Monkey Madness with Whipped Frosting Delight!

I had some old bananas so I decided to put them to good use. 
This creation is on the less sweet side but is still absolutely delicious with or without frosting!! 

What do you need? 
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 3 ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 buttermilk
• 1 cup of chocolate chips 
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• Banana chips (optional)

Directions

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix butter and both sugars until fluffy
3. Beat in bananas, eggs and vanilla 
4. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and buttermilk
5. Beat until blended
6. Add in chocolate chips, cinnamon, and walnuts
7. Add to greased or paper lined muffin tin
8. Bake for 20-22 minutes.
9. Allow to cool.

Frosting

I wanted a frosting that wasn't too sweet so it wouldn't overpower the cupcake. For the frosting, I used this lovely ladies recipe. She does a great job at showing how to do it so go to her site for this not so sweet whipped frosting. 

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/12/28/the-best-whipped-frosting/

After frosting the cupcakes, add crushed cinnamon chips to the top of the frosting. Add a banana chip in the center if desired. 

Enjoy!

Idea found at http://www.food.com/recipe/chunky-monkey-cupcakes-61627

Santa Hat Brownie

It's not a cupcake but it's just as good as one so I thought it would be okay to make an exception! 

What do you need? 

• Brownie Mix (I used a caramel brownie mix, I definitely recommend it)
• One container of strawberries
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 stick of butter, room temperature
• 2 tsp. vanilla 
• Pinch of Salt
• 8 oz of mascarpone cheese, room temperature 
• Round cookie cutter

Directions

1. Make brownies directed as on back of box.
2. While brownies are cooking/cooling, hull and cut strawberries tops flat in order for them to sit straight on brownie.

    Frosting

          3. Beat butter and mascarpone together until fluffy.

          4. Add vanilla and salt

          5. Mix in powdered sugar in slowly until frosting is at desired consistency. Add to piping bag and set aside.

          6. Once brownies are cool, use round cookie cutter to cut.

        7. Place frosting in strawberry and place on top of brownie.

           8. Pipe frosting around base of strawberry.

           9. Add a dab of frosting on top of the strawberry!

          10. ENJOY!

Idea found at:http://daisysworld.net/2011/12/04/santa-hat-brownies/

Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Frosting!

This is the only time of year that you can taste the deliciousness of eggnog in cupcake form so take advantage of it while you can! 
These are absolutely delightful! 

What do you need?
Cupcakes
1 1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/4 cup eggnog
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar

Frosting
2 sticks, 1 cup of butter (room temperature)
2- 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 TBSP eggnog
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Add liners or non-stick spray to muffin tin.
3. Add all dry ingredients except sugar into one bowl and mix.
4. Add eggnog, oil, vinegar, vanilla and sugar into another bowl and mix.
5. Slowly add dry ingredients while mixing until everything is combined. 
6. Add/divide batter to tins until 2/3 full. (Makes about 18) 
7. Cook 22-24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool. 

Frosting

1. Add butter to bowl and mix thoroughly
2. Slowly add in powdered sugar until desired consistency. 
3. Add in other frosting ingredients and mix well about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add more powdered sugar if desired.
5. Frost cupcakes! After frosting, add a dash of nutmeg to top. 

Enjoy!

Idea found at http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/12/17/eggnog-cupcakes-2/

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to start making the festive treats for the Christmas season! 

These cupcakes will not only look appetizing but they sure make your kitchen smell wonderful! 

What do you need? 

Cupcakes

1 package of devils food cake mix

1 package of instant devils food pudding

1 cup of sour cream

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 bag of mint chips or andes chocolates crushed

1/2 bag of chocolate chips

Frosting

2 cups of butter

1- 1.5  lbs of powdered sugar

4 tablespoons heavy cream

green dye 

2 tsp. vanilla extract

crushed chocolate/mint chips 

Directions:

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Line muffin tin with liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Add all ingredients for cupcakes except for chips into bowl and mix thoroughly. Add chips after all other ingredients are mixed.

3. Fill muffin tin 2/3 full

4.Bake in oven for 20-23 minutes. 

5. Allow cupcakes to cool on wire rack.

Frosting

1. Add butter into bowl and beat well for several minutes.

2. Slowly add in half of desired powdered sugar.

3. Add heavy cream and vanilla.

4. Add the rest of powered sugar until desired thickness.

5. Add a few drops of green dye until you get desired green color.

Frost cooled cupcakes. I used a large star tip. 

These cupcakes are very strong in taste. If you aren't absolutely in love with peppermint, then I would hold off putting the mint chips in the cupcakes and just stick with the mint chips on top.  You can also try using peppermint extract in the frosting for an added kick, if desired. 

Enjoy!

Idea found at: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/mint-chocolate-chip-cupcakes/

Halloween Owl Cupcakes

With little effort you can have a festive chocolate  dessert!

What do you need? 

Your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe

Your favorite chocolate frosting

Cupcake liners

Oreo's 

Reese's Pieces or M&M's

Acorns (Optional)

The picture is pretty self-explanatory in how to complete the owl. The one suggestion I do have is to add frosting to the back of the Reese's or M&M's.

Change the color of the eyes, nose or use an acorn for the nose to change it up! 

Rainbow Cake

This RAINBOW CAKE is delightful! On the outside, it looks like a normal everyday cake but once you cut into the cake it shows a wonderful array of colors that makes it even more appetizing to the eyes! 

I'll be honest and say that I was taunted by the idea of making this cake batter by scratch so I just bought two white colored cake mixes so help save on time! By scratch or by cake box, this cake is waaay fun and has a lot of room to decorate creatively! 

Ingredients

• 2 white colored cake mixes 
• I used french vanilla
• Green, Blue, Yellow, and Red Food coloring
• I used partial neon food coloring to make the cake more vibrant
• 3 cans of white frosting
• I used cream cheese
• Colored candy to decorate-skittles, smarties, gummies
• I used edible candy dots that I found at Michaels Craft Store

Instructions

1. Prepare cake batter as instructed on back of cake box.
2. Separate batter into three different bowls which was about 1 1/2 cups per bowl. It may vary depending on cake mix.
3. Add separately blue, green and purple to bowl and mix well. (The more food coloring the brighter or use neon colors)
4. Grease round cake pans and add cake batter.
5. Cook cake batter as directed on back of cake box.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for colors red, orange and yellow
7. Allow cake to cool
8. Add purple to cake stand and apply frosting to top of the purple cake. (I placed my frosting in the microwave for a few minutes which made it easier to spread on cake tops)
9. Place blue cake on top of purple and apply frosting to the top of the blue. Repeat until all layers are placed on top of each other. (Bottom-Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red-Top)
10.  Cover top and sides of cake with remaining frosting
11. Decorate as desired
12. Enjoy!

Minion Cupcakes from Despicable Me

These cupcakes are SOO EASY and SOO FUN! 

The hardest part is gathering all the ingredients together! 

This recipe is perfect for a youngster's birthday party or a celebration for the upcoming "Despicable Me 2" movie that will hit theaters in July!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 3 large eggs
• one box of twinkies
• black, blue and yellow food coloring
• smarties
• black sprinkles
• plastic bag

Frosting Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 stick of butter, softened

16 oz of confectioner's sugar

2-3 TBS of milk

1 tsp of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.

2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. 

3. Combine the milk, oil and vanilla extract in a smaller bowl.

4. In another medium bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg. Reduce speed and add flour mixture alternately with the milk mixture in batches until all mixture is combined.

6. Add cupcake batter into muffin liners till 2/3 full. 

7. Bake for 15-20 mins or until golden and toothpick comes clean. 

8. Remove cupcakes and allow them to cool. 

Frosting

1. Combine cream cheese and butter in medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

2. Gradually add the confectioner's sugar and 2 TBS of milk and beat until smooth. 

3. Add vanilla extract

4. Add additional 1 TBS of milk if mixture is too thick.

5. Separate all frosting into four different bowls. 2 large and 2 small

6. Add blue food coloring to one large bowl of frosting. Add yellow food coloring to one large bowl of frosting. Add one drop of black food coloring to one small bowl. Add several drops of black food coloring to other small bowl until frosting is completely black. 

After cupcakes are cool,

1. Frost half of the cupcakes yellow and half of the cupcakes blue.

2. Cut twinkies in half

3.Insert three to four black sprinkles into top of twinkie creating the hair for the minion

4. Using toothpick place a dot of black frosting on top of smarties

5. Dab back of smarties in frosting and place on top half of the twinkies.

6. Using a plastic bag and spoon, place black frosting into plastic bag and cut a very small tip on edge of bag. 

7. Apply pressure to bottom of bag where the cut is and make lines from side of the smarties to the back of the twinkies

8. Do the same routine for the mouth

9. Repeat as needed with different eye and mouth positions! 

10. ENJOY! 

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and a Raspberry Topper

These red velvet cupcakes are one of the best that I've made! 

They are moist and have the perfect flavor! Plus, they have the added wonderful taste of cream cheese frosting! One of the best types of frosting out there, right?! 

Well if you enjoy the taste of cream cheese frosting and chocolate and enjoy a cupcake that not only tastes good but looks good as well, then this is the recipe for you!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 1/3 cups of cake flour
• 2 TBS of Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp of salt1 cup of buttermilk
• 1  1/2 TBS of red food coloring
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 tsp of distilled white vinegar
• raspberries or strawberries if desired 

Frosting Ingredients 

•  1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer for 3 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.

2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

3 In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.

4 Add a fourth of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a third of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.

5 Scoop into cupcake papers, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking.

6 Allow to cool for one minute in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

The Frosting

1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

2 Add the vanilla extract and mix.

3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. 

4. Frost on cupcakes and fresh raspberry or strawberry and enjoy! 

Recipe found at http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/red_velvet_cupcakes_with_cream_cheese_frosting/

Absolutely Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling and Peanut Butter Frosting!

How can you go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter?!?! 

This recipe is absolutely scrumptious and is even better when served warm!!! 

Don't forget the glass of milk! 

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1 – 1¼ c powdered sugar
• ¾ c creamy peanut butter
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Cake:

• 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 c sour cream
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1½ c sugar
• 2 large eggs

Frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• ½ c creamy peanut butter
• 3¼ c powdered sugar
• 1 c Cool Whip, thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line cupcake tin with liners.

For filling

1. Combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla in bowl. 
2. Beat on medium speed until well combined and mixture is dry yet holds together. 
3. Roll into 1-inch balls, place baking sheet and chill in freezer while you make batter (10 minutes).

For Batter

1. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl with whisk. 
2. In a liquid measuring cup, stir together sour cream, milk and vanilla.
3.  In large bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. 
4. With mixer on low speed, alternately add dry ingredients and sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until incorporated.
5. Into liners, spoon a tablespoon or two of batter. Place one chilled ball of peanut butter filling into each cupcake well and top with remaining batter. 
6. Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool and transfer to wire rack.

For frosting

1. Beat together cream cheese, butter and peanut butter until smooth.
2.  Slowly mix in powdered sugar, beating until smooth and well blended. 
3. Gently fold in cool whip until well blended and fluffy (chill frosting if needed)
4. Frost cupcakes and enjoy! 

Recipe found at http://ahensnest.com/2011/06/peanut-butter-chocolate-cupcakes.html

The Cupcake Maker

My name is Kristi! I enjoy making sweets of all kinds but especially cupcakes! This blog will be updated weekly with the newest cupcake! 

I have also started a craft blog where I will post my most recent craft findings or creations!

www.eatsleepcrafts.blogspot.com

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