Easter Goodies!

Pastel blue Cupcake #1

Pink Cupcake #1

Chick gang #1

Ugly Duckling ?..

The chicks #2

Strawberry Cheesecake #1

#2..

#3.

Carrot Cake #1

Turkey-Day Dlights!

I've recently come to realize how MANY photos of fall/thanksgiving dessert photos I have. Not only is it overwhelming to upload (from my phone!) all of these pics, that is. But I came to the conclusion that I am in need of a professional camera, ASAP! Hi Black Friday!...right around the corner ;)

Mini Banana bread loaf with a chocolate drizzle.

Chocolate Oat Surprise Muffin (the surprise? Oooey gooey chocolate goodness in the center)..mmmm

Spiced baked custard (baked in an orange peel, that is! lemon twist for garnish)

Whole Wheat Cranberry muffins. Baked in parchment paper, for a more...Rustic/Homey look.

Sweet Potato bread pudding. Topped with charred Marshmallows that crunch first & then melt in your mouth.

Old fashioned donuts. Rolled in a warm brown sugar, nutmeg & cinnamon combo.

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes. Topped & filled with a rich cinnamon cream cheese icing.

Pumpkin spice scones

While pumpkin alone is nice..what's even better than to pair it with a few chocolate chips!?..

These treats can either be shaped by hand or by using some festive cookie cutters! I found a cute 4" x 4" square cut out, with ridges all around. They keep excellent form in midst of baking and puffin up :) I found that some like to burn (esp. on the outsides of the baking sheet) So watch your timing with a hawks eye and check 2 minutes before with a light touch.



My baking addiction

Linked above is where I got this delish recipe. They are a great morning treat to take on the early morning commute in this fresh, chill October weather :)
The only 'tweak' I pulled in this one was using brown sugar AND granulated sugar for the 6 tbsp (so 3 and 3)..

Serve with a nice glaze warm out of the oven.
ENJOY!

Soul-warming Spiced Cupcakes

From the Everyday FOOD magazine of Martha Stewart.
This was the perfect combo of a nice pumpkin/cinnamon sensation. Not too overpowering, just right.

Cupcakes
-2 Sticks Unsalted Butter (make sure it is always room temp.)
-1 1/2 C. AP flour
-1 1/2 tspns. coarse salt
-1/2 tspn. cinnamon (I added a pinch more ;)..
-1/2 tspn. ground nutmeg
-1/4 tspn. ground cardamom
-1 C. light brown sugar
-2 Large eggs (also room temp.)
-1/2 C. whole milk
-1 oz. unsulfured molassus
-2 oz. canned pumpkin
-1 tspn. baking soda

*Combine all dry ingredient, sifted all together. I reccommend sifting and then adding it onto a sheet of parchment paper. Then when the time comes to add your dry goods, you fold it (think taco)..and distribute it into the mixing bowl, for a nice quick non-mess-of-a-clean-up!) ;)

-Pre Bake @ 350...grease and flour the pans (dump excess flour out, better yet..CONSERVE!)

*Combine butter + brown sugar, beat on high until light and fluffy)
*Add eggs, one at a time..until both combined. Using spatula to scrape along the sides of bowl.
*Turn your mixer down to a (2) Add your dry goods, nice and sifted together, in three additions. Btwn. each addition, pour your milk in. Beat well!
*Lastly, add your canned pumpkin, mix a bit, just until all combined.


- - Add cupcake mix into your cupcake pan - -
*(Sprinkle some sugar on top of batter just for a great first impressionable bite)*


*BAKE 12 - 15mins. until goldren. Rotate your pan in middle of baking. :)
NOW..Martha says, a citrus glaze works well with these here cucpakes. I believe they do, really. But I was in the mood for some cream cheese frosting instead..Here is my recipe I put together. Both adding and subtracting from various recipes.


My Cream Cheese recipe

-8oz. Cream cheese
-1 Stick. Unsalted Butter (Cut into cubes, left @ rm. temp.)
-1 C. Confect. Sugar, sifted.
-1 1/2 tspn. Vanilla extract.

*Combine cream cheese and sugar. Beat until fluffy, add in your cubes of Butter, combine once again!..Then lastly, for your tastebuds, the lovely appearance of Vanilla extract!..

You can add in some color now if you'd like! I added orange.

Pipe onto your desserts with a piping bag! (I used a Tip #6)..or just a plastic ziplock with a big enough hole at the bottom corner will do..

These are so savory and yummy, just plain without the frosting!..

ENJOI!