The verdict is in...

Today, the Lemon and Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting arrived at work and the response was great!  I don't know if the lemon flavor developed overnight, but everyone raved about the flavor and the texture.  I am so very pleased.  I guess I will add these to my list of cupcakes to repeat!

Next flavor combo to tackle...Trail Mix Cupcakes! 

The jury is still out...

Not sure where to begin.  Feeling doubtful about my day of baking and this entry.  There weren't any major catastrophes, the flavor combo just wasn't quite as *pow* as I was expecting. 

Today I baked Blueberry and Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.  I don't know how I feel about them at all.  I am overly critical, I know.  The recipe was originally for a cake but i wanted to do cupcakes.  I think, I should have used less blueberries, or strategically placed blueberries.  I'm not sure.  I will see what happens on Monday when people try them at work.  I had some fun playing with lemon peels for decoration on these.  I also kept inspirational tv on in the background with cooking and/or baking shows on in the background.  

The recipe made about 2 dozen cupcakes.

A little lemon curl and blueberry decoration on top.  I didn't want to distract from the flavor combo with sprinkles or pearls.

Birthday Cupcakes!

This weekend, in honor of Sean's birthday, I made him his own batch of dream cupcakes.  My poor husband is always stuck with the "ugly cookies" or left over scraps of cupcakes and baked goods.  In honor of his birthday I looked up recipes that only he would love and settled on Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting!

The tops browned a little and had just a little crisp to them, which I think added to the combination.

Pre-Frosting

I was a little worried because the bananas were not "very ripe" as the recipe described, but they turned out well. The flavor combo is not one that I would pick, but separately, the cupcakes were light and fluffy and the frosting is just about the most delicious thing EVER! I let it mix extra to make it lighter and what a good decision that was.  Like a peanut butter cloud.  And the best part is how happy Sean is to finally have his own batch of homemade goodies! 

Here they are in all their glory.

I used a fun decorative cupcake liner since the cupcake and the frosting were light brown, not very exciting.  Someday I won't have air bubbles in my frosting. 

I would make this recipe again without a doubt! So easy and very delicious. Next time I might add some chocolate chips into the banana batter or on top of the frosting, but I didn't think about it until I was mid-baking.  

Adventures in Baking - Welcome

This is my first attempt at blogging.  This page will hopefully serve as a post for successful baking attempts on my part.  To start, I should point out that I am not a professional baker and have no formal training.  I am a terrible cook and have been known to burn water.  Baking, at least simple baking, makes sense to me and seems to come naturally. I sort of just fell into it and have been stumbling along for the last few years.  My favorite things to bake and decorate are sugar cookies.  This year I experimented with some new recipes, Shortbread Button Cookies and Lemon Glitter Sandwiches.  

 This is a selection of the sugar cookies that I made this year.  I experimented with Sugar pearls and confetti this year.  

 I just love the snowmen.  Each year I wish I made more of them.

 I am simultaneously working on my photography skills as well. 

I saw this crazy tree statue in a cookie book I have and was anxious and excited to try making one.  I was successful, though I recommend construction of the tree to be done on the site where the cookies will be eaten.  

 These Lemon Glitter sandwiches turned out so light and fluffy.  They just melt in your mouth and were really quite easy to make also. And SO pretty.

 Below are some Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream frosting that I made for some coworkers.   

I love the tiny trees! 

One of my goals for 2011 is to bake more and try new recipes and get better about making my cupcake batter from scratch.  It just tastes so much better.  I love making treats for my family and friends.  I think homemade cookies and cupcakes just brighten people's day.