R, W, and B Cupcakes

I wanted to try making a two color swirl on some cupcakes. The only cupcake wrappers I could find to match the theme were these amazing spider-man liners. My son thought it was awesome. I should have waited to make these cupcakes after my husband had turned on the air condition but it all taste the same. I did use some red, white, and blue jimmies in my white cupcake batter to add a splash more of color.

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes
1 cup of red frosting
1 cup of blue frosting
12 cupcakes cooled

Directions:

1. Place the red frosting in a piping bag. Set aside.
2. Place the blue frosting into a different piping bag.
3. In a large freezer bag, place the red and blue piping bags angled with the tips at the same corner. 
4. Cut a hole larger enough to fit both tips through the freezer bag.
5. Bring the tips through the freezer bag hole to create one large piping bag.
6. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

One year ago.............................I made Strawberry Shortcake Whoppie Pies.
Two years ago...........................I made Bacon and Cheddar Scones.

Did you already know.......................
-On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence.
-In 1941, 4th of July was declared a national holiday.
-President Obama's oldest daughter Malia Obama was born on the 4th of July.

Oreo Cupcakes

Did you know there are rules about making cupcakes? The first rule is you should share cupcakes if you make them. If you don't want to share, then you should make a cake and tell everyone that you licked the top. It usually will deter some from eating your cake. The second rule is if you decide to make extra sweet frosting then the cupcake shouldn't be to sweet. The third rule is do not over bake the cupcakes as my oldest daughter learned. I guess most people do not like crispy or dry cupcakes. If your cupcakes are too crispy or dry cupcakes, then do not follow the first rule.

Oreo Cupcakes 1 cup salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 egg whites 
1 Tbsp vanilla extract 
3 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk 3/4 cup crushed Oreo

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the egg whites and vanilla. Combine until just incorporated. 
5. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Slowly, add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. 
7. Add 1/2 cup milk to the butter mixture.
8. Add the remaining flour mixture to the bowl.
9. Add the remaining milk to the butter mixture. Mix until combined.
10. Fold in the crushed Oreo cookies.
11. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full with the batter.
12. Cook the cupcakes for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

Recipe adapted from here. Frosting recipe posted here.

One year ago........................Muffin Tops with berries and cream.

Did you already know...........
-When baking, the ingredients need to be measured properly.
-When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level off. Do not pack down.
-When cooking with powdered sugar, always sift if not there will be lumps in your frosting.

4th of July

Do you have any 4th of July plans? Do you have any traditions? We always watch fireworks. My favorite place to watch fireworks would be over the ocean. Since the water reflects the fireworks, the display always looks twice as spectacular. Do you have a favorite place to watch fireworks? I'm partial to Monterey but I can't fly there every year (or ten years). One year I was in Colorado and it hailed on the 4th of July. I guess it is better than rain.

When I showed my oldest daughter these cupcakes, she thought they looked wonderful. If you are going to make the batter red, white, and blue, it is easier to have another person helping than taping the bags. I think next time I would just leave the batter white and decorate the tops. I can only tell you that everyone said they tasted delicious. I served these cupcakes at a party and they were gone fast. I think my youngest daughter hid one for later since she liked them so much. They were suppose to look like snow cones but my colors are a little to vibrant and not as coned shape as desired but

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes
2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
4 egg whites
1 cup skim milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 tsp salt
food coloring, if desired

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, and baking powder.
4. In another bowl, mix together the egg whites, milk, and vanilla.
5. To the flour bowl, add the butter and mix until it starts to combine.
6. Slowly add the milk mixture and mix until completely combined. (Add any food coloring at this step if desired.)
7. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full. 
8. Bake the cupcakes for 16 minutes or until done.
9. Remove the cupcakes and allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powder sugar
4 tsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
food coloring
sugar crystals in coordinating colors to the food coloring

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and vanilla together.
2. Slowly, add the powder sugar and beat until combined.
3. Add the milk to the butter cream and mix until smooth.
4. Divide the frosting evenly into three bowls.
5. Set one bowl to the side without adding any food coloring
6. Add a different color of food coloring to the other two bowls. Mix well.
7. Pipe the white frosting down the center of each cupcake.
8. Add the white sugar crystals over the white frosting.
9. Pipe one side of the cupcake with one of the colored frosting. 
10. Add the coordinating color to the colored frosting.
11. Repeat with the remaining color on the other side of the cupcake.
12. Add the colored sugar crystal to the same color on the cupcake.
13. Sprinkle a little of the white sugar crystal over the whole cupcake.

Recipe adapted from Bakerella.

Did you already know...
- In 1919, Samuel Bert produced the first snow cone at the State Fair of Texas.
-In 1920, Samuel Bert created a ice crushing snow cone machine.
-A stuffed snow cone is a snow cone with soft serve ice cream in the middle.