Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Vanilla Cupcakes ~ Baby Cakes



Today I decided to make cupcakes for a very special person who is on the way. Our little 'Babycake' or 'Cupcake' is due to arrive in the middle of September and I will be a grandmother for the very first time! Congratulations to our daughter and son-in-law! We love you!





What are little babies made of, made of?
What are little babies made of?
Diapers and crumbs and sucking their thumbs;
That's what little babies are made of.

What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails and puppy-dog tails;
That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of, made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and everything nice;
That's what little girls are made of.


~Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Will it be a girl...


-or a boy?


It doesn't really matter - happy and healthy is all that's important ;) Update:  I was a Boy :)

By the way, these cupcakes were very tasty and I will certainly make them again. I loved the addition of the lemon zest.

Vanilla Cupcakes
Printable Recipe
from Joy of Baking

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 large lemon (optional)
1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and lightly butter or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing. If you want flat topped cupcakes then slice off the dome of each cupcake, with a sharp knife, before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

If you want a thick frosting, it might be wise to double this recipe.

2 cups (230 grams) confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk or light cream

Assorted food colors (if desired)

In an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Add a little more milk or sugar, if needed. Tint the frosting with desired food color.

Did you know that the name "cupcake" was used differently back in the 1800s. Then the name "cup cake" simply referred to a cake where the ingredients were 'measured' not 'weighed'. It seems that before the 1880s ingredients for cake baking were actually weighed so when recipes started to be given in 'cup' measurements, the cake recipes were named 'cup cakes' to reflect this difference. Greg Patent also tells us in his book 'Baking in America' that a woman named Mrs. Rorer (in 1902) was the first to actually print a recipe for the cupcakes (with frosting) we all enjoy today.

Click to see a Baby Cake being made on You Tube

23 comments:

  1. CONGRATULATIONS, GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!

    That is such awesome news. You must be bursting and so excited. I know I am for you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  2. and the babycakes look awesome, too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. CONGRATULATIONS GRANDMA SUSAN !!! This will be an exciting summer for you waiting for the baby..hoping for your DD that we don't have record heat! Please give her and your SIL all my best...
    The baby cakes are sweet..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Je suis si heureuse pour vous tous!
    What a jump start w/ the babycakes..babycake:)

    You will be an amazing nana...
    Be reday to FALL IN LOVE~

    Nana

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Susan and Congratulations to your daughter and SIL ..... September sounds like a wonderful time to have a baby .

    Such beautiful cupcakes and cute It's a Boy or Girl decorations. Healthy mom and baby are what matters most.

    I've always loved that nursery rhyme..... especially the snails and puppy dog tails line.

    I hoping for an easy and uneventful pregnancy for your daughter and SIL......

    Best wishes to your entire family.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This little "babycake" addition to your family is going to have the best Grandma to love & spoil him/her! Congratulations Susan & John! My very best to your DD & SIL too.

    How exciting for the whole family including auntie L. I look forward to all that you will share with us as a grandma. Let the shopping begin :-)

    The baby cakes look wonderful and I think I see one of those cabbage cakes in your future as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, Susan, what absolutely wonderful news! Congratualtions to you and John... and DD and SIL, of course. You will be a wonderful Grandmother... I'm sure of that! So happy for all of you! The babycakes are BEAU!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The very best news! Susan, congratulations to you and John, and mom and dad to be. A very special time in your lives for sure! The babycakes are beautiful. Again, I am so excited for all of you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratualtions Grandma to be. Sweet, precious little grandbabies are pure happiness and joy. I'm so happy for you and know how your life will change when your little one arrives.

    Adorable and yummy looking babycakes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yeahhhhhhh!!!! So very very happy for you!!! And hey...looks like you have babies for Mardi Gras King Cake next year...or is it Mardi Gras Baby Cake? hehe

    I can't wait to hear all about the new little bundle every step of the way. I know it will seem like for you September will never get here. Congratulations to you Grandma and to your whole family!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The is the best news you can get!
    Congratulations, I am so happy for you!
    And already you are being a good nana!
    The cakes look amazing, and I love your stands too!
    Congrats to dd and sil too..such a happy time!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations!

    these babycakes are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congrats!!

    Those are super sweet! I like the frosting zigzag border you piped on to them.
    ~ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on becoming a grandmother.....beautiful little baby cakes.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congrats!!

    The cupcakes look so cute!

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment!