White Cupcake with Strawberry Buttercream

"These are the last cupcakes for at least a year" I said to my BFF. She got up from her bed at 9:30 PM and came to pick them up. She later text "Amazing". They are. The cake is velvety and the frosting is a sweet strawberry swirl. These were ALMOST made about a week ago for my friend CG's Confessions of a Shopaholic book club party (I read the book years ago so I made my wonderful BF watch the 10AM matinee movie with me which he admitted to enjoying). I had painstakingly finished separating the egg whites (8) when the phone rang. BF cut his fingers on glass and I had to rush him to the ER. Yesterday as I began to separate the eggs, I asked him to please be safe (organic eggs are expensive!). He and the cupcakes are well. They baked for 17 min (rotate at 9). The recipe made 36 cupcakes- 3 dozen instead of the 2 stated in the Handbook. (It's a Biblical miracle! Jesus multiplies fish, I cupcakes). All the neighborhood kids were fed.

115 to Go!

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Coconut Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Since I have to make the same cake in different variations,  I thought I would try a different topping.  One of my favorite cupcakes is chocolate cake with coconut vanilla buttercream.  It turned out great as as a sheet cake.  Next time (In a few years) I'll try it with the cupcakes. 

Advice: Make sure to wait at least 30 minutes after taking it out of the refrigerator to eat, otherwise the frosting is too hard and tastes like a stick of butter. 

As good as the this cake turned out, I still threw away 1/4th of it. I gave some to everyone on my usual route; Kids, BF, BFF, BFF's BF, CG, Mom and dad.  It is quite tragic for me to dump any amount so I've decided to not make any more  large cakes or cupcakes unless I have an event to take it to (Hint , Hint). 

It baked for 40 min (Rotating at 25 min)

116 to Go!

Apple Spice Cake with Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting

I promised my BF I would make a dessert for his work party. I was ready to bake when I realized I forgot THE HANDBOOK at home. So I headed to Ala Moana (Might as well shop since I'm there with my Banana Republic Friends and Family 30% discount card for March 15th Only. Very Serendipitous!) to the William & Sonoma (If I went to Barnes and Nobles I would have never gotten around to baking) to copy the recipe.  As I sat on a stool (No real furniture there) copying, salespeople would come to see if I needed help, my response " I OWN this book, I just forgot it at home and need a recipe".  

I used Whole Foods 365 Unsweetened Applesauce since Martha said we could and I used most of my allotted baking time to copy the recipe (and do some shopping).  Anyways, why labor over the stove for hours when "In a small town in Vermont, clouds of sweet, warm steam come rolling out of a certain farmhouse kitchen. And working in that kitchen are the people down the road, using whole organic apples and small individual cookers. The applesauce they produce has a unique, home-style flavor- a delicious balance of sweet and tart- that people of all ages are sure to love". 

The batter is very thick (It filled each 9" pan with 3 and 3/4 batter). It baked for 36 minutes.

VERY MOIST cake.  For the frosting I only used Cream cheese (BF thought it is more Universally liked than Goat Cheese and he really likes his Job).  It did not turn out Fluffy but creamy and not too sweet. 

The ingredients for this cake were sponsored by the BF for The National Park Service Karaoke party. 

117 to Go!

One -Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

YUMMY! 

Very moist chocolate cake with the perfectly light and fluffy Swiss meringue buttercream.

I love the one bowl idea (Even though the kitchen still ended up looking like I baked 3 weeding cakes).  The batter is very runny so forget using an ice cream scooper (Pour it in or use a ladle). I used good old American  Hershey's cocoa from Walmart (No  Valrhona or Scharffen Berger Cocoa in this economy).  The batter actually made 34 cupcakes which baked for 20 min (Rotating at 10).

I even gave a dozen to my ex-husband and his fiancee for their rehearsal dinner tonight (I know, I am the nicest ex-wife in the world.)

118 to Go!

Carrot Cupcakes

"I don't know why I even bake. It just stresses me out!" were the words I uttered as I finished these cupcakes (9pm). I have realized through this project just how exhausting baking is. The time and energy it takes to buy the ingredients (sometimes 2 and 3 grocery stores), the concentration while baking, the enormous cleanup (No dishwasher) and then the pressure of how it turns out (Perfectionist). I might never bake again once this project is through.

At least my efforts were not in vain because they were really delicious. My BF took them to work and everyone loved them (Except one lady who hates vegetables and would have rathered eaten a meat cupcake). My friend CG said they were amazing. The best review came from my BFF who said " Oh, my Gosh! In a scale from 1-10 I FEEL like it is a 10. But I hesitate to say 10 for every one [see past blogs] and it loose validity. Just to remain a reliable source of feedback, I will give it a nine and add that I would enjoy even more concentration of carrot. More CARROTY. I loved the cream cheese frosting. It was rich and smooth and not waxy, not too sugary but you know it is sweet. Very flavorful. The cake was fluffy and light. SDM (Her boyfriend) ate half which is  a lot since it goes against his no carb philosophy. It was definitely worth the drive by and would do it again" (She came specificly to pick them up. She even brought her own cupcake carrier) .    (Written with BFF's permission to quote).

THIS is WHY I bake.

They baked for 23 minutes (Rotating at 10). 

119 to GO!

Maple-Walnut Cupcakes

My Nemesis struck again. It came disguised as Maple. The cupcakes are pretty basic to make (Use mixer cover when mixing in the milk or it will platter). They are nutty and crumble easily (baked for 20 minutes). Great as muffins with coffee for breakfast.
Then I began to make the butter cream, cooking the Maple syrup (BF brought all the way from Massachusetts). I used a candy thermometer until it registers 240 (I took it off the heat but the temperature kept rising to 270). As I poured it into the mixer with the egg yolks, it hardened instantly into candy. It almost broke my mixer whisk and sliced my thumb when trying to wipe it off.
I tried to use the Safeway Butterscotch but this time it did not help (Too sticky. Not even the kids bought it).
If anyone out there has a Maple Buttercream recipe that does not require a candy thermometer and possible ER, please Help me!

120 to Go!

Banana Cake

Valentines Cake!
I know Banana cake does not sound like the most romantic cake but it was next on the project ( I had to make the Devil's Food cake first for my friend's birthday because she does not like bananas). My BF is a sport and knows I'll make it with Love which is what matters on Valentines. The batter was very heavy and baked for 30 minutes (Rotating at 20). Then I sliced the bananas and cooked them in the caramelized sugar (Reminds me of "platanos" ). So far so good. The Mascarpone frosting is ($$$) not to sweet, light and easy to spread (I DREAD spreading frosting on cakes. I feel like a little kid trying to perform brain surgery). So far so good. THEN.... I HATE CARAMEL. It is my NEMESIS. I stirred the sugar in the pan until "golden amber" (I even referred back to page 19 for color examples). When I added the cream it spatters and hardens very quickly. The ice bath just made it worse (stuck to the bowl).
BF saved the day with his Safeway Butterscotch sauce (I am always keeping it in stock from now on). Why make it when you can buy it is my new motto.
I Love You Honey!
121 to Go!