Neapolitan Cupcakes inside Ice Cream Cones

This week I have a lot of homework to do. Therefore I have a lot to procrastinate on. I was also indecisive on what kind of cupcake I wanted to make, so I ended up with neapolitan. I had a special helper this week, who was my official taste tester (and graciously let me destroy her kitchen and let me use all of her dishes.)

This week I decided to focus on more of the visual aspect of my creation, since I was 98% sure that my cupcakes were going to taste delicious.

Anyway, here's the recipe for this week. :)

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Total Time: ~ 1 hour
Oven Temp: 350°


Now, I made this with 3 cake mixes. I'm sure you could split up one vanilla cake mix, (or do any flavor you want) but I was feeling like an ambitious procrastinator.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Betty Crocker Vanilla Cake Mix
• 1 box Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake Mix
• 1 Box Betty Crocker Strawberry Cake Mix
• 2 boxes (24/box) ice cream cones
• 2 cans cream cheese frosting (not the whipped kind) 
• McCormick Neon food coloring
• Sprinkles
• 9 Eggs
• 1.5 c oil
• 3 c water
• Pastry Bag (If Desired)

My official taste tester, Katie

Prepare all of the mixes in separate bowls, per the directions on the box. (like I said, this one isn't too hard) I wanted to add a little more pink color to my strawberry batter, so I put 7 drops of food coloring in, and mixed it up really well.

The inside... I thought it
looked kinda cool. :)

Put your ice cream cones in a cupcake pan. Put the vanilla batter in the cones first. (Make sure you leave enough room for the other 2 batters, so that the cones are only 2/3 full.) Then add the strawberry batter, and finally the chocolate.

Put them in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.

Let them cool completely before frosting. 

Now, when I frosted these guys, I used an 'organized chaos' method. I just swirled it around all over to give it a little resemblance to ice cream, and added some sprinkles for fun.

That's it! A fun and simple way to make cupcakes that look way more complicated than they actually are. :) Come back next week for a cupcake with a little springtime inside. 

Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

 As I was searching for inspiration for today's cupcake (and looking for a reason to avoid homework) I remembered I had bought a bag of Gala apples about a week ago. I realized there would be no way I would eat all of those apples before they went bad. Hence the birth of this week's cupcake.


Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Total Time: ~ 1 hour
Oven Temp: 350°

Cupcake Ingredients

• 1 box of Betty Crocker Spice Cake mix
• 2 1/2 C. Shredded Gala Apples (About 4 medium sized apples)
• 1/12 tsp. Sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 2 Tbs. Flour
• 1 C. Water
• 1/2 C. Oil
• 3 Eggs
• Cupcake liners

I know, it seems like a lot of ingredients, but bear with me.

Ok. First off, quarter the apples and take out the core. (like you were going to eat them)

Then shred them. (I used a cheese grater.) 

*Warning* This part is probably going to be a little messy, and leave your hands sticky and juicy. If you cant handle that, this might not be the recipe for you. :)

Anyway. After you have shredded all your apples, measure out 2 1/2 cups into a bowl. 

(Since apples have liquid, we have to compensate for it by adding some dry ingredients.) So, add the flour, cinnamon and sugar. Stir it well, and set it aside.

Cupcakes - Pre Frosting

Take your eggs, oil and water and combine them in a separate bowl that is big enough for a cake mix and shredded apples. (choose wisely, I learned the hard way.) Then add the cake mix and stir for 30 seconds. Add in the shredded apple mixture and mix for 2 minutes, making sure that everything is well blended.

Scoop  the batter into the cupcake liners in your pan, and fill them 2/3 full. Put them in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. My cupcakes took 16 minutes, but depending on your elevation, oven, etc. things might be different for you.

Let them cool completely before frosting them.

Frosting Ingredients

• 1 Can of Cream Cheese Frosting (Not the whipped kind)
• 1 jar of Caramel Ice Cream Topping
• Coarse Sea Salt
• Pastry Bag (If desired)

Take the Cream Cheese frosting and put it on the cupcakes as-is. Then drizzle the caramel topping on top, in a zig zag pattern. (to make it look pretty) Sprinkle some sea salt on top of that, and there you have it!

Thanks for reading guys! 

By the way, if you have any suggestions or requests for flavors, don't hesitate to let me know! I'm always looking for new ideas!

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Hello!

This cupcake was ridiculously easy, and even more delicious.

Prep Time: ~20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 - 22 minutes
Ready to Enjoy: ~1 hour
Oven Temp:  350°

Here's what you need:

Cupcake Batter:

• Cupcake Liners
• 1 box of Devil's Food cake mix
• 2 T. instant coffee
• 1 C. Water
• 1/2 C. Oil
• 3 Eggs

Frosting/Toppings:

• 1 can Duncan Hines Frosting Creations *
• 1 packet Duncan Hines frosting flavoring
• Snack Size Kit Kat Bars

* You can find this at any store. I found it in my local Wal-Mart. Don't ever use it alone, because without some flavoring help, it isn't that great.

Mix the instant coffee and water until blended. Combine with the oil and eggs. Then add the cake mix and beat until moistened. Scoop into cupcake pan, and fill cups 2/3 full.
Place in oven for 18 - 22 minutes, or until a toothpick placed in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

To be honest, I cheat on the 'cool completely' category. I put my freshly baked cupcakes on a cooling rack and put the entire thing in the fridge. It speeds up the process, and doesn't seem to affect the end product one bit. 

Anyway....

To make the frosting, empty out your frosting 'starter' into a bowl. Take the packet of flavored goodness and put it in the bowl. Combine it until there aren't any more streaks of color.

I use a pastry bag to frost my cupcakes. I'll admit, I'm no pro with it, but I'm learning, and I think it gives the cupcakes a nice finish.

So, take your delicious frosting, and pipe it on the cupcakes. Then take one 'stick' of a Kit Kat bar, and stick it in like it is a straw. It will be a nice, edible touch for decoration.
P.S. I don't believe in non-edible decorations.

And there you have it! 100% calorie free (or at least thats what I tell myself)  Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Chips and Cream Cheese Frosting

I decided to start my Valentine's Day baking a little early.

This recipe is pretty basic, and there's nothing too crazy about it.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 18 - 22 minutes
Total Time: ~ 1 hour
Oven Temp: 350°


Cupcake Supplies:

• 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
• 1 Bag Dark Chocolate Chips ( I found red and brown ones for V-Day, but regular ones do just as well.)
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 C. oil
• 1 C. Water
• Cupcake Liners

Frosting Supplies

• 1 can Cream Cheese frosting (Not the whipped kind)
• Conversation Hearts
• McCormick Neon Food Coloring

Alright, lets get started. 

Combine the wet ingredients, then add the cake mix and chocolate chips. Mix until moistened.

Then fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full, and bake for 18 - 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting, 

Empty the frosting into a bowl. Put 12 drops of pink coloring and 2 drops of blue coloring. Mix until the color is smooth and there are no streaks. 

Frost the cupcakes with a pastry bag, and decorate with conversation hearts.

Personally, I think that the phrases on those have seriously dropped in quality. So I just put them on with the blank side facing out so they weren't so awkward.

That's it! I know it is simple, but sometimes simple things are better! 

Until next week. :)

And So It Begins!

I have a tendency to procrastinate. Lately it has happened on Monday evenings, when I have about 4 hours of homework. I'll go to the grocery store, pick up some baking supplies, and by 8 p.m. there's a batch of cupcakes. I started posting pictures of my procrastination creations on Facebook, and had some people tell me I should make a blog about my semi-homemade baking.
So here we go.....

The goal:
Post recipes and pictures to semi-homemade, yet still delicious cupcakes, give my tips, and have some fun doing so. You don't have to make something completely from scratch to make it be delicious!

So come along for the ride, if you wish! I'm going to try and post a new cupcake every Monday.