Monday, January 11, 2010

Will You Be My Cupcake?...and a Giveaway


Oh, goodness, I sure hope so because if you're THIS cupcake, then I'm in love.  Not just in love, "smitten", yep, infatuated, enamored, charmed, beguiled, bewitched.  Before I unveil the cupcake (and the recipe so you can fall in love too) I'll show you how I packaged it up for Valentine's Day or any day you want to make someone feel smitten with you.


This particular cupcake is for my DH so I didn't want it to be flowery.   The box was in a package of 2 for $1 at our local dollar store. (If you don't have a dollar store nearby, Regina has a cupcake box you can print out.)  The cool cupcake and the sentiment are from The Cutting Cafe's All About Cupcakes.  Regina has really outdone herself on this huge set!  There are sentiments galore, cupcakes of every size and shape, cupcake stands and circle words all ready to punch out and add to your cards and gifts.  I chose to mix the top from one of the cupcakes with the bottom of another and simply glittered it up to match my box.  Stay tuned because I'll have a couple of other creations coming up using this super set. 

Regina is, once again, allowing us to give away whatever set we chose to feature.  I will draw by random number selector for this super set on Monday, January 18th.  Just leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite cupcake is.  I'd be honored if you decide to follow me as well.

Now for a close up of that cupcake.....


This is my all time favorite dreamy, creamy cupcake confection.  The recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa's Cookbook, takes mere minutes to whip up, makes 18-24 large cupcakes and is sure to WOW your guests. 

Coconut Cupcakes

3/4 lb. unsalted butter, room temperature
2 c. sugar
5 extra-large eggs, room temperature
1-1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 t. pure almond extract
3 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

Cream cheese icing (recipe follows Not Ina's)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In bowl of electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  With the mixer running on low, add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In three parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry.  Mix until JUST combined.  Fold in 7 ounces of the coconut.

Line muffing pans with paper liners.  Fill each cup to the top with batter. (I use an ice cream scoop.)  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean.  Remove to a baking sheet and cool completely.  Frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Cream cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 c. unsalted butter at room temperature
1 t. pure vanilla extract
1 t. pure almond extract
1 pound confectioner's sugar, sifted

In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, blend butter, cream cheese and extracts.  Add the confectioner's sugar and mix until smooth.


I'm off to eat my cupcake before someone else does! 


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38 comments:

Regina Easter said...

YUM YUM YUM....GOODNESS HUM I AM NOT SURE WHICH IS BETTER THE RECIPE OR THE PROJECT..GOOD GRIEF...LOVE IT...HUGS

STAMPING SAM said...

What an awesome project! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes, they are all so yummy looking, I'll have to add the ingredients to my shopping lists this week!

I brought macadamia nuts back from Hawaii after Christmas so I am going to try the White chocolate Tropical Macaroons first!

Anonymous said...

I have a great recipe for Bananas Foster cupcakes. I love your box and tag!!

neihejp@att.net

Pat

Noreen said...

Cute idea for a Valentine cupcake. My favorite cupcake is a white cupcake with white frosting and topped with coconut.

Holly C. said...

Wow! That is an adorable set! I love the sentiments! My favorite cupcake is any flavor with lots and lots of frosting! Your cupcake is making my mouth water!

mrshcrawford@gmail.com

Susan (rainy) said...

YUM! What a wonderful and sweet project. I love the bow you created on the box.

jaymack said...

These are the best cupcakes, I have had them. Cute cupcake on the tag too. Hugs!

maiahs_momma said...

I would have to say my favorite cupcakes would have to be anything to do with Chocolate :)! I also became a follower too :)!


Inky Hugs,
Catherine
www.mystampinggrounds.blogspot.com
catlevy@eastlink.ca

Jessica G. said...

Cream cheese icing? That makes any cupcake even more yummy! My favorite type of cupcake are the chocolate kind, any kind!

Wonderful presentation of this goodie, Charlene -- it almost looks too good to tear into this wonderful packaging! Almost!! I'm sure your DH loved it!

Sweet Cutting Cafe set; I can see lots of yummy projects inspired by this one, the edible and paper kind!

Anonymous said...

that is delicious, fabulous gift ! my fav is coffee and walnut !mmmmmmmmm yum.

HazelQ said...

Mmmm that cupcake looks delicious :) it made me hungry lol, thank you for sharing the recipe. I like any kind of cupcake with a lot of frosting :P
Hugs
Hazel

Tina said...

Cute gift project! I am already a follower :) I'm kinda of a plain jane type of gal, lol! So, I like white cupcakes with pink strawberry frosting, mmmm! Thank you for the chance to win.

Kelly said...

OMG Charlene...These are amazing and my favorite...coconut cupcakes...yummy!

bonnie said...

Oh my this looks truly scrumptious Charlene....beautiful creation, very sweet and perfect for anyone. I love coconut and I love cupcakes and I love Barefoot Contessa!!!! I'm always using up all the memory on Sky+ here in the UK recording her programme!! I must give these a whirl...thank you so much for sharing Charlene you are such a sweetie :) Bonnie x

Sue from Oregon said...

oh goodness...these look dreamy delicious! Great fun!

Karen Wedding said...

That is so sweet looking. I love your box. Now I'm going to have to make a trip to the Dollar General store. My favorite cupcake is white with white frosting.

gila said...

oh, und was für schöne Rezepte der kleine Kuchen sieht so lecker, muss unbedingt mal probieren, hab ich noch nie gebacken ich.
da bin ich ja genau richtig hier auf deinem schönen Blog, hab gerade ihr gefunden
lg gila

~Jeri~ said...

Oh how awesome!! The cupcake looks yummy and your project is amazing! Awesome work and thanks for the opportunity to win one of Reginas awesome sets!

garnett said...

Thanks for the lovely card and recipe. Made me want to bake WOW?????

cdjcape521 said...

This is just too cute!

KymKreates said...

MMMM the project and cupcake are spectacular, thanks for both

Glynis said...

Mmmm... I think this coconut cupcake would be my fav. I just have to try this recipe. Love the gift set. What a great birthday suprise :O)

Anne-Marie said...

Cupcakes! Love any and all and to have them on a card is just heaven! Love 'em! x

mary said...

Decadent & Dreamy. I can feel the Calories on my hips. LOL!

Judy said...

Your project is yummy and adorable! What a great idea!

Melodye@columbus.rr.com said...

Cupcakes -- I hope it's chocolate

Anonymous said...

Very cool use of the cupcake box, might have to make up some for my honey either for V-day or our anniversary two weeks later. :-) Favorite cupcake is anything Chocolate!

Cheryl said...

Yummy! Sweet projects!

Gloria Westerman said...

Who would know that the dollar store would have something like this box....I gotta check that out for sure.....love your box and card..thank for the chance.....

Anonymous said...

Yummy yummy goodness Charlene!! Lovely little box and tag!! Oh, just give me a classic chocolate cupcake and I'm happy!

Trish said...

Oh now I'm soooo hungry- they sure look delicious and I love what you've done with the box. I'm afraid, I'll just eat any cupcake that given to me- love them all!!!
Hugs,
Trish

Vivian said...

Love your project, berry 'sweet' ;-)

Yvonne Russell said...

Who doesn't love cupcakes... real or stamped! A great set and a great project. Beautiful!

Leigh said...

So adorable! I love it and I'm going to have to try that cupcake recipe. Thank you for sharing.

Penny said...

Really cute idea! Love cupcakes. TFS

Jeri said...

What a yummy project. Truly good enough to eat.

scrappy girl said...

Yummy!!! I wish there was smellavision!! No, wait, maybe not that would just make it worse.
Love the project (so cute) and thanks for the recipe....this is one I could have all to myself because no one else in my family likes coconut!! YAY!!! ;)

Ellen said...

Very sweet......

Ellen

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