Happy Birthday Robert!

Wishing my brother a happy, happy day filled with cupcakes!

Made With Pink  via  Flickr

Happy Birthday (to Kristi & me)

My friend Kristi and I share the same birthday...same day, different years. We are textbook perfect Virgos:  independent, analytical, organized, loyal, and driven to perfection (you really should see a Virgo-cleaned house).  I am not into astrology, but I do find it very interesting that the two of us possess most of the Virgo characteristics. 

This week's recipe is for us!

Made with Pink 

via  Flickr

Birthday Cupcakes

1 package (18.5 ounces) plain butter recipe cake mix
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese - room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin tins with liners.

Place the cake mix, cream cheese, sugar, applesauce, water, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend on low speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds, until the ingredients are well blended, then stop the machine and scrape down the sides. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides again if needed.  Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full.

Bake the cupcakes 15-18 minutes, checking frequently after 12 minutes. Cool completely. Frost with your favorite vanilla or chocolate buttercream.

Giant Cupcake

My friend Jane asked me to make cupcakes for a friend's birthday this week, but then had to change her plans.  I put the regular-sized cupcakes in the freezer for later, but didn't have room for this one.  Oh well...couldn't let it go to waste! 

I am still experimenting with the "cupcake liner" around the bottom of the giant cupcake.  My goal was to make a template but each cupcake bakes up differently, even if you measure the amount of batter, so you have to cut the paper to fit each cupcake.  If anybody has any ideas about how to make a template for the giant cupcake, please let me know.     

giant chocolate cupcake with white chocolate buttercream

Basketweave Cupcakes

Last week I made a small birthday cake for a friend.  I did an old-fashioned basketweave pattern around the cake and then filled the top with fresh berries.  Next week I am going to make basketweave cupcakes for another birthday celebration.  I am doing some research today on how I want these to look....what do ya'll think about these?  I am leaning towards the chocolate one just because of my chocolate addiction. 

queene of tartes via Flickr

sabor.tijuana via Flickr

Shando82 via Flickr

Purple Cupcakes

Cupcakes & purple...I am preparing to make cupcakes for a birthday party and the guest of honor loves purple.  Which one(s) do you like best??

monaz via Flickr

TheCupcakeBar via Flickr

Purple cupcake (add your own flowers)

Heavenly-Cupcakes via Flickr

dragonfly cupcakes

Richelle P via Flickr

purple cupcake wrapper

Yummy Cuppy via Flickr

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday and no birthday is

complete without cupcakes!

Photo from the photostream of Happiness in a Bite via Flickr