Applesauce Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1/2 cup margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a medium bowl, beat the margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and creamy. Slowly add the egg and then the applesauce, beating well after each addition. Add the flour, baking powder and spices, mixing until just combined.

For the topping:
2 tbsp. margarine, softened
1/4 cup icing sugar, sifted
3 tbsp. walnuts, chopped
2 tbsp. rolled-oats
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2. Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl. Mix with a fork or pastry blender until topping resembles coarse bread crumbs. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Sprinkle some topping onto each cupcake. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

Makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Pomegranate & Rosewater Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
1 tsp. rosewater

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all cupcake ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer about 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

for the frosting:
1 cup cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. rosewater
3 tbsp. pomegranate seeds

2. Combine the cream cheese and icing sugar in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Add the rosewater and pom seeds and stir well. Frost each cupcake. Garnish with additional pom seeds, if desired.

makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Walnut & Rosewater Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
1 tsp. rosewater

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all cupcake ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer about 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

for the frosting:
1 cup cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. rosewater
3 tbsp. walnuts, chopped

2. Combine the cream cheese and icing sugar in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Add the rosewater and walnuts and stir well. Frost each cupcake. Garnish with additional chopped walnuts, if desired.

makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Pistachio & Rosewater Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
1 tsp. rosewater

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all cupcake ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer about 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

for the frosting:
1 cup cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. rosewater
3 tbsp. pistachios, chopped

2. Combine the cream cheese and icing sugar in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Add the rosewater and pistachios and stir well. Frost each cupcake. Garnish with additional chopped pistachios, if desired.

makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Chocolate Buttercream & Orange Zest Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 tbsp. orange zest

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all cupcake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 1 hour.

for the frosting:
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1/2 unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners/icing sugar, sifted

2. Put the chocolate, cream and butter in a pan over low heat. Stir gently until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the icing sugar until the mixture is smooth. Frost cupcakes. Top with a dusting of cocoa powder or a sprinkling of orange zest, if desired for garnish.

Makes approximately 18 cupcakes

White Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all cupcake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 1 hour.

for the frosting:
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1/2 unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners/icing sugar, sifted

2. Put the chocolate, cream and butter in a pan over low heat. Stir gently until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the icing sugar until the mixture is smooth. Frost cupcakes. Top with a dusting of cocoa powder or a sprinkling of white chocolate chips, if desired for garnish.

Makes approximately 18 cupcakes

Other Bakers and Cakers I Love

Hello darlings!

If you've stopped by before you know I've told you about my love for Bakerella. If you haven't heard of her by now... well, I think maybe you've been living under a rock. But seriously, if you love cake pops (or are even just curious about them), cupcakes, cookies, pies... basically anything delicious and adorable you will love Bakerella. Stop by her site today www.bakerella.com Go ahead, I'll wait here.

Welcome back. Pretty awesome right?!

I've also talked about the obscene addiction I have to Wilton products. I'd say 95% of the cake decorating products and tools I use are from Wilton, and I just can't get enough of them. The year books are to die for, such incredible and inventive ideas, with step by step instructions... right down to exact amounts of frosting needed for each project. Love, love, love Wilton.

Now, my latest find.
www.mycakeschool.com
Melissa and her mom Bebe create fabulous cakes, cupcakes and occasionally cake pops every week. If you'd just like to stop by and see what's new, mycakeschool has a great blog that anyone can access for free. Some articles are fully accessible with many pictures and step by step instructions for great seasonal projects, but there is also a members area that gives you access to tons of videos, pictures, tutorials and unique ideas... all for $30 a year! That's right, I said A YEAR!  That's like the cost of a fancy coffee drink once per month. If you like to find some new ideas that you can try out the blog is an excellent resource. And if you're a burgeoning entrepreneur like me, the membership is an exceptional source for ideas, and learning new techniques.

Check out the blog today, and stop by regularly. http://www.mycakeschool.com/blog/

I've already tried out one idea I found on this site and it turned out great. A definite keeper. I'm planning on trying out another this coming week for a special lady's 60th birthday. I'll show you how that turns out soon.

Until then, check out those amazing sites. And, if you're on facebook check out 'Bakerella', 'Wilton' , and 'MyCakeSchool'. There are lots of great pictures, and a wonderful community of cake decorators to get ideas and advice from. Between you, me and those 3, you'll be in good company. (I didn't mean for that to rhyme, it just happened).

Until next time,
go be creative, try something new, and have some fun!

Love and sprinkles, xoxo