November wedding cupcakes

At the end of last year, I was honored to make cupcakes for two weddings! It was so nice to be able to contribute in a way that is so meaningful for me. My heart is food. That's how I love!

Prior to the November wedding, we had a bridal shower, which we used as a time to taste and test the cupcakes being made. I wanted to make sure the bride was happy with the flavors I chose for them. We ended up with carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Snickerdoodle cupcakes with cinnamon icing. And Guinness cupcakes with vanilla bean buttercream icing. I don't have the carrot cupcake recipe on hand - it's my friends recipe - but they were super yummie! The rest of the recipes are below. 

Cream Cheese Icing

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
6 cups powdered sugar

If you have a sifter, feel free to sift the sugar into a large bowl. I don't use a sifter typically. I just put it in a bowl and whisk it really good to break up the lumps and puff it up. 

Add the cream cheese and butter into a standing mixer and beat on high until creamy. Add vanilla. Turn the mixer to low and add the sugar in small batches - no more than 1/2 c. at a time. You will need to scrape down the sides as you go. Once all the sugar is in, beat it until desired consistency and viola - you're done! 

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes (adapted from Martha Stewart's recipe)

• 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 c. cake flour (not self- rising), sifted

• 1 Tbs baking powder

• 1 Tbs ground cinnamon

• 1 cup salted butter, room temperature

• 1 3/4 c. sugar

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/4 c. milk
• 2 Tbs sour cream
• Splash of half & half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Mix together both flours, baking powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a large bowl. Set aside. 

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in small batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each. Add in the sour cream and half & half. Mix until combined. 

Using a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake about 20 minutes. Cool in pan for about 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes to wire rack to finish cooling completely. 

Cinnamon Icing

1 1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
4 c. powdered sugar, sifted (or whisked)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon

In an electric mixer, cream the butter until it's pale in color and creamy. This should only take a couple of minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the sugar in small batches, about 1/2 cup at a time. Every two times you add sugar, raise the speed on the mixer to add some air into the icing. Reduce speed and continue adding the sugar, following this same process. 

Add the vanilla and cinnamon and beat until desired consistency. This icing works well when it's nice and light. Don't be scared that you'll overbeat it. You can keep it in the fridge for a couple of days, but it will take several hours to reach room temperature, which you need in order to use it. Trust me. I know this from experience. =]~

Guinness Cupcakes (recipe from My Baking Addiction)

1 (12-ounce) bottle Guinness Stout
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the sour cream.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet Guinness mixture.

Butter 24 muffin tins and divide the batter among the muffin tins.

Bake 25 minutes, until risen and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Cool before turning out of the tins.

Vanilla Bean Buttercream Icing

1 stick salted butter, room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1 tablespoon Clear Vanilla extract
1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar
4 tablespoons very cold milk

Cream the butter and shortening in the bowl of an electric or stand mixer. Add the clear vanilla extract and combine well. Begin adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all of the sugar has been added and mixed thoroughly, begin adding the very cold milk one tablespoon at a time, combining very well after each addition (mixer on medium-high to high speed) until you reach the desired consistency.