Peeking Cupcake

Halloween is only a few weeks away and of course I am beginning to think about how I am going to decorate my cupcakes.  I saw this cupcake on the Better Homes and Gardens web site.

Cupcake Teapots

A cupcake teapot and a cupcake served on a teapot! 

from the photostream of miss.mallory via Flickr

from the photostream of teaandcakes via Flickr

Batch Cupcakery (Reno, NV)

I visited the Batch Cupcakery in Reno yesterday.  There are numerous bakeries in Reno but this is the only one totally dedicated to cupcakes.  I had been reading about it for several months and was in the neighborhood. 

I bought four cupcakes...but only two made it home.  The Sweetheart (red velvet with cream cheese frosting) was gone before I made it to the interstate.  This is the best cream cheese frosting I have had from a bakery and it tasted just like my mother's recipe.  I would put this frosting up against any southern recipe.  I had planned to wait and eat the Lemon Drop (moist lemon cake with lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream) after dinner, but I have no willpower so it disappeared somewhere between Reno and Carson City. 

The Batch Cupcakery web site lists business hours, flavors, maps/directions and contact information and you can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.  I will definitely be buying cupcakes there again.  The cupcakes are $1.75 each and very generous in size of cake and amount of frosting.  A great bargain in these tough economic times!

These photos tell the story of my visit. 

Nothing left but crumbs! 

Cupcake Sign

This past weekend I was searching online for the perfect cupcake sign...one that had just the right words to entice you into buying a cupcake.


I found signs from bakeries, bake sales and various cupcake contests but after all was said and done, this sign said it all without using a single word.

Recipe of the Week - Chocolate Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream

Week 14

October 18th is National Chocolate Cupcake Day! In preparation for this day, I have been experimenting with recipes and have found the perfect combination...chocolate cupcakes with blackberry buttercream!

Martha Stewart's One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

from the photostream of Kirsten W via Flickr

Blackberry Buttercream

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup fresh blackberries (wash and thoroughly dry blackberries before adding to frosting)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 cups powdered sugar

Beat first 5 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Garnish with a whole blackberry on top of frosting.

Cupcake Vineyard (Monterey California)

I was watching TV this afternoon and saw a commercial for Cupcake Vineyard Chardonnay. I went to the Cupcake Vineyard web site and the reviews are great for this wine.

Cupcake Vineyards has four varietal wines, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Fruit for the Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is from the Central Coast area of California, and the grapes for the Sauvignon Blanc come from New Zealand.

It is available at World Market for around $8.99 to $12.99 per bottle. For those of you without a World Market nearby you can order online - provided your state is on the legal shipping list. I am from Mississippi and Mississippi is one of the states where it is illegal to have wine shipped. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld that individual states have the authority to regulate wine and alcohol as they see fit so my friends & family will have to travel to try it.

Cheers!

Cupcake Martini Glasses

I was shopping at Marshall's in Carson City yesterday and found these cupcake-painted martini glasses. FYI...they are available on Etsy for $10 each but were only $4.99 at Marshall's.

All I Want for Christmas is a Cupcake Car!

Almost every cupcake blog has posted this picture this week and I didn't want to be left out. Cupcake Cars originally got their start as an art car project at the Burning Man festival held each year in the Black Rock desert in Nevada, but these are tricked out and customized to your specifications. If you own one of these, you will be the star of every special event or parade. Maybe this could be the start of a new reality show...Pimp My Cupcake!

Neiman Marcus is offering these cupcake cars for a mere $25,000...so why not get two?

Cupcake Phone Charms

These cell phone charms are so cute! I am bidding today on eBay for the pink pave cupcake charm from Coach. Will let you know if I get it!

The Cupcake Baker's Basic Pantry

Every cupcake baker needs some basics in the pantry and you may have to tweak these suggestions to accomodate your environment - especially with altitude and humidity. With these ingredients on hand you will always be ready to whip up a batch of cupcakes!

• Flour (all-purpose)
• Sugar - granulated & confectioners
• Eggs
• Butter - unsalted & salted
• Vegetable oil
• Milk
• Chocolate - chips, bars & cocoa powder (Dutch process)
• Flavorings (extracts) - vanilla, almond, lemon, orange, maple, coconut, peppermint
• Nuts - pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts
• Spices - cinnamon, nutmet, ginger, allspice, cloves, cardamom
• Cream cheese - can bake with low-fat but not fat-free
• Evaporated milk
• Buttermilk, sour cream & yogurt (plain & flavored)
• Coconut - keeps well in the freezer
• Fresh fruit - lemons, oranges, apples, cranberries
• Canned fruit - pineapple, applesauce, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears
• Pumpkin - low in fat and adds moisture
• Coffee - instant coffee granules & espresso powder
• Cake Mixes - yellow, devil's food, German chocolate, French Vanilla, white, spice