Merry Christmas Neighbors Vanilla Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

These cupcakes are from the "Cupcakes from the CakeDoctor" book...she calls the recipe "The Best Birthday Cupcakes" but I think they are the best Christmas vanilla cupcakes...Other than Billy's Vanilla Vanilla cupcakes...and Layla seems to think so too!

Found the cute cupcake liners at Pier One...who would have thought. And, I'd like to give a shout-out to our cupcake-loving neighbors Arthur and Linda and a little further down our street Marie and Teddy (her doggy who is so cute!).

Merry Christmas, Everyone!! See you in the New Year!

CQ and Layla

Martha Stewart's Gingerbread Cupcakes without Cookie Cutouts (#20)

First of all, Layla wishes everyone a happy National Cupcake Day!
I just couldn't resist creating a snow scene with my cupcakes this week. My sister, Robin, gave me one of her cameras and it has this awesome lense that allows me to get very fine photos of my "little people."
The cupcakes were very easy to make...and they taste awesome~!
Here are links to my other Xmas cupcakes that you might enjoy:

http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2008/12/xmas-08-vanilla-cupcakes-with-vanilla.html

http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2007/12/peppermint-brownie-cupcakes-with-pink.html

http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2006/12/vanilla-vanilla-cupcakes-with-snowmen.html

http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2006/12/vanilla-marshmallow-cupcakes-with.html

"http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2006/11/dark-dark-chocolate-holiday-mini.html

http://52cupcakes.blogspot.com/2005/12/week-33-martha-stewarts-snowball.html

Martha Stewart Gingerbread Cupcakes:
Makes 12
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 cup unsulphered molasses
2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1 recipe Butter Glaze

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin tins with paper baking cups, and set aside. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. In a bowl, combine boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a large bowl, sift together flour, ground spices, salt, and baking powder; set aside.
In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until light. Beat in the brown sugar until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in the molasses, baking-soda mixture, and flour mixture. Beat in the eggs.
Fill the cupcake papers three-quarters full, making sure that the batter is divided evenly. Bake cupcakes until a toothpick inserted in the center of them comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cupcakes cool a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Hope you have a great week!

CQ & Layla

Folks....It's About Your Inner Turtle Glow

Here's the University of Maryland's 2009 Holiday card that we've been filming for a few weeks...Featuring Maury Povich, Connie Chung, Greivis Vasquez, Scott Van Pelt, Gary Williams, Johnny Holliday, Stephon Heyer, Dean Kevin Klose, Tom McMillen, Steny Hoyer, Ben Cardin and Testudo!  Visit the holiday card web site at HERE.