Nuts over Cupcakes!

Quite a bit of time has elapsed since my last entry. I apologize to the blog community. I have been somewhat side-tracked lately due to a sweet development in my life.

I. am. back.

A recent visit to my favorite domestic destination, New York City, consisted of an abundance

of delicious eats. The avenues were full of trendy, little eat spots and food truck vendors at every street corner. I hopped onto the subway and managed to find some time to dip into three cupcakeries in the area with a few recommendations from friendly locals: Crumbs Bake Shop, Sugar Sweet Sunshine and Magnolia Bakery. Crumbs happens to be the "talk" of what a cupcake is in New York City, but I would have to say the cupcakes are definitely overrated. They were definitely scaled larger than the average cupcake, but came nowhere close to a party in my mouth. Magnolia Bakery was a cute, hip little shop. The cupcakes were not too memorable either. Of all three, Sugar Sweet Sunshine definitely left a tasteful impression.

It was the light green cupcakes that caught my eye as I stepped into the shop: Pistachio, quite a rare flavor you will run into at a cupcake shop. I have searched high and low for a good pistachio-flavored cupcake. Houston has none that are worthy of bloggery. I left the shop with two pistachio cupcakes and an assortment of other flavors. I had a taste of one before I left the shop, and it was pure heaven. Pistachio nuts were consistent throughout the cake and for the finishing touch, crushed pistachio pieces were grazed on top.

This NYC trip took me back to my visit earlier this year to west coast. Not only was the San Diego weather beyond perfect, the pistachio cupcake I had at Babycakes was byfar the best I've had yet. The pistachio flavor resonated throughout the cupcake and to top it off, the icing was perfectly whipped and topped with dancing sprinkles. I would definitely make a trip out there again someday to snag me a nice dozen of these.

Being the intermittent health nut that I am as of late, as contradictory as it sounds with my routine consumption of cupcakes, I ran across some interesting health facts about pistachios:

1. The green color in pistachios come from lutein which helps to support eye health

2. Almost 90% of the fat found in pistachios is the healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats

3. A serving of pistachios has more potassium than half of a large banana

Spicy Cupcake Lady

Cupcakes, the Peanut Butter to my Jelly

As long as I can recall, an all-time favorite growing up was a nice, simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I prefer the crunchy peanut butter with strawberry jam with preserves. An even spread of peanut butter on one piece of toast and strawberry jam on the other, then slap them together and voila, pure satisfaction. I may have one on occasion when the kid in me comes out to play.


Treat! Cupcakes is holding strong as the best cupcakery on the northside of Houston, per yours truly. Then again, they don't have much competition in the area like in the city with trendy, little shops and cute cupcake mobiles that travel around town to the "happening" areas of Houston. Treat! is located in a modern shopping strip in Vintage Park. Ladies and gentlemen, as of September 12, 2010, they will begin opening on Sundays! I know that's got to be some good news for you out-of-towners that share the same obsession I have for cupcakes.


After a nice brunch with the ladies, we decide to make our way to Treat! It is always a good idea to leave some space for a sweet treat after a nice meal. As I walk into the shop, I contemplate on whether or not I should go with the "usual" which is strawberry or play it a little safe and get the vanilla with milk chocolate. Then I thought, maybe I should be daring and take a plunge into the special flavor of the day: Peanut butter & Jelly and that, I did. Boy, was I in store for some serious goodness. The peanuts topped it off well, taking me back to the crunchy peanut butter I once generously lathered onto slices of toast. As I took a bite into the center, I was in for a sweet surprise. The center was filled with just the right amount of strawberry jam.


One downside about the cupcakes at Treat! is that there is a tremendous amount of frosting hovering each little cupcake, a few piping pumps past my liking. Shaving off at least half of the frosting always leaves the perfect amount. This one definitely brings back sweet childhood memories.


Spicy Cupcake Lady

Kit Kat Cupcake Experiment Continued...

Well, hello there cupcake lover and friends! I've been slacking. I've been meaning to share the past three experiences of making Kit Kat cupcakes.

The first time was somewhat good. I've already shared all about it. However, the second time wasn't so cute. I messed with the amount of flour and chocolate, and it was a bust! I didn't even take pictures of it. I am ashamed of the results.

BUT! I didn't let my FAILURE get to me. I tried to give it a go another time. This time, I had two wonderful assistants. We created the PERFECT Kit Kat Cupcake. Did I write down what I did differently?? NEGATIVE! I eyeballed it this time. I added more chocolate, milk and a smidge more of flour and baking soda... How much more?? I have NO IDEA! But here are the beautiful pictures of our creation!

I brought these lovely creation to a party, and it was a hit!! My favorite is still the frosting! Yum!

So, then came the day I wanted to make it for my farewell party. I've been creating recipes that make less than a dozen cupcakes. When I decided to double the batter, it was not a pretty sight. Not only that, I wanted to make mini cupcakes. For some reason, it didn't come out the same way. 1. I didn't write down the exact changes I made. 2. I doubled the batter. 3. I made mini cupcakes. When I added 1, 2, and 3 together... I ended up improvising and making cake balls! YUM! Thanks to my fellow Cupcake Ladies, they were beautiful. :)

Well, that is all from me for now!

--Little Cupcake Lady

You are what you eat. Call me Cupcake.

I have long kissed boxed cake mixes goodbye and have been doing a little bit of experimenting lately. I'm no Martha Stewart, but I think I may have a new-found nitch. I might add I've become quite a snoot for fine-tasting cupcakes and refuse to settle for anything less. That goes for all the cupcakeries I frequent and the ones I pull from the oven. I spent that evening researching chocolate salted caramel cupcake recipes and gathered pieces of different recipes that appealed to me. If you have not tried the flavor it is definitely a must-try but be forewarned it is an acquired taste. It will either satisfy your sweet and salty desires or may keep you from a round of seconds. I'm a big fan of "fills" in desserts, so I thought I would give this one a fill. It is also a little secret to prolong the moistness of the cake. Once the cupcakes are out of the oven and cooled, create a small, conical pit. then spoon a small amount of filling and top it off with a dash of sea salt.



I decided to make mini cupcakes this time around. And yes, these little minis are too adorable. You can also have a cupcake and feel half as guilty eating it. The important thing to keep in mind in a recipe like this is not to overdo the salt. Sprinkling a small amount of sea salt on top of the fill and on top of the frosting is the perfect amount. The frosting recipe I found was delicious and completed the package very well. I also added caramel drizzle to top it off. This creation is definitely worth the calories.

Spreading the Word

If you haven't had a lick of nutella by now you are totally missing out. It was the summer of '94; we took a family trip to Europe. I had my first taste of the creamy goodness on a slice of toast in Brussels, Belgium. As it melt in my mouth i thought to myself: where have you been all my life?

Nutella is a hazelnut spread that contains skim milk and a touch of cocoa. It can be found in just about every supermarket next to pb&j. It pairs well with so many things from toast to crepes to cupcakes. Much props to you, Mr. Ferrero, for sharing such an indulgent creation!

My addiction to cupcakes started with Crave coming to Houston back in 2008. I decided to give it a try to see what kind of thrill my sweet tooth would get. From that day forward, my life was changed, for the sweeter. I walked into the shop and what a sight it was. They offer a nutella cupcake on Wednesdays and Saturdays [yes, I have a forever mental note of that] which I rank as my #1 flavor from Crave, with strawberry coming at a close second. It has a very unique taste. The hazelnut flavor is consistent throughout the whole cupcake. I have not come across any other locally, and forgive me if I'm harsh, I refuse to settle for wanna-be's that are plain vanilla or chocolate with the hint of flavor slapped on top.



So I started playing with recipes this summer after graduation with so much free time on my hands. My first experimental recipe: flourless chocolate cupcake, which I will blog about at a later time. Nutella being an all-time fave, I decided to trial a hazelnut cupcake recipe and add a twist of my own. I had to incorporate the nutella into it somehow, so I created the frosting with nutella. There is still room for tweaking on consistency of the frosting, but the cake was perfect! Small pieces of hazelnuts are generously savored in every bite and sprinkled on top. Modifications of the frosting are in the works, but if you're an anxious, die-hard nutella fan as I am, I will gladly share the recipe.


Spicy Cupcake Lady

Will Work for Cupcakes

So I recently received some wonderful news. Things have fallen into place nicely, and I will be working in the the Woodlands come next week. I decided to familiarize myself with the area. I hopped into the car with my friend, and after lunch, I came up with the great idea of visiting the new cupcake shop that opened Spring 2010: Frost Bake Shoppe. Surprisingly, it is the first cupcakery to open in the Woodlands and conveniently located less than a mile from my new workplace. What more could I ask for?


We approached the shop, and it is full of customers savoring every little bite and smiles walking away with boxes of little goodies. The baby blue walls and the cupcake theme throughout the place gave it a nice and quaint feel. I made my way towards the case and there before me was a beautiful selection of flavors. Most cupcake shops have common flavors that are available everyday and also daily special flavors that are offered on specific days of the week. Today's daily special: chocolate extreme, chocolate peanut butter, italian cream, chocolate salted caramel & lemon


A solitaire chocolate salted caramel cupcake sitting in a separate display case caught my eye, the last one in the batch. I was definitely at the right place at the right time. So the story is, I fell in love with the acquired flavor a few winters back when Starbucks offered a seasonal flavor: salted caramel hot chocolate. They since have not brought back the flavor, so every chance I get I don't let pass.


Spicy Cupcake Lady's review: chocolate salted caramel: The frosting was on the heavy end of sweetness factor. It was overwhelming. The caramel drizzled on the top gave it a nice touch, but there was not a taste of salt on the cupcake which i think would help to neutralize the sweetness. The cake was moist, but the flavor of it was just your everyday chocolate, nothing unique. I think if the caramel flavor was infused in the cake and sea salt was incorporated on top it would then deserve the name: salted caramel. This will be one of my upcoming experiments: salted caramel cupcakes. I will share my previous recipes with you cupcake lovers soon.

I had a taste of the Chocolate Extreme yesterday. I was told it was a new addition to their flavors. It consists of dark chocolate and chocolate ganache. The frosting was delicious and the cake was very moist and tasteful. If you're a chocolate lover it is definitely a must try! A vanilla with milk chocolate is waiting to be eaten. My girlish figure can only handle one cupcake a day, so I will share my review once this baby's consumed.

I will definitely become a regular at this spot. So far, 1 of 2 is a go, so I intend to give them all a try!

Spicy Cupcake Lady

The Bittersweet Journey

Little Cupcake Lady and I ventured to Austin one fine summer Monday. We had a mental checkoff list of to-do's for the day, and a must on the list: hey cupcake! This is where our journey began. Giddy and ready for a sweet taste, we googlemap our way to the cupcake-topped tin. We reached our stop only to find the "closed" sign dangling on the side of the mobile. We then walked back to our car, determined to get our cupcake fix.

As we head back to Houston we decided to hit up Sprinkles. The talk was that the shop opened Spring 2010. We approached the Highland area only to find a vacant, chocolate brown building with the Sprinkles sign teasing us on such a dismal afternoon. The opening for the shop was delayed 'til early summer which leads to another story I will share in the near future. It was still too soon to give up on our unsatisfied craving.


At this point, Houston rush hour picks up, and we're still weaving through town. A few blocks down was Sugarbaby's, which doesn't quite hit the top 5 for Little Cupcake Lady and I, but reviews of local cupcake shops is a whole blog in itself. This stop was out of desperation. Last resorts come in handy every now and then. We pull up to the parking lot only to be surprisingly turned down by a "cupcakes sold out" sign. We then make one final attempt: Celebrity Cupcakes. At this point, my taste buds are quite anxious. We ride down University Boulevard anticipating a sweet success. There was no car in sight. The cute, little shop was closed, cupcake-less and disappointing. Little Cupcake Lady and I turned and looked at each other. I am pretty sure Crave crossed her mind as it did mine, but nonetheless, our restless journey came to an end.

Cupcake fail.

Spicy Cupcake Lady

Little Cupcake Lady's DREAM...

Hello cupcake lovers and friends!

At the this very moment, I am waiting for the first trial of my "Kit Kat Cupcakes." Before I share the details of the first batch I am making, I would like to share with everyone about the wonderful dream I had.

In a little over a month I will be leaving for Japan to teach English! With this on my mind, I have been sleeplessly thinking about Japan and how life will be there. One night, I finally was able to fall asleep from all the Japan excitement/stress, but of course, I had a dream about me living in Japan! My lovely family was in Japan visiting me, and we make a trip to the local Japanese grocery store. In the grocery store, there is a bakery section. Guess what I see... A section of candy flavored foods. There were Kit Kat flavored foods like pizza, pies, cookies, and.... CUPCAKES! (I just recently came back from my vacation in Asia, and my search for different flavored Kit Kats that are originally from Japan was still on my mind. I think that's why Kit Kats appeared.) The only thing from my dream's Japanese bakery that left an impression on me when I woke up was the Kit Kat cupcake!! I realized that my obsession for cupcakes and the love for Kit Kats were the best two things to put together! Just like Hot Cheetos and cookies n cream icecream! :)

(30 minutes later)

So, I looked through my book of cupcake recipes and felt like a chocolate cupcake recipe would be the most appropriate to start from. Kit Kat (after a debate on what flavors are in Kit Kats with my sister) is made up of milk chocolate and wafer. So, I decided to replace the semi-sweet chocolate morsels to 66.67% crushed Kit Kats and 33.33% of milk chocolate morsels. And this is how they came out...

Trial One



The top view of the cupcakes look like molecules...



The one I tried...



The frosting is YUM!!~ I can really taste the Kit Kat. In my last minute frosting I whipped up, I used more Kit Kats than morsels just like the cake. It really compliments the cake big time. The cake is very moist, and it smells so chocolaty! However, the taste isn't as chocolaty or Kit Kat-y as I imagined it would be...


Back to the drawing board!!!


Little Cupcake Lady

Introduction

Hello Blogger world!

We would like to share with the world wide web our thoughts and ideas about.... CUPCAKES! My sister and I started our cupcake obsession when we first stepped foot in Crave. We then found out that our friends in Dallas share the same cupcake obsession.

We love to eat cupcakes. We love to bake cupcakes. We love to try new cupcakes. We love to travel far and wide for cupcakes.

We just recently had our second "Battle of the Cupcakes." However, I would like to share with everyone the first cupcake battle.

The first "Battle of the Cupcakes" was based in Houston, TX. We wanted to compare the brand new Sprinkles that opened in Highland Village and our beloved Crave in the Uptown Park. We had five judges from both Houston and Dallas to compare red velvet cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, and chocolate cupcakes from both cupcakeries. We judged the smell, moistness, cupcake flavor, icing, and overall. The purpose of this battle was to be able to determine the difference between the two cupcakeries. The judges had their eyes shut while cupcakes A and B were presented to them. Judges were to rate each category, 1 being "Not So Great" to 5 being "The Best."



The winner of the two cupcakeries was.... Crave!! Four out of the five judges agreed that Crave had the best red velvet, strawberry, and chocolate cupcakes. Two judges were from Dallas and never had Crave cupcakes before. Two judges were well... my sister and I, and we just knew the delicious taste of Crave when we tasted it!

The second "Battle of the Cupcakes" will be shared another time.

Little Cupcake Lady