Cupcake Experiment #2

Yum!  My quest to become "known for cupcakes" is going along smashingly!  This week, I tried a cake mix from scratch...

For my first from scratch cake, I went to my tried & true, favorite cook book.  This Betty Crocker book is from the '70's and was given to my by my mother-in-law, when I first got married.  I love it...simple & basic recipes.

I assembled the ingredients for the batter...

...and filled the cupcake pan.  Last time you might remember that I overfilled the cupakes.  This time, I got the perfect amount of batter into the cakes.

I've also invested in a mini-cupcake pan.  These are the perfect size for a taste-test, they're super cute! and my youngest, Aiden, also loves mini-muffins.

The cakes came out perfectly and it was time to frost...

I used the same buttercream frosting recipe that I used in Cupake Experiment #1.  This received a total of  

4 stars in the first test and I didn't want to change too many things this time around.  I also went for a Patriotic theme...the blue frosting turned out perfectly but the red sugars looked a little pink.

How did they Score?

  Presentation...3 stars

Frosting...4 stars

Cake...2 stars

I took the cupcakes to a family party, so there were more tasters this time around.  In general the cake was a bit dry and sort of bitter tasting.  The frosting was still a hit!

Coming up next week...Red Velvet cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Cupcake Experiments...

I have decided that I need a signature dish...something I am known for.  So, I decided that this summer I am going to perfect a cupcake recipe and become known for my cupcakes!  My husband and children are delighted to help taste the samples along the way, of course.  Here goes the experiment...

I was originally inspired by Teresa over at Blooming on Bainbridge who made cupcakes for a carnival in May.  She, in turn, got her recipe from Tidy Mom...the perfect cupcake using a cake mix!  Armed with the "perfect cupcake" recipe, I got to work.

The actual cake recipe was a way to enhance a cake mix.  The batter was much thicker than cake mix batter and was very chocolately.  My first mistake with this batch of cupakes was over filling the cups...

Sadly, these cupcakes won't be very pretty!  Fortunately I had enough batter to make six more cupcakes, and those turned out perfectly shaped.

While the cupcakes cooled, it was time to make the Buttercream Frosting.  I used the recipe found with Tidy Mom's Perfect Cupcakes. 

I am going to need to practice my photography as well...this photo doesn't do the Buttercream Frosting justice.  It was fluffy and so delicious! 

I love the way professional cupcakes are frosted, using a cake decorating tip and creating a yummy swirl of frosting on the top...so I also invested in some new tips and bags so that my cupcakes look as good as they taste. 

Cupcake Trial #1...Chocolate with Buttercream Frosting. 

Then it was time for the taste tests...

We devised a scoring guide to evaluate Presentation, Cake Taste and Frosting...

Presentation = 7 stars....Cake = 12 stars...Frosting = 16 stars!   Not too bad for a first run! On the subject of frosting the taste testers actually requested that I don't try any other recipes...this one is perfect!