Plain Jane Cupcakes

I actually adapted these cupcakes from a recipe from book called Cupcake Heaven by Susannah Blake. I made these cupcakes for my friend Laura, who doesn't like anything but vanilla. It was quite a challenge to keep my self from embellishing the recipe with spices and things! These cupcakes were the first plain cupcakes I have ever made, and they turned out really well! They were dense and moist. The batter was very thick, but the recipe only made 9 cupcakes. I sprinkled them with powdered sugar, and it was just enough. The cupcakes were basic enough that you could probably add dried fruit like cranberries, or even flavors. The cupcakes were perfect on their own though (and with homemade vanilla ice cream)!
I highly recommend this recipe for anything!

here is the recipe:

1 stick butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter and sugar in mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Combine flour and baking powder and sift into the mixture. fold in, and stir in vanilla. Spoon the batter into the baking cups. Bake for 17 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. enjoy!!

 

bibliography:

Blake, Susannah. "Victoria Cupcakes." Cupcake Heaven. 2008. Print.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Earl Grey Frosting

When I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it! I thought it was going to be gross, because I would never even think of putting chocolate and earl grey tea together. They turned out very, very good, if a little on the chewy side. I had to modify the recipe because I didn't want to make so many cupcakes. I ended up cutting the recipe in half, and making them mini. Half of the recipe made about 19 cupcakes. If I make them again I will make them full size because they were so good!  The cake had a caramel taste to it, and only a hint of chocolate, even though I used almost a whole bar of Hershey's Milk Chocolate. The icing was delicious!! It was light and fluffy, and the tea added to it gave it a delicate flavor. They were scrumptious! I highly recommend this recipe, as it was a crowd pleaser. Be forewarned though. You may have to cook them for longer than the recipe says. I cooked them for 18 minutes, and they were chewy like a brownie. Bon Appetite!

~Paige~

here is the url to the recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_449433_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html