Pop-tart Cupcakes

My son wanted us to make Pop-tart cupcakes. Yes, you read it right! Pop-tart cupcakes! So, we did. Why Pop-tarts? I actually have no idea. When he is given a choice for a quick break, he picks a breakfast bar. I really didn't know what to expect. I actually was surprised. The Pop-tart seemed to melt while baking but it did leave a red line for the strawberry filling. My son liked adding a corner of the Pop-tart in the frosting for decoration. If you know someone that loves Pop-tarts, then they would love the novelty of these cupcakes. The kids loved these cupcakes. My husband thought our son was pretty creative. Now, if you have any extra Pop-tarts then I suggest make some cupcakes.

Pop-tart Cupcakes
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy.
5. Add one egg and mix before adding the second egg.
6. Add the vanilla and mix.
7. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/8 cup of milk. 
8. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture followed by another 1/8 cup of milk. 
9. Then add the remaining flour mixture with the remaining milk.
10. Mix until just combined. 
11. Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with crumbs.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
13. Allow to cool completely. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine Volume 8, Number 4.

One year ago...................................I made Blue Cheese Dressing.
Two years ago.................................I made Graduation Cap Cupcakes.
Three years ago..............................I made Texas Pralines.

Do you like my creations?

Did you already know........................
-In 1964, Kellogg's debuted Pop-tarts in four flavors.
-The initial Pop-tarts weren't frosted.
-The early Pop-tarts had a diagonal line down the middle so it can be cut into half before consuming.

Marble Cupcakes

Recently, I purchased a magazine for the Amazing Cupcakes! My son agreed to make some cupcakes with me. He elected zebra cupcakes. He told me I needed to swirl some chocolate batter into the vanilla. (I'm sure there is a better way which I will try another time.) Also, my son only agreed to make these cupcakes if I would make his concoction later. I agreed. So, my next post will be my son's creation. This cupcake is moist. I should have allowed it to cool a little longer before frosting.

Marble Cupcakes:
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
4 oz. milk chocolate, chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy.
5. Add one egg and mix before adding the second egg.
6. Add the vanilla and mix.
7. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/8 cup of milk. 
8. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture followed by another 1/8 cup of milk. 
9. Then add the remaining flour mixture with the remaining milk.
10. Mix until just combined. 
11. Remove 1/3 of the batter. 
12. Microwave the chocolate for 45 seconds. 
13. Allow to rest for 1 minute. 
14. Mix well. If the chocolate isn't thoroughly melted, microwave for another15 minutes and stir. 
15. Mix the melted chocolate with the 1/3 batter to create the chocolate batter.
16. Evenly distribute the vanilla batter between the cupcake liners. 
17. Add a little of the chocolate batter.
18. Swirl gently with a knife to create a marble look
19. Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with crumbs.
20. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
21. Allow to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine Volume 8, Number 4.

One year ago................................I made Flourless Cookies.
Two years ago..............................I made Spicy Honey Chicken Wrap.
Three years ago...........................I made Taco Seasoning.

Did you already know.............................
-Each zebra's stripes are unique.
-Zebras have black skin under their white coats.
-Zebras can run up to 45 miles per an hour.

Vanilla Cupcakes

I really enjoy blogging. It is like my recipe journal online. It is a great way for me to find a recipe we like. It is also a great way for my family to make a recipe I've made for them. The best part of blogging is to see how much my children have changed. My little girl is almost (I am stressing almost) taller than me. I know this time next year I may be the shortest person in the house. For my youngest daughter birthday party, I made her cupcakes. They were a big hit and were all gone before the party was over. I had made extra.

Vanilla Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. In another large bowl, cream the butter and sugar.
5. Add the eggs to the butter mixture and blend.
6. In a small bowl, add the milk and vanilla. Whisk lightly.
7. Alternating between the flour mixture and the milk mixture add to the butter mixture. Combine until incorporated.
8. Fill the cupcake liners slightly over half full.
9. Bake the cupcakes for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
10. Allow the cupcakes to cool before frosting.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.
*These cupcakes will not have a high dome top which makes it easier to frost. One year ago............................Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!

Did you already know...............
-The vanilla plant is an orchid.
-Vanilla is native to Mexico.
-Madagascar is the largest producer of vanilla.

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

My husband just celebrated another birthday. He doesn't want me to discuss his age but all I can tell you is he is currently a couple years older than me. He doesn't think I'm funny and reminds me in a couple of months that he is now only one year older than him. My husband loves Superman but I didn't have any matching liners so we went with the next best thing....Spider-Man. He loved the cupcakes and frosting. I used this peanut butter frosting recipe with chopped fine pieces of peanut butter cups mixed into the frosting.

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes
12 oz. unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cups buttermilk

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. Scrap down the sides of the bowl before adding the egg. Mix until just combined.
5. Add the egg whites and mix until combined.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 
7. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated.
8. Add 1/4 cup of buttermilk and mix.
9. Add another 1/3 cup of flour and mix before adding another 1/4 cup of buttermilk.
10. Add the remaining flour mixture and then the rest of the buttermilk. Mix until combined.
11. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full of batter.
12. Bake the cupcakes about 18 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Allow the cupcakes to cool before removing from pan and allowing to fully cool on a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from Pastry Queen cookbook.

One year ago.................I made Savory Lobster and Shrimp Cheesecake.

Did you already know........
-Peter Parker's middle name is Benjamin.
-Peter Parker was born in Forest Hills (Queens), New York.
-Spider-Man is 5'10" and weights 167 lbs per Marvel website.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you had a great day. My daughter asked me to bake cupcakes for her class. I always loved Valentine's Day at school. I would receive lots of Valentine cards from my classmates. My teacher normally threw a party and it was a pretty easy day. Can you imagine if we could have a Valentine Party at work? I'm pretty sure my boss would not go for it. 

Well, my daughter said she had a great day. All the students in her class had one of her cupcakes. She thought they were great . The recipe makes 24 so the last one I was able to share with my husband. We really liked this cupcake. I will say I still feel spoiled on Valentine's Day. I hope you had a special day even if it was just pampering yourself.

Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcake
1 1/2 cup self rising flour
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a small bowl, combine the flours with the baking powder. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter until smooth.
5. Add the sugar to the butter and beat until fluffy.
6. Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture.
7. In a large cup, combine the milk and vanilla.
8. Alternating between the flour mixture and the milk mixture, add slowly to the butter mixture. Do not over mix.
9. Evenly spoon the cupcake batter into the cupcake liners.
10. Bake the cupcakes for 20 to 25 minute or until the toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
11. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Recipe adapted from Sara's Secrets.
One year ago.......................I made Heart Pie Pops.

Did you already know.........

-Over 140 million greeting cards are purchased for Valentine's Day. 

-It is the 2nd most popular occasion for purchasing a greeting card.

-The majority of the cards are purchased within the week of Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Whipped Vanilla Dream Cupcakes

It is Friday! The foliage is beautiful. It hasn't snowed. What a great day! To celebrate, cupcakes are in order. Oh, Cupcakes! How wonderful they are on a Friday. Even if it was a Monday, they are still wonderful. They are easy to decorate. They are easy to share. Also, they are easy to hide.

The cupcakes are very light since you fold in whip cream. I prefer vanilla cupcakes over chocolate so these are a winner. I am really glad that I shared these cupcakes because I would have been tempted to have them for supper and breakfast.

Vanilla Dream Cupcakes
2 3/4 cups cake flour, sifted
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk (I used skim)
2 egg white
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line 2 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
3. In a medium size bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. In another medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
5. With a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
6. Slowly, add about 1 cup of flour mixture and then 1/2 cup of milk mixture to the creamed butter. Beat until incorporated after each addition. Continue alternate adding the flour mixture and then the milk mixture until all of it is incorporated. 
7. In a clean, stainless mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
8. Slowly, fold the whipped cream into the cake batter.
9. Carefully fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full with the batter.
10. Cook the cupcakes for about 16 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean with a few crumbs.
11. Carefully remove the cupcake from the muffin tin and allow to cool on a wire rack. 
12. Repeat with the second muffin tin.

Recipe adapted from Sweetapolita. Frosting found here.


Last year, I was making Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies.

Did you already know...
-Foliage is at its peak in Western and Southern Maine this week.
-Maple and Oak trees foliage become red and scarlet with the cooler days. Ash, Beech, Birch, and Elm trees foliage become yellow.
-After the leaves drop, trees produce a waxy substance to protect it from the elements.