Lately.

I know it has been a while since i've blogged but we've been in DISNEY WORLD! If you want to hear about our trip, my sister will tell you all about it on her blog. As for me, I made some tulip cookies for no other reason than the fact that tulips are pretty and remind me of summer!

It's Summer!

Yesterday was my last day of school and it is now SUMMER! I wanted to make something special for all my teachers, and I decided apple cookies would be appropriate for the occasion.

Mocha Cupcakes

These Cupcakes are for all you coffee lovers out there. 

Mocha Cupcakes

Yields 12 cupcakes

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee

1-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 stick of butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg, at room temperature

1. Mix the coffee powder and brewed coffee in a bowl until dissolved, and set aside to cool.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.

3. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

4. In a bowl with a mixer, beat the butter and both sugars together on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. In a measuring cup, combine the milk, coffee mixture, and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the coffee mixture, ending with the flour mixture (wow, thats a mouth full).

5. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 liners (I had a little extra for a few mini cupcakes). Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. 

Mocha Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks butter, at room temperature

2-1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1-1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee powder

1. Combine the coffee powder with the vanilla until dissolved and set aside.

2. In a bowl with a whisk attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides once. Reduce the speed to low and add the confectioners sugar a little bit at a time until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the cocoa powder and increase the speed to medium-high and whip until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the coffee and vanilla mixture and continue to beat until it is completely incorporated, scraping the sides as necessary. Frost the cupcakes as desired.

These cupcakes are super rich and delicious. The frosting melts in your mouth and you might just close your eyes when you taste it.. 

Cupcake recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction.

Hospital Cookies

I made cookies for a friend who owns Evergreen Medical Center. This week is "hospital week," so they are having a big celebration!

Nutella Cupcakes

I am a big chocolate fan as you probably know and it seems like everyone is talking about Nutella these days. Nutella is a hazelnut spread that contains no preservatives or artificial colors and is great on almost anything. My older sister is almost done with exams and I asked her what she wanted me to make when she came home and she said, "something with Nutella in it". I went on a search for something yummy to bake with Nutella in it and I found this recipe here!

It starts with a plain chocolate cupcake and the Nutella is all in the frosting! Let me tell you, these cupcakes are good. Really good.

Nutella Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks of butter, softened

1 13-ounce jar of Nutella

A pinch of sea salt

1 Tbs vanilla extract

2 boxes of confectioners sugar

6-8 Tbs of heavy cream or milk (I used heavy cream)

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and Nutella until thoroughly combined and smooth. Slowly add confectioners sugar a little at a time until combined.

2. Add salt, vanilla, and 3 Tbs of heavy cream or milk, and blend on low speed until combined. Add more cream or milk until you get the consistency you want and beat at high speed until fluffy.

 Hurry home Jessica!!

1st Birthday Party

Is there anything in the world cuter than a baby eating his birthday cake? I don't think so. I made a cake and cookies for the cutest one year olds birthday party this weekend.

Happy Easter!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

And if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

And this is what He promised us-eternal life. 1 John 2:25

 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:46-47

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

He is risen; He is not here. Mark 16:6

HAPPY EASTER!