Sorting Hat Cupcakes

We LOVE everything Harry Potter in our house. So, for my boys 12th birthday, we went to a Harry Potter Trivia Night with some friends. I made these easy Sorting Hat Cupcakes to bring along.


What You Need:
Cupcakes
   (I used boxed mix and 'doctored them up' to taste a little better.)
Filling:
  1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
  2 cups half & half
Rich Chocolate Buttercream Icing

Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes {Recipe}

Every summer, my family goes camping on the North Shore of Lake Superior... well, most of my family. I stay home. I am not a camper. So, I bake for their return. This year, I made these decadent (and easy) Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes.

What You Need:
Chocolate Cake Mix (and eggs, milk, etc. as needed to prepare)
2 dozen (full-sized) Reese's Peanut Butter cups
For the icing:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp. whole milk (as needed)

Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the box.
Line cupcake tins with paper cupcake liners. Put 1 Tbsp. cake mix in the bottom of each liner. Set unwrapped peanut butter cup on top of batter. (This is so that it doesn't get melty when you try to eat it.) Spoon 3 Tbsp. batter on top of peanut butter cup. Bake according to package directions. (350-degrees for 15-18 minutes.)

Make the Icing
Combine butter and peanut butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add vanilla. Mix well. Add cocoa powder. Mix well. Add powdered sugar. Mix well. If the icing is too thick to spread/pipe, add milk, one tablespoon at a time.

When the cupcakes are cooled, pipe an icing swirl on each. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped peanut butter cups (or peanuts).

Enjoy!

Cake Decorating Classes in Minnesota

Join me for some fun classes this spring in Roseville, White Bear Lake, West St. Paul and Northfield!

Wild About Cupcakes

Learn the basics of icing and fondant in this three-hour class. We will use both buttercream icing and colored fondant to make adorable animal-print cupcakes. Parent-child pairs are welcome with children 8 years or older.

Monday, February 1, 6-9pm

White Bear Lake High School - SOUTH Campus.

  Saturday, February 6, 9:30am-12:30pm 

Roseville Area High School.

Monday, February 8, 6-9pm

Henry Sibley High School - West St. Paul.

  Saturday, March 12, 9:30am-12:30pm

Northfield Middle School.

Best Birthday Cakes 
In this one-session class, you will learn to frost a cake - with no crumbs - and use decorating tips to make many of the simple, beautiful designs you see on all of those Pinterest cakes.

  Monday, March 7, 6-9pm
Henry Sibley High School - West St. Paul.

Monday, March 21, 6-9pm
White Bear Lake High School - SOUTH Campus.
Wednesday, April 6, 6-9pm
 Roseville Area High School.

Gourmet Cupcakes Made Easy
Learn how to make three kinds gourmet cupcakes and icing, 
all starting with a basic vanilla cake mix.
Saturday, April 16, 9:30am-12:30pm
South St. Paul High School.
Monday, April 11, 6-9pm
Northfield Middle School.

Fall Cupcake Recipes, Ideas and Classes

I'm teaching a few of my favorite "Gourmet Cupcakes Made Easy" classes this month, and while we use cake mix for the base of the cupcakes in class, I wanted to share my scratch recipes for those awesome cupcakes here for my students to try.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream 

Homemade Caramel Sauce (soooo good!)

S'Mores Cupcakes from Scratch

Click the Links Below to See:

Baking and Decorating Classes in the St. Paul Area

Wilton Cake Decorating Classes in the Twin Cities

Private Parties and Workshops for Cupcake and Cake Decorating

Enter your email address below to receive the latest recipes, tips and ideas in your email inbox:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Fluffy Cream Cheese Icing {Recipe}

My boys harvested a truckload of carrots from our garden over the weekend. They immediately began planning for their "three-story" Carrot Cake. We compromised and made these cupcakes, instead.

What You Need:
For the Cake:
2 cups peeled, grated carrots (about 4-6 carrots)
3/4 cup buttermilk (at room temperature)
1/4 cup applesauce
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup butter (at room temperature)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (granulated) sugar
3 eggs (at room temperature)
Optional:
1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

For The Icing:
1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese (at room temperature)
1/2 cup butter (at room temperature)
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Yield: 24-30 cupcakes

Easy Cookies and Cream Cupcake Recipe

My family so loved the Cookies and Cream Cake I made them a few weeks ago, that I had to make it in cupcake form. The hardest part about this recipe is probably the icing, and even that isn't terrible. You just need to be patient. (Something at which I do not excel!)

What You Need:
For the Cake:
1 Cake Mix* (White or Chocolate, whichever you prefer)
1-2 packages Oreo Cookies

For the Icing:
(This recipe is adapted from the Tasty Kitchen blog.)
3 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup butter (unsalted) - at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar (not powdered sugar)

Yield: 20-24 cupcakes

*Note: You need the cake mix and the ingredients to make the batter. I always "doctor up" the cake batter, using milk and melted butter in the place of the water and oil. 
If you want to make the striped cupcakes with chocolate and vanilla, you will also need 1 oz. melted chocolate and 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder.

Easy Homemade Piggie Cupcakes

This little piggie went to a birthday party...
These pig cupcakes are very easy, and require only three colors of icing, and two icing tips.

They're so much fun.

What You Need:
2 dozen cupcakes*
1 batch Buttercream Icing
Pink food coloring
Black food coloring

*Note: I made these cupcakes strawberry-flavored by doctoring up a white cake mix.
I used 1 cake mix, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup pureed strawberries and 1/4 cup milk.
Click this link to find more about how I make cake mixes taste homemade.

Chocolate Martini Cupcakes {Recipe}

Cupcakes and Cocktails. They go together perfectly. So, when I agreed to hold a little party to benefit my kids' school, I decided to make these... Chocolate Martinis with Chocolate Martini cupcakes.
(We also made some Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes, if you're interested in that recipe.)

What You Need
For 24-30 Cupcakes:
6 oz. (about ¾ cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vanilla-flavored vodka*
1/4 cup chocolate liqueur (like Godiva)
*Note: If you want a “boozier” flavor, add ¼ cup vanilla vodka and ¼ cup plain vodka.

For the Icing:
4 egg whites (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar (not powdered sugar)
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) butter
2-3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup vanilla vodka
2-3 Tbsp. Chocolate Liqueur

'Tween Girl Birthday Party: Animal Print Cupcakes

One of the cake-y things I do is go to birthday parties and workshops in the Twin Cities and teach cake, cupcake or cookie decorating. I tend to have a lot of 10-14 year-old girls at the parties, and one wanted to go with a "fashionista" idea. So, we came up with these really, really easy cupcakes.

What You Need:
2-3 dozen standard-sized cupcakes
Homemade Marshmallow Fondant*
Ball-shaped sprinkles
Parchment or waxed paper
Powdered sugar
Rolling pin
Large round biscuit or cookie cutter

* Note: I made two batches of fondant. One white and one using 3/4 cup chocolate chips, melted. I colored some of the fondant pink, yellow and black, and saved some white and some light brown.

** Note #2: The top row of cupcakes above shows the fondant decorations atop a cupcake swirl, if you go that route, you'll need to make some icing, as well.

Easy Monster Cupcakes - 5 Ways

I found some Candy Eyeball Sprinkles at the store this week... so, I had no choice, I had to make some quick Monster Cupcakes for Halloween.

I thought I'd show what you could do with a few different, easy-to-find decorating tips. The tips are labeled in the picture above. I think my favorite is the easiest... Wilton Tip #233 in a messy pile. The center cupcake.
(Click on the picture to see the cupcakes larger and in more detail.)

My kids' teachers and our neighbors will hopefully enjoy their simple little monsters.

Click the Links Below to See:
Easy Monster Cake
Halloween Cupcake Ideas 
How to Make a Cake Mix Taste Homemade
Basic Buttercream Icing Recipe

Enter your email address below to receive the latest recipes, tips and ideas in your email inbox:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Pecans {Recipe}

Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting... nothing beats that!
This recipe has a fluffy cream cheese icing, though, and it is so rich and tasty, it's worth the extra effort.
Top it off with a candied pecan (or a candy corn pumpkin for the kids), and you're set.

What You Need:
For the Cupcakes:
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
½ cup melted butter
½ cup apple sauce
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs (at room temperature)
½ cup buttermilk (or soured milk- ½ Tbsp. vinegar + ½ cup milk)
1- 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling)

For the Icing:
4 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
1- 8 oz. block of cream cheese

For the Pecans: 
2-3 cups pecan halves (or other nuts)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
either 1 Tbsp. meringue powder + 3 Tbsp. water OR 1 egg white + 1 Tbsp. water

Yield: About 30-40 standard cupcakes

Easy Pina Colada Cupcakes {Recipe}

Ahh, yes, drinks as cupcakes, what is better than this?!
Pina Colada Cupcakes. Very sweet. Very tasty!

What You Need:
1 box white cake mix
4 eggs
3 sticks butter, softened (1 1/2 cups)
1 14-oz can coconut milk (Do not shake it up!)
1 4-oz can crushed pineapple
1 cup sugar
2-3 Tbsp. Rum (optional)

*Yield: 18-24 standard-sized cupcakes

Cool Summer Cupcake Ideas

We're hitting the long, hot dog days of summer around here... so I thought I'd round up some of my favorite "cool" summer cupcake ideas for you today.

Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes

Banana Pina Colada Cupcakes

Hawaiian / Beach Theme Cupcakes

(Pina Colada Cupcake Recipe)

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Beach Ball Cupcakes

Banana Split Cupcakes

 

Baseball Cupcakes

Enter your email address below to receive the latest recipes, tips and ideas in your email inbox:


Delivered by FeedBurner

How To Make Multi-Colored Swirled Cupcakes

These little cupcakes look a little bit like they're on fire, but the cool striped swirl effect they have is really fun, and really easy to do, too.

What You Need:
Buttercream Icing in multiple colors
  -- Click this link to see how to make them in Icing Bag Bullets.
Cupcakes (or mini cupcakes like these)
Piping Bag
Large open star tip like Wilton Tip #1M

Baseball Cookies, Cupcakes and Cake Pops

Baseball season is in full swing (har, har) in our house right now. Practices, games, and most importantly, the treats that go along with those events.
Last year, I made a few fun baseball treats, that I thought I would bring back out for you today.

Baseball Cake Pops

Baseball Sugar Cookies

(very easy!)

Baseball Cupcakes

(Three ways to make them)

Enter your email address below to receive the latest recipes, tips and ideas in your email inbox:


Delivered by FeedBurner

And don't forget, if you shop at Amazon.com through my link, you support this blog and its contents. Thank you!

Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes on Fox 9

If you have trouble viewing the video above, Click Here to visit the MyFox9.com website to see the video.

I'm super excited and super nervous to take one of my little men on TV with me this morning to make these marshmallow flower cupcakes.

We first made them last year for Teacher Appreciation Day for their preschool teachers.

What You Need:
Cupcakes
Mini-marshmallows (about 20-25 per cupcake)
Icing (any kind will do, even canned icing)
Sugar sprinkles in pretty flowery colors
Sandwich Bags

Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes {Recipe}

These Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes are just the right combination of tart and sweet. And even though the standard-sized cupcakes look prettier, I think these cupcakes in mini-size are the way to go... just the right icing to cupcake ratio in each bite... plus, then you get to eat more of them with less guilt.

What You Need:
To Make 20-24 Standard Cupcakes (6-8 dozen minis):
For the Lemon Curd:
1-2 Tbsp. Lemon Zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2-4 lemons)
6 egg yolks (reserve the whites for icing and cake)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter (cut into chunks)

For the Cupcakes:
White Cake Mix
2 egg whites + 1 whole egg (reserve the yolks!)
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup milk (whole milk preferred)
1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice (from 2-4 lemons)
2-3 tsp. lemon zest
Optional: 1/4-1/2 cup pureed strawberries (if you add the strawberries, decrease the milk by the same amount)

For the Strawberry Lemonade Icing:
4 egg whites (yolks used in curd)
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cup) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup lemon curd (see above)
1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 1 cup frozen)

*Grand total, in case you're not keeping track, is:
- 7 eggs
- 5 sticks of butter
- 4-8 lemons

Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes {Recipe}

Margaritas. I like mine frozen and blended with strawberries, raspberries, even the occasional mango.

Now, everyone has her own opinion about what a margarita should taste like. So, please note that I give you many "ranges" for the flavors in this recipe. If you like it with less lime and more strawberry, by all means, add more strawberry, and less lime. If you get sick at the taste of tequila, skip it. They'll still be tasty. Make it your taste! (Just try to keep the total amount of liquid about the same.)

What You Need:
For 20-24 Cupakes:
White or Vanilla Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk (whole milk preferred)
1/4 cup (half of a stick) melted butter 
1 - 1 1/2 cups frozen whole strawberries (divided)*
zest and juice from 1-2 limes
2-3 Tbsp. Tequila

For the Icing:
4 egg whites (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar (not powdered sugar)
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) butter (at room temperature)
1/3 cup Strawberry puree*
zest and juice of one lime
2-3 Tbsp. Tequila

Optional for decorating:
Pastry bag with Tip 1A (or 2A)
Sparkling sugar sprinkles
Sliced fresh limes 
Sliced fresh strawberries

*Note: Defrost the strawberries. Strain about 1/4 cup of the juice. Puree the remaining strawberries and juice. Use 1/2-2/3 cup in the cupcakes, save the remaining 1/3 cup for the icing.

Banana Turtle Cupcakes {Recipe)

These cupcakes are quite the mish-mash of a few of my favorite recipes. But they are SO good, and SO rich, and SO worth the work!

What You Need:
For the Cupcakes: (Banana Cake Recipe)
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. butter (at room temperature)
2 eggs (at room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
3/4 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. mashed ripe bananas
1/2 c. buttermilk

For the Icing: (Caramel Buttercream Icing Recipe)
1/2-3/4 cup Caramel Sauce (make your own or use store-bought)
4 egg whites
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


For the Filling: (Chocolate Ganache Recipe)
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
4 oz. heavy whipping cream


Optional:
  Extra Caramel Sauce and melted chocolate for drizzling.
  Pecan halves and chopped pecans for decorating.