Monday, January 18, 2010

Magnolia Cupcakes...and a Tea Party!



Here at the Sinful Southern Sweets household, we have the honor of raising little princesses. Meet my princesses:
This is my oldest little princess.

 Her name is Princess Run-Wild. My beautiful little silly princess. And my official "spatula/beater/spoon licker." Princess Run-Wild truly knows how to be a princess. She is proper and dramatic. And loves all things pink and sparkly!

And this is my youngest princess.

Her name is Princess Run-Wilder. I know, I know..she looks real sweet with that collander on her head. But she is trouble, I tell ya. And she is part boy, I think. She is as rough as a corncob. I do believe she will be the "alpha-princess" She just seems like she takes control of everything. Well, perhaps she just screams to get control. Still, effective all the same. And of course, she too is a beautiful little silly princess.

Anyways, with princesses you will also have tea parties. Excuse me, actually they are called "Tee Potties" here. The "Tee Pottie" was the perfect excuse to make some princess cupcakes! We usually have cookies, but really every event is worth attending if there is cake present. Oh, you know you've only gone to birthday parties for the cake! Admit it! Ok, maybe that's only me.....I have cake issues :)

So, I have been eyeing this recipe for the Magnolia Bakery's Cupcakes for quite some time. Typically, I do not make from-scratch cupcakes. The outcome is just usually not as soft and moist as a cake mix. What can I say, Betty  has got the whole cake thing down to a science! Except for the icing, I do make my own icing. And generally, I doctor up the cake mixes to make them a little different. But, this recipe from the Magnolia Bakery,  has been calling to me. See.. the Magnolia Bakery is suppose to be this famous bakery in NYC. Supposedly, people wait for 20+minutes to get cupcakes there everyday. They have been noted on Saturday Night Live and Sex in the City. Besides, I do love bakery type cupcakes. Ok, I admit, I love all cupcakes.  Finally, I broke down yesterday and made these great cupcakes. Hey, we had to have princess fare for the party! I have to admit, I was quite impressed with this recipe. They were soft. I believe some food critics would describe it as having a "nice crumb" whatever that means:) I didn't see any crumbs left! I did add a little extra something to the vanilla icing and vanilla cake.  I added real vanilla beans.  The outcome...the flavor was like homemade vanilla ice cream. Enough said...

I actually tried 2 Magnolia Bakery flavors. I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla bean buttercream and vanilla cupcakes with chocolate buttercream (to be posted tomorrow).  My little princesses approved of both flavors equally. Enjoy!



Magnolia's Chocolate Cupcake & Butter Cream Frosting
Recipe courtesy of Magnolia Bakery


2 C all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 C unsalted butter, softened (225gm)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

170gms (6oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 C buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit (or 180 Celsius).

2.To melt the chocolate, place in a double boiler over simmering water on low heat for 5-10 minutes (stir occasionally until completely smooth and no pieces remain, remove from heat and cool for 5-15 minutes or until lukewarm).

3.Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

4.In a bowl, sift the flour and baking soda together and set aside.

5.In a big mixing bowl, cream the butter, using an electric mixer on MEDIUM speed, until smooth.

6.Add the sugars and beat for about 3 minutes or until fluffy.
7.Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition

8.Add the chocolate, mixing until well incorporated.

9.Add the dry ingredients, in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla.

10.With each addition, beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not over mix.

11.Scrape down the batter from the sides of the bowl using a rubber spatula, to make sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.

12.Carefully spoon batter in cupcake liners; fill 3/4 full.

13.Bake in 350F or 180C degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until pick/skewer comes out clean.

14.Cool in tins for 15 minutes before removing, then cool completely on a wire rack.

15.Ice when COMPLETELY cool otherwise frosting will melt
 
Vanilla Bean Butter Cream Frosting


1 C unsalted butter, very soft (225gm)

8 C confectioner's sugar (icing sugar)

1/2 C milk

2 tsp vanilla plus 1/2 vanilla bean scraped*
1.Place the butter (very soft) in a large mixing bowl

2.Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. *To scrape the vanilla bean: Cut down the center of the bean lengthwise and run the tip of the knife along the inside of the bean to remove the paste/seeds.Do not discard vanilla bean pod. You can add it to a cup of sugar and make vanilla-infused sugar (great in recipes, coffee, etc...)

3.Beat until smooth and creamy

4.Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, until icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency (you may not need all of the sugar)

5.For colored icing add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly

6.Use and store icing at room temperature, as icing will set if chilled

7.You can store in an airtight container for up to 3 days
 
And a few more tea party pics:

LOL! I do believe Princess-Run Wilder may have had a spot of rum with her tea


My two perfect princesses!

 


13 comments:

Reeni said...

I love a good tea party! Especially when pretty princesses are involved. And cupcakes! These are such scrumptious little treats.

toeandhaysmom said...

Any left?

Sonya said...

The girls are so ADORABLE! Im thinking she had a bit of something in her drink too..wat a funny photo.

Magnolia cupcakes are really good. I have made them myself aswell.

I never had tea parties..my two boys just wouldnt do that. However I was able to buy them a boy version of an easy bake oven and attended a few worm cake and dog bone parties..lol

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Toe&Hays-In fact I do have 2 saved with your name on them :) You will have to hide them from your family!

Sonya-Haha! Aww, those boys, they just don't know what they're missing out on. I'm sure the worm cake and dog bone parties were a sight to see.

Chef Aimee said...

This post was so timely - my niece was born this past Friday and I am so excited to have a little princess in the family! I especially can't wait for tea parties! I love Magnolia/Buttercup cupcakes and am spoiled since I live here in NY. What a lovely tea party with lovely princesses!

Leyla said...

Hi there! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely comment!

Your beautiful princesses look adorable! God bless you and your family and may you always stay as one big, loving family!

Btw, I could totally devour 3-4 of those yummy cupcakes... easily.. and wouldn't even feel about it either ;)

Michelle Schraudner said...

they are too cute!!!

Hannah said...

They look so tasty. I stood in line for 15 minutes at Magnolia for a caramel cupcake, well worth the wait, and would love to try out this recipe. What did you use to make the icing look so nice and swirly?

Anonymous said...

This looks like a fantastic Tee Potty!!Your princesses are precious. The cupcakes look so yummy!!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Thank you to everyone that left a kind word about my little princesses. I also think they are adorable, though I am a touch biased:)

Hannah-I used a Wilton tip 195 to pipe the chocolate cupcakes. Today I will be posting the vanilla cupcakes and they were piped with a tip 2C.

Thanks to everyone for your comments!!

Anonymous said...

How CUTE are they with a little tea party!?!! Love it. :)

Anonymous said...

A spot of rum with Run Wilder's tea- LOL! Definitely.

Maybe I'll buy this Wilton tip 195 for piping- because I have a fairly cheap one form Walmart which is fine except when the frosting is very thick-- then bag slides away from the cap and round screw-on plastic piece.

Forget Betty-- you've got from-scratch cupcakes down!

Lori Vaughn said...

Would love to add this to my carnival at www.twosoutherngirls.com
Thanks, Lori