Sunday, April 21, 2013

S'mores Cupcakes

So, I know this is nothing new to most of you, but I've never made these before, and they were awesome!  I have been trying to get better at making cupcakes, and the best way to do that is to practice.  I was looking through my recipes, and I came across one for coconut s'mores cupcakes and thought it sounded good.  The instructions were a little more than just throw it in a bowl and mix, so I was a little unsure I wanted to try it.  But I'm really glad I did!


I don't remember where I got this particular recipe, but there are many similar ones out there on the web.  The one I used had coconut sprinkled on the frosting too, and I didn't do that.  Otherwise, I followed the directions pretty well.


The batter looked heavenly- almost like chocolate mousse.  Cake batter doesn't always look so tasty to me, but this one surely did.  I resisted though, and poured it in the baking cups instead.  The recipe made 30 regular cupcakes and 24 mini cupcakes with a little left over.  It was a lot of cupcakes!


This marshmallow meringue frosting was so fluffy and...well, marshmallowy.  The next day it was pretty dry- more like the meringue.  But I didn't put it in an air-tight container or anything.  That might have helped it stay moist.  But they were still delicious that way too.   One batch of frosting was enough for all the cupcakes, but just barely.


As I was getting ready to take some of these to my little Sunbeam class at church, I tried to find a good way to get them there.  I didn't want to take my whole mini cupcake pan with me, but I also didn't want them sliding around in a container that they didn't fit well in.  My empty egg carton was sitting on the counter, and amazingly, the holes were the perfect size for mini cupcakes!  They fit great! They couldn't slide around, and the lid had extra room for the frosting.  I couldn't have made a more perfect way to transport them!  I just thought I would share that little trick I learned today in case anyone else needs to move many little cupcakes.  It was just perfect!

Anyway, on to the recipe!  This is more steps than I am usually up for, but it was so worth it!  After you frost them, sprinkle on some crushed graham crackers and add a small piece of chocolate.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.


Chocolate Cupcakes
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups boiling water
2 3/4 cups sifted flour
2t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 t. vanilla
In a medium bowl combine cocoa and water mixing with a whisk until smooth. Cool completely. Sift flour with baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat on high butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla 5 minutes.
On low blend in flour mixture and cocoa mixture
Do Not Overbeat
bake approx 18-20 minutes

Marshmallow Meringue Frosting
2 egg whites
6 T. cold water
1/2 pinch salt
1 1/2 cups sugar (you can use much less- like 1/2 cup)
1/2 t. cream of tarter
In a double boiler with the water boiling blend all ingredients
then beat with electric beater (while still over boiling water)
until stiff peaks are formed. It takes 7 minutes.
On low beat in
1 cup mini marshmallows until melted.
remove from heat and add 1 t. vanilla.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Mini Pineapple Cheesecakes

With a ten month old baby in the house, I end up with A LOT of empty baby jars.  I use some for storing snacks, buttons, and other crafts.  Even after everything I can think of to use them for, there are still way too many.


I came across a recipe for small pineapple cheesecakes and wanted to try making them.  I don't have any cute glass individual serving dishes like they had in the photo, so I thought I would try them in some of my extra jars so I could give some away too.



The recipe made quite a lot.  It filled up 17 little jars, so I had plenty for us, and lots to give away.  The ones for us were just in plain jars, but for the gifted ones, I wanted them a little cuter.  I made some labels on my Silhouette software, printed them on a full-sheet label, then cut them with the Silhouette.  I put a skinny strip of scrapbook paper around the jar and secured it with the front label.
My printer has been acting up lately, so the colors turned out a little different than I had planned, but are still cute.


I spray painted the lids (which I would suggest doing a day or two before hand so they don't smell like paint) so they would be cuter and not have the brand around the rim.  Then I added the pineapple labels to the top and was done!