Valentine's Day Cupcakes

It has been a while since I've wrote a post on this blog, and I am very glad that I decided to start posting on here again. I had stopped because I got a little discouraged and also I was attending culinary school, working, and being part of a dance company. As you can see life happened, and I just didn't have the time to make posts. I'm happy to announce that I am done with culinary school, and I have learned so much. I am now ready to show you all what I have learned, and show you my creations as well as help you create them. 

Last year for Valentine's Day I decided I wanted to make a little bit of money so I decided to make a flyer, and sell some cupcakes to my friends and family. I thought since it would be Valentine's day, and everyone seems to like my cupcakes I could sell them for less than most cupcakes out there, and get many orders. Well, I may have bit more than I could chew at that time because it was a lot of work and I didn't sell as much as I thought I would. Also, I had so many cupcakes leftover that I had to give some away. Now, you may ask why did I make so many? Why didn't I take orders ahead of time? Well, I did. The problem was that I decided that for each package I would make 6 different flavor cupcakes with 6 different frostings so that each cupcake was different. I only got 5 orders therefore, I had so many cupcakes and not enough orders. It was a good learning experience because I learned that if I want to make that much work for myself I need to be able to get more orders. I still had a lot of fun making them so it was not all for nothing. 

Now that you have read all of my life story, if you want to see the cupcakes that I made and maybe give you an idea for some cupcakes you can make for your sweetie this Valentine's Day then here is a little description of each one and a photo to go along with it.

 Top: Chocolate Chip Cupcake with Chocolate Whipped Topping and Topped with Chocolate Chips, Pink Velvet Cupcake with Whipped Topping and Topped with Pink Pearl Sprinkles, Vanilla Cupcake with Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and Topped with White Pearl Sprinkles
Bottom: Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting and Topped with Red Heart Sprinkles, Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Topped with Red and White Sprinkles, Cookies and Cream Cupcake with Cookies and Cream Whipped Topping and Topped with an Oreo Cookie

 I put them in a cupcake container with 6 cavities

I wrapped the box with a cute red and white ribbon bow

These are my orders for Valentine's Day and the two red boxes are cookies which will be my next post.

I really hope you liked this post, and continue to read my baking journey.

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

This week is teacher appreciation week and I thought I would share what I made. These are just some ideas that you can make for Teachers Day or Back to School. They are really cute and fun to make so you can show the teacher in your life how much you appreciate them.

Apple Cupcakes:

Apple Cake Pops:

Churro Cupcakes

If you like churros then you'll love these cupcakes. They are fluffy with the right amount of cinnamon. I decided to make these and top them with a few sprinkles to bring out the fall season. If you're interested in how I made these then keep on reading.

Ingredients:

For Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk

Cinnamon Sugar Crunchy Topping:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Makes 34-36 cupcakes

Directions:

Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
Line standard muffin ins with paper liners
Whisk together both flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until fluffy
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated
Beat in vanilla
Reduce speed to low
Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each
Fill each cupcake liner to three-quarters full
Bake 20 minutes
Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes

Cinnamon Sugar Crunchy Topping:
In a small bowl melt butter
In another small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon
When cupcakes are completely cooled brush melted butter on the tops and dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture

Final Look:

Strawberry Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 2/3 Cups Cake Flour
3/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
3/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
2 Egg Whites
1 Cup Strawberry Puree
1/4 Cup Buttermilk
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Servings: 12 Cupcakes

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit
Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl then add baking powder, baking soda, and salt, whisk 20 seconds and set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy (occasionally stop and scrape down bowl throughout entire mixing process if not using a paddle attachment that constantly scrapes bowl). Mix in egg then mix in egg whites one at a time. In liquid measuring cup used to measure buttermilk, whisk together the buttermilk, 1 cup strawberry puree and the vanilla extract. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture (to the butter mixture) alternating with half of the buttermilk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. Divide batter among 12 paper lined muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full (nearly 1/3 cup in each). Bake in preheated oven 20 - 23 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean. Allow to cool in muffin tin several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
12 oz. Cream Cheese
4 oz. Butter 
1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla
10 oz. Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Lemon Juice 
1 tsp. Lemon Zest

Servings: Frosts 12 Cupcakes

Directions: 
Room temperature cream cheese and butter
Whip butter, cream cheese, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice for 5 minutes
Add powdered sugar and whip another 5 minutes

2.     

Bunny Cupcakes

If you love cupcakes and you love bunnies then these cupcakes are perfect for you. I took these for a potluck at work and they were a hit. Hope you enjoy.

Materials:
Cupcake Liners
Cake mix
White Frosting

Marshmallows
Pink Sprinkles
Pink Icing
Black Gel Pen
Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Bake cupcakes and let them cool.
Take some white frosting and cover each cupcake

Take the marshmallows and cut them diagonally.

On the sticky side add some pink sprinkles. They should stick automatically

Add the mini chocolate chips as eyes.











Draw a pink nose with the pink icing
Make the mouth with black gel pen

Add the ears

Final Result:

Carrot Cake Cupcakes and Cream Cheese Frosting

Since easter is right around the corner, I thought I would show you guys how to make carrot cake cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
2 Eggs
3 oz. Melted Butter
1 oz. Vegetable Oil
1/4 tsp. Vanilla
7 oz. Sugar
5 oz. All Purpose Flour
Pinch of Nutmeg and Cloves
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
6.6 oz. Grated Carrots

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sift flour, sugar, spices, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer with a paddle, beat eggs until they pale and frothy, add oil and melted butter, then add vanilla.
Add dry ingredients to egg mixture carefully until just combined.
Fold in the carrots and place batter into cupcake liners.
Bake until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds Cream Cheese
1/2 pound Butter
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
1 1/4 pounds Powdered Sugar

Instructions:
Make sure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature.
Whip butter, cream cheese, and vanilla for 5 minutes.
Add powdered sugar, and whip for another 5 minutes.

Final Result:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Do you love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? If your answer is yes, then you have to try these amazing cupcakes that I came up with. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I did.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
Jam or jelly of your choice

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Line 12-cup muffin pan with liners
Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
With a mixer, cream peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar until lighter and fluffy
Beat eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla. Scrape sides as needed.
Slowly beat flour mixture alternately with the milk, mix until everything is combined. 
Batter will be thick.
Bake for 23-25 minute or until toothpick inserted comes out clean
Let cool
Once they are cool, fill the center with jam or jelly of your choice.
Serve

Final Result:

Sheep Cupcakes

Materials:
Cupcake liners
Cake mix
Mini marshmallows
White frosting
Pink frosting
Red m&ms
Brown m&ms

Directions:
Bake cupcakes and let cool
Cover cupcakes with white frosting













Add marshmallows on the edge of the cupcakes













Add a round dot of pink frosting in the middle of the cupcake













Put two brown m&ms for the eyes













Finally add a red m&m on top of the pink for the nose

Final Result:

Baby Chick Cupcakes

Looking for ideas for your next farm animal party? Look no further. I have the perfect chick cupcakes that everyone will love and are simple to make.

Materials:
Yellow cupcake liners
Cake mix of you choice
Yellow frosting
Orange starburst
Brown m&ms
#233 Magic pastry tip
Pastry bag

Directions:
Bake cupcakes and let cool
Take the yellow frosting and frost cupcakes













Take the pastry bag and fill it with the remaining frosting and put on the pastry tip
Swirl the tip around the cupcake until it looks like the feathers













Cut the starburst diagonally and place in the middle of the cupcake













Add the brown m&ms as the eyes

Final look:

Pig Cupcakes

For the next couple blogs, I will be showing you how to make farm animal cupcakes. If you're planning to have a farm themed party, these pig cupcakes are something kids and adults would both enjoy. 

Materials:

Cake Mix

Cupcake liners

Pink Frosting

Pink Starburst Candy

Edible Eyes

Wilton Black Gel Pen

Pink Marshmallows

Directions:

Bake cupcakes according to directions on box

Let cool completely

Frost each cupcake with pink frosting

Cut each marshmallow in half and place on cupcake

Add the edible eyes

Take pink starburst and cut it diagonally in half

Place ears on cupcake

 

Add two black dots to the nose using the black gel pen

Final Result:

 

Ladybug and Polka Dot Cupcakes

Materials:

Frosting

Red m&ms

Black Icing

Green Fondant

Red Fondant

Pink Fondant

Cupcake Liners

White Fondant

Cake Mix

Red food coloring

Leaf cookie cutter

Small and medium sized cookie cutters

Directions:

Bake cupcakes according to directions on the cake mix box

Let them cool for about two hours (Preferably overnight) 

Polka Dot Cupcakes:

Take some frosting and add a few drops of red food coloring (I used vanilla frosting by Betty Crocker)

Frost the cupcakes with red frosting

Take some white fondant and roll it out

Cake a small circular cutter and cut out small circles (each cupcake will use about 6 circles)

Place five circles around cupcake and one in the middle

Final result:

Ladybug Cupcakes:

Frost cupcakes with white vanilla frosting

Roll out green fondant and cut out a leaf using leaf cookie cutter. Also cut out a stem ( each cupcake will require one leaf and one stem )

Take some red fondant and use the bigger cookie cutter to cut out a flower

Take pink fondant and cut out a small flower using the smaller cookie cutter

Take some black icing with a pastry tip and draw the dots on the m&m

Place m&m on the cupcake and draw the head with the black icing

Add everything to the cupcake

Final Result: