Gender Reveal Cupcakes

Are you familiar with 'Gender Reveal Parties'??  They are all the rage these days, and remind me never to say "all the rage" again because it makes me sound ancient.  Anyhoo (ancient-er), if you are not hip to the Gender Reveal (oh dear god), then let me give you the 411 (make it stop): it's a party where an expecting couple reveal the sex of their baby to friends and family (and many times themselves) in a fun manner, like cutting into a cake or biting into a cupcake that's pink or blue inside.  Well, I was not only recently invited to one for my dear friends, Beth and Brad, but they asked me to bake the cupcakes!  And in this instance, they didn't know the sex either.  Their doctor wrote it down, sealed it in an envelope and gave it to me!  Talk about your head exploding with knowledge that you can't share with anyone, oy.  In full disclosure, I told my four-year-old son, Jack.  And he probably told a couple of buddies at school.  And they were like, "meh."  

    But, I was able to keep the secret, and I didn't even play a prank and swap genders like Carson wanted me to.  I had never baked stuffed cupcakes before, and decided to go for a homemade Hostess Cupcake following this recipe.  Every part of it was perfect.  Super moist, chocolaty cake, a sweet and fluffy marshmallow cream center and topped with a rich, chocolate ganache.  My kind of dessert.  I used a paring knife to core out the cupcakes, which was time-consuming but very easy.  And I used a freezer bag with the end snipped off to fill the centers wiiiiith... BLUE icing : )   

The happy couple...

Congrats Beth and Brad!  I can't wait to meet this sweet baby boy.  

(All images by Katy at Chasing You Photo)

Mascarpone Chocolate Chip Cookies

Some of you have been asking when you'll get to see our newly remodeled kitchen.  The answer is, in a few days plus three months.  You heard me, autumn time!!  We're nowhere near done!!  So be patient, and when I say that I'm talking to myself.  In the meantime, you'll just have to wonder how I'm still managing to bake delightful treats like these cupcakes.  Or are they muffins?  Do cupcakes technically need frosting?  Or does one single (large) chocolate chip qualify as a cupcake topper?  I think so.  Especially when you take a perfectly sweet recipe, like these mascarpone cupcakes, and add mini chocolate chips.  These fluffy bite-size treats do not need a moundful of icing.  Instead, when you take them out of the oven, place one large chocolate chip atop each cupcake.  They are perfect, just like that.  And they would be even more perfect for a Black and White Party.  Do those still exist?  Or do they just occur if you're me and you're 22?  

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

Can you even handle how much these look like corn??  I couldn't handle it as I started spotting them online (here and here for example), and you know I will attempt any sort of baked good that blows my mind.  They seemed perfect for Memorial Day weekend, but would also be appropriate at any summer BBQ sooooo... off you go, to your local candy store for jelly beans.  Buy some coke bottle gummies while you're there.  Run don't walk, trip don't fall, what?     

I made Mascarpone Cupcakes with a Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting (1 cup unsalted room temp butter, 1 lb. powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp vanilla paste, 2 T milk) and then lightly colored the frosting pale yellow.  For the jelly beans, I used yellow (pina colada), white (french vanilla) and a darker, speckled gold (banana).  The pats of butter are lemon Starbursts that I flattened with my fingers.  Finally, on the top I sprinkled some white and green sanding sugar to reflect salt and Italian herbs.  As they began to take shape, I could feel the stupid grin creep up my face and my body started twitching into a happy dance.  I don't like the term "foodie" but I do like to call myself a FOOD GEEK.      

GAH!!  FOOD NERD CAN'T HANDLE!!

Margarita Cupcakes

Cinco de Mayo is still a month away, but I say any day works as an occasion for Margarita Cupcakes.  You know those moments when you're like, man, I wish I could have tequila at 1pm?  Well, go for it.  In the form of a cupcake.  No one will judge!  They might judge a little.  But who needs those people!! I like to surround myself with those who will gladly eat a cupcake baked with tequila, soaked with tequila and topped with tequila frosting.  Ole!  These were wonderful - not overly sweet, fresh lime juice and zest, moist and delicious.  I used a regular old freezer bag with a 1/2-inch piping tip for the frosting and sprinkled lime zest and a pinch of salt on top.  Recipe here.  Ole!    

Shark Bite Cupcakes

For shark week, if you're into that kind of thing.  Seen here.  

Mascarpone Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

TIME OUT ZUCCHINI.  TIME, OUT I say.  

Yesterday I made some treats for the 4th.  I used this recipe for the cupcakes (which I use all the time because it's divine) and this recipe for the frosting (opting out of the optional egg yolk).  They tasted a bit like heavenly angel food cake with a light, fluffy, creamy lemon frosting - not too sweet, not too heavy.  

Really, really superb.    

Masters Weekend Cupcakes

For the golf nerd in your life.  See here for more info.

I'll be back later...

I've been away, partly because of this show and partly because I've been sick.

But I'll be back later today with baked goodies, yes I will.

In the meantime, remember these mini carrot cupcakes?  Adorable.  Later.