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Lollipop Cupcakes

Not really lollipops but the vibrant colors definitely remind me of them :). My aunt recently made these cupcakes and I thought they were so cute and creative! Don't these look so fun for any occasion?! I could see these at a birthday party, baby shower (pastel colors of blues or pinks), Easter celebration (pastel), Fourth of July (red, white, and blue) and a summer barbecue! All you need is a simple vanilla or white recipe!

Here is one of my favorites:

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

CREAM together the sugar and butter. BEAT in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. COMBINE flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. STIR in the milk until batter is smooth.

Now separate the batter into 5 bowls. Add the coloring generously (a different color in each bowl) to make bright and strong colors (use 'no flavor' coloring). Fill each cupcake layer by layer with the colors. This is time consuming but I think it would be worth it!

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes. Make sure it doesn't get too brown on the top to keep the colors bright, but it also needs to spring back when you touch it. Carefully monitor these!

You can top it with a simple buttercream frosting so the colors really stand out:

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened

8 cups confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Add milk until frosting is the consistancy you want!

Wouldn't these be so cute with different colored M&M's to decorate the top?!

 Pictures by google.com

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Yummy recipe for pink lemonade cupcakes and some cream cheese frosting!

Pink Lemonade
1 box white cake mix
1/3 cup pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
2 drops of red food coloring


MIX together all ingredients until smooth. It will be pretty thick don't worry! POUR batter into paper liners and fill 3/4 full.

BAKE 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees or until the cake springs back when you touch it.

COOL before frosting.

I used the same cream cheese frosting from the German Chocolate cake I made. It is important that you don't over power the lemonade taste and this recipe is perfect! It's a light touch and not super rich.


Cream Cheese frosting (I usually double this recipe)
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2  8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar

CREAM together melted butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
BEAT until light and smooth.

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Summertime Preview!

Is anyone else hopeful for summer?! These cupcakes are the perfect substitute when surrounded with ice and snow outside!

Delicious!

Click here for the recipe!

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Rockin' Rocky Road

This recipe is great! If you ever thought that a Rocky Road cupcake was impossible, think again! This one is so delicious and gives a great replica of the ice cream!

1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1-2 cups mini marshmallows (to your desire!)

MIX together cake mix, eggs, and milk. POUR into paper liners and fill 3/4 full.

BAKE at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from oven. QUICKLY place walnuts, chocolate chips, and marshmallows on the center of each cupcake, dividing evenly. (Go big or go home right?! Top it all on!)

RETURN to oven for 3-4 more minutes. Marshmallows will turn golden. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. SERVE while still warm if desired.


This is for the Rockin' Rocky Road lovers!!!

Three step Chocolate Ganache

Myth: "Oh ganache is gourmet and way too time consuming and hard to make!"
Truth: Yes ganache is gourmet tasting, but this recipe is almost too EASY!

1 cup heavy whipping cream
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
(Could this be true? Yep that's it!)

1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it comes to a boil

2. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate in a mixing bowl.

3. Stir to mix together.

Can you believe that's it?! It's genius.

You can store in the refrigerator for a month or freezer for a couple months! Save every last drop of this greatness!

Triple Chcolate Fudge Brownie Cupcakes

Here is the recipe for these delicious delights! It truly is for the brownie lovers out there!

1 Milk Chocolate brownie mix (I used the family size from Pillsbury)
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract (optional!)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Stir together all ingredients. Pour batter into paper liners (the brownie is really tough to get out of the wrapper if you don't spray with very little PAM) 3/4 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes until soft, but not too wiggly.

Serve warm with ice cream or frost after completely cooling on a wire rack. I used a little spoonful of chocolate ganache on top of the cupcake and it was delicious! Click here for the EASY and quick recipe!

WARNING:  If you're a brownie-holic like me you won't be able to get enough of these!


        

A brownie lover's DREAM!

This weekend we had another birthday in our apartment! Sarah absolutely loves brownies and so I thought that I would make her brownie cupcakes with some chocolate ganache on top! If you've ever thought that chocolate ganache was too difficult and time consuming then you are in for a big treat! This ganache took less than 10 minutes and it was done and ready to pour over the cupcakes.

Easy brownies + Fast ganache = a Gourmet tasting cupcake



A brownie lovers DREAM!



 

Add some fun sprinkles on top!



SECRET:  They are even better the day after when it's hardened!


Recipe here and here

Valentine's Day Cake Pops!!

As roommates we had a Valentine's-day party! I was in charge of the cake pops and we watched a movie, had chocolate-covered strawberries, Martinellis, 4 different kinds of m&ms (which we all know peanut butter is the best), and had so much fun hanging out together. Here are the cake pops! I had so much fun making these!

These were an easy project and were a hit at the party!

To Make:

1. bake your favorite cake and make your favorite frosting

2. mix frosting and cake together (I really don't like soggy so I usually use less frosting than most people)

3. form cake into balls and put on a pan, then transfer to freezer for 15 mins.

4. take them out and form into hearts with your hands (make them fun and funky! no need to worry about perfection here!)

5. let them sit in the fridge for a few hours and melt the chocolate disks (in ANY color!)

6. only take one out at a time. dip the stick into the chocolate and then stick in the bottom of the heart.

7. dip the heart and tap off the excess chocolate

8. let dry!

A great hit with little work :)

AMAZING German Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box German chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded coconut (if you're a coconut fan)
1 cup chopped pecans (if you want!)

German Chocolate with Cream Cheese!

For my Grandparents 50th Anniversary and a celebration of getting sealed in the temple, I made their cake! It was the first time that I have baked a German chocolate cake and decorated it! It was a huge hit and even though it was so much work, it all pays off in the end.

yummmm

How cute!

You can just see the light in their eyes!

*Fabulous photos by B.E. ~Photography




For the recipe click here



Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 bag chocolate peanut butter cups (Reese's)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

Happy Birthday to my roommate! They were a huge hit! The recipe is delicious and has a great peanut butter taste. There is also a yummy surprise with a Reese's candy inside. The peanut butter frosting is very light and keeps the taste throughout the whole cupcake. Topped with some fun sprinkles this cupcake is a keeper!

*For the recipe click here