Tuesday was our friend Bill's birthday. His wife wanted to do something fun for him since it was our regular wing night, so I made him cupcakes. It's nothing super fancy except for my secret ingredient. I don't even know where I can get more when I run out. I'm going to attempt to make my own soon.
And just a little something on box desserts. They're awesome. Yes I can make cakes and brownies from scratch. Yes I have awesome recipes for it. No I don't always have the time. Or ingredients. And box mix is just cocoa powder, flour, and the rest of the dry ingredients in that particular dessert. And I don't make my own frosting because I lack a KichenAid stand mixer. One day. And then I will bake every day. Even summer. I can't wait.
Bill's Birthday Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 2 boxes cake mix (I mixed milk and dark chocolate cake)
- 2 2/3 cup water
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup oil
- 3 jars of white whipped frosting
- 1 jar of Halloween sprinkles
- 2 teaspoons secret ingredient
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 325° and fill a muffin pan with cupcake cups. I used some nifty Halloween themed ones I had.
Dump boxed cake mix, water, oil and eggs in same bowl.
Dump boxed cake mix, water, oil and eggs in same bowl.
This is the secret ingredient. It is vanilla extract someone brought me from the Dominican Republic. It had a price sticker on it of 18 cents. They brought me two and that must have been 4 years ago. I have half a bottle left. It is the most fragrant and delicious vanilla extract there is.
Mix until well incorporated, about 2 minutes with a hand mixer, mine is MIA so I whisked this huge thing of batter for about 7 minutes. Then my arm fell off. Spoon into cupcake cups until roughly two thirds full. Bake for 20 minutes. Once a toothpick comes out clean, set on wire rack to cool completely.
Put your frosting, one container at a time, in a plastic storage bag. I use the one quart size. Seal bag and squeeze the frosting all down to one corner, twisting the top of the bag to keep frosting from moving back up. Cut the bottom quarter inch of the corner of the bag off and now you have a makeshift pastry bag. Use this to frost your cupcakes.
Now add your decorations, and give someone a delicious birthday treat!
Mangia!
