Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

Last summer I made Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes and used strawberry cake and chocolate frosting.  This time I used chocolate cake and chocolate frosting and filled them with strawberry whipped cream.  I love both versions, but man, the strawberry whipped cream in these is delicious!  These ones might take the cake.

I just swirled frosting onto these but if you want to top each cupcake with an actual chocolate-covered strawberry, check out my other link for directions.  Next time I make these I will add those.

Nommy nommmy.


In other news.

What are you all getting your significant other for Valentine's Day? 

I'm thinking my husband maybe needs a bacon tie?

If it happened to be scented it would be a no-brainer, of course.

Happy Friday friends!

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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

It feels odd to post all these Christmas treats in January, but I decided it made no sense to save them until next year.  (By which time I probably would have lost the pictures or accidentally deleted the posts.)  This last December was CRAZY for us.  I think I was sick 21 of the 31 days of the month, and amidst Christmas preparations, going on vacation, and baking up treats for our friends, I literally had no time to get these recipes posted.  I hope you don't mind me going back into Christmas mode for awhile, but I promise Valentine's treats are coming soon!  

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  Thanks for sharing some of your time with me this year!

These dark chocolate cupcakes are filled with peppermint whipped cream and topped with peppermint marshmallow buttercream, and peppermint candy pieces.

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Terry's Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Early last month I developed a cookie recipe based on my favorite Christmas treat, Terry's chocolate oranges.  Right before Christmas I decided a cupcake version needed to happen as well.

These were scrumptious & had the perfect combination of chocolate and orange.

Nom. Nom.

Now i really want a chocolate orange.

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Frosted Animal Cookie Gender Reveal Cupcakes

I have been dying to make gender reveal cupcakes and last week I got the chance to make some for one of Tim's coworkers.  The jist is that you gather friends or family and everyone chooses a cupcake decorated like the gender they believe the baby is.  (Pink or blue).  The cupcakes are filled with pink or blue frosting which reveals the gender the baby actually is once you bite into it. 

This baby was a girl so I got to play with pink frosting which was SO fun for me.

I loved how the animal cookie toppers turned out.  They would be cute for a baby shower even if you don't put them on cupcakes, or you could make them in holiday colors for Halloween or Christmas.

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Hidden Candy Corn Cupcakes

I learned something today.  Which is,

 If you don't like random people talking to you and staring at you, don't go out in public with a kid dressed up like a mad scientist with white-dyed hair standing 6 inches out in all directions and freaky black eyebrows. 


Obviously.

 Right?


Next year I will pre-arrange my grocery shopping and other errands around children's Halloween parties and the need thereof for them to be dressed like freaks and thus the center of attention.

Don't get me wrong I love this holiday but strangers talking to me and watching me makes me nervous.  The little alert in my head says STRANGER DANGER- STRANGER DANGER.

Also it takes 45 minutes to grocery shop instead of 10 and I'm not great at small talk.


Since I'm pretty sure your kids won't get enough of a sugar high today I thought I'd make you some cupcakes.  You have to cut into the middle first though, for the surprise!

Have a very happy and safe Halloween my friends!!

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Pina Colada Cupcakes

Here's the thing.  I keep finding pictures of treats I made this summer and forgot to post, so forgive me for going back into summer mode for a few days.

I made these for Tim's sunday school kids and you can probably guess what their favorite part was.  

Everything is better with an umbrella.

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Lemon Cream Pie Cupcakes

After I made the Lemon Creme {Cheese} Cupcakes, I had some leftover lemon curd and lemon cupcakes and decided to try a cream pie variation.  I loved both variations so I decided to post them both.  Pick whichever you fancy!

These ones have a graham cracker pie crust and are topped with sweetened whipped cream.

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Lemon Creme {Cheese} Cupcakes

 

These yummies have lemon filling inside and a delicious lemon cream cheese frosting on top.

Goodbye summer!!

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Black Raspberry Vanilla Ice Cream Cupcakes

If you follow me on Facebook maybe you've been wondering why I was looking for nut cups.

You know, the cupcake wrappers. 

Well.... voila.

Ice cream cupcakes themed after my favorite Bath & Body Works lotion from college.  (I still have it too because apparently I am incapable of finishing a bottle of lotion.)

As it turns out, this combo is just as great in ice cream cupcake form.  I highly recommend these!  The frosting is a marshmallow whipped cream frosting so it is light and airy and perfect.  Sub any cupcake or ice cream flavor you want to change things up a bit.

(Esp. if black raspberry ice cream is $5.99/gallon at your Walmart too.  Insane!  Don't tell my husband, k?)

 

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Pinterest is great because it introduces me to things I desperately need.

Like,

This sink faucet that changes colors according to temperature  (but you can pretend the red is fruit punch if you want.)

This rock climbing wall for my house.  (For when dinner guests get bored)

This Disney castle mural (Because $3600 is a cheap price to pay for that kind of magic.)

Also this pirate ship playground because then I could probably have the house all to myself.  All 3 of my boys would surely live on it.  Including my husband.

Something else you desperately need?

Chocolate-covered strawberry cupcakes.

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Double Birthday Cupcakes (Decorating technique)

Last week I made these cupcakes for my sister-in-law and dear friend Becky (and the BEST mom to twins everrr) for her birthday.

Sometimes recipes like this from Pinterest just keep nagging at me until I make them.

Also I won't ever say no to a reason to buy a whole bag of mini peanut butter cups.



These are super fast and easy and you can use any cupcakes or frosting you like.  Plus they're almost husband friendly.

(As in... there's only so many ways to screw up putting a peanut butter cup on top of a cupcake and adding sprinkles. So you can totally request these for your birthday.)

Did I mention you get to eat all the extra peanut butter cups?

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Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

Key lime pie is kind of sacred in our house. We happen to be related to this famous author that used to drink a LOT and liked to jump around between women.  (Sorry...I don't really know how else to describe him.) He also used to spend winters in Key West drinking and writing.  We have been down there a few times and have taken pictures in front of  'Uncle Ernie's'  house and tried to steal some of the remaining 6-toed cats at his house.  (Since we're related and all I'm pretty sure they should just hand 'em over but apparently the island disagrees.) 

Anyways, Key West of course is famous for key lime pie.  So key lime pie is kind of like the symbolic family dessert.  (If I had been in charge of the Hemingway coat of arms it would, of course, have Key Lime pie in the middle.  Derr.)

Anyways, wanna know a secret? 

I actually kind of hate key lime pie.  

Key limes are bitter and WAY too tart and kinda gross.  (Don't tell anyone though because not liking the family dessert would obviously kicked out of the family.)

One thing I do like- these Key Lime pie cupcakes.  There's just enough tart filling to be yummy and powerful but it's surrounded by a sweet cake and a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream.  Everyone wins here.  These are REALLY delicious.

PS- Totally off topic, but Key West has this great place called the Key Lime Pie Factory.  They sell pieces of frozen key lime pie, dipped in chocolate, and served on a stick like a popsicle.  *swoon*.   Put it on your bucket list.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

These cupcakes have a yummy graham cracker crust, strawberry filling, and thick cream cheese frosting.  Nom Nom Nom... 

Next time I think I'll experiment with throwing some Sara Lee cheesecake bites into the cupcake batter before baking.  DOUBLE cheesecake!!

Hope you all have a lovely Memorial day tomorrow!

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Cotton Candy Cupcakes

So I tripped over a dead body laying in my hall last night.  And then again about ten minutes later, and ten minutes after that the dead body zombie-chased me through the house while I screamed bloody murder and attempted to run away.

I will probably think twice before buying my 4 year old "body pajamas" again.

If I had a mom who made me cotton candy cupcakes I would not zombie stalk her.

Just sayin...



I made these cotton candy cupcakes a couple months ago right as the Lorax craze began.  These certainly have nothing to do with truffula trees as much as they might look like it, so I decided to wait to post them.  The cupcakes have cotton candy sandwiched inside them before baking (it melts into the batter as they bake) and are topped with a sugary cotton candy frosting.  These definitely make kids' eyes light up.

And keep zombies at  bay.

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Coconut Cream Cupcakes

I feel like I might be running out of ways to tell you how good things are.  Let me just say, these are beyond fantastic.  I could NOT stop eating these.  The cream filling isn't very sweet and pairs perfectly with the sweet sweet frosting and the crunch of the coconut on top.  I screwed up and made the frosting with salted butter which made them a little strangely salty and they were STILL fantastic.  That, my friends, is the sign of a great recipe.

This is one of those weird cupcakes where the pieces all by themselves are just ok, but when you combine them all together, something magical happens. So wait until they are all assembled to judge.  (I actually think they get better as they age so you may want to make these 24 hrs before serving.)

Don't be intimidated by the long recipe.  Yes, there are a lot of steps, but they are all easy (the coconut cream filling doesn't even require any cooking!)

When I do cupcakes I usually bake them the night before and do fillings/frosting the next day to break things up a little bit. Plus then you'll have naked cupcakes to munch on the night before.


For an Easter version you can throw a few jellybeans on top of the coconut or stick a peep on top.

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S'mores Cupcakes

The bad news is I live in one of those school districts that doesn't allow "homemade treats" for class birthday and holiday parties.  Just pretend I don't complain about this every other day.  Who the frikk am I supposed to bake for if not a bunch of sugar-loving little kids?? 

The good news is I have a husband who is basically a big kid and who lets me bake him treats to take to work.

Yes, I realize how backwards this is.

I made these for him to take to work on his birthday.  They were pretty good.  Not my favorite marshmallow frosting ever but I have aversions to eggs and now that I realize marshmallow is made of eggs I may never eat it again. 

Sometimes it's blissful to be ignorant.

I chopped up some nice bittersweet chocolate for the inside, which makes a nice grown-up version of S'mores cupcakes, but if you want it to taste like an authentic campfire s'more you will probably want to use a little chunk of a Hershey's bar or kiss in each liner instead.

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St. Patty's Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

Just in case you're wondering, I did not forget pi day.  Girls that like pie as much as I do don't just forget pi day.

Continuing my quest for the perfect coconut cream pie I made two different coconut cream pie recipes for pi day.  Yes, I know this is a little bit ridiculous when there are only four people in your house and two of them are under the age of 4.

Unfortunately neither of them was the pie.

I'm going out of my mind here people!!  If you have a great coconut cream pie recipe please send it my way!  I can't keep making coconut cream pies every other weekend.


Anyway, since pi day got kicked out the window this year I figured at least I'd better post a St Patty's recipe before tomorrow.  You can make these for St Patrick's Day and put a gold coin in them, or you can make them any other day of the year and put a Thin Mint or Keebler Grasshopper in them.  (Crushed Thin Mints in the cake batter certainly wouldn't hurt either.)

Have a very happy St. Patty's!

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Bubblegum Cupcakes

 
 Is it weird that my 4 year old told me today that he wanted to be an organ donor?

(Then he continued the conversation by saying,  "Like maybe they could use my face.")  
I'd really like to know who he knows that doesn't have a face, but that's a topic for another day.

This is the same kid who was discussing politics with his teacher last week.

I'm pretty certain we could do a little freaky-friday switcheroo and no one would notice.  Probably they'd be all, "Wow.  You know about politics and medical terms?  When did you get so smart? You're so refined now!" And I, in a 4 year old body, would just eat bubblegum cupcakes all day and throw my socks on the floor and tromp mud through the house.

Obviously we would never switch back.


The idea for these cupcakes has been in the back of my brain for awhile and I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.  The frosting tastes just like the pink bubblegum ice cream from Baskin Robbins, which is a wonderful thing. 

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Red Hot Cupcakes and Frosting

If you have been wondering where I am you should know that my laptop charger died.  (I realize I have already used that excuse once this year, but really, I should probably be a professional charger exterminator or something because I do a really good job.)

I have currently taken my husband's laptop hostage for the night so I can post some of my Valentine's treats far enough in advance that you can actually make them if you want to.

Anyways, this charger drama cause a real rift in our marriage.  I was all "Whyy do you have to be in *marketing*... why couldn't you work at the Toshiba parts assembly plant! Seriously!  Why do these things always happen to me!"

So then for awhile I'm really mad at him for not being a charger repairman.

But then he says he'll go get me a slice of pie to make me feel better. (Obviously he knows the way to my heart.) And he returns with not one slice of pie, but two WHOLE pies, (which is like 8 slices of pies, or 16 if you have portion control), so then I pretty much forgive him for not being a Toshiba repairman, because first of all, who does that? and second of all, he buys me pie so he pretty much rocks.

I think these cupcakes are a pretty great way of saying "I forgive you for not being a Toshiba repairman and you're a pretty awesome pie-bringer."

Which is always a great thing to express to people, don't ya think?


These are really yummy. I was so-so on the frosting, because I have aversions to buttercream.  But the red hots in the cake... mmmm so good.  Don't be afraid of them if you don't like feeling like your mouth is on fire.  These have a great cinnamon flavor but are not really "hot" per se.  You don't need to have a glass of water handy to chase it with, I promise. My 2 year old didn't even notice, and he's kind of a wuss.

Have a great week! 

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Funfetti (Skeleton) Cupcakes

Parties are uncomfortable for me.  Partly because I'm socially awkward, and partly because people usually end up discussing things from the 80's or 90's like Chips (apparently a show and not a delicious snack) and funfetti cupcakes (apparently a rite of childhood passage).  Not having really grown up in this country, half the time I have no idea what's going on during these conversations, so I usually nod and smile and scan the room for something to stuff in my mouth so I don't have to say anything.

Would you believe me if I told you I'd never had a funfetti cupcake before last weekend?  I don't like sprinkles so the idea of them in cupcakes never really appealed to me. 

Turns out they're pretty good.


I made these for my little boy's 4th birthday.  He loves bones and skeletons and all kinds of "body" things.  I love seeing his face light up when I make him something special.  I'm thinking you should probably make these for Halloween with black/orange sprinkles inside and chocolate frosting under the skeleton topper.  (If you don't happen to have a body-loving 4 year old.)

This recipe isn't really "homemade" because it uses a boxed mix, but it lets you add your own sprinkles to a white mix, so you can use any color or combination you want.

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