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Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cupcakes. Show all posts

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake Cookbook

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook

Libraries are so rad. Ok, I'm a little biased...but I am like many and check out lots of cookbooks from the library (cookbooks are one of the most popular non-fiction circulated titles in public libraries). Recently, I picked up The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake by Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne.

I've been to Georgetown Cupcake in 2009, and the cupcakes were very pretty. My friend Rosie came over and we made the Lemon Blossom Cupcakes.

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
Rosie, who recently graduated from Johnson and Wales with Bachelors of Science in Baking and Pastry Arts and Foodservice Management (Yay Rosie!!), made a few gum paste flowers. We put a little candy pearl inside the flower. Doesn't it look wonderful on my Whitney Smith pottery?

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
We had some issues with the measurements though. The recipe says it makes 12 cupcakes. Since I needed more for a work thing, we doubled the recipe - thinking we'll get 24 cupcakes. However, we got 36 cupcakes plus a 6-cup Bundt cake! So...we think the yield in the cookbook is slightly off or they are making huge cupcakes. I think the basic recipe can get you 20-24 cupcakes, not the 12 cupcakes listed.

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
Also, the recipe says to use 1/2 CUP lemon zest from 2-3 lemons. I used 4 organic lemons and got only 1/4 of a cup when using the microplane. Do they have really big lemons on the East Coast or am I missing something? Since the recipe called for 1/2 CUP zest in both the batter and the frosting, I zested all the lemons I had (about 6) and used all the zest I got out of them.

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
I made my first Instagram Video! It shows Rosie frosting the cupcake (with Macklemore playing in the background). Find it here. The frosting was tasty...it was a combo of butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon zest!

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes from Georgetown Bakery Cookbook
Thanks to my UCLA college roommate, Agnes for these adorable little cupcake stands. They are making their debut on the blog! :) Also, congrats to the UCLA Baseball team that recently won our first College World Series championship. Woooo hoooo! That gives UCLA 109 NCAA Championships...the most of any college. #GoBruins

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes
From: The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake by Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne
Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 stick/8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whole milk, room temperature
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup freshly graded lemon zest (2-3 lemons) - this is what is listed in the recipe...I didn't get close to this amount from four lemons.
For the Lemon Cream-Cheese Frosting
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (1/2 stick)
6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup freshly graded lemon zest (2-3 lemons) - again, they must have crazy big lemons in Washington DC! :)

Cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard cupcakes pan with 12 paper baking cups.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt on a sheet  of wax paper and set aside.
3a. Measure out the sugar in a small bowl. Add the zest and rub together with your fingers to release the lemon's oil.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer, cream together the butter and lemony sugar for 3-5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
4. Add the vanilla to the milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
5. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients followed by 1/3 of the milk, and mix thoroughly. Repeat. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the last third of dry ingredients followed by the last third of milk. Mix slowly until just incorporated. Add lemon juice, and mix at low speed.
6. Scoop the batter into the cupcake pas using a slandered size ice cream scoop until the cups are 2/3 full, and bake for 16-18 minutes (start checking at 15 minutes) , or until a toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:
1. Combine the ingredients in a mixture and whip together at high speed until light and airy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
2. Frost cupcakes. We used a large tip. See my instagram video: http://instagram.com/p/a69_nbx-Ms/


Disclosure: I'm in the Amazon Affiliate program and get a small percent if you purchase something by following this link. (You don't have to buy this book, you can buy other stuff and I magically get a few cents...and don't worry, I never know who buys what so thank you if you do use the link!)
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Flour Bakery Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Yellow Cupcakes collage 1
Flour Bakery Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

There's nothing better than yellow cake. Serious. I love yellow cake. And with a chocolate ganache? Sit down and have a blast.

Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
For my co-worker's birthday, I made these cupcakes. As you know, I don't care for frosting (which is why, I'll say it again, the Bundt Cake is the most perfect food product on the planet with a perfect cake to frosting ratio!) But I like the chocolate ganache because it isn't overly sweet with butter and powdered sugar. Just pre-butter (aka cream) and chocolate. 

Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
Yellow cupcakes with chocolate ganache are like a little hug. A nice bite of fun and yum. The ganache chilling takes the longest... you need to wait until it is spreadable (and you can freeze any leftovers). You can either let it sit at room temp or put in the fridge and stir every 15 until the right consistency. I frosted mine with a small off-set spatula.

Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
Do you have a special occasion coming up? Or want to celebrate making it to Friday? Then make these!

These were adapted from the Flour Bakery's Yellow Cake recipe. One day I want to make their proper yellow cake with chocolate ganache buttercream frosting.

Recipe:
Yellow Cake recipe
Joanne Chang has very detailed directions. You should purchase the book, Flour Bakery or get the book at your library. The Daily Meal posted the recipe.
Notes: I used powdered buttermilk. I added 1/4 cup of the powder to the dry ingredients, and used 1 cup of water instead of the 1 cup buttermilk.
Yield: 24+ cupcakes (I had extra batter but tossed it because I ran out of time - I was baking before heading off to work!)


Chocolate Ganache (learned this in my New School of Cooking class)
Equal parts chocolate (by weight) and heavy cream (by volume).
I used 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate and 8 ounces (1 cup) heavy cream. Heat the cream (not to boiling) and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for five minutes then slowly whisk until smooth. Cool until it is spreadable for the cupcakes.
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Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting

Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes
Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting

I went over to JustJenn's house for New Year's Oshogatsu yumminess...along with tons of traditional Japanese foods she created Royal T Milk Tea Cupcakes. They were delicious and I couldn't wait to try them myself!

Milk used in the cupcake is heated and the tea steeps in the milk. The frosting is so light and delicious. An easy combo of mascarpone cream, sugar and whipped cream...it is just so good!

Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes
Remember my 40th Birthday? I went to Bouchon's pop up bakery in Beverly Hills with justJenn and stopped by Crate & Barrel. I gifted myself this new cake stand...and had them gift wrap it!! I brought it home and put it aside...then came Christmas and mochi making and I forgot about it. Imagine my delight when I opened this Perfect Gift this year! :)

Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes
This absolutely cute and beautiful cupcake stand is handcrafted by Oakland, CA-based ceramic artist Whitney Smith. Thank you so much my dear friend Sumi for this delightful birthday gift!

Earl Grey Milk Tea Cupcakes
These are just lovely cupcakes! Be sure to give them a try.

Recipes:
JustJenn's Milk Tea Cupcakes (I used 4 bags of Trader Joe's Earl Grey tea instead) (I got 22 cupcakes and they baked for 23 minutes. Jenn and I have very different ovens :)
Just Jenn's Mascarpone Frosting (This frosting is my favorite!!)
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Cupcake Camp OC 2010


Sunday, JustJenn and I loaded up her mini-van for our own Mobile Truck. This wasn't Kogi, but it did have cupcakes and a kid's car seat. We were rockin' as we drove and drove down to Irvine for the first CupcakeCampOC!

Cupcake Camp OC - JustJenn's Baby Cupcakes
JustJenn brought dozens of sleeping baby cupcakes...a delicious Ovaltine cupcake is beneath this sleeping baby.

Cupcake Camp OC - Entries for the Cupcake Competition
The assortment of cute "Most Childhood Inspired" cupcakes ready for judging (both pro and amateur)

Cupcake Camp OC Cupcake Camp OC
The professional bakeries set up their displays around the room, and the amateur cupcakes were brought out every 30 minutes to other tables. You were given tickets to get three pro cupcakes and unlimited amateur cupcakes. And damn, people attacked the amateur cupcakes. JustJenn and I brought ours out at 4:30 and in 30 seconds they were GONE. It was pure madness.

Cupcake Camp OC - Judges Cupcake Camp OC - It was crowded. Super crowded.
A panel of judges ate a zillion entries for the professional and amateur entries. I didn't enter the contest, just donated cupcakes. However, JustJenn came in second in the amateur division in the Childhood Inspired category. Awesome!

See all those people? It got even more crowded this this! Lots of people have the love for the cupcake. And the best part? The event raised a lot of money to fight human trafficking. Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers who made the event a success! Can't wait for the Los Angeles Cupcake Camp!

Cupcake Camp OC - Food Librarian's Cupcakes
I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting. It's an Ina Garten recipe, and the Barefoot Contessa always has great recipes. And notice the fun silver dragees on top...shipped to me out of the forbidden area of Los Angeles...thanks Mary!!

Recipe:
Barefoot Contessa Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
(I did not put chopped peanuts on my cupcakes)
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Cupcake Camp O.C. - This Sunday!


Southern California Peeps,
Craving lots and lots of cupcakes?

Come on down to The O.C. for a room full of cupcakes! Cupcake Camp O.C. is THIS SUNDAY, August 1, 2010 from 3 - 6 pm (Atrium Hotel – 18700 MacArthur Boulevard in Irvine). Learn all about this charity event here.

JustJenn and I will be loading up a mini-van with cupcakes, and we both hope to see you there. I'm making chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting! Yummmmy!
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Fresh Strawberry Cupcake

Strawberry Cupcakes
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Oh, strawberry.
I adore you.
Usually, I don't bake with strawberries. I just eat them straight from the pretty green cartons.

But here, I made some fresh strawberry cupcakes.

Strawberry Cupcakes
White cake surrounds the strawberries.

Strawberry Cupcakes
I topped these with a quick frosting of butter, powdered sugar and strawberry jam. Of course, you can put a lot more frosting, but I'm sorta an anti-frosting gal.

Strawberry Cupcakes
It's Summertime. It's Strawberrytime.

Recipe:
Find the recipe for Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes on JustJenn recipes

Frosting: 1/2 stick butter, 3/4 c powdered sugar, 1 T strawberry jam
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