, but over all it wasn't bad.
I should tell you in following the recipe when Martha says fill cupcake liner on 3/4 of the way she means it. Some of mine were a little over filled and in this recipe the cake doesn't rise a hole lot instead it reaches a certain point then just spread.

It took me a couple of days to get this post up because I had planned on putting it up when I got home from work yesterday but that plan was interrupted by my husbands grandma, who lives with us by the and is 93 years old, playing bumper cars in the front yard and trying to take out out 12 foot drive thru fence. She is ok but now we plan for the repairs.

Tomorrow banana and pecan cupcakes.

Till next baking time.

Chocolate Malted Cupcake

Today was a hard day to get things done, I have just been busy and today was no exception. A field trip to the Highlands Nature Center for a nature walk with my youngest son. Then a baseball game this afternoon. All would have been ok but after the field trip I sat down to check my facebook and fell asleep, and my family let me sleep for almost three hours. Now I had that much less time to make my cupcakes and get to the ballgame in time. So needless to say I was crabby and feeling outta sorts. I hope that feeling has passed.

Anyway, the cupcakes were completed and they are amazing. Today's cupcake is Chocolate Malted cupcake with vanilla frosting. It may be pink frosting but it is just a basic home made vanilla frosting. Nothing out of a box or can for this gal ever again. They delectable bite are drizzled with chocolate and sprinkled with chocolate candy.

Have you noticed my favorite color is pink, hence the pick frosting.

The next cupcake is gonna be fun, I get to use incorporate Marsala wine and Marscapone cheese.

Devil's Food Cupcake with
Chocolate Ganache Frosting.



Yesterday was Mother's day and my middle sons birthday, he turned 13. It was a wonderful day my family spoiled me and my husband made dinner, prime rib. Yummy.

Before I get to the cupcake I made yesterday let me tell you about the thoughtful gifts I received. For started my mother in law (Diana) and my husbands grandma (Dorothy) gave me a new standing mixer. An awesome kitchen aid. I love the fact that its heavy, and metal., and it came with the three attachments I would use the most. Kitchen aide is the best. Diana gave it to me on Wednesday a little early, but let me tell you why. I came home from work on Wednesday complaining that "I should just go get the mixer I want, I get paid tomorrow". So Diana was forced to show me the gift so that I wouldn't go get one on my own.

Here's the kicker to the story. I took the mixer out and placed it on the counter. Finally yesterday, Mother's day I went to use it. I dumped a boxed cake mix into it, Was planing on making a quick cake for my sons birthday, when I turned on the mixer and the blade spun around once and the stopped. We couldn't get it going and couldn't figure out why it stopped. It sucked. But my mother in law quickly packed it back up in the box and ran down to the store to exchange it. Let me say that one worked and it worked beautifully.

I also received the very cute pink with zebra trimmed apron from my mother in law. my husband was sweet he started my day with making breakfast and the gave me a rose and a card. he also gave each one of us moms int the house a t-shirt that says Thank you for all you do, you are the best Mom (for me) and grandma (for the grandmas). He gave me a new DVD the movie Country strong. but once I got my cupcakes in the oven my husband walked in with the most adorable cupcake tree. I had seen it before and refuse to pay what they wanted but my hubby said he couldn't pass it up. He is definitely a keeper.

Well let me get too today's cupcake a devils food cupcake with a ganache frosting. The cake came out moist and fluffy and not very sweet. I don't like that in your face sweetness you get sometimes. Ganache is just chocolate and cream put together to create a glaze type frosting. First time making this one. The story behind this was funny. When I made my shopping list I wrote down that I needed bittersweet chocolate chips and that's what I got but then I reread the recipe and cold not figure out where I read the bitter\sweet because what I was reading said I needed semi sweet. so I sent my husband to get me the correct chocolate. Let me tell you that on Sunday morning as I was gathering the ingredients for the frosting I realize I was looking at the wrong page and did need the bitter sweet.

Well after all the mishaps and misreads the cupcakes were finished and came out delicious.

Rhubarb Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting

OMG. Is the only way to describe this cupcake.

I have never tried rhubarb before today, and I have to say I am not really into trying anything new but I did. And I have to say it was well worth it.

While cutting up the rhubarb I was begging to feel a little uneasy, then I put it into the batter and got really worried. when these little cakes came out of the oven they smelled divine. One bite is all it took. Even without the frosting they were heaven. The rhubarb that I was worried about being crunchy and bitter was soft and sweet.

I topped the cupcakes off with homemade whipped cream frosting. Cool-whip watch out I believe I will make my own whipped cream from now on for my homemade pumpkin pies. After a dollop of whipped cream these little bits of goodness received some rhubarb that was cooked in a sugar vanilla glaze, that I made of course.

I love the little black flecks the vanilla leave on the whipped cream. It makes for a beautiful contrast.

These I have to say are my favorite.


On a side note friend of mine that is living with us, Greg, came home with cupcakes from a meeting he went to. He said that the lady holding the meeting said "Greg I know you live with the cupcake lady but you can still take these home."


I like it. The CUPCAKE LADY

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting



Ok todays cupcake was Red Velvet. So I expected my cupcakes to be red, but no they are a reddish brown on the outside with a red hue on the inside. But I have to say they are yummy. I thnk I say that about most of my creations.


Let me say that messing up on the ingredients is a big nono when baking or cooking. I was so fixated on what I was doing that I was hurring through the ingreients and not reading carefully. I almost had the batter complete when I was to add the baking soda to the vinegar I got myself all twisted and used baking powder. OOOPS. I realized my mistake when I was reading over the ingredients to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything. I turned to my mother in law an d asked her what I should do. She said jst add the baking soda, so I did. Yeah needless to say they cupcakes didn't come out as planned. they rose nicely then fell like rocks. They were so light and airy the had almost no flavor. I kept them because the kids in this house will eat anything.

I did remake the batter properly this time and the results were awesome. The cake has flavor and yet is still light. Still not sure about the color. but what can you do.

I just can't get over the mishaps with the last two cupcakes. I will percervere though. Like I said I am really having fun baking mishaps and all.


Next time Rhubarb cupcake. Yikes, I've never had Rhubarb.