Red Velvet Cake Balls

Mmmmmm another 4th of July favorite, so celebratory! This year, to celebrate our great nation's birthday, I headed back to my hometown to spend the weekend with my wonderful parents. Mom and I of course had all of these yummies planned, and we had already made these delicious cake balls a couple of weeks earlier for the birthday of one of my coworkers. They were so good, we knew we had to make them again.

So, Happy Birthday, once again to America! Enjoy these red velvet cake balls!

Happy National Cupcake Day!

In honor of this most prestigious of holidays, I will be making a few different kinds of cupcakes this weekend. The other night, I was watching Cupcake Wars, it was the Valentine's Day episode that I had DVR'd because Jones Bros. Cupcakes of Omaha was on. They came in a strong second, but a huge congrats to them, their shop is awesome! Anyway, while I was watching, I came up with 17 original cupcake ideas and wrote them on my favorite green "recipe-thinking" paper. I know I can't try all 17 this weekend, although I sooooooooooo wish I could. I will also be doing a test run of cupcakes that I am baking next weekend for a wedding shower!! Champagne cupcakes with raspberry champagne buttercream? Any takers??? How about dark chocolate cupcake dipped in chocolate ganache? It's a good thing my parents, brother and sister-in-law and nephew are coming to visit me on Sunday, otherwise my pants may not fit by Monday! I was talking to my brother the other night and I could hear Kelly, my sister-in-law, asking what tasty treats from A Scrumptious aFare we were having on Sunday, I think she will be quite pleased with these little delights. Even if we are planning a stop at Ivanna Cone after lunch. If you haven't heard of Ivanna Cone, and happen to be making a stop through Lincoln, NE you NEED to check this place out. And I'm using the word need in a mandatory, necessary, can't-live-without-it kind of way.

And now on to the fun cupcake recap!

Irish Car Bomb Surprise Cupcakes!! 

A favorite of my co workers, these will be making their way back into my kitchen two weeks from today in celebration of St. Patty's Day!!

Sweet Potato Pecan with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting!

Probably my favorite cupcake so far, this one is a crowd pleaser and incorporates so many different flavors and ingredients, one to try for sure!

Kahlua Cupcakes!

Do I tend to cook a lot with alcohol? Whoopsies, whatever, I think it makes the cupcakes taste better.

Raspberry Valentine's Cupcakes!

Ok, you'll have to hold on tight for this recipe, I'll be back later.....

Patriotic Parfaits

Happy Fourth of July! I have been so excited for the 4th this year so that I could try out all kinds of fun red, white and blue cakes, cupcakes, breakfast treats and such when my mom dropped the bomb. She is back on weight watchers and would refuse to eat any of my delicious concoctions. What! Seriously? Even for our amazing country's birthday? Shame shame. I love my mother dearly and therefore, I abided her wishes and held back from creating anything containing deliciousness such as butter, oil, sugar, love, bacon grease...you get the picture. After pondering what such delights I could whip up, I decided that fruit parfaits fit the bill and I could even add some love back into those.

This was an extremely easy dessert and we even got my if-it's-not-chocolate-for-dessert-I-don't-eat-it dad to try it! Berries are in season and are on sale, so stock up and impress your friends and family with this sweet treat!

Ingredients: (serves 4)
2 instant sugar-free white chocolate pudding mixes
2 cups blue berries
2 cups blackberries
4 cups raspberries
whipped topping (I used the reduced or low fat so my mom felt better about it)
mint to garnish

Instructions:
1. Whip up the pudding according to the directions and let chill
2. Simply layer the pudding and berries in fun clear glasses to showcase the colors and layers
3. I put my whipped topping in a bag and cut a bottom corner to pipe it on top

Happy Birthday America!

Irish Car Bomb Surprise Cupcakes

Ok, I'm just going to say it. Two of my absolute most favorite things to indulge in, daily, if necessary are: chocolate and alcohol. Yep, there it is. I'm just throwing it out there, judge me. But you may think twice after you take a bite of these Heavenly delights. As I was thinking about a special dessert I could make for a coworker's birthday I was thinking about some delectable combinations that would mix and marry with outrageously wicked results. I was still in a bit 'o an Irish mood, let's be honest, when am I not in an Irish mood, and saw a recipe that I could really work with. If you haven't looked at Annie's Eats Blog, you MUST! She makes absolutely fabulous food and has great pictures and inventive recipes. I altered her recipe for Guiness and Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes and made mine the "semi homemade way".

Decorating and plating these cupcakes in my own special way was the most fun part of this process and the result was ah-ma-zing. As those who know me can attest, I am NOT a frosting person. I will scrape frosting off, I will give it away and I will eat around it. I always want a center piece of a cake so that I don't have to deal with all of that sweet cream. Well, let me tell you, do not be surprised if someone finds me at midnight sneaking around piping this frosting into my mouth! I love love love this frosting and insist that it be used. I frosted them before I went to work to ensure freshness and visual appeal. My coworkers went "ga ga" to say the least. They were extremely impressed and gave me extremely generous compliments for the fun and easy task I performed. I was even told that I should now extend my specialities to not only event planning for weddings, but also offering the service of providing (at an extra cost, of course) the groom's cake!

I wanted to make sure I had enough for everyone who had found out that I made these delights and it really was worth it to see the look of pleasure and soon-to-come chocolate coma flash across their faces. Because of the popularity of these cupcakes, I will be making them the next 2 weekends, one for my Grandpa's 87th birthday and then next when one of my best friends, Courtney, (and fellow food blogger @ Ice Cream & Wine ) comes to town for a visit!

I hope you enjoy my combination of my sweet indulgences and decide it's about time to combine the things that you love!

Ingredients:

Cake
1. Devil's food cake mix
2. 1 cup Guinness
3. 6 tbsp unsalted butter
4. 2 large eggs
5. 2/3 cup sour cream

Ganache
1. 6 oz bittersweet chocolate finely chopped (reserve 1/2 ounce for chocolate shavings)
2. 2/3 cup heavy cream
3. 2 tbsp unsweetened butter
3. 1 tbsp Bailey's Irish Cream

Frosting
1. 1 tub cream cheese frosting (any brand will do)
2. 6 tbsp. Bailey's Irish Cream
Yep, that's it.

Directions:

Cupcakes
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line your cupcake pan with liners.
2. Simmer Guinness and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When combo begins to simmer, add 1/2 of the cake mix and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine eggs and sour cream and whisk until smooth.
4. Combine the remaining dry ingredients, Guinness batter and sour cream and eggs and mix until all are incorporated.
5. Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 3/4 full.
6. Bake for about 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from center. Allow to cool on a wire rack completely.

Ganache
1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until simmering. Pour over the chocolate in a small glass or stainless bowl. Let sit for about a minute and then whisk until smooth.
2. Be sure the chocolate is completely melted and then add the butter and Bailey's and stir until combined. Cool mixture, in refrigerator if necessary, until thickened. (If you place it in the fridge, be sure to mix every 10 minutes or so to ensure smooth consistency)

Frosting
1. Mix frosting and Bailey's until smooth! (Sounds way too easy doesn't it?)

Please frost and decorate the cupcakes any way you choose and let me in on your creative secrets! But, to frost them as I have listen up: This is extremely easy and looks uber professional. Simply use a paring knife to cut a hole in the center of the cupcake. Pipe the ganache in the hole. (An easy method I use for piping is to simply place your ganache and frosting, respectively, in a Zip Loc bag, remove the air and snip a corner at the bottom.) Then, pipe the frosting around the ganache hole or all over, if you want a lot of delicious frosting, place the cut out on top of the frosting and sprinkle on the chocolate shavings. Super easy and extremely attractive!