Grandma's Kitchen Table

MSC: Lemon Yogurt Cupcakes with Raspberry Jam

      It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Lemon Yogurt Cupcakes with Raspberry Jam, is found on pages 125 of the book, and was chosen by Jenny of Give Cupcakes.   

      I was looking for a way to distract myself this morning and Tracey thought she'd like to bake something, too, and then Margaret hopped onboard for a Twitterbake.  I remembered that today was posting day for the monthly cupcake at the MSC cupcake blog along, checked the recipe for the month, it had lemon in it, it wasn't chocolate, I had everything on hand, and that was pretty much the end of the decision making process. 

      Tracey and Margaret were all for joining in, so the three of us made these this morning, cooled them, and put the finishing touches on this afternoon.

      Ingredient list:  butter, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, yogurt, raspberry jam, and confectioner's sugar. 

      I stuck with the recipe (only change was that I possibly added a little more lemon zest than the recipe called for, I love lemon so I zested two lemons and tossed all of that into the batter).  The filling is raspberry preserves with a light dusting of powdered sugar on top was the perfect choice because these are pretty sweet and regular frosting might just have made them tooth-achingly sweet.  The cupcake itself was lemony, moist, and tender. 

      I will definitely make these again, they were easy and tasty.   We all loved them, definitely a repeat.  Soon.  Next month's recipe selection is Rhubarb Cupcakes with Whipped Cream on pages 32-33.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Snickerdoodle Cupcakes, is found on pages 64 of the book, and was chosen by Katie of Katie's Cakes.  You can also find the recipe here. 

These were delicious cupcakes, and they did, they tasted like Snickerdoodle cookies.  I liked the cupcake straight up with no icing, but the guys are a fan of icing, so I iced them with my Buttercream Icing as the guys are not that fond of 7-Minute Icing (calling it "chick icing") that was recommended in the book.  No swirling, no fancy decorator tips, just slathered it on and sprinkled the tops with cinnamon sugar.  We all loved them, definitely a repeat.  Soon.
 

Next month's recipe selection has not been chosen yet, but you can check the blogroll from time to time to find out what we are posting November 15th if you would like to bake along.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes, is found on pages 104-105 of the book, and was chosen by Nina of Nina's Cupcakes. 

These were a big hit with the guys, Nina, they love Oreos!  In fact, I don't know how many times I had to buy the Oreos because they kept eating them all before I could get the cupcakes made. 

The ingredient list is not long:  Oreos, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, eggs, sour cream, and a tiny bit of salt.
 An Oreo was placed into the cupcake wrappers, forming the bottom crust, the other ingredients mixed and poured on top, set in a low oven to bake, cooled on a rack, then cooled again in the refrigerator.  Easy, and no frosting to make.  I made a fourth of the recipe and it gave me ten little cheesecakes.  Guys loved them, definitely a repeat.  

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Katie from Katie's Cakes and is Snickerdoodle Cupcakes, found on page 64, posting October 15th.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes, is found on pages 108-109 of the book, and was chosen by Lauryn of Bella Baker.  These were a big hit with the guys, Lauryn, but then you knew they would be, right?! 

I have never made any of the "flourless" recipes before, so I was looking forward to this one just to see how all this works.  There are only four ingredients:  Butter, Chocolate, Eggs, and Sugar.  Somehow it all comes together and forms into a cupcake while baking.  The book said that the tops were supposed to be crackly and sunken in...finally, a baked cake/brownie that is SUPPOSED to be caved in and crackly...not one that I made that way by mistake.  I figured I couldn't go wrong with this.
These were incredibly easy to make, do not require frosting because the end direction says to plop a scoop of ice cream on top.  You can't get much easier than that, and the guys loved them.
These will appear again and again and again.  Thanks, Lauryn!

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Marthe from Culinary Delights and is Triple Citrus Cupcakes, found on page 64, posting August 15th. 

  Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Strawberry Cupcakes and Strawberry Meringue Buttercream Icing

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Strawberry Cupcakes, is found on pages 146-147 of the book, and was chosen by Sherry of Sherry Starts Cooking.  Oh, thank you, thank you, Sherry.  Strawberries are a real favorite around here and these were delicious...didn't even need the frosting in my opinion, but I did make the one suggested in the book anyway, Strawberry Meringue Buttercream on page 306, and it was delicious as well.

I had no choice but to make meringue on a rainy day, so I am sure it did not handle exactly as I had hoped, but it tasted just fine. 

I made half a recipe as like the lemon cupcakes, I certainly didn't need a lot of these hanging around as temptation.  That said, I am looking for an excuse to make them again soon.

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Lauryn from Bella Baker and is Flourless Chocolage Cupcakes, found on pages 108-109, posting July 15th.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Tres Leches Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Tres Leches Cupcakes, is found on pages 48-49 of the book, and was chosen by Lisa of Smiley's Sweets and Creations.  

We turned these cupcakes into Strawberry Shortcakes as I figured that was a sure way that they would get eaten.  It's not that they were bad, it is just that the cupcake has holes poked into it after it finishes baking and then a mixture of three types of milk is drizzled into the holes, making for one very soggy and wet cake.  We don't like wet cake, sort of along the lines of we don't like bread pudding.
Anyway, I put on a whole lot of whipped cream and berries, and the guys were willing to eat it thusly.   It's a good thing I didn't make a whole batch. 

Lots of people baking them loved them, so head on over to the blogroll and see some favorable reviews before you decide if you want to make these or not.  The schedule is not yet posted for next month's recipe, but the Blogroll is found here.

MSC: Jumbo Cream-filled Chocolate Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Jumbo Cream-filled Chocolate Cupcakes, is found on page 133 of the book, and was chosen by Jess of Cookbook Habit.  Love Jess' blog as she is a young mom with not a whole lot of time to spare, but loves to cook and bake and take care of her family, such fun to read about her adventures as she is always so upbeat about everything.  

I knew the guys were going to like having chocolate this week and since they all love marshmallow type things, figured this would be a double hit with them.  I was right, the cupcakes were much appreciated and eaten with a great deal of enjoyment, Matt downing three of them right away as I was finishing them.  

The chocolate cupcake was easy and baked for the amount of time specified, although I made regular sized cupcakes, not jumbo ones as I do not have a jumbo size pan.  I didn't have marshmallow fluff on hand, didn't feel like going to the store, so searched and found a recipe for it...who knew that was so easy, quick to make, and tasted so much better than the jarred version???  Never buying the jarred version again, not that I buy a lot of it, but just saying, that making your own is incredibly easy and fun.

  

A repeat recipe.  I am thinking little mini ones of these would be a big hit at swim events.  Thanks, Jess, they were a big hit! 

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Lisa from Smiley's Sweet and Creations and is Tres Leches Cupcakes, found on page 48, posting May 15th.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Lemon Meringue Cupcakes -- Oooh La La!

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Lemon Meringue Cupcakes, is found on page 142 of the book, and was chosen by Megan of My Baking Adventures.  Love Megan's blog as she always has very practical wonderful food featured. 

 

You knew this one would be my favorite, right?  Lemon cupcakes, lemon curd, what's not to love?  Dangerous, dangerous things to have brightening up the kitchen, so I made only half a batch, which made 12, and fortunately the guys loved them, so my temptation only extended to two of them.   

 

There are three parts to the recipe, none of them difficult, but it does take a bit of time:  Lemon cupcakes, Lemon curd, 7 minute icing. 

 

Can't be making these too often for sure as they are absolutely wonderful and taste even better than they look, which is saying a lot.  Very lemony.  I think they are probably going to find their way here again the next time I can be sure that there will be enough people around to share them with.  Thanks, Megan, they were a big hit...and oh, so pretty! 

 

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Jess from Cookbook Habit and is Jumbo Cream-filled Chocolate Cupcakes, found on page 133.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: S'Mores Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, S'Mores Cupcakes, is found on pages 150-151 of the book, and was chosen by Mary Ann of Meet Me in the Kitchen.  Mary Ann and I bake/cook in a couple of groups together, so it was fun to get to make a recipe she picked this month.  And, thanks to another Mary Ann, my sister-in-law, I have a stash of really cute little cupcake wrappers which were gifted to me by her at Christmas! 

 

The recipe is a bit fussy in that there are three separate parts to it:  the cupcake, the chocolate ganache, and the marshmallow topping, which you need to use a butane torch or risk going under the broiler, to obtain that toasted marshmallow look.  Not difficult, just lots of this and that. 
The cupcakes were made with graham flour and it was the first time I got to use that, so that was fun, and delicious.  Need to find some other things to make with graham flour!  It was also fun making marshmallow topping and mine tasted just exactly like marshmallows so I must have done it all correctly. 

 

I made half a batch of the cupcakes, which was supposed to net 12, but I got 18 out of the recipe.  A couple of those found themselves without any chocolate ganache on them, surprise, surprise. 

 

I thought the little cupcake tasted best warm straight out of the oven with nothing on it, but the guys were happy with the entire assembly, thought they were good, tasted just like s'mores, and were happy to eat them.  Rave reviews?  Not really, so not sure I will make them again, as they are a bit fussy and its just a whole lot easier to make s'mores with a whole lot less cleaning up.  It was fun to do it this once, however. 

 

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Megan from My Baking Adventures and is Lemon Meringue Cupcakes, found on pages 142.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC Club: Coconut Cupcakes & Seven-Minute Frosting

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one, Coconut Cupcakes, is found on pages 28-29 of the book, and was chosen by Jennifer of Cinema Cupcakes.   

 

The recipe is easy with common pantry ingredients, flour, baking powder, salt, coconut, butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  The only unusual ingredient was coconut milk, of which Tracey and I have much left so we are going to cook something Thai for this Saturday night with it, she in Rhode Island, and me here in Indiana.  It was all assembled in just a few minutes, and put in to bake for about 20 minutes. 

 

I used the recommended frosting in the book, Seven-Minute Frosting(the coconut version), which was just sugar, water, corn syrup, egg whites, and coconut extract, recipe can be found on page 303.  The frosting was just as easy (although it takes half again as long as the 7 minutes) and went smoothly on the cooled cupcakes, complimenting the flavor of the cupcakes nicely, maybe too nicely as these are dangerous things to have around.  Sooooo good!

 

I made half a recipe which gave me 12 cupcakes, while Tracey made it into 9 cupcakes as we were baking together on Twitter yesterday and comparing notes.  I would do the 9 the next time as it is more ratio of cake to icing/coconut. 

 

It was great not having to worry about how the icing was going to look as the flaked coconut took care of that nicely...sort of looks like snow on top with my little snowmen cupcake wrappers.  This is as creative as it gets from here, folks, yep, that's the extent of it. 

 

Make them, but make sure you have a lot of people to share them with so there are no leftovers hanging around because you won't be able to resist. 

 

Next month's recipe selection was chosen by Mary Ann from Meet Me in the Kitchen and is S'more Cupcakes, found on pages 150-151.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Gingerbread Cupcakes and Fluffy Vanilla Frosting

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakesbook.  This one, Gingerbread Cupcakes (with optional cookie cutouts not shown here), is found on page 246 of the book, and was my pick for the group for this month. 

 

I debated, I really did, on doing something less prosaic than picking one of the Christmas seasonal selections from the book, but then I figured that this was the only time of year when this one would see most appropriate, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to make gingerbread cupcakes and enjoy that lovely smell in the house while they were baking. 

 

The recipe is easy with common pantry ingredients, assembled in just a few minutes, and put in to bake for about 25 minutes.  I used the recommended frosting in the book, Fluffy Vanilla Frosting, found on page 302.  The frosting was just as easy (butter, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla) and went smoothly on the cooled cupcakes, complimenting the gingerbread flavor of the cupcakes nicely. 

 

The book showed a photo of the cupcake with little gingerbread men cutouts perched on the side or on the top and I thought originally I would do this, but as the season advances, we are having way too many extra sweets around the house, so I decided to forego the extra cookie option and just sprinkle a few little gingerbread men sprinkles on the top. 
We thought the cupcakes had just the right gingerbread flavor without being too over-powering, and although I made only half a recipe (12 cupcakes), I can tell they won't be around long enough for me to wonder if I should have made fewer.  This is a very nice recipe for the holidays...easy, quick, flavorful, and fun! 

 

Next month's recipe selection is Coconut Cupcakes, found on 28-29.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC Club: Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes and Brown-Sugar Cream-Cheese Frosting

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one is a bonus selection, the Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes, found on page 55 of the book, chosen by Sherry of Sherry Starts Cooking. Great recipe, easy to mix quickly (although will someone please tell me what I am doing wrong that I keep getting all these tunnels in my cupcakes when we open them up, doesn't happen with my cakes), and tasty. 

 

The recipe calls for applesauce and since I didn't have any apples in the house to make my own (a rare occasion), I used some Granny Smith applesauce that Mark had on hand for his lunches:  nice and flavorful in the cupcakes. 

 

The recipe suggested the Brown-Sugar Cream-Cheese Frosting on page 310 and I made that for them...basically some butter, some cream cheese, and some brown sugar.  It complimented the cupcake flavor nicely. 

 

The recipe called for pecans in the batter, so I opted to just plop one on top of the frosted cupcake as my guys don't like nuts IN things, but they will eat them on the outside of things. 

 

I made 2/3 of the recipe which gave us 12 cupcakes and 1/2 of the frosting recipe which generously frosted the 12 cupcakes nicely. 

 

Next month's recipe selection is my turn and in keeping with the season, I chose Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cookie Cutouts, found on  246.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC Club: Halloween Cupcakes

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This one is a bonus selection, a free choice in cupcake flavor with a decorated Halloween theme. 

 

We all know how creative I am NOT.  I looked at probably a thousand different pictures of decorated cupcakes for Halloween and didn't feel moved to duplicate any of them.  Maybe I'm just not that into Halloween, not sure, could be.   

 

One of my fellow bakers said, "Just close your eyes and think of all the things you have seen and read lately and what is the most frightening thing you can think of for Halloween, like a costume or something?"  I closed my eyes and responded, "The most frightening costume I can think of would be Thomas Jefferson dressed up as a Federalist."  Groans from my friend, "Be serious."  "Okay, the only other thing that is coming to mind would be John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams having a good old boy embrace over cocktails in Braintree (Quincy)."  More groans.  I guess she didn't realize that all I have been reading and seeing lately are books on Jacksonian-era politics.  Maybe she had something different in mind, like maybe Andrew Jackson exiting the First National Bank with a big smile, checkbook in one hand, and free gifts for opening a new savings account in the other, maybe something along those lines.  

 

I have never liked the ghoulishness of the whole Halloween season, so I am not sure why I thought I would do this bonus recipe, except that it would give me a chance to make another of the cupcake recipes in the book.  Cathy has been raving about the One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes (p. 152) and since the guys did not get a chocolate dessert this week, I figured this would be a good time to try out the recipe.   

 

Results:  they loved the cupcakes and enjoyed the chocolate frosting (p. 302) with accompanying sprinkles.  Matt, for instance, returned home, saw a plate of three and said, "Are these for me?  Great, thanks!" He downed all three within three minutes.  Guess swim practice must have been tough tonight.  

 

Since I am not a chocolate fan (at all), I figured this chocolate/chocolate/chocolate concoction was frightening enough just as it was.  And then it hit me:  "This is IT! This is absolutely the most horrible, dark, sinister, unpleasant thing I could ever have thought of:  Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing and Chocolate Sprinkles!"  I did it...I came up with a scary theme for Halloween!  And it was there all the time, on pages 152 and 302!   

 

Okay, you aren't buying that (even though it is totally legit), so Cathy agreed to let me borrow her witches, straight out of the MSC book, see photo left.  While I was busy hemming and hawing about how to possibly decorate some Halloween cupcakes for the bonus blog along, Cathy (who is not a member of the group but who has baked a far greater number of the recipes in the book than anyone I know), got busy and created the little witch cupcakes shown in the book for her children and their friends.  She wasn't going to get a chance to blog them (I can't imagine why not since she is a full-time wife and mother, has three children ages 7 and under, is a lawyer, and runs marathons), and my blog was going to be pretty dull, so we worked out a deal where her witches could guest star over here and ghoul things up a bit.  Aren't they frighteningly cute?   

 

After you finish admiring Cathy's little witches, go check in with the other participants on the blogroll to see just what Halloween creativity is all about!      

Next month's pick is from Karen at Karen's Cookies, Cakes, & More, who chose Candied Sweet Potato Cupcakes, found on  243.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC Club: Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  The selection was chosen by Kim at What The Whisk, and was Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes, found on page 236 of the book, with the accompanying Cream Cheese Frosting, found on page 303. 

Kim is one of the bloggers at TWD that I tune into each week to see what's baking in her kitchen, and all the other newsy bits she includes, so it is always fun to get to bake a choice by one of your favorite bloggers.  I knew she would pick a great recipe, seasonal or not, and we were not disappointed. 

I first must say that this is a Pumpkin-Tolerant Household, meaning that we like pumpkin okay, never bake/cook with it out of season, i.e. November, and left to our own devices, probably wouldn't miss it even then.  The one exception would be Mark and Pumpkin Pie at Thanksgiving as it would not be the holiday for him without it.  I have made maybe one pumpkin pie in my life as there are those who relish the occasion.  So, I made the Pumpkin Cupcakes with some skepticism. 

They disappeared within two days, the whole dozen of them.  Gone.   Was it the Cream Cheese Frosting?  Was it the change of tastebuds that now people DO like pumpkin more than originally thought?  Who can say.  I had one and even I enjoyed it very much (but it could very possibly have been the cream cheese frosting).  I did like the inclusion of buttermilk in the recipe and that little special tang that comes with it, so the recipe ended up being a big hit.   

With the extra canned pumpkin, I made Mark a Pumpkin Pie (in October!) using the King Arthur recipe in their latest catalog.  I even had a little of that and it was great.  So, I am thinking, that just possibly, pumpkin is something that will be seeing a little more playing time around here...everyone ate it and enjoyed it.

    

Next month's pick is from Karen at Karen's Cookies, Cakes, & More, who chose Candied Sweet Potato Cupcakes, found on  243.   Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC Club: Banana-Pecan Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream Icing

It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book.  This week was a bonus recipe, optional, and it sounded good to the crew here, so I opted to participate.  The selection was chosen by Betty, the originator of the MSC Club, and was Banana-Pecan Cupcakes, found on pages 40-41 of the book, with the accompanying icing, Caramel Buttercream, found on page 307. 

I only made a third of the recipe, which made 12 standard size cupcakes (the recipes are very generous with amounts) and the division was easy to do by dividing by 3.  Cupcakes went together in a flash, even left the pecans in the recipe as I am no longer buying the plea, "We don't like nuts IN things so much" from the guys.  We shall see how this works out.

 

I had one.  They were delicious, although, if I am truthful, I am not crazy about that buttercream recipe...too much butter taste for me.  Guys loved it, however, and thought it was just right.  I might play around with it a bit in the future as I love making caramel and it was a great flavor in the frosting for this particular cupcake, surely I can add more caramel and less butter somehow.   

We do not post these recipes, so if you want to make these cupcakes, you need to buy the book or put it on your Christmas list.  This cupcake recipe was very good, and it is something different to do with over-ripe bananas other than banana bread.

MSC: Zucchini-Spice Cupcakes

   It's time for another cupcake adventure this month from the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book. 

   This month's pick went to a good internet blogging Twitter buddy, Tracey of Tracey's Culinary Adventures, who chose the Zucchini-Spice Cupcakes, found on page 44.  Not only did Tracey chose the cupcakes, but we baked them together via Twitter yesterday morning, each in our own kitchen chatting back and forth with important things like, "Did you peel the zucchini first?  Are you making a half batch or a full batch?"  (Answers:  "No, don't peel the zucchini first." "Half batch, 12 cupcakes.") 

  The recipe was simple, easy, quick, smelled wonderful baking in the oven, was a perfect vehicle for the cream cheese frosting, and was enjoyed by everyone here, including Alex who is not really into appreciating "greenery in food." 

  I left out the walnuts as we aren't big fans of them in baked goods, but other than that, did the recipe as written with great results.  Nice, moist, wonderful flavor, like a spice cake...highly recommend making these.   Tracey was debating on whether to try to make hers "creative" in some way, so I am eager to see her post and see what she came up with.  Since I don't have a creative bone in my body, my salute to being creative was coming up with cupcake wrappers in the appropriate fall theme with leaves of yellow, orange, green, and brown.  That's as creative as I get, Tracey!  Everyone who knows me well will be amazed that I even came up with that little touch. 

   Next month's pick is from Kim at What the Whisk, another favorite blogger, who chose Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes, found on page 236. 

    And, if you can't wait for another month, and want to make something in the meantime, we have a bonus recipe for September 30th:  Banana-Pecan Cupcakes, found on page 41.  I might, I just might. 

    Blogroll and Schedule found here.

MSC: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes (One Sentence Blogging Week)

  It's another adventure...this time Betty of Eat My Cupcake decided she would bake her way through the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book, wanted some company, so she put out a little feeler and I figured cupcakes would be a good thing to learn how to do well as there are ample opportunities for donating cupcakes for activities when you have kids at home, and she was only hosting/posting once a month, so without further adieu, I give you little cupcake minis entitled Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes (found on pages 148-149 of the book), chocolate on the outside, chocolate to top it off, and homemade caramel in the middle (yes, I did make the caramel which I tasted and found delicious), all of which Mark thought was very pleasing and delicious, noting that the final verdict will reach us late this evening when Matt returns home to a dessert plate full of these cute little minis, guaranteed they will be a big hit.