Rainbow Cupcakes!

I first saw these on a LiveJournal baking community and I fell in love instantly. The swirls of bright colors and the individuality of each cupcake made these look like so much fun. I had to try making them and I figured my sister's 15th birthday would be the perfect opportunity. I went out to the craft store and bought Wilton's food gel [it doesn't water down the batter or icing!] plus some piping equipment. I had never tried piping my frosting before and figured I would add even more adventure to this baking excursion.

As for the recipe, I turned to Billy's Bakery Vanilla Vanilla cupcake recipe that I used in at least 2 other baking episodes. The flavor and texture of these cupcakes has always been amazing, so why try something new? I also used the vanilla buttercream recipe from Billy's Bakery because, again, why try something new when you have already found something that's nearly perfect? I cut both recipes in half because I knew there was no way my family would be able to eat the entire batch ourselves. I don't know if my measurements were off or if it was just from cutting the recipe in half, but the consistency of the batter was off. At first I thought maybe I was imagining things or had forgotten what the batter was like, but after baking the cupcakes weren't nearly as light and fluffy as usual and didn't rise as much as usual. Oh well, I can't expect perfection every time.

I thought the frosting would be fine for piping and I even added more powdered sugar than usual, but it was still a little too soft. It didn't hold it's shape as well as I would have liked, but it still looked cute and it was something fun and different. In the future I would try another frosting or I would add more powdered sugar.

So I may not have been 100% satisfied with the results, but at least the cupcakes still taste great! The family agreed that these tasted just as delicious as previous batches and my sister was so excited to have her own birthday cupcakes on her very special day.

First post!

Well, here goes nothing.

I was home last weekend to celebrate two birthdays - my dad's and my own - and after showing a family friend some pictures I had taken earlier in the night, she suggested I start my own food blog. After much contemplation I caved and this is the final product. I don't know how often I'll be posting because I rarely get the opportunity to bake during the school year.

Anyway, on with the food!

Most 21 year-olds opt to celebrate that fateful birthday by treating themselves to a drink or two (or twenty-one). I celebrated with baking my own birthday cupcakes. As of late, I've become addicted to food blogs and 52 Cupcakes is one of my favorites. I decided to stick with simple chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for the occasion [although I was VERY tempted by a peaches and cream cupcake recipe...] in order to make sure Dad enjoyed the cupcakes just as much as I would. I used the recipes for Billy's Chocolate Cupcakes and Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes and intended on making both a vanilla and chocolate buttercream frosting, but after hours of cupcake baking before the birthday party I decided one frosting would be enough and went with vanilla.

These were the BEST cupcakes I have ever tasted. Both were light and fluffy, and full of flavor. The buttercream complimented both flavors perfectly and didn't over-power the cake in the slightest. Mom and I had a blast decorating the cupcakes, even though I did yell at her a few times for being overzealous with her sprinkles [here's where I should note that the cupcake featured in my banner is one she decorated and it provided beautiful pictures].

Party guests devoured the cupcakes, some taking one of each. I split the remaining cupcakes with my family, bring half of them back to Ohio Wesleyan with me. My roommates and boyfriend were more than happy to taste the cupcakes and less than a week later, we have one lonely chocolate cupcake left in the container.