Maple Bacon Cupcakes!

I started baking just for fun and family get-togethers about a year ago. My mother in law asked me to bake some cupcakes and cake pops for a church group event she was hosting and I jumped at the chance. She kept telling me to make up some kind of price list because the women there were going to want to order more cupcakes from me after this, and I kept procrastinating. Finally, I sat down the night before delivery and made up a few price points for cupcakes and cake pops. From that one party I have filled over 100 orders! It has tree branched/snow balled into quite the busy little hobby for me. I have done everything from 1st birthdays to funerals.

Guinness Cupcake (the manly cupcake!)

The most interesting thing has been all of the different people I have met throughout my baking adventures. From people who love my cupcakes and cake pops, to people who have never had a cake pop, and are a little scared to try one. I love it when people come to me and ask me to make a flavor I have never made before – like the Apple Pie. A customer asked what kind of autumn flavors I could make and the first thing that came to mind was of course, Pumpkin Spice. She agreed and asked if I could maybe try to make an Apple Cupcake that tasted like pie as well. I told her to give me 2 days to work this out and when I did she would be the first to taste it. I figured it out and let her try it and she fell in love with it. It is a lightly spiced vanilla cupcake with homemade apple pie filling in the middle and vanilla butter cream on top. She also loved the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes as well (which has Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting on top) and ordered 2-dozen of each!

The Apple Pie Cupcake

Baking helps me relax after spending all day taking care of all the duties of a stay-at-home mom. So for me it’s not about orders to be filled, it’s more about how I am helping someone out that doesn’t have the time to bake for themself. And as stressful as it can be, in the end, when I deliver their orders and see how excited they are about how I have decorated their goodies and personalized something as simple as a cupcake just for them – that is a really good feeling for me.

Pumpkin Cupcake

Lavender Honey Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons dried lavender (you can usually find it at health food stores like Van’s)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cup milk
• Honey Frosting (recipe below)
• Dried lavender (optional for a light sprinkle on the top of the frosting)

Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Meanwhile line cupcake pans with cupcake papers. In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking powder, 2 teaspoons of lavender and salt.

In another mixing bowl mix together the butter and eggs with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Once mixed together add sugar, honey and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour and the milk.

Spoon batter in to cupcake pan with liners and fill about 3/4 the way full.

Bake 10-12 minutes (Depending on your oven, you will need to keep an eye on them. For me it takes about 15 minutes but I am constantly checking in them after about 10 minutes). Cool completely, then frost and sprinkle with dried lavender.

Honey Frosting

• 1-8ounce package of Cream Cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups powder sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey

Beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add vanilla and honey and beat well. Add powder sugar slowly (or it will blow up and into your face!) and mix well. Continue to add powder sugar until the frosting forms peaks and they don’t move. If your frosting is too thick add about one teaspoon of milk to thin it back out.

Good luck and happy baking!

~ Cousin Kellie Alcon

 Tiny Treats Cupcakes – Click the here for more information about Kellie’s Tiny Treats.