baking · Book Reviews · children · Cookbooks · cooking · Dessert · Family

A Birthday Day

Yesterday was Walker’s second birthday, I decided to try a cupcake and a frosting recipe from Cake Boy, which came out in October of 2011.

The frosting is fantastic, easily piped, swirled and spiked onto cakes. Walker had a lot of fun sitting on the floor with a spoon and the mixing bowl scraping it clean. The cupcakes I would add more vanilla to. I really like the flavor vanilla though!

Vanilla Cupcakes (Page 118)

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups self-rising flour (see below)
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ lb + 1 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup liquid egg substitute or 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup milk, at room temperature
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In a small bowl, combine the flours and set aside.

In a stand mixer bowl cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and continue beating until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs in slowly, beating well.

Add the flour in three stages, alternating with the milk and vanilla. Beat until just combined.

Divide the batter between the cupcake papers. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes, until done.

Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 15 minutes, Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Self-rising flour? I never have this on hand but it is very easy to make. To make 1½ cups:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour (remove 1 Tablespoon flour)
  • 2¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt

Directions:

Sift together.

Little man Walker with his birthday cupcake.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

  • ½ lb + 2 Tbsp (2¼ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • natural dye, if desired

Directions:

In a stand mixer bowl beat the butter until light. Add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the milk and vanilla, and continue mixing the frosting until light and fluffy.

If desired, tint with natural dye (I used blue Seelect). Frost as desired. If not using the frosting right away keep tightly covered, but don’t refrigerate as it will harden up.

Walker enjoying a rare sunny day yesterday, out in our backyard:

Inspecting some of our blueberry bushes and was happy when Mommy pointed out that the bushes are all putting on buds:

Riding on his new Balance bike that his Grandmother sent:

We took Walker out to Mexican for dinner after lots of play time and it was a busy day for him – he fell asleep with little protest last night!

~Sarah

FTC Disclaimer: We received a copy of Cake Boy for potential review.

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