French Dip "Cupcakes"

I don't know about you but I'm addicted to Pinterest; I spend endless hours pouring over pictures of food, fashion and funny quotes. While wasting time  perusing Pinterest I came upon this fun and quirky idea, mealtime cupcakes!! They looked so cute and sounded so yummy that I had to give them a try. They came together super quick and the smell in my kitchen while they were baking was divine!  If you are interested in finding me on Pinterest here's my link . 

Ingredients
12 oz deli roast beef, thinly sliced and chopped into pieces 
4 Laughing Cow Light Swiss wedges, chopped
1/3 c Au Jus gravy (I used Heinz which comes in a jar by the other gravy)
16 wonton wrappers (typically found in the produce section)
4 oz (1 cup) reduced fat 2% shredded mozzarella cheese


Directions
    Pre-heat the oven to 375. Lightly mist 9 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
    In a microwavable bowl, combine the roast beef, cheese wedges and Au Jus sauce. Microwave for 2 minutes on high. Stir to combine until cheese wedges are melted and roast beef mixture is fully coated with cheese and Au Jus sauce.
    Push a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each of the eight sprayed cups in the muffin tin. Spoon about half of the roast beef mixture evenly amongst the wonton wrappers. Sprinkle about half the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of each cup. Press another wonton wrapper on top and repeat the layering steps with the remaining ingredients.
   Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin. 

Ingredients

Meat, cheese and au jus ready to go into microwave

Heat for 2 minutes, stir

Place won ton wrappers into greased cupcake liner, fill with meat

After both layers are done, ready for the oven

Bake for 18-20 minutes

Enjoy! 

Source; Emily Bites

Black Magic Chocolate Cupcakes

While cleaning out the fridge this week I found a half jug of buttermilk that was about to expire and thought I better use this.... quickly! I've been wanting to make this cake recipe for a while and today was the day. I decided to turn them into cupcakes and as I pulled them from the oven I realized that you CAN NOT over fill the cupcake liners, so remember this recipe makes 24 cupcakes. I frosted some of the cupcakes with leftover chocolate icing I had in my fridge, and I  frosted the rest with my favorite Butter Cream Frosting. This cake is super moist and tastes nothing like coffee, if you are wondering.

Ingredients
1 3/4 c Flour
2 c Sugar
3/4 c Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 eggs
1 c Strong Black Coffee, cooled
1 c Buttermilk
1/2 c Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 and line cupcake pan with 24 liners. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix on medium speed for two minutes. Batter will be thin. Pour into cakecake liners and bake for 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  If making a cake place in a 9x13 pan and cake for 35-40 minutes.

Ingredients

I placed a scoop of frosting on warm cupcake and let it melt

Easy way to top cupcakes

Three different ways to top the cupcakes

Enjoy!

Source; Just a Pinch

Cupcake Tops

When I was in Los Angeles earlier this year I stopped by a cupcake shop and they were selling these darling mini cupcakes called Cupcake Tops. These little cupcakes resemble a toy top, hence the name, all that's missing is the string :) . They were so cute and  fit perfectly in my mouth that I decided to make my own. Since the 4th of July is right around the corner I dyed them red and blue, but they could be dyed yours any color. This is super easy and cute and will make your guests think you slaved for hours.

Ingredients
2 Boxes White Cake Mix ( Duncan Hines is my choice)
1 Batch Butter Cream Frosting

Preheat oven to 350, heavily spray mini muffin pans with nonstick spray.

Make cake mix following boxed directions, add dye to the batter. Place small scoops of batter into muffin tins and bake for 8 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let sit in pan to cool before placing on cooking rack. Repeat and make second color of mini cupcakes.

Place Butter Cream Frosting into a piping bag and place small amount of frosting on bottom of red cupcake, place blue cupcake on top of frosting, slightly smooshing the cupcakes together. Place in a cupcake liner. Makes 50+ Cupcake Tops.

Ingredients for cupcakes

Sorry for the dark pics, flash issues!

Ready for the oven

So cute!

The perfect bite!

For my daughter's 15th birthday!

Enjoy!

Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

For Mother's Day Olivia bought me a tube of vanilla beans and I've been so excited to try them. I wanted to use some of them for vanilla ice cream, but thought that vanilla bean frosting sounded too good to not make it. I first made some chocolate cupcakes using a Duncan Hines mix, I added 1 TBSP real vanilla  and a 1/2 c cocoa to doctor up the boxed mix. This frosting has a nice light flavor that enhances the cupcakes flavor. I love seeing the flecks of vanilla in the frosting!

Ingredients
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, soft
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise ( if you don't have access to vanilla beans increase extract to 2 tsp)
3 c confectioners sugar
Pinch Salt
1 tsp vanilla extract (clear)
2 TBSP fat free half and half (heavy cream works well also)

In a standing mixer with a whisk attachment, beat butter at med high speed until smooth. Using a sharp knife split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds from bean, place into butter and mix.  Add confectioners sugar, and salt. Scrape sides of bowl often. Add vanilla and half and half, beat at medium speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.  I like to place my frosting in a piping bag and then refrigerate before using. Makes enough to frost 24 cupcakes.

Ingredients

The bean

Slice it lengthwise

Scrape seeds out with sharp knife

See the yummy vanilla seeds?

Enjoy!

Source: Browneyedbaker

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Summer is in full swing I love making desserts that taste like summertime; the tart taste of this frosting will tickle your tongue and remind you of lemonade on a hot day. I love the soft pink color and think this would make a great treat for a baby girl shower or a little girl's birthday party.

Ingredients
1 White Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1 1/4 c Water
1/3 c Vegetable Oil
3 TBSP  Country Time Pink Lemonade Mix
A few drops of red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the cake according to directions on the box then add lemonade mix and food coloring. Pour batter into cupcake pans and bake for 20 minutes. Cool on cooling rack.

Ingredients for cupcakes

Adding food coloring and lemonade mix to batter

Pink!

Ready for the oven

Ingredients for Frosting

1 lb Powdered Sugar

1 Stick unsalted butter, room temp

3 TBSP Pink Lemonade Mix

Milk

Pink Sprinkles

Mix butter and lemonade mix in a stand mixer, slowly add in powdered sugar. Add milk a TBSP at a time until desired consistency is reached. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with pink sprinkles.

Makes 18-24 cupcakes

Ingredients for frosting

Enjoy! 

Cream Cheese Frosting

I absolutely love the flavor of cream cheese frosting on cupcakes, I also love how it compliments so many different flavors of cake. This is a fool proof recipe that turns out every single time.

Ingredients
1 lb cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy. I like to chill my frosting for a little bit before piping onto cupcakes.

Lemonade Cupcakes

The weather is officially HOT here in Orlando and since it feels like summer I decided to make some cupcakes that remind me of summertime. These lemonade cupcakes are easy and delicious. I like to mix homemade with the convenience of pre-made, hence the cake mix and jarred lemon curd. I hope you like these as much as my guests did, these were the perfect finish to a pool party.

Ingredients for Cupcakes
White Cake Mix, follow directions to make cupcakes
2 Jars Lemon Curd

Make cupcakes, cool and follow
these directions to fill cupcakes with lemon curd.

Ingredients for Lemon Kissed Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

5-6 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. whole milk

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and salt for about 30 seconds.

Add half of the powdered sugar and the milk to the butter and beat again until combined. Scrape down the bowl.

Add the remainder of the powdered sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat until combined. Scrape down the bowl again.

Beat on high speed for 5-6 minutes or until the frosting is fluffy. Add yellow food coloring.

Scoop frosting into piping bag and refrigerate 2o minutes before frosting cupcakes. This allows the frosting to set and pipe better. Pipe onto cupcakes and sprinkle with yellow or pink sugar and stick straw (cut in half) into cupcake to make it look like a glass of lemonade. 

Yummy Lemon Curd!

Ready to party!

Nice and refreshing, just like a cold glass

of lemonade.

Enjoy!

 Source for Frosting; CupCakery

Look What My Sister Made! Easter Cupcakes

I bought my sister a cupcake cookbook and set of tips for her birthday and this is what she made! This is the perfect starter gift package to get someone into baking and decorating cupcakes. 

I love what Nicole did and had to share it with you all! Enjoy the pics!! 

Enjoy!

Getting Organized

I will admit that my pantry has more cookie and cake decorating tools in it than food, and that is sort of a problem. I do have a large walk in pantry, but I am always digging behind things trying to find the right cookie cutters or jimmies, so I decided to get myself organized. I headed to Wal-Mart and picked up 2 storage bins, of course the first trip I made I only bought one and had to go back a second time. I store my bins in a little alcove off the kitchen and wheel them in when I want them. So easy and organized!

It took Olivia and I at least 20 minutes

to locate all of the stuff that I've

stashed around the house

My sprinkles use to fit in that bin, not now

Too much stuff

Plus there are the cookie cutters to deal with

Where to put everything?

One drawer has cupcake liners, this is now full

with all of the ones I found in my

craft room yesterday

Drawer 1 of sprinkles

Drawer 2 of sprinkles

One drawer of icing bottles and toppers

Tips and coloring gels

I had to go and buy a second drawer set

to store my cookie cutters

2 drawers of cutters

Celo bags to store all of my homemade goodies in

Pretty cute and definitely organized!

I guess I should remove those tags off the front huh??

Enjoy!