Cupcake Project's Ice Cream Cupcake Contest

I discovered  The Cupcake Project not quite a year ago. It's a shame, too because I was clearly missing out. I quickly started following her adventures in all things cupcake and am always inspired by her posts. She & scoopalicious do an annual ice cream cupcake contest and what follows is my entry. I'm not gonna lie, all the entries look so amazing and intimidating that I almost talked myself out of it. In the end, the thought of being entered alongside all these talented bakers was enough to make me go for it...and now I can start planning for next years contest!

I knew when I first heard about the contest I wanted to use my husband's favorite ice cream, Tillamook French Vanilla. It is made right here in our home state of Oregon and they have delicious flavors!

I melted it and put it right into the batter, replacing some of the milk the recipe called for.

Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich Cupcake

For the cupcake:

recipe adapted from Better Homes & Gardens

3/4 cup butter, room temp
3 eggs, room temp
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup melted Tillamook French Vanilla Ice Cream
3/4 milk

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder & salt. Set aside.

Combine melted ice cream & milk in a small bowl. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on mediem to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, 1/4 cup at a time until well combined. Beat an additional 2 minutes until light & fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture until just combined. Beat on medium speed for an addtional 20 seconds.

Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


For the frosting:

Cream cheese frosting slightly adapted from Who You Callin' Cupcake? recipe book

1/4 cup white chocolate pieces, melted
1/2 cup soft butter
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup cold cream cheese frosting

Mix butter and  powdered sugar on medium until light, soft & lump-free, about 8 minutes.

With the mixer on low, slowly add the cream cheese in chunks until combined.

Turn the mixer on high and pour in the white chocolate. Let the mixer run for about 8 minutes.

*This is my absolute favorite cream cheese frosting recipe. The end result is light & fluffy and so smooth!

Assemble cupcakes with Piped cream cheese frosting and ice cream sandwiches. Garnish with ice cream sandwich pieces and chocolate sauce...yum!

Cupcake catch-up!

I know that when it comes to baking there will always be something to learn, some new trick to master & endless flavors to test. The last 8 months have really hammered that into my head. There have been successful days and a few that I call an "epic fail". The epic fails aren't neccessarily  inedible, but they keep me up at night tweaking the recipe in my head. I've lost count of Cupcake Wars episodes watched and cupcake liners ordered. I'm having a blast along the way and love serving up little desserts that result in big smiles. Here are last 8 months of cupcakes in pictures...

Halloween '11
Vanilla cupcakes Piped with chocolate frosting

A "Dirty 30" birthday party
very vanilla bean Piped with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting

My first gluten-free
Vanilla Chai cupcake Piped with vanilla chai frosting

Thanksgiving '11
Pumpkin chocolate chip Piped with pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting

Holiday '11
Chocolate-peppermint Piped with swirled peppermint frosting

Happy New Year!
Champagne cupcakes

Valentine's Day '12
(my cupcake tester in the background)

Camo birthday cupcakes
(I thought the sprinkles resembled shotgun shells)

Easter '12
Lemon cupcakes with a lemon glaze Piped with lemon cream cheese frosting

Creamsicle!
Vanilla/Orange cake Piped with white chocolate/orange frosting

Marbled Almond cupcakes

Amaretto
Amaretto cupcake with an amaretto glaze Piped with Amaretto cream cheese frosting
 topped with sugared almond crisp toppers

The big 6-0
Chocolate Almond cupcakes Piped with white chocolate frosting

Carrot cupcakes Piped with cream cheese frosting

A 1st birthday Jamboree
Chocolate cupcakes Piped with white chocolate frosting
Carrot cupcakes Piped with cream cheese frosting

dual purpose cupcake toppers

brown & blue motocross-inspired baby shower cupcakes




MY CUPCAKE TESTER TURNS 3!!

 chocolate Piped with chocolate cream cheese frosting

vanilla bean Piped with strawberry whipped cream frosting

Cupcakes fit for all the little buckaroos!





...and lastly, (these were actually from August '11)
I had the honor of making chocolate cupcakes for a friend's wedding

More to come!

Mint Chocolate Mama

The only thing more exciting than a friend about to have a baby, is making that friend baby shower cupcakes! When I asked Jessica what flavor she'd like (I was so hoping to satisfy a craving!) she said chocolate & if I wanted to get crazy, I could add some mint. I reached for the Andes mints and made her my mint chocolate chip cupcakes.

This flavor is a favorite of mine so I was MORE than happy to share it with Jessica. After trying to decide just how to decorate her cupcakes, I turned to her facebook page and used an ultrasound picture of her perfect tiny human.

pumpkin, spice & cocktails on ice!

My dear friend, Nicole had a birthday celebration this past weekend and it couldn't have been more obvious which flavor to make her. She loves all things pumpkin! It was an opportunity to bust out the spices & welcome fall. Yum!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Ma-In-Law!

My wonderful Ma-In-Law had her birthday today and I asked her to pick her birthday cupcake flavor. Let me preface this with the fact that she is the best baker I know. Baking anything for her is always a little intimidating. She is easy to please, but I'll be a lucky girl the day my baking knowledge matches hers. When her reaction is sheer enjoyment of what I've presented her with, I tend to feel like I've won a blue ribbon at the fair.

I felt a little sheepish when she told me what she'd picked, because had I thought about it, the answer would've been obvious. She, like my own Mom, loves anything Chocolate-Orange. A-ha! A new flavor! Don't let it's plain chocolate appearance fool you. This sucker packs an orange punch! Not only did she like it, but she said it might just be her new favorite. Yes! 2 blue ribbons! The Pa-In-Law was also a fan. Double victory:)

Miss Taylor turns 2

I recently had the honor of making cupcakes for a dear friends little girl. She had a cupcake themed party. Awesome.

The cupcake toppers were made out of her leftover invites

chocolate cupcakes Piped with colored cream cheese frosting & strawberry cupcakes Piped with strawberry cream cheese frosting