Showing posts with label [bottom photo: DineAndWrite]. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [bottom photo: DineAndWrite]. Show all posts

Friday, March 16, 2012

Cupcakes For A Party Of Two

Photo by What's Up Cupcake
I have many friends and relatives born in the month of March.  So to save time, as well as, our waistlines, I only bake 2 cupcakes at a time.  Not only is it fast and easy, but if you don't have a big family to feed, who needs 12 cupcakes?  Sometimes all you want is a serving.  And by making them from scratch, you can use premium ingredients: real vanilla, butter and whole grains.  Here is my recipe:

2 Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients: 
¼ cup whole wheat flour 
tablespoons sugar
1 egg white [save the yolk for an omelet]
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon baking powder
A pinch of salt
2 tablespoons milk
[Add a tiny punch of baking soda if you use buttermilk or honey instead of milk or sugar, or if you use lemon juice/zest to make lemon cupcakes]

Directions:
1) In a mixing bowl whisk the ingredients together, one at a time until smooth.
2) Line a muffin pan with 2 cupcake liners, filling each one with the batter.
3) Bake at 350 F for 10 – 12 minutes until golden brown and the centers bounce back. 

Vanilla Icing

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
½ cup powdered sugar, plus extra

Directions: 
(1) Put the butter into a mixing bowl; melt in the microwave.
(2) Whisk in the vanilla and milk.
(3) Add the powered sugar a little at a time, as much as necessary, until the icing is stiff and creamy.  Note: I usually use milk, but cream in this recipe is divine.

For chocolate cupcakes, add 2 teapoons of real cocoa powder, or melted bittersweet chocolate to both the batter and icing.  Plus, cut the vanilla in half and add a pinch of baking soda to the batter.  [Baking soda helps cakes rise when combined with an acidic ingredient like buttermilk, honey, lemon, chocolate, vinegar or yogurt.]  You can make a vanilla and chocolate cupcake to satisfy tastes.  Decorate with colored sprinkles, chocolate shavings or shredded nuts, if you wish.

Making one cupcake is simple too: Follow the directions above, cutting the ingredients in half.  But with cupcakes, much like drinking, do you really want to indulge alone?  C'mon, invite a friend over.