The Adventures of a Frustrated Baker

A few days ago, this blog hit its 2 year birthday and what better way to celebrate than with a ridiculously indulgent cupcake recipe?!  After all, that is kind of what I am all about.  These cupcakes were actually a special request from my boss at Starbucks.  He found the picture and I hunted down a recipe.  I even brought them in as a treat on my last day! I don't know if any of you are familiar with monster cookies, I know I wasn't...I lived a sheltered childhood apparently!  That's okay though, these cupcakes more than make up for a lifetime without monster cookies, though after seeing some recipes for those I think they may make an appearance at our house very very soon!  These cupcakes are essentially peanut butter chocolate chip cupcakes, which pretty much makes them perfect, then to make it even more amazing, you top them with a "cookie dough" made of peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips and m&m's!  (I say "cookie...

Well, lets make this short, sweet and to the point.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I can't think of a better way to celebrate than baking Guinness into delicious cupcakes and topping it with frosting with Bailey's Irish Cream inside.  Well, I'm pretty sure I could think of better ways to celebrate, but seeing as I have to work at 4am tomorrow, this cupcakes is probably going to be the only celebrating I'm going to do today. My only comment on this cupcakes recipe...to those of you crazy people who don't like Guinness, give this cupcake a try.  The flavor of the Guinness doesn't stand out too much, in fact if I just told you it was chocolate you probably wouldn't even know there was Guinness in it.  They are by for the BEST chocolate cupcakes I've ever tasted! The ingredients... Mmm...Guinness... Bring the butter and Guinness to a simmer then whisk in the cocoa. Beat together the eggs, sour cream and milk. Add in the...

These cupcakes came to me while I was shopping a few weeks ago.  I saw a tub of buttered rum at the grocery store and I felt the need to buy some and use it in something. Those of you who know me, know how I feel about eggnog.  I think it's gross...though I've been told I can't really judge it until I've tried it warmed up with rum added.  Maybe someday people, but until that day, I stand by my hate of eggnog.  And since everyone keeps asuring me nothing pairs better with rum than eggnog, I figured they can't all be wrong. That being said, the fact that I made these cupcakes is a miracle as I taste absolutely EVERYTHING that I take out in public to ensure that there are no odd tasting goodies coming out of my kitchen!    Of course the day I made these cupcakes there was no tub of buttered rum to be found at the grocery store.  No worries...there's always rum in my house!  (Got to have it on hand in case I get the inkling for p...

Our garden, as previously mentioned, seems to think that we only need and want ginormous zucchinis and so has been mass producing crazy sized versions of this vegetable.  After doing a couple of pasta dishes, I realized that my zucchini arsenal of recipes was tapped and I turned to baked goods in order to use up some of our years long supply.  I have never tried zucchini in baked good form.  I know, I know, crazy!  But I just have never gotten around to it I guess.  For my first zucchini baked goodie, I chose cupcakes of course, and, while I myself did not really enjoy them (I guess I don't like zucchini baked goods...) my family and friends seemed to like these cupcakes and so I will share them with you too! One of our ginormous zucchinis.  Yup, that is a Morton salt container back there... Shred your zucchini using a cheese grater or food processor in order to get about 2 cups... Gather up all of your ingredients. Whisk or si...

For months I have been contemplating pastries in hippo form.  This year I had promised my daughter and a cousin who both had summer birthdays that I would make a hippo cake for the family reunion.  Of course, the whole family knew and we have been discussing what it would look like since before Easter.  That being said, I had to nix the whole cake idea a couple of days before the reunion cause I just wasn't going to have enough time to put the cake together the day we left with everything else I had to do and my work schedules.  Instead, I made hippo cupcakes and I must say I think they turned out great!  There are a few things I feel I should mention though...be sure to try the batter.  It seemed way to bright to me and not very "red velvety" in color and when I tried it, all I could taste was red food coloring so I added more cocoa.  Also, don't be disturbed by the color of the batter...as long as it tastes good it will be fine! ...