Cupcake Hero - Hyped Up!

Yes folks, it's Cupcake Hero voting time again!

The roundup has been posted at The Insomniac Baker, and there are some fantastic-looking caffeinated cupcake creations!

The Crow's Nest Cupcakes I created both for this contest, and in honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, are part of the roundup - and they really were yummy!

But whether you vote for me, or one of the other tasty cuppies on show, you have until Thursday September 30 to do so.

So grab yourself a coffee (or a can of Red Bull!) and go check them out now!

Party Cookies

Cupcake & Party Hat shaped cookies, for a family birthday party.

Also I tried out a new icing recipe, rather than my usual royal icing. Icing recipe found here. Not sure how I feel about this. The icing didn't dry any shinier than royal, in my opinion, but maybe that's because I had to substitute half honey half water for the "light corn syrup" (which we don't get here in Australia)? Also it does mean honey-flavoured icing is non-negotiable, and whilst it tasted fine, I don't think I'd want to do it every single time. Ideas for other substitutes, anyone?

I do think this is a nice icing, I think maybe I'm just used to the way royal icing behaves now, so I'm a little more comfortable with it. I will probably try this icing out again one day (it IS less mucking around than royal), especially if someone has any suggestions for light corn syrup substitutes...

Also I was quite impressed with the Muffin, who took one look at the party hat cookie shape, and said "Mummy I am going to make a fairy out of that." And she simply had to do a cupcake too:

Not bad for a three year old, I reckon! :o)

Aarrr!

Aye, it be Talk Like A Pirate Day!
And if ye have nary an idea what I'm talkin' about, go immediately to the Talk Like A Pirate Day website an' have a look around - it be funnier'n an octopus down yer boss' pantaloons!
I've already shown ye me recipe fer Crow's Nest Cupcakes (scroll down to the previous post if ye missed it). They went down a treat wi' the small band o' buccaneers we spent the afternoon with - make some an' try 'em yerselves!

Until me next post, may yer sails be full, yer swag likewise, an' yer hull free o' barnacles!

And remember to spread the word - and the word is "Aarrr!"

Crow's Nest Cupcakes (they give you wiiings...)

Last month, Alisa of The Insomniac Baker won Cupcake Hero, and thus became this month's host. Her theme ingredient? Caffeine. Not coffee. Caffeine.

How cool is that?

I immediately decided against coffee as my caffeinated ingredient, as I figured everyone would go there. So what to use? Okay, so here's a confession: I love Red Bull. I know, I know, it's bad for you, and actually I haven't had one for years. But when I was younger and significantly less dependent on sleep, Red Bull was my friend. And it is sooo yummy...

Also it now comes in these handy little "Red Bull Energy Shots" - all the caffeine of a standard can, in just 60mL of liquid!! Wowza. I don't know whether even I would drink that on a regular basis... But on the up side, it's perfect for baking with.

So I had my ingredient, and I also decided I wanted pirate-themed cupcakes, what with Talk Like A Pirate Day being this Sunday (spread the word, me hearties - and the word is Aarrr!).

So here's what I came up with: A surprisingly light and delicate cupcake, with a double helping of white rum (naturally) and scented with lime zest (to stop ye from gettin' scurvy), all topped off with Red Bull buttercream. And here they are...


Crow's Nest Cupcakes
(cupcake recipe adapted from Billy Reece's Vanilla Vanilla recipe. Buttercream recipe is my own.)
1 cup caster sugar
Zest of one lime
225g plain flour
1 Tblsp baking powder
120g butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup white rum

1/4 cup sugar (extra - for syrup)
1/4 cup white rum (extra - for syrup)

Mix lime zest and sugar together and bash in a mortar and pestle until the sugar goes greenish from the zest (I'm sure you could also do this in a food processor or similar). Sift the sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer, discarding any larger bits of zest that are left in the sieve/sifter. Add flour and baking powder to the sugar and mix together. Add butter and mix until just combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and rum. Add to dry ingredients, a third at a time, beating until combined after each addition.
Spoon mixture into cupcake cases (fill about 2/3 full), and bake at 170 degrees Celsius until they test clean (start checking after 10 minutes).
While they are baking, you can make the rum syrup: mix the extra sugar and white rum together in a small saucepan and stir over a medium heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil (this will cook off most of the alcohol), and then remove from the heat and let the syrup cool.
While cupcakes are still warm, brush them with the rum syrup and then leave them to cool. When cool, top with Red Bull buttercream.

Red Bull Buttercream
240g salt reduced butter (you can also use half salted, half unsalted)
300g icing sugar
2 tsp cream
60mL (1 can) Red Bull Energy Shot

Cream butter and icing sugar until very pale. Beat in the cream, then add the Red Bull and beat until fluffy. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes.

And there ye have it - cupcakes t' keep ye awake on the long night watch when ye're up in the crow's nest. Unless o' course, ye wants 'em a little more swashbucklin' - in which case simply add the topper o' yer choosin:-


Aarrr!