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Yummy Link: Dark Chocolate and Bacon Cupcakes

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:57:19 -0700

This dark chocolate and bacon cupcake looks almost sinister. However, I think it just proves that cupcakes don't need to be fluffy and pink to be amazing. - A Good Appetite

Cupcake of the Week: Easter Nests

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:08:51 -0700

This week's cupcake of the week comes from Steph at the Frosted Garden. These adorable Easter Nests are delightfully festive and oh so cute. I hope she inspires you to make your own batch for Sunday!

Cupcake of the Week: 'Wich Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:40:13 -0800

The other day I ended up at the San Francisco outpost of Tom Colicchio's 'Wichcraft. While there were plenty of delicious-looking sandwiches on the menu, my eyes gravitated to their cupcakes. They're similar to the old-school Hostess cupcakes: rich chocolate with a white creamy filling, chocolate ganache, and a bit of white frosting drizzled on top. They clock in at $2.75, and they have nothing to do with sandwiches, but don't they look tasty?

Cupcake of the Week: Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:28:31 -0800

This week's cupcake comes from our pal muffin. Her Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes come complete with a round of pastry and a oozing of caramel. These look absolutely sinful and wonderfully delicious. Don't you want to leap into the screen and shove these in your face? I know I do!

Cupcake of the Week: La Provence's Giant Cupcake

YumSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:28:31 -0800

If you've ever dreamed of eating cupcakes the size of your face, then you are in luck. The folks at The Knife tipped us off to the jumbo cupcakes at Beverly Hills-based La Provence Patisserie & Cafe. The huge cupcakes - that's a regular-sized plastic fork in the photo - come in red velvet, chocolate chocolate cream cheese, and chocolate cream cheese. I can't wait to try one!

Source

Reader Recipe: Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:28:33 -0800

Vanilla beans can be quite expensive, but if you're going to use them, make sure it's on something you're going to love. This is the strategy that TeamSugar member holleighz went with when she created her vanilla bean cupcakes. Personally I love vanilla bean cupcakes. The flavor is simple but intense, and I know holleighz has inspired me to bake up a batch up cupcakes! To get yourself inspired, read more.

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Submitted by TeamSugar member holleighz

on my last grocery trip i splurged a little and bought vanilla beans. i’ve been dying to experiment with them, but at just under $20 for two beans i was a bit hesitant. that’s a lot of money gone to waste for anything less than the spectacular.

i’m not going to say these cupcakes are spectacular, but they’re pretty damn good. it’s the closest i’ve come to a basic cupcake recipe with the perfect density and texture. as for flavor, it was good but mild. if they weren’t ten bucks a pop i’d have used both vanilla beans (i’m saving one for ice cream experimentation this week). maybe i’ll just up the vanilla extract next time and use the vanilla sugar i so smartly made with today’s leftovers (one used vanilla bean pod shaken and stored in a jar of sugar - thanks martha).

had i not started my experiments at 10:30 at night, i’d have sprung for the complex caramelized buttercream i saw on good eats. this frosting is probably a bit sweet for some tastes, but it takes only minutes, and i was quite pleased with the results -- tastes just like melted vanilla bean ice cream!

without further ado…

vanilla bean cupcakes

32-36 cupcake papers
3 1/2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla pudding mix
1 3/4 cups plus 3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups canola or vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoons vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup warm water
Seeds from half a vanilla bean

Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange paper cups in muffin tins. Sift flour, baking soda, salt and pudding mix into large bowl. Using an electric mixer on low, mix sugar, oil and buttermilk until blended. Add lightly beaten eggs, vinegar, vanilla and water and blend. Gradually add dry ingredients. Scrape the seed from the vanilla bean into batter and mix until just blended.

Spoon batter into tins, about 3/4 full. Bake cupcakes, 1 sheet at a time, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18-23 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to racks and cool before frosting.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

8 Tablespoons (one stick) softened butter
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound (3 3/4 cups) confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pinches salt
Seeds from half a vanilla bean

In a small bowl, combine butter and whipping cream. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the butter. Beat until smooth. Beat in sugar 1/2 cup at a time, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Finally, beat in vanilla extract. If frosting is too soft to work with, refrigerate 10 minutes.

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Cupcake of the Week: Eggnog Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:30:19 -0800

This week's cupcake comes from our pal Nicole over at Baking Bites. Her vegan eggnog cupcakes look absolutely delicious and fool even the most whole-hearted carnivore. They're beautifully moist and tender. Did I mention that they're also spiked with rum? Definitely give these delights a try, and if you do, be sure to let us know what you think.

Cupcake of the Week: Festive Black-Cherry Chocolate

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:25:31 -0800

This week's cupcake comes from TeamSugar member jordybee. She's created these black cherry-chocolate cupcakes that whip up in no time. Her secret is that she starts with a box of chocolate cake mix and adds a can of diet black-cherry soda to the mix. They're adorably festive and sound intriguing, too! To check out the recipe and make your own black cherry-chocolate cupcakes, read more.

From TeamSugar member jordybee

For those of you who don't have a lot of free time, this cupcake recipe will not only impress your guests, it's nearly effortless.

Ingredients:
1 box of milk chocolate cake mix
1 can of diet black cherry soda (12 oz)
1 can of white whipped frosting
2 medium sized candycanes
Holiday cupcake liners (optional)

*Makes 2 dozen cupcakes*

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Pour cake mix and soda into mixing bowl
3. Stir by hand with spoon or whisk until mixture is consistent
4. Fill cupcake liners 1/2 way full
5. Bake for 9-14 minutes until cupcakes appear to be dry on top
6. Let cupcakes cool for 10-20 mins
7. Unwrap candycanes and place in small baggy
8. Use spoon to mash up candycanes into tiny pieces
9. Frost cupcakes and sprinkle candycane bits on top
10. Place in fridge to keep moisture (optional)

As an added bonus, these cupcakes are half the calories/fat of regular cupcakes. However, they are soooo delicious, people tend to eat more of them. I did a taste test on all my male coworkers and they favored the ones made with diet soda vs traditional ingredients!

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Cupcake of the Week: Turkey Dinner

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:03:33 -0800

This week's cupcake is actually from 2005, but when I saw it I immediately had to share it with you guys. This turkey dinner cupcake by It's Your Day Cakes is one of the most precious things I've ever seen. I can only imagine the amount of time all that detailing took.

Cupcake of the Week: Gobble Gobble

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:48:10 -0800

This week we're spotlighting these amazing cupcakes from flickr member Baking Fairy. Her turkey cupcakes are absolutely amazing! I love the ingenuity of a little cupcake stacked on top in order to create the head. I hope she's inspired you because a batch like these would be a sure hit at any Thanksgiving potluck or celebration!