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Chocolate Cupcakes

Posted by on September 10, 2008 1 Comment

Cupcakes

I recently made cupcakes for my daughter’s 2nd birthday party.  I had decided on two criteria: (1) they had to be cupcakes, and (2) they had to be chocolate (her favorite). I searched for recipes online via various cupcake blogs. The two best I came across were www.cupcakeblog.com and www.cupcakeproject.com

I salivated while reading cupcakeblog. The pictures were fabulous, the recipes were outrageous. Most, however, were too much for a two year old’s palette. Note to self: Check back for recipe ideas come my birthday next year.  Her chocolate recipes, however, looked like winners. To be sure, one of her recipes was featured on cupcakeproject with slight modifications. Check out the link here http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2008/02/better-than-sex-cupcakes-chocolate.html

The directions state not to overfill your cupcake liner, filling it 2/3 or 1/2 way. I went with something in between these measurements and got exactly 16 cupcakes. I should also mention I tried using liners (regular paper ones) and no liners (cooking spray greased cupcake pans). I recommend going without the liners. The cupcakes stick to the paper and get ripped up when you try to peel the paper away. I had no problems with sticking when I skipped the liners, they all came out beautifully.

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Makes 16 regular cupcakes.
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
  • 1-1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined. Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a small sized bowl and whisk to combine. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 1/2 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
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I just made the basic cupcake–no mousse filling, no ganache frosting. These were for a 2 year old mind you. I’m sure the recipe would have been great as written but I didn’t have the time, nor did I feel it was necessary to go the extra mile given the occasion and my audience.

In my quest to find the perfect chocolate cake recipe, I tried several, but this was by far the best. For this recipe, I got my hands on Valrhona cocoa powder (as was suggested in cupcakeblog). Result: OMG. A++ Best chocolate cupcake I’ve ever had. Reminded me of a lighter brownie. Rich chocolate taste, very moist, a little dense (but in a good way) yet still airy and cake-like. It was just delicious. I served mine with a sweetened homemade whipped cream. I added confectioners sugar (I didn’t measure anything), heavy cream, and a bit of Massey Vanilla Extract. Heaven.

My best comment: “Those are the best cupcakes this side of Yonkers has ever seen.” Thanks Kris 🙂

Filed Under: Food, Uncategorized | Tagged:

Stampin Up!

Posted by on September 10, 2008 Leave a Comment

I joined SU as a demonstrator last August for the discount. I’m considered a “hobby demo” because I don’t focus on sales or getting customers. Sometimes I feel if you do it as a business to profit, it takes all the fun out of it. For me anyway. I like to make what I like, and use products that appeal to me, regardless of whether or not they’re good to “demo” to customers.

Anyway, enough rambling and onto sharing. With the debut of the Big Shot and exclusive dies, I’ve been very busy. I’m in an upswing as far as stamping mojo is concerned and I’ve found lots of inspiration out there on blogs and through splitcoaststampers.com (if you haven’t already, you should definitely check out that site). For a downline meeting recently, my upline asked me to come up with some samples and a make & take using the Big Shot. This is what I’ve been up to:

#1: Kindess Thank You Card

Thank You Kindness

All products Stampin Up unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Embrace Life
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Top Note die, clear embossing powder
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White Craft

 

#2 Top Note CardTop Note Card (Open)

Top Note Card (Closed)

Stamps: Embrace Life, Heard from the Heart (inside)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Choc Chip
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss (sponging)
Accessories: Brown satin ribbon, rhinestone brad, watercolor pen, big shot birds & blossoms die (tiny flower)

#3 Upsy Daisy Card

Upsy Daisy Card

Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Ink: Regal Rose Marker, Pretty in Pink Marker, Certainly Celery Marker
Accessories: Big Shot Top Note die, black 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon

 

 

Filed Under: Card Designs, Uncategorized | Tagged:

Hello…

Posted by on September 10, 2008 Leave a Comment

It’s my first blog post. YAY! I plan on using this blog to talk about my interests, my likes (and probably some dislikes). Some likes: I’m really into paper crafting, i.e., making cards, some scrapbooking, invitations, etc. Design interests me, and I love to create handmade things for people. Honestly, I love the praise (yes I love myself) hahaha.

In addition, I love to cook and bake. My food stylist and photographer, Tom, (aka my Husband) has been helpful over the years in documenting my “masterpieces”. He’s also my guinea pig sometimes. From time to time I’ll be posting recipes and comments on the things I make, of course with photos too.

The reason I called this blog “Creative Cucina” is because I’m always cooking up something fun and creative, whether it be upstairs in my craft room or downstairs in the kitchen. I hope to be able to share some of my favorite things with you. I’ve learned a lot from other people’s blogs so I thought it’d be fun to start my own.

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