Kinda.
My dear husband celebrated his 38th birthday recently.
Which is actually up for debate since he is a Leap Year baby and is technically only 9 1/2.
(Does that make me a cougar?)
Even though birthday gifts quickly got cut when we started a budget, there is always room for cupcakes.
I think thats my new motto.
“There is Always Room For Cupcakes.”
Its catchy. You can have it if you want.
I think my new favorite alternate motto is, “Make it Yours!” I seem to say that a lot.
He decided on chocolate. *I* decided on rich almond vanilla frosting. Wow. I’m in love.
Do you like my new cupcake stand?
I went to the thrift store this weekend. Its a .25 (thats twenty five cents) 6×4 inch platter on top of a .50 (fifty cent) crystal candle holder.
Yeah. I paid .75 (seventy five cents) for the whole thing.
These are mini cupcakes. Only three average size cupcakes fit on the stand.
Do you like this cupcake stand?
The price tag says $2.00. How cool is that? I spray painted it white and viola!
Ok. I am done talking about my thrift store finds on my baking blog. Promise.
However, it also works well for the mini cupcakes!
You know I cannot leave well enough alone. I wanted to try something new! (new to me)
The winner by unanimous vote?
Heath Chips.
The combination of sweet almond vanilla frosting over moist chocolate cake is enough to make my mouth water… but then add in the slight crunch of a delicious Heath chip that melts away to a rich buttery goodness and well… it’s just about perfection.
If you try it, let me know how you make it yours!
Be sure to stop by my flickr group if you want more inspiration.
And feel free to stop by twitter and say hello! @manda2177
Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add vanilla. Combine. Add flour mixture alternately with the milk. Mix well.
- Fill the muffin cups ¾ full. Bake for about 15 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
OK, that’s it! It’s official. Regardless of what Tastespotting says, your presence is requested next Sunday, March 7th at our First Annual Bluegrass and Chocolate Festival. (It’s a mere 3.5 hours from the Cities…) We MUST have that square serving dish, all the marvelous cupcake creations (I chickened out on doing petit fours!) and your lovely self. Let me know & I’ll send you the details. You DO love Gospel/Bluegrass music, right? You’re a homeschooling family so I assume all of your children are already accomplished on at least 2 instruments. What?!? Audrey hasn’t even STARTED?!? Gasp. (Can you tell I didn’t get enough sleep last night?)
Your amazingness astounds me.
Those are cute little cupcake stands! And the cupcakes look yummy too of course!
Happy birthday to your hubby! There is a girl at church whose birthday is the 29th, I always wondered if it was hard/odd not to have a “real” birthdate each year!!
Have a great week.
I love how you turned that thrift store find into a contemporary little cupcake stand! So cool!
Ok, I’m all about the Heath toppings, are you kidding me!!!
gorgeous as usual! and i love the new cake stand ideas. what size frosting tip did you use to get the “dollop” of frosting look? it’s cute!
Those look really good! I haven’t baked cupcakes in so long!
Those cupcakes are AMAZING! And the photography is FANTASTIC. I had never heard of Tastespotting until you mentioned it, but now that I’ve seen their site… you’re stuff absolutely belongs on there.
But all that aside…
I totally have a new artistic food activity for us. You have to come check it out. http://www.mommytopics.com …. Watch the VIDEO in my sidebar! We could so do that! … I think…?
1. BEAUTIFUL cupcakes!! They look perfect.
2. LOVELY, PERFECT photos!!
3. Great idea to spray paint the cupcake stands!! I go to the thrift store for blog dishes as well.
You have got to give us the recipe for the “rich almond vanilla frosting”. These cupcakes look amazing!
Love them!!
but of course the heath chips won–those little nuggets are amazing! and so are you–from refurbishing cake stands to baking up a storm, you’re a champ. 🙂