Football Cupcakes!

This post is extremely late but what's new, I have a million things to do in this hectic college life of mine! It was so exciting to see the San Francisco 49er's in the Super-Bowl this year and devastating to see them lose, but they did not go down without a fight. Proud to be a native Bay Area sports fan these days!

I made these a few weeks ago for the Super-Bowl and anyone who was watching in my lounge a few weeks ago.  I'll take any excuse I can to bake, let's be honest. 

Just so you all know before I proceed this is going to be a decorating post, not a recipe post!  I totally cheated because of my time constraints and used boxed chocolate cake mix and bought frosting.  I rarely do this but I had to so sorry about that.

These cupcakes look adorable and are quite simple to execute.  All you need is a few ingredients and a little bit of patience.  They are not only perfect for professional sporting events but also for kids birthdays or just for fun!

I have not been on my baking game lately and I really miss it so I am hoping that maybe this weekend I will be able to carve out a few hours to relax and "whip" out (see what I did there) my oven mitt and electric mixer.  

If any one has any suggestions just let me know, I'm always interested in all of your opinions and could always use some fresh ideas. 

What you will need: 

- Cupcakes and liners

- Frosting (both of these can be found in my recipe index)

- 24 unwrapped Tootsie Rolls

- Small star piping tip and bag

Directions:

Step 1: Start off with 24 ready made chocolate or vanilla cupcakes and your choice of frosting, which must be thick enough to pipe.  Dye 90% of it green for the grass and leave the other 10% white for the lacing on the footballs.

 

Step 2: Microwave the Tootsie Rolls for 15-20 seconds, so that they are still in tact but just soft enough to mold into shape.  Shape each Tootsie Roll so that it is an oval to represent a football.  Using the smallest round piping tip you have, pipe one line in the center vertically and 3 lines across horizontally to displaying the lacing. 

           

Step 3: Pipe the green frosting onto each cupcake using a star tip to try and represent green grass. 

Step 4: Place one football on the top of each cupcake and you are done! Hand them out, bring to a party, make for a birthday, and enjoy!

As always, I hope you try it out and have a good rest of February- spring is going to be here before we know it! 

Happy baking everyone! 

Kappa Sigma Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These are red velvet cupcakes, which I have never actually made before, with a decadent cream cheese frosting, red sprinkles around the rim, and Kappa Sigma lettering!

As most of y'all know by now my boyfriend, Jake goes to Willamette University and I go visit him there once a month or so.  He is in the Kappa Sigma fraternity there... and no it is not a "frat." 

I love to bake there because I get to be in the house kitchen and my treats get enjoyed and devoured in a very short amount of time with much appreciation.  

This past weekend when I was visiting was the fraternities initiation for new pledges (which I have somehow managed to be there for 2 years in a row).  So... because of all the events that were going on I had a good amount of time to kill so I figured what better to do than to bake! I spent 3-4 hours in a quiet kitchen with my music and enjoyed the heck out of it.  It had been way too long since the last time I had a date with the mixing bowl.  

I was inspired by Joy of Baking for this recipe. 

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 32-36 regular-sized cupcakes.

For the red velvet cupcakes:

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. cocoa powder

3/4 cup unsalted butter

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2-3 tbsp. red food coloring

1 1/2 tsp. white vinegar

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

For the cream cheese frosting:

24 oz. cream cheese (this is 3 packages)

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 1/3 cups heavy whipping cream

Also used: 

green food coloring

red sprinkles 

Directions:

For the red velvet cupcakes: 

Preheat the oven to 350.

Prepare 3 cupcake tins with cupcakes liners. 

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. 

Beat butter on medium speed in an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes.  

Add sugar and mix well.  Continue by adding eggs one at a time, followed by the addition of the vanilla extract (continue to scrape down the sides after each step).

In a separate bowl measure out the buttermilk.

Begin adding red food coloring drop by drop, while whisking, until you reach a deep red color.

Switch off adding the red buttermilk and the dry ingredients to the butter mixture (beginning and ending with the dry ingredients). 

In a small separate bowl or cup combine white wine vinegar and baking soda.  Let it fizz and once it has settled down fold it into the batter.

Divide the batter amongst the cupcake liners, filling about 2/3 full, and baking for 18-23 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean. 

For the cream cheese frosting:

Beat room temperature cream cheese in an electric mixer until creamy.

Add vanilla and then in increments add sifted powdered sugar.  

Slowly add in the heavy whipping cream and mix on high until the frosting is thick enough to pipe.  

Decoration:

First, begin by piping the cream cheese frosting using a wide star-shaped tip onto the cupcakes.  (Optional: Save some to make the leftover frosting green to use for writing)

Pour a bottle of red sprinkles into a large bowl to coat the bottom. 

Dip the edges of the cupcake into the sprinkles and do your best to make sure they are coated evenly.

 

Using the leftover frosting, dye it green, and create lettering of your choice! I used the Kappa Sigma letters but if you want you can draw a christmas tree or write something creative! 

Now all you have to do is eat it and enjoy!

Not to mention the house is beautifully decorated for Christmas! Hope to be back there soon! Props to Jason!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you all get fat and happy! 

And as always... happy baking!