Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for the ‘Cupcakes’ Category

Everyone’s favorite monster is Cookie Monster, the lovable muppet from the children’s show Sesame Street. Since 1966, Cookie Monster has been a fixture in the imaginations of children everywhere. They can identify with his famous rant, “Me want cookie!” And they love his song, “C is for Cookie.”  You can add a Cookie Monster theme to your next birthday party easily by making Cookie Monster cupcakes. In addition to the cupcakes, have blue table linens, plates, cups and silverware.

It couldn’t be easier to whip up a batch of decorated cupcakes. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create darling little monsters of your own.

Here is a basic vanilla cupcake recipe from allrecipes.com. You can also use a packaged cake mix and pour into a cupcake tin instead of a cake pan. Use any flavor you like as the frosting will completely cover the top of the cupcake. For even results, scoop out the batter with an ice cream scoop into the tins.

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup superfine sugar

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with paper baking cups.

In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each one. Stir in the vanilla and flour just until mixed. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.

Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter.

After the cupcakes have cooled, you’re ready to decorate. There are a variety of ways to create the classic blue fur of the Cookie Monster on a cupcake. You can use blue sanding sugar, blue frosting, blue sprinkles, and/or coconut flakes tinted blue. Any craft store that has a cake and candy making aisle will have everything you need to get the right blue color. Use the brightest blue you can find. Paste food coloring works best to get the richest, deepest colors. It works just like regular food coloring drops. You just add as much as you need to white icing.

Frost each cupcake with blue frosting. Then, add the sprinkles, sanding sugar, or coconut. You can sprinkle the décor on or you can roll the top of the cupcake into it. The fun part comes when you make a small horizontal slit in the top of the cupcake to create a mouth. Stick a fresh baked cookie in it just like Cookie Monster would eat. Now all you have to do is add some googley eyes. You can use mini white marshmallows and a chocolate chip for the pupil. Present on a tray or serving platter that’s polka dotted or some fun pattern to keep the excitement going.

Kids will think you’re the coolest baker ever when you present these birthday cookie treats. They are so easy to make but they look like they took lots of effort. Who knew making character monsters was so simple? Why not surprise a favorite child on his next birthday or just on some random Tuesday after school?

Cookie monster crazy? Here are some more links you might enjoy:

• Cookie Monster birthday party ideas
• All about Sesame Street's Cookie Monster

Don't be fooled, these are not banana muffins!  This is a light, fluffy and sweet banana cupcake!  Perfect for a Sunday brunch, baby shower favors, or any time you're looking for a delicious treat!

You can frost these however you like.  I've tried a cream cheese frosting and a chocolate frosting, and both were amazing!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions:cu

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas and buttermilk. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to banana mixture. Fill 18 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. In a small mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes.

There are so many unique ways to decorate cupcakes these days. See tons of ideas for cupcake recipes.

Ingredients:

24 Halloween Themed Baking Cups
1 package (about 18 oz.) chocolate cake mix (or use your favorite flavor)
1 tub (16 oz.) vanilla ready-to-spread frosting (or use cream cheese flavor)
- green food color
- black string licorice
- green gumdrops
12 chocolate sandwich cookies (we use Oreos or Newman's Own Organic)
24 chocolate sugar ice cream cones
1 cup semi-sweet melted chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Get out a few muffin pans and line 24 of the muffin cups with the paper Halloween themed baking cups. Preheat oven to the temperature indicated on the cake mix package for 24 cupcakes.

2. Mix the cake mix according to the instructions on the box and spoon the batter into the baking cups.  Bake according to the package directions for 24 cupcakes.  Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool them completely on a baking rack.

3. In a mixing bowl, mix the tub of frosting together with some green food coloring until you get the desired green color.  Frost the 24 cupcakes.

4. To create the hat and brim, separate the 12 sandwich cookies and remove the cream filling. Set the cookie 24 cookie halves on wax paper. Then trim 24 chocolate ice cream cones so that they will sit well on top of the cookie halves. Melt the one cup of chocolate morsels in the microwave (be careful not to burn .... I suggest melting on 50% power). Drizzle the cookie halves with the melted chocolate and press the cones down into the melted chocolate (be sure to reserve a bit of melted chocolate for the witch's hair and eyebrows). When the chocolate sets-up, it should hold the cones onto the brim to form a pointy witch hat.

5. Place a pointed hat on each cupcake. Then decorate with the black string licorice for the eyes and mouth, melted chocolate for the hair and eyebrows, and trimmed green gumdrops for the witch's nose.

These scary good cupcakes are sure to be a hit at your kids school or a Halloween party. They are super easy to make and both the kids and adults will love them! Photo is courtesy of Cutco.

If you are throwing a party and don't have time to create your own goodies, consider buying one of our Halloween Cookie Bouquets and using it for a creative and yummy centerpiece!

• 1/2 cup whole natural almonds (gourmet nuts)
  

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 1 cup shreds of wheat bran cereal

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 3/4 cup milk

• 1/4 cup orange juice

• 1 tsp. grated orange peel

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup vegetable or almond oil

Spread almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted. Cool and chop. In crease the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, combine the cereal, sugar, milk, orange juice, and peel. Let stand 2 minutes or until cereal is softened. Add egg and oil; beat well. Stir in the almonds. Add the liquid mixture; stir just until moistened. Batter will be lumpy; do not over mix. Spoon batter evenly into 12 greased 2 ½ inch muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

If you love almonds, you'll love these recipes:

• Almond-Cognac Sponge Cake
• Almond Pleasure
• Almond Pound Cake
• Almond and Peach Ramekins

This recipe includes many ingredients that you'd use for cookies or muffins. Most of it will be in your cupboards already which is nice because you don't have to make a special trip to the store! To get started:

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 egg

• 3/4 cup milk

• 3/4 cup sweetened applesauce

• 1/4 cup butter, melted

• 1 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, 1/4 cup of the sugar, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, combine the egg, milk, applesauce, and butter; mix well. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Batter will be lumpy; do not over mix. In a small bowl, toss cranberries with remaining 2 tbsp. Of flour; fold into batter. Spoon batter evenly into 12 greased 2 3/4 inch muffin cups. In measuring cup, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Sprinkle over tops of muffins. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and cool.

More muffins recipes:

• Almond Citrus Muffins
• Pineapple Citrus Muffins