Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream

There have been lots of things happening in my blogging development this week. Since my experiments in lab are acting up, I am indulging more into baking!

First, I successfully made basic or 'American' buttercream. It has only four ingredients and should be very straight forward. But it is not. At least not in my hands. It comes out thin and UN-pipeable. After several tries, this recipe (below) did the trick.

My Momma in the US was coming up to visit this weekend and I wanted to make her some cupcakes to take back with her. She loves peanut butter and chocolate and that was exactly what I made. The chocolate cake and frosting recipes are from Krissy's Creations. The frosting was light, fluffy and extremely easy to pipe. Definitely a keeper!


The second accomplishment of the week was the start of a cake stand collection. I have always wanted pretty cake stands and so I went hunting this Friday for one at Marshalls/Home Goods where to my surprise the options were limitless.

  

I loved these white ones and had to get the set of three so I could use it as a cupcake stand too. Totally makes sense! And I had to get this pink one, the scalloped edge is just so beautiful.

At the end of the night, I ended up with 5 and I was in cake stand bliss. I told the hubby to consider getting me cake stands when he thinks I deserve flowers. I hope he listens because there are endles options at T.J. Maxx as well (rumor has it). 

And finally, I started experimenting on picture-taking techniques. Played around with some colored background and lighting  (even though it was a very cloudy day today). Loved the way the pictures turned out.

Valentine's Day {Baking Anniversary}

Love is in the air and it is all about hearts. Chocolate cookie hearts, red velvet hearts, red and pink hearts!! Cupid's symbol all over.

Here at Blahnik Baker, it is also my 'baking' anniversary. I baked my first cake ever a year ago in my friend Chrissa's kitchen, seen here. It was a small step at the time that now looks like a giant leap!

In honor of Valentine's day and this anniversary, I decided to recreate this cake again. The cake inspired this blog and I think it deserves a comeback. And because just baking a cake doesn't seem like a challenge anymore, I decided to make some cookies and decorate them!!

The red velvet cake is a recipe from Sprinkle Bakes. 

I used heart shaped pans this time and the heart came out looking like a heart lol! I decided not to do the crumb coat, just for something different.

For the cookies, I used this chocolate roll out cookie recipe from Glorious Treats since chocolate and Valentine's day seem to be synonymous.

Chocolate Cake {Super Bowl XLVII}

Be warned, this is not a post about football. It is about a chocolate cake. I just used the Superbowl as an excuse to bake and decorate a cake (like I need an occasion, right?)

My next project after these perfect vanilla cupcakes was to hunt for a good chocolate cake recipe. I don't care much for chocolate...yes I know it is insane, but it's just not my thing. However, I knew as a budding baker, I should have a go-to chocolate cake recipe under my belt.

Well, I am glad to say that I have found the one!

 

Mr. J and I just moved into a new apartment and our friends were so helpful on that cold January day. I wanted to send them some cupcakes along with our thank-you cards. And I also wanted to bake a football-themed cake.

I found this cake recipe from Ina Garten and I made a double batch.  I was able to get two 8' square cakes and 36 cupcakes, killing two birds with one stone.  I used my favorite go-to frosting; a Swiss Meringue buttercream, with a chocolate addition. This cake is moist, rich, fluffy and yet not too sweet.

 'It is the best chocolate I have ever had' - Mr J.