Saturday, July 9, 2011

blueberry upside down cake.

i love summer. 

it is my favorite time of the year. 

i also love fruit. 

so i absolutely love summer so i can get fresh fruit...so yummy! 
 
i had a bunch of blueberries in my fridge that needed to be used so i decided to go ahead and make a recipe i had "pinned" earlier this summer. 

for father's day this year i made pioneer woman's blueberry coffee cake...it was delicious. unfortunately, i never got any pictures. 

lucky for me, this time i did. 
 

blueberry upside down cake:
--recipe found at thibeault's table 

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar 
2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen) 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
-----------
1/2 cup butter
3/4 sugar 
1 egg 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
-----------
1 1/3 cup flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1/4 salt 
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) 
------------
3/4 cup milk
mix melted butter with brown sugar and pour into either an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan. spread evenly. sprinkle with blueberries. drizzle with lemon juice. 

in a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add egg and vanilla. mix until combined. 

in another large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, if using. 

add to butter mixture, alternating with the milk. stir to combine. 

drop batter over blueberries. bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. let cool in pan for ten minutes and turn out onto a plate.




Friday, July 8, 2011

s'mores cupcakes.

i made these cupcakes for this first time this past weekend. i found them on pinterest and my mom asked me to make them for the family for fourth of july. 

for someone who isn't completely in love with chocolate...you really wouldn't know it because i sure keep making over-the-top chocolate desserts.  

ultimate brownies.
s'mores bars.
cookie dough topped brownies.
oreo brownies.

yeah. so. anyway.


these cupcakes are made from scratch and are super yummy.


the marshmallow fluff center is creamy and ah-mazing. 


and, the graham cracker buttercream is basically fantastic. 

the recipe is from your cup of cake. this is the first of her recipes that i have made and i have no doubt that it won't be my last. 
s'mores cupcakes:
--recipe from your cup of cake

chocolate cupcakes:
1 ¾ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder                          
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup boiling water

graham cracker crumbs

marshmallow cream centers:
4 oz cream cheese
½ cup marshmallow cream
1 ½-2 cups powdered sugar

craham cracker buttercream:
8 oz cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 tablespoons whipping cream or milk (i used milk) 


directions: 
preheat your oven to 360 degrees and line two cupcake tins with liners (this makes about twenty four cupcakes).  spoon about a teaspoon of graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of the liner.

in a large bowl, mix sugar, brown sugar, and oil for about three minutes or until smooth. add sour cream and vanilla to sugar mixture.  

add eggs one at a time. gently mix to incorporate. 

in another large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 

alternating between the two, add dry ingredients and boiling water to the sugar mixture. mix to combine. 

fill liners about 3/4 full.

bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
let completely cool before adding the cream centers. 

marshmallow cream centers: 
in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, marshmallow cream, and powdered sugar. add more powdered sugar to taste. 

when cupcakes are cooled, remove a small section in the top and pipe the cream into it. 


graham cracker buttercream: 
in a large bowl, beat cream cheese with the butter until fluffy. add powdered sugar, vanilla, and graham cracker crumbs. the mixture will resemble cookie dough until you add enough milk or cream to create buttercream consistency. pipe frosting on top of marshmallow cream filled cupcakes. 

you can also drizzle chocolate and sprinkle with mini marshmallow, only if you want. 

but seriously, why wouldn't you?