Root Beer Float - Tweaked

If you read my first Root Beer Float Cupcake post, you know how I feel about these. And you also know that I rely on others to tell me what they think of them.

Last time around, I was told there wasn't enough root beer flavor. So this time, I used root beer in the batter as well as add extra root beer flavoring.

I made a vanilla icing a bit different this time since I didn't want these to look pretty...I wanted them to look frothy! I also had Twizzlers from my last round of slushie cakes to use on them. I even got to use them BEFORE people snuck in to steal my little straws away!

From my hubby's prospective, this round was much better...especially served cold. Thank goodness!

Slushie Cake Flavor Adds

So far, my most popular post has been my cupcake that started it all just over a year ago: the slushie cake!

I was asked to make some for my goddaughter's GLEE-themed 16th birthday party. Specifically, 4 dozen of them. I asked which flavors to make & was told, "all of them." Well, I started figuring out where to go from there.

OK, so I decided on 6 flavors. My original 4 (cherry, grape, lemon-lime, orange), but thought I'd add berry blue (instead of the very sour blue raspberry-lemonade) and strawberry. And I want to say that the rainbow in the oven was gorgeous!

Once they were out (so glad I can bake them all at once), I decorated them this morning. It's tedious, but it's pretty nice to try to relax frosting, spraying & sugaring each cupcake. Yes, the process is done one-at-a-time, and I did it will all 48 of them.

After I got all the batter separated out into different bowls to add flavor to, I ended up with some extra of each flavored batter, so I got to try out my new toy:
mini cupcake pan. I will have to say that having all of the colors together in the same place looked like Skittles...you could imagine tasting the rainbow!


I also decided to call my little cuties "flavor bites". So much fun!

Well, after the party, I left 11 behind, and more were being consumed as I left. I think they went over very well!

Piña Colada Cupcakes

So the summer is coming to a close, but we still want to hang on to the laid back summer feel. How can we do this? With a drink that makes you think of paradise - Piña Coladas! So...doing what I do...it's gotta be a cupcake!

These tasty little gems were inspired by adding Jell-O's summertime edition flavor pudding. I was going to add it to my batter for the umph. My first batch tasted so yummy...but they didn't set up right & I couldn't figure it out. As I finished baking them (thinking it was the pudding addition), I realized I forgot something really important: eggs. *sigh* So I had to redo them...

I went to try to find more of the pudding mix, but my close-by stores didn't have it. So I had to be creative. I used pineapple juice, coconut extract & rum extract to get my flavoring right. I added actual coconut to the bottom of each baking liner, too. I topped each one with the same flavored buttercream - Piña Colada! I made the regular buttercream & added crushed pineapple (drained), coconut (plus some extract), and rum extract so the flavor would be consistent throughout the whole cupcake. I also cut several pineapple slices into 1/8s & baked them on a separate cookie sheet to dehydrate them a bit so I could garnish the top of each cupcake with a piece.

I am so pleased with how these turned out! They turned out quite a bit better than my Margarita Cupcakes, for sure!

Now, can someone please have a luau so I can bring them?

Auburn Neapolitan Cupcakes

I recently was asked to make some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing for a friend. However, when I made them, I think I may have added too much liquid, so they ended up...ummm...not right. Tasting OK, but I would never deliver them to anyone & be all right with it.

But somewhere it made me start thinking that I might be able to try a red velvet icing...hmmm...

So I baked vanilla cupcakes with a strawberry flavored buttercream icing, topped with a red velvet buttercream. I call them Auburn Neapolitan Cupcakes! Like the ice cream, but with red velvet instead...so it's auburn...like my hair!

This time around, my red velvet icing attempt didn't set well, so I need to keep the cupcakes very cold! I added a little bit of sour cream...however, I think I got fat free sour cream, so it was separating within the frosting. Bummer. Cuz the flavor is really good!

They need a couple of tweaks, but the flavor is pretty good! Apparently...they taste like ice cream for sure!

S'More Cupcakes

Well, Happy National S'mores Day, everyone!

How should we celebrate such a day when it's too hot to sit around a campfire to toast your marshmallows? You make 'em into cupcakes, that's what!

I have wanted to make these for quite some time now. But my Rocky Road Cupcakes kept distracting me. But I had to be focused enough to make these cuties...so I did!
I made a rich devil's food chocolate batch of cupcakes with a crushed graham crust on the bottom of each cake. I left space in the middle to put my filling in...my marshmallow buttercream that I finally made on my tweaked Rocky Road cupcakes. I wanted to top these off with a couple of mini marshmallows...but then discovered that someone ate my mini marshmallows. Bummer. I had planned on toasting the marshmallows on top, but attempted to toast the marshmallow buttercream. It slightly melted into a film on top, but not the results I'd hoped for. I then made a delightful chocolate buttercream to surround the filling. I sprinkled a little more crushed graham on top & placed a Hershey bar piece in the center for the perfect garnish.
They are so adorable & so yummy! I want to make these again when I have some mini marshmallows to toast on top.

On that note...I wish you Happy National S'mores Day again, and hope you had a chance to have s'more, too!

Rocky Road Cupcakes - Tweaked

When I made root beer float cupcakes for my boys, I had to make something that my daughter & I could eat since we don't like root beer.

She had been wanting some Rocky Road Cupcakes that I have done before, but I felt it needed a bit of a tweak & I am very happy with how they came out!
Instead of just marshmallow fluff this time, I made a marshmallow buttercream for the filling! Oh, yes I did! Tried it after the marshmallow fluff expanded & dripped everywhere last time; the buttercream seemed to give it much better stability. I kept the almond crust at the bottom of each cake, then topped each with a ring of chocolate buttercream, mini marshmallows & sliced almonds on top. I baked these beauties in elegant black & gold baking liners.

Gourmet & Gorgeous!

Root Beer Float Cupcakes

Sometimes, you find yourself doing & creating things out of love, so you sacrifice yourself a bit & endure things you despise. These cupcakes fall into that category for me: Root Beer. Just the words turn my stomach, but the boys in my house love it. So...my 13-year-old son brought it up in passing once & thought, "Why not?"

I wanted to make these to taste like *gag* a root beer float. So, I found root beer flavoring & knew that's what I should use. I wanted to use my vanilla buttercream icing as the "ice cream" topper. I had plans to use some leftover Twizzlers as straws, like I do for my slushie cakes.

Keep in mind that I love doing quality control on my cupcakes...but not this time. I had to solely rely on my root beer lovers to give me their opinions & critiques. I served 'em up cold (root beer float - DUH!) but without the Twizzler straws. Apparently my hubby knew we had some & finished them off. Go figure.

As it turns out, as strong as they smelled to me (and made want to lose my lunch), the baking process weakened the root beer taste. So, I will have to try these again, against MY best judgement, and make sure to include the Twizzler straws next time, too.

I know that by becoming a cupcaker, people are going to ask for some odd flavors once in a while, and sometimes flavors we despise. Guess I gotta learn to suck it up & dive in for the clientele!

Margarita Cupcakes

It's been a little while since I've posted any cupcakes! Sorry for anyone who has been looking for new posts...but here you go!

Not too long ago, we were having guests over & I wanted to try a particular flavor of cupcake that would allow me to try the piping gel recipe I'd come across. Margarita Cupcakes! The cupcakes tasted like a margarita, I actually had a rim of a sugar/salt mixture around the edge, then I placed a dab of my homemade piping gel (margarita flavored, of course) in the center & topped it with a sugared lime slice candy.

Sadly, my piping gel didn't set well at all...and it melted over everything! However, sticky mess or not, they were tasty!! Our guests were surprised about the salty rim!

I just need to find a good piping gel recipe so I can flavor it on my own. If you have one I can follow, I would be greatly appreciative!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

OK...this is the first cupcake flavor I have done by request outside of family. The flavor? Mint Chocolate Chip!

I made up white cake mix & added 2 tablespoons of mint extract. I then added several drops of green food coloring. After I mixed that together, I added half a bag of mini chocolate chips. I just so happened to have these adorable green baking liners that I decided to use. I baked them up & they were smelling minty-delicious!

I then made up some creamy mint chocolate buttercream to top these little cuties off! Plus a few mini chocolate chips on top, too.
This request was also my first delivery, too! Super excited to hear how my buddy enjoyed his flavor. For the ones that stayed home...the family really enjoyed them! (Well, the ones who like mint, anyway.)

PB&J Cupcakes - Tweaked

I recently baked my PB&J cupcakes again, this time adding the strawberry filling, too, along with the grape jam filling I used before.

I also made a PB&J buttercream to go along with their respective flavors.

Next time...I may add a pie-like crust to the bottom, much like I used with the blackberry cobbler cupcakes!

It's so much fun tweaking & playing to make possible upgrades!

Oh, these were taken for a church potluck & then again for a church meeting. They were finished off & people were "smuggling" some home with them. I'd say they went over pretty well!