Jammy cupcakes
Another weekend, another batch of practice cupcakes before the Almighty Cupcake Challenge.
The recipe for this batch was adapted from Australian Women’s Weekly “Bake”. They are basically a vanilla cupcake base, with a dollop of jam swirled through the top. For the icing, I thought I’d try a buttercream with the addition of a couple of teaspoons of powdered raspberries.
Erm. Buttercream – I suck at making buttercream. Why? I have no idea! It should be the easiest thing in the world! After putting the buttercream into my piping bag, I realised it was too thick. Back in the mixer it went with a touch of milk. Tried piping again – nope, still too thick. Back into the mixer. It just kept getting worse and worse and worse, until I finally gave up. I ended up melting the buttercream in the microwave and then spooning it over the cupcakes like a glaze. This actually worked quite well, although it was a pain in the arse wiping the drips off the cupcake liners.
And the cupcake itself? Unfortunately I didn’t think much of it – I thought it was too dry. Fortunately the recipe, which I’m not posting because I didn’t like it, only made a dozen cupcakes.
But while this batch of cupcakes wasn’t a success, I still learnt something from making them. All this cupcake baking has meant that I finally “get” the whole cupcake thing. Before I’d never really understood why people were so obsessed by cupcakes, but now I get it! Cupcakes are fun (even when everything goes wrong and your buttercream is shit and the cupcakes are dry and boring).
The Almighty Cupcake Challenge is finally happening next Monday. The weekend before last, I baked a test batch of the cupcakes I’m going to make for the Challenge – and wow they are good! I won’t post them until next weekend so you’ll have to wait and see (don’t want to give my almost twin any ideas….. aye, J?)
Maria@TheGourmetChallenge
August 10, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
oh wow, they are so pretty, with the frosting so red and the cute sprinkles ontop…too cute! Too bad the insides don't match the outside!
Oh I'm so excited for you, only a few more sleeps to go before you can unleash the almighty secret weapon! lol
Conor @ HoldtheBeef
August 11, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Yes, at least they are pretty!
I'll be furiously baking on Sunday as well, and then hopefully furiously selling my wares on Monday. I even went to a wholesale packaging place and bought some disposable cupcakes containers to try and entice people to buy extra to take home, hehe.
thanh7580
August 11, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Agnes, what is this Almight Cupcake Challenge in which you speak about?
I can't wait for your recipe. I've tried a few vanilla cupcake recipes before and they've been dry and not nice.
My interest in Cupcake has been renewed after eating some delicious cupcakes at Little Cupcakes on Degraves Street. Their buttercream flavours were fantastic and not sickeningly sweet, matched by some solid vanilla and chocolate bases.
Agnes
August 12, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
Maria: my workmates don't know what they're up against! Pow boom bam!
Conor: oooh good luck with your baking on Sunday! What a good idea with the disposable cupcake containers. How many are you going to be baking?
Thanh: doh, I was supposed to put a link in! The RSPCA cupcake day is next Monday. A few of us are participating at work, so we're having a bakeoff – nothing like a bit of competition to spice things off!
Rilsta
August 14, 2009 @ 9:56 am
I love how red the icing is – so pretty! You are really good to be bothered to remove the icing drips off the side – I can imagine how much of a pain it would be!
I am yet to conquer piping icing but I guess once you do it more often you will get the hang of what consistency it is supposed to be at to be able to pipe!
Good luck for Monday! 🙂
Jennie
August 14, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Hah! I will beat you senseless on Monday! Bwahahaha! :-p
Those are pretty though. I love the colour 🙂
But I am sure that whatever you bring on Monday will be well received. We'll have cupcakes coming out of our ears! 🙂