I Mentioned I LOVE to Bake

About 6 months ago, I discovered a "new found" love of cake.  Not just any cake mind you, little cakes that  are just the right size to hold in your hand.  Individually sized goodness wrapped in frosting!

                         I'm talking CUPCAKES!!!

This is something I have really become passionate about.  Sure, I like to bake "regular" sized cakes and  cookies and bread, etc., etc, but for some reason cupcakes are just perfect.  When they come out of the  oven, they are perfectly moist and (when I make the mini's) they are just what the *ahem* doctor ordered when you need that little bit of something to sooth that sweet tooth.

Recently, I have been on the quest to find a number of different recipe flavors for the cake as well as the frosting.  I am experimenting at combining "this" cake flavor with "that" frosting flavor.  This week, I am even going to try my hand, for the very first time, at filling the cupcake.  My dad's side of the family is having our annual reunion on Saturday and my dad's family (my dad, brother, sister, and me) are supposed to bring
dessert.  What perfect opportunity to try out a new recipe on people that have not tasted my delectible cupcake desserts.  Of course, I am bragging about them and they may end up being a flop, but hey, at least I had a good time making them.

First you have the batter (sorry, I can't give out the secret to my batter).

Next you divide it into the muffin cups strategically placed, where else, but in the muffin tin.

My batter makes a little more than 36 regular sized cupcakes or if you are ambitious (which I have been before - numerous times) over 100 mini cupcakes.

Put them in the oven.

***disclaimer - I am really, really bad about taking pictures!  Sorry all!***

Unfortunately, by this time I was in a groove and forgot to take pictures.

You'll have to just imagine the rest.

I promise, next time I will do much better with the picture taking!!!

Take out perfectly baked muffins and set aside to cool.

Now to prepare the filling...

The filling for these cupcakes was a store-bought whipped frosting mixed with creamy peanut butter that I heated slightly in the microwave to make it more mixable.  I then filled the "gun" with the filling and filedl the cupcake (not too full mind you or your cupcake will explode - DON'T ask).

On to the frosting (sorry all, I'd love to provide the recipes, but I am selfish when it comes to my cupcakes  and frosting - surely you understand).  I absolutely LOVE homemade chocolate frosting, so that is just what I made for these chocolatey, peanut buttery cupcakes.  This time I filled a piping bag and swirled a generous amount of frosting on the top of the cupcake. I was going to top them off with a cute little chocolate/peanutbutter leaf cutout, but by the time I was done with everything it was nearly 9:30p.m., but if you ever want to make a little cutout, it's pretty simple.  I'll share that with you!!!  :-)

"Candy Cutout"

melt one cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

melt one cup of a complementing flavor morsel (I choose peanut butter or butterscotch would work)

draw an 8x8 in square onto waxed paper and place on cookie sheet that will fit in fridge

drop spoonfuls of each of the melted morsels and swirl them together filling the square

place in fridge for 30 min or until firm

when ready to cut out shapes, remove from fridge for about 5 minutes to soften slightly

use a cookie cutter to cut shapes and then place back in fridge for 5-10 minutes

Now you have your "candy cutouts" to decorate a cake, cupcakes, etc.

You wanna know what the sad part of the whole thing was?  I didn't even get a taste of the finished product.  Many compliments were given, but sadly, I had eaten too much to even begin to eat dessert...ANY DESSERT!  Ugh!!!  Oh well, I guess I will just have to make these tastey treats another time.

Hope you all had a wonderful, long holiday weekend!