Category Archives: Sauces and Frostings

Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Cupcakes, Dessert, Sauces and Frostings and tagged with

Although they are not my greatest strength, I really enjoy making cupcakes. Or more accurately, I enjoy frosting cupcakes. Also sprinkles – they’re just so fun!

You may recognize this recipe from my blog header. These cupcakes are really easy, delicious, and one of the few recipes I didn’t have to modify for baking at 4500 feet. The addition of ginger is a nice distinction to a normal pumpkin cupcake, and the cinnamon frosting blends perfectly.

Just look how perfectly they rise.

I got this recipe from my friend Amanda, and it’s already become one of my favorites. I’m sure I’ll be making these every year. I decided to use the spider-web design from the recipe for half, and the fall leaf sprinkles I had for the other half. Unless you are an incredibly generous with frosting, you can probably cut the frosting recipe in half.

Spider-web Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes

From the kitchen of Amanda
Makes 12-18 cupcakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup (about 1 1/4 ounces) crystallized ginger cut into 1/8- to 1/4-inch pieces (unless you really like chunks of candied ginger, make sure these pieces are small)

Directions

  1. Position rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line muffin tin cups with paper liner.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger into a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low-medium speed, beat the melted butter, sugar and pumpkin until smoothly blended.
  3. Mix in the eggs and crystallized ginger. On low speed, mix in the flour mixture until it is incorporated. The batter will be thick.
  4. Fill each paper liner with a generous 1/4 cup of batter, to about 1/2 inch below the top of the liner. Bake just until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Cool the cupcakes for at least 10 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then remove and cool completely.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 to 2 teaspoons whole milk

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla on low speed until smooth and thoroughly blended. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing.
  2. Add the powdered sugar and continue to mix until smooth, then beat on medium speed for 1 minute to lighten the frosting.
  3. Transfer about 1/4 cup of the frosting to a small bowl, and stir in enough cinnamon to make the frosting a light brown color and enough milk to make a thick but pourable frosting. Set aside to use for the spider-web decoration.
  4. Use a knife or a small spatula to spread the remaining frosting on top of each cupcake in a smooth even layer. Cleaning the utensil often against the side of the bowl (or with a paper towel) will help you spread the frosting smoothly.
  5. Spoon the reserved cinnamon frosting into a small self-sealing freezer bag. Press out the excess air and seal the bag. Cut a tiny hole in one corner of the bag, about 1/8 inch in diameter.
  6. To form the web pattern, hold tip about 1/2 inch above a cupcake and slowly pipe two circles, one inside the other, on the frosting. Pipe a dot of the frosting in the center. Drag a toothpick gently from the center of the cupcake to its edge, and repeat at each 90° interval.
  7. In between the previous lines, draw the toothpick from the edge of the cupcake towards the center. You should have 8 lines alternating in directions to form a spider-web. It may be necessary to add a new dot in the center.

    Try not to eat them all at once. =)

Best Belgian Waffles Ever

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Breakfast, Sauces and Frostings and tagged with ,

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I don’t subscribe to the idea that it can only be eaten in the morning. I often make pancakes or stuffed French toast for dinner because who has the motivation for that kind of thing in the morning?

My favorite breakfast is Belgian waffles. But not just any Belgian waffles. I’ve become a bit of a waffle snob and most just don’t make the cut. Restaurant waffles are generally too heavy and many people make “homemade” waffles from a mix. I almost never make anything from a mix because it kind of feels like cheating. Except with pudding, because you just can’t beat 5 minutes from box to spoon.

The fancy glass makes it classy.

These waffles are light, fluffy, and overall delicious. My favorite way to top them is with fresh berries and homemade whipped cream, although chocolate chips and peanut butter is a close second.

It’s a fairly large recipe, so if you’re just cooking for one or two, you’ll want to cut in half. The batter keeps for a few days in the fridge (just give it a good stir) and will be just as delicious, but they won’t be quite so fluffy after day one. I frequently make a batch and eat one for breakfast (and lunch and dinner…) for the next several days.

Below is my family’s recipe for the best Belgian waffles ever (as named by my mom), as well as one for homemade whipped cream.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Best Belgium Waffles Ever

Ingredients

5 large eggs, separated
4 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oil
2 Tbsp baking powder
4 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions

  1. Prepare and preheat your waffle iron according to its instructions.
  2. Separate egg white into a large bowl (the one for your stand mixer, if you have one) and the egg yolks into another large bowl. Beat egg whites on high speed until light and fluffy.
  3. Add oil and milk to egg yolk and beat lightly. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and stir gently into wet ingredients until well blended. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  4. Gently fold in egg whites until mostly blended. Some fluffs of egg white should remain.
  5. Add 3/4 cup batter to waffle maker and cook to desired doneness. Garnish with toppings of choice and enjoy!

Vanilla Whipped Cream

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sugar (I generally used powdered but granulated works fine)

 Directions

  1. Whip cream on high speed to very slightly less than desired consistency.
  2. Add vanilla and sugar and beat until combined.

Notes: If you want to pipe your whipped cream, whip it slightly longer. Spoon it into a frosting bag with your tip of choice (I like a large star) and twist it shut with a plastic bread clip. I find it easiest to set it in a pint glass to store in the fridge.