Cupcake Mixology

I thought it would be fun to show you how I get the most mileage out of my favorite cupcake recipes. It's easy to customize a basic recipe that you trust and love with a few simply add-ins, creating more treats with less work. This is a great tip for anyone looking to impress guests at their next party or for a bake sale. I'm going to show you how I used 2 basic cupcake recipes (vanilla and chocolate) and 1 frosting recipe to create six different flavor combinations!

Cupcakes made: 

1. PB & J cupcakes

2. Homemade Hostess cupcakes

3. Marmalade Dream cupcakes

4. Peanut Butter Monster cupcakes

5. Classic Party cupcakes 

6. Cinnamon Sugar cupcakes

Simple Vanilla Cupcakes makes 1 dozen 

Needed: 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups water, 2/3 cup oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons vinegar. (Note: this cupcake recipe is vegan friendly!)

In a bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. In another bowl mix together the wet ingredients. Combine these and stir just until no lumps are left. Pour the batter into a lined cupcake pan and bake at 350 F for 22-25 minutes. 

Simple Chocolate Cupcakes makes 1 dozen

Needed: 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, 2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups water, 2/3 cup oil, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons vinegar. (Note: this cupcake recipe is vegan friendly!)

In a bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. In another bowl mix together the wet ingredients. Combine these and stir just until no lumps are left. Pour the batter into a lined cupcake pan and bake at 350 F for 22-25 minutes.

Simple Butter Cream Frosting makes about 2 1/2 cups

Needed: 4 sticks of softened butter (2 cups), 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (the clear kind is better for frostings) and 2-3 cups powdered sugar.

In a bowl cream together the butter and vanilla extract. Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and mixing in between until you have the perfect frosting consistency.

Now that you have the basic recipes we can mix them up to make all our flavor combinations!

1. PB & J cupcakes- vanilla cupcake base. Use a sharp knife to carve a small (inverted) pyramid out of the center, fill with jam or jelly (I used Blue Chair Damson Jam). Now take 1 cup of your butter cream frosting and stir in 1/3 cup peanut butter. Pipe the peanut butter frosting over the top.

2. Homemade Hostess cupcakes- chocolate cupcake base. Use a sharp knife to carve a small (inverted) pyramid out of the center, fill with marshmallow cream. Pipe marshmallow cream over the top.

3. Marmalade Dream cupcakes- vanilla cupcake base. Use a sharp knife to carve a small (inverted) pyramid out of the center, fill with marmalade (I used Blue Chair Orange-Kumquat Marmalade). Top with marshmallow cream, toast in the broiler for a few seconds if you like.

4. Peanut Butter Monster cupcakes- chocolate cupcake base. Pipe on peanut butter frosting (see flavor #1) and top with chopped peanut butter cups!

5. Classic Party cupcakes- chocolate cupcake base. Top with classic butter cream and sprinkle on some pretty sprinkles. 

6. Cinnamon Sugar cupcakes- vanilla cupcake base. Top with classic butter cream and sprinkle on a little cinnamon and sanding sugar.

*special thanks to Blue Chair Fruit Company for the jam and marlamade used for these cupcakes. Yum! 

Xo. Emma and Elsie 

*Note: In the cupcake recipe I usually use vegetable oil or canola oil, but you can use any oil. I would not use a oil that has a heavy flavor, like olive oil.

Comments

[xoxohannah]

This is a great post for people who want to get more involved in creative baking!

I was a custom cake decorator for several years before I relocated with my fiance and I miss it with a fiery passion! Luckily his birthday is coming up so I can go ALL OUT :)

Great post as always :)

xoxohannah
a cup of subtle tea

[Leigh Ann]

Love the Hostess Cupcakes. Yummy~

[Charity]

This is so brilliant. I don't even liking baking but I feel like it right now at 9 in the morning haha

[Amy]

These sound delicious! My daughter was just asking, this morning, if I could do something different for her birthday party this year with regards to the cake. Maybe some of these cupcakes are the way to go! Thanks!
http://amysreallife.wordpress.com

[Conee]

Mmmm que ganas de comer uno de estos cupcakes!
besos

[Christina]

I've never wanted a cupcake at 7am before... now I do! LOL!

[Jessie]

Great idea! Thank you for sharing this yumminess!

[Courtney]

This sounds so yummy!!

http://thelittletexan.blogspot.com/

[thefoxblog]

looks soooo pretty and yummy =)
can´t decide if i want to eat them or decorate with them :D

my new blog
: http://the-fox-fashion-blog.blogspot.com/

[The Parkers Blog]

Awesome. I did the cupcakes for a baby shower once -- 4 dozen, 1 each of 4 different types. This would have saved me so much time and energy!

[Maria]

Oh! I'm going to have to try at least a few of these!

[aislin @ srcibbles by a.]

this post made my mouth water! now i'm craving cupcakes for breakfast! *drool* i cannot wait to try out some of these, and hopefully mess up a few so i can't give them away and get to keep them all to myself :D

www.scribblesbya.blogspot.com

[Cassie]

the cinnamon one looks unreal! thanks for sharing :)

[robyn]

wowowo-look great!

[Domonique]

This post has got me in the mood for baking :) Thanks for sharing!

x

[Hillary]

Yum! I want them all! Especially the PB & J!

http://www.thoreausdaughter.com/

[Lindsay @ Delighted Momma]

Dying over these! How do you find the time between being a new puppy Mommy and shop owner to bake a million cupcakes?! I am impressed. I want a cinnamon sugar cupcake right now :)

[eni]

yummy...i want all of these...to go...please!!!;D
thanks for sharing!!! they look so yummy!!!
if i lived near to your store...i daily would stop in...just to eat some of emma´s cupcakes...

have a great great day...you two amazing woman!

liebgruss from germany
eni

[Deanna]

These look amazing! I love the idea of "dressing" up a cupcake. Especially when you have an awesome base recipe that's tried and true. Thanks for sharing a great idea!

[AnneMage]

I never seem to get cupcakes right - somehow they never turn out moist and springy but I endeavor to check this out.