Billy Reece, owner of Billy's Bakery, NYC, was on Martha on May 10th and shared his "Vanilla Vanila Cupcake" recipe. I tried it today and it's awesome.
The recipe called for using the BIG Kitchen Aid which I never use...I prefer my Kitchen Aid hand mixer. But, whoa baby, when I saw how it worked this recipe...I'm a convert to the BIG KA from now on! It worked the batter like a dream. Then the same thing on the frosting. What took me so long to get on the stick? Fear, I think...but after this I'm pushing that hand mixer to the back of the drawer!
I gotta tell you...this has got to be THE best vanilla cupcake recipe ever! Before this one I always tagged Magnolia as my favorite vanilla cupcake. Hey...sorry Magnolia. This one is the winner, hands down...no question...and that includes his Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
Here's the recipe:
Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes
Makes about 30 cupcakes
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
2. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.
4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.
Billy's Vanilla Buttercream
Colored sprinkles, for decorating (optional)
Makes enough for 30 cupcakes
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add 6 cups sugar, milk, and vanilla; mix until light and fluffy. If necessary, gradually add remaining 2 cups sugar to reach desired consistency.
Enjoy!
cupcakes
Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting...from Billy's Bakery!
Tiramisu Cupcakes with Mascarpone Cream: Happy Birthday, Jesse!
I took on a challenge the other night at our dinner (really, it's about eating) club...to make these Tiramisu Cupcakes with Mascarpone Cream from Cupcakes Galore...which I did make last night, in honor of Jesse's birthday...which is Friday! I'll say just one word about these cupcakes and especially the Mascarpone Cream: YUM!
The author of CG, Gail Wagman, points out that "Tiramisu is an Italian cake usually made with sponge cake or ladyfingers soaked in a mixture of coffee and Marsala, filled with mascarpone cream and topped with grated chocolate."
I love this book. Wagman's recipes are so fun and different that you never get bored. But, this was one of the most challenging cupcake recipes I've made, first because I don't really know how tiramisu should look, and second because it calls for lots of "folding" of ingredients. I mean I know how to fold laundry, but "fold dry ingredients" or "gently fold in remaining whites"....this type of folding is still a bit of a problem for me! 
The topping was straightforward and easy to make and turned out to be delicious and so creamy...I used both Kahlua in the Mascarpone Cream, and sprinkled Marsala over each cupcake. Everything turned out so well that even Layla came around to try to get a taste of the Jesse's birthday cupcake!
Happy Birthday, Jesse!
Hey Kids...You Could Win an IPOD NANO!
I know this isn't about cupcakes...but I thought you'd like to know...the University of Maryland has a contest going right now for a chance to win a 150th Anniversary iPod Nano. It's pretty cool...blank front and silver back with the Maryland logo engraved on it. The sweepstakes end on October 23...that's the end of our 150th Anniversary. What have you got to lose??
Dont' forget to vote for TurtleBoy...Taste theTradition...when you get there!
All Things Cupcake...You, Too, Can Have a Cupcake Welcome Mat!
I was checking up on "All Things Cupcake" today and I found some goodies!
This is pretty cool...It's a cupcake box to give someone a cupcake in! Here's the description: "Ivory cupcake box with simple linen design is great for packaging cupcakes. Boxes have hinged lids and are collapsable for quick and easy assembly. Box size: 7cm x 7cm x 7xm. Boxes are also available in white. Ribbon and cupcake are not included." You can find it at unravelagift.com.
Now how cute is this door mat?? It's being auctioned on EBay (the UK version)...bidding goes until May 12th! Go for it!
And then I found this adorable duvet cover through a web site called Kelkoo...You can also get curtains, a light fixture, some cushions, and decorative stickers!
A new cupcake book that doesn't seem to be available here yet...Cupcakes and Fairy Cakes...from the Australian Women's Weekly...Here's one review: "Cupcakes are wonderful for afternoon tea of course, but these splendid and original little cakes should be given a much bigger role than that. Serve them as a special dessert at a chic dinner party (a different cupcake for each guest) or make a loved one (adult or child) a cupcake as a birthday cake. While the cupcakes in this book look like little works of art, the instructions on making them are clear and undaunting."
And, last...but definitely not least...Okay...now I know this is random, but these things are called ...seriously... Cleavage Cupcakes ...no joke...they even come with a recipe:
"Cleavage Cupcakes are plump little 'pick-me-ups', pop them in and they will leave you 'perfectly risen'
one size fits all clear in colour, real in feel
Cupcakes Recipe (serves 2)
1. Remove soft gel inserts from box
2. Layer gel insert into bra or bathing suit sliding gently into place directly underneath breast,
3. Repeat.
4. Watch cup rise. Serve hot."
Now, these folks know how to make cupcakes!
Cup-A-Cake Hits the Washington Post!!
Kids: Check this out...Cup-A-Cake...the cupcake holder I blogged about a couple of weeks ago...got a really cute little story in the Washington Post today!!! So cool!
Here's what they say:
"One Singular Confection
Thursday, May 4, 2006; Page H03
Okay, so it's not a key to peace in our time, but the very modesty of its mission has a certain charm: a way to transport individual cupcakes. The Container Store is actually selling a plastic case big enough to fit just one cupcake without smearing the frosting. The organizational emporium jumped at the chance to sell shelter for the trendiest of baked goods -- now the subject of blogs, cookbooks and even national days of honor -- according to a company spokeswoman. No word yet whether anyone is buying.
The Cup-A-Cake holder is available in stores now and soon at http://www.thecontainerstore.com/ in teal, pink and royal blue for $2.99 each. Also available at http://www.cupacake.com/ ."
Pretty awesome!
A Vote for TurtleBoy is a Vote for the Cupcake Queen!!
This is me kissing TurtleBoy on Maryland Day this past Saturday. I need you to vote for TurtleBoy...here's where you go to vote: Got a Favorite?...Look on the list for "Taste the Tradition," that's his real name. Now, go vote for Turtle Boy!...BTW, We're following him to Phillips Seafood Restaurant in Ocean City, MD, on Wednesday...stay tuned for the Ocean City road trip...no cupcakes this week .... taking a week off before starting up again...but I did make a cranberry orange muffin (lol) I couldn't stay out of the kitchen, know what I mean???
Week 52: Coconut Cupcakes...What Goes Around Comes Around!
Sorry to be so long in posting this. Work has been the week from Hell! Maryland Day is on Saturday and our office is in charge of a lot of the planning and implementation of the event. It's fun but there's so much to do!
Wow! I looked back at my first week recipe and all I put up was the recipe! How boring. I was so scared to f*** up something, it was the best I could do to get the recipe up! I wish you could have seen the kitchen for that one...picture a flour-covered counter, every bowl out of every cupboard, every measuring spoon in the sink...how times have changed in year...and yet not really...just last week I Iost control of the mixer while mixing the orange cupcake batter and I'm still digging batter out the laptop screen on the kitchen counter...it will never be the same! I wonder what Apple would say about that! Anyway, that's why I returned to the first week for this week's cupcake!
This cupcake is so easy and tastes so moist that I believe even if you don't like coconut, you'll like these. And, the creamcheese frosting mixed with the fresh coconut...well, let's just say it's really to die for! Just ask Layla!
The recipe is back on Week 1....HERE.
See ya next week...and then I'll let you know my secret!
CQ
Ladies and Gentlemen...We Have Two (yes, two) Cupcake Contest Winners!!
This has taken me so long because I just couldn't decide on one single comment...they were all so good...so I decided to pick two winners!
Each winner will receive a dozen cupcakes from the Cupcake Queen!
The winners are Chaz X and Finley!!
You two need to email me at 52cupcakes@gmail.com with your addresses and cupcake likes and dislikes!!
