PopSugar

Reader Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:15:00 -0700

With the presidential race speeding up and the Fourth of July hot on our heels, it seems like a perfect time to make some red, white, and blue cupcakes. (As if any of us needed an excuse to make cupcakes.)

This recipe comes from TeamSugar member HonestMuffin, who put her namesake muffin pans to good use to make these red-velvet cupcakes. To give the treats a patriotic twist, she topped the cream-cheese frosting with blue star sprinkles. To get the recipe and see how she made them, read more.

Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes
www.recipezaar.com

Super simple. Super fast. Big wow factor. Really fun and kid friendly as well!

Ingredients

1 package yellow cake mix
2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
5 large egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 (1 ounce) bottles red food coloring
1 can cream cheese frosting

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line 24 regular-size muffin tins with paper or foil liners.

In a large bowl beat the cake mix with baking cocoa, eggs, oil, buttermilk, and food coloring for about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl
occasionally.

Spoon the batter evenly between the muffin tins about two-thirds to three-fourths full.

Bake according to package directions.

Remove from the pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Frost cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Print recipe with images | without images

You Know You're a Mother When: Sitting One Out

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:30:05 -0700

As a mom, I have learned that one can expect the unexpected at any time. This past Saturday started out with high hopes and promises. To get our day started, I took my tots to a jumpy house birthday soiree that was blessed with clear blue skies and red velvet cupcakes. After some time, we packed up and headed back home for naps, the Blue Angels air show and a pumpkin carving party. My kiddos, however, had something else in mind. To see what happened, read more.

Just minutes shy of getting home, my eldest child got carsick and threw up all over herself and her car seat. I quickly handed her the burpcloth from my diaper bag, rolled all the windows down, and got home as quick as possible. Instead of naps, it was baths. Mama's downtime was spent spraying down the clothes and car seat in the bone chilling cold and tossing laundry all afternoon. As my pants got drenched and I canceled the rest of our plans, I couldn't help but think of all the years past where I had spent the same October day on roof decks watching planes buzz by with a beer in hand. The silver lining to the putrid predicament was that my lass was back to her old self and we made it home safely from the party. Sadly, it will be too soon if I ever see another red velvet anything.

Justin Has a Facebook Status Update For Us

PopSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:12 -0700

Justin Timberlake looked like he was really enjoying his red velvet cupcake outside of Crumbs bakery in LA yesterday. The actor proudly took home his Emmy trophy on Sunday, and this week he landed a big new role. He will be starring in the upcoming Facebook movie as cofounder Sean Parker, who also started Napster. Additionally he's been training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Jessica Biel, but his fitness routine isn't stopping him from enjoying a delicious baked good as a reward for all of his hard work.

View 2 Photos ›

Taste Test: Sprinkles Vanilla Cupcake Mix

partysugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:50:38 -0700

Last week I got my hands on a container of Sprinkles vanilla cupcake mix ($14). The LA-based bakery boosts a celebrity following and is famous for its rich cupcakes topped with swirled frosting and signature modern dot. Currently, there are six bakeries sprinkled throughout the Western United States, but thanks to Williams-Sonoma, you can experience the sweetness of Sprinkles in the comfort of your kitchen. The mix comes in seven flavors: chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, lemon, pumpkin, chocolate peppermint, and banana. To find out what I thought of the vanilla variation, read more.

First off, the mix is expensive. It only makes 12 cupcakes and that doesn't include the cost of frosting ingredients. The addition of the signature modern dot is fun, but, be warned, when I opened the plastic container the dots shattered on my counter. By themselves, the dots don't taste very good either: they're chalky and bitter with no apparent taste. The recipe is straightforward and easy to follow.

The final cake is extremely dense with a strong vanilla flavor. Essentially, it tastes exactly like what it is - a gourmet cupcake made from a prepackaged mix.

The frosting was my favorite part: it's thick and creamy with a delightful flavor that's not overly sweet or too buttery.

Since I prefer to make baked goods from scratch, Sprinkles boxed mix will not become a staple in my pantry. If you prefer light, fluffy, moist cupcakes, opt for a different flavor or mix altogether. Has anyone else tried Sprinkles boxed cupcake mixes? What did you think of it?

View 17 Photos ›

Last Chance to Win: The Ultimate Easter Baking Giveaway Ends Today!

partysugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:50:30 -0700

Looks like the cupcake craze isn't over yet: we were so excited about the overwhelming response to our last giveaway, we decided to offer another lucky reader the chance to win the ultimate baking package. This time, we've partnered with Williams-Sonoma to provide everything you'll need for an Easter baking extravaganza. We're giving away a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and all of the necessary tools for baking the best cupcakes. Yellow melamine mixing bowls? Check. Yellow silicone spatulas in three sizes? Of course. Yellow apron to ensure that your clothes don't get dirty? Done. If you're not the most sophisticated baker, don't fret; we're including four (chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, and banana) Sprinkles cupcakes mixes and a set of 12 Silicups. To help you channel your inner ace of cakes, we're also giving away beautifully colored decorating sugars.

No prize package is complete without pretty platters; you can place the cakes on vintage bunny band plates or a cupcake stand. Finally, you'll be able to take your baked goods on the go with the ingenious cupcake courier. All of these prizes combine to make a total package worth over $500!

To enter to win this incredible prize, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct; completing the quiz once you are logged in makes you eligible to win. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person, all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Wednesday, April 8, at 12:00 noon, PDT. Click here for official rules. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Reader Recipe: Root Beer Float Cupcakes

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:03:31 -0700

This weekend I was checking out the recipes on TeamSugar and noticed that lately, you all have a been a bit cupcake crazy. There's been a bunch of innovative cupcake recipes like: sarahkushner's Red Wine & Chocolate Cupcakes, minko's Pear & Blue Cheese Cupcakes and Lychee Lemon Coconut Cupcakes, as well classics like laurafox's Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese. However since today is National Root Beer Float Day, I thought I'd share TeamSugar member sarahkushner's recipe for Root Beer Float Cupcakes. These babies look fantastic, does anyone else want to lick their screen too?!? To check out the recipe, read more

Root Beer Float Cupcakes submitted by TeamSugar member sarahkushner

EDIT: It would appear that my little cupcake madness has been popping up all over the net! That being said, there are comments and emails GALORE about them, 99% positive and the rest questions and critiques.

So here is my Edit. PLEASE READ BEFORE BAKING:

1. USE LINERS! Yes I know that I don't have them in the photo... but I haven't had a chance to take a new photo. Use foil liners. And no, do not take the liners off.

2. If you can find root beer extract, more power to you, you can replace the vanilla extract with it. I prefer not to include things in recipes that you can't buy at a regular grocery store, as it bugs the heck out of me when I want to try a recipe, but have to order half the ingredients. I bought all the ingredients for these at one store, in one trip.

3. The glaze. Many critics say that its sticky. One person called it tasteless. A) Pour on the glaze while the cupcakes are still slightly warm like I say, it will soak in a bit, and some of the moisture will be taken out of the glaze and into the cupcake... once you let it set up a bit it shouldn't be sticky. B) I still don't know how it could be tasteless with both shnapps and root beer in it... I wanted to eat the stuff with a spoon... I did not add shnapps to the buttercream as thats the "vanilla float" part. If you think it has to do with proportions of wet to sugar... take it up with Paula Dean, as its an adaptation of a glaze she made for Lemon Blossoms.

4. Someone brought up a very good point. I say to fill the liners to the top with the batter, that works for my oven, they puff perfectly. But, I forgot my Alton Brown, and every oven is different... so filling to the top may not work for you... so if you are worried... don't do it, but you will end up with a few more cupcakes.

---------------
Root beer floats are one of those things that my brothers and I loved as kids. I don't know about them, but for me, its still something that I love to have on occasion. That's why I wanted to make a cupcake that tasted like a root beer float. I mean come on, nothing is more fun than a cupcake, or root beer floats… why not combine the two. Now, I did find a couple recipes online, that just added a can or two of root beer to the batter. Not good enough for me… the flavor of the root beer kind of faded away. And I was super picky about the flavor on this one. It's taken several tries at this recipe to get it right…
First round: I tried using spices and ingredients that are used in root beer as well as a can of root beer… but it ended up tasting more like a spice cake… not bad, but not what I wanted.
Second round: I tried reducing a lot of root beer in a sauce pan to make a syrup, and adding a can of root beer… but the flavor wasn't to strong (I think that boiling the root beer made the flavor evaporate), and I didn't use an "old fashioned" root beer, and the flavor didn't bake well.
Third round: Eureka! The only change that I would make is to use cupcake liners, as the cake can easily fall apart during the "tipsy" phase. And here's the recipe!

Enjoy!

Root Beer Float Cakes

Cake Ingredients

1 cup root beer schnapps
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned style root beer (like A&W or Dads)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Root Beer Glaze

4 cups confectioners sugar
1/3 cup root beer
3 Tbs. root beer schnapps*
3 Tbs. vegetable oil

*for a more kid friendly version, replace schnapps with more root beer

You will also need some extra root beer schnapps (1 Tbs. per cupcake)
Or for the kiddies use root beer (again 1 Tbs. per cupcake)
You will also need some basic Vanilla buttercream ( there are many recipes online to try J)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In a bowl, mix together root beer schnapps, root beer, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, mix until smooth
5. Sift in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
6. Mix with hand mixer on low, while slowly pouring in root beer mixture.
7. Mix until smooth and lump free.
8. Pour into lined cupcake pan. (Use foil cupcake liners to avoid "leakage" later.) Fill nearly to the top, you may think its over-filled, but it puffs up perfectly this way. Don't be tempted to use more than 24 cupcake cups... trust me.
9. Bake for 15- 20 minutes, until golden brown and cake springs back when touched.
10. While cupcakes are baking, prepare your butter cream and root beer glaze. For glaze, put all ingredients into a bowl and mix with a wisk until smooth and lump free.
11. To assemble, start by letting cupcakes cool, still in the pan.
12. While still slightly warm, pour 1 Tbs. of root beer schnapps over each cupcake. Pour on slowly to allow schnapps ( or regular root beer for the kiddies) to soak in.
13. Once the schnapps has soaked in and let sit for a few minutes, pour a couple tablespoons of glaze over each cupcake.
14. When the glaze sets up a bit and isn't too runny, put a "scoop" of buttercream atop each. For an added touch, you can even place a root beer barrel candy on each one.

Makes 2 dozen cupcakes

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Red and Green Themed White Elephant

YumSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:08:15 -0800

When I was little, my parents always threw a White Elephant Christmas party. I ran around in my Clara (from the Nutcracker) pajamas and watched quietly as everyone fought over the best gifts. The most memorable parties were the ones when my dad would let me pick his gift. Now that I'm all grown up I'm planning my own version of a White Elephant party with a red and green theme. Not only am I asking guests to bring a wrapped gift, I'm asking them to come dressed in red, green or a combination of both colors. To carry the theme throughout the party, I'm only making red and green food. Wanna host this party too? read more

Definition: For anyone who doesn't know exactly how a White Elephant works, here's a quick definition: a White Elephant is a type of gift exchange in which each guest is asked to bring an anonymous wrapped gift. During the party guests draw numbers to reveal the order in which they select the gifts. The person assigned with #1 picks, unwraps, and displays a gift. Next the person assigned with #2 has the choice to either steal #1's gift (#1 then must select and unwrap a gift from the pile) or open a wrapped gift. For each subsequent number, players can choose between any of the opened gifts or any of the unopened gifts. Read more on how to host a white elephant.

Invites: I am going to create an elephant stencil using the picture of this elephant (I will remove the elephant's tusks because I want a friendly elephant). Next I will cut out elephant shapes on white card stock to create an elephant shaped invite that will fit in a regular 5x7 card envelope. To make him festive you decorate with red and green glitter, sequins, ribbon, shiny paper, and thread. I'm going to give mine a necklace of red and green sequins with red and green thread. I'll make sure to put sequins on both sides of the card, then leave one side blank and put the party information on the other. At the bottom of the invite I'll write, Red and Green Attire Requested, to let guests know I want them to come dressed in bright reds and merry greens. I'll send the invites in red or green envelopes written in contrasting green and red ink.

Menu: Although you may think I'm crazy to create a whole menu with only red and green ingredients it's actually a lot easier than you realize. Tons of foods are red and green. Make three little appetizers for people to nibble on while unwrapping gifts. The first is bruschetta: the red ingredient: tomatoes, the green ingredient: basil. The second is an Italian quesadilla with roasted red peppers. The recipe calls for regular white tortillas but to get a green ingredient I'll substitute green spinach tortillas. The third and final appetizer will be meatballs in a red sauce served with green toothpicks. Put out bowls of red cherry tomatoes and green olives for guests to snack on. Red velvet cupcakes with green frosting (tinted with food coloring) and bowls of red and green M&M's round out the food. Note: Don't arrange all the food on one table, spread it around the room to create a flow for the party that promotes mingling.

Decorations: Red and green everywhere! Red and green candles, plates, napkins and tablecloths. See if you can get a few bouquets of fresh poinsettias-if not, use the fake and sparkly kind to add a super Christmasy feel. Designate a spot for guests to place their presents when they arrive. Write out the number of guests on green paper and place in a Santa hat. Place chairs together to form clusters for guests to sit on during the White Elephant.

Music: Create a red and green play list with a compilation of old and new CDs by Red Hot Chile Peppers, Green Day, or Al Green. Toss in a few Christmas classics like Green Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Drinks: Serve Heineken or Heineken Light for green and red wine for red. For a red cocktail make a red apple martini (recipe below), for a green cocktail shake up dead grasshoppers, and for a nonalcoholic option serve Shirley Temples (Sprite with grenadine).

Red Apple Martini
From Instyle (December 2003) magazine

1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup finely crushed candy canes
5 cups vodka
5 cups sour-apple schnapps
7 cups apple juice

Dip martini-glass rims into a bowl of fresh lemon juice, then into a dish of finely crushed candy canes.

Mix vodka, sour-apple schnapps, and apple juice; chill several hours until start of party.

When ready to serve, mix in ice-filled shaker. Pour into glasses; garnish with apple slices.

Serves 20.

Cupcake of the Week: Redrum for Stephen King

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:31:11 -0700

This week's cupcake of the week comes from TeamSugar member sarahkushner. She wanted to make a cupcake that celebrated Stephen King's birthday and so decided to come up with a batch of redrum cupcakes. The cupcakes are actually a box of red velvet cake with rum added in, topped with super bright red rum frosting. The whole thing is then topped with a little mini sugar skull. Personally I think they're quite appropriate for Mr. King, and wonderfully ready for Halloween.

Cupcake of the Week: La Provence's Giant Cupcake

YumSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:28:31 -0800

If you've ever dreamed of eating cupcakes the size of your face, then you are in luck. The folks at The Knife tipped us off to the jumbo cupcakes at Beverly Hills-based La Provence Patisserie & Cafe. The huge cupcakes - that's a regular-sized plastic fork in the photo - come in red velvet, chocolate chocolate cream cheese, and chocolate cream cheese. I can't wait to try one!

Source

You've Got Mail!

YumSugar — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:17:31 -0800

Whenever I see something I like - such as these root beer float cupcakes - I have a tendency to share it with all of my friends. Well, according to the geeks you guys do the same thing! I had them pull some info for us and we discovered which stories were the most emailed of 2007. Here, from top to bottom, are the top ten emailed stories of 2007. Oh and is anyone else detecting a pastry theme here?

So what do you think? Did you email any of these around?