December 24, 2015

christmas tree cupcakes.


Hi again, everyone!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE MERRY CHRISTMAS 
(in advance!)

How time flies... Christmas is finally here! I feel sooo blessed to have a chance for experiencing another year of Christmas - which means Jesus' birthday. Every people all around the world must be very happy and beyond excited today... while enjoying a short holiday as well!


I'm celebrating this year of Christmas by baking and delivering so many brownies and muffins for orders. Super happy to share some of my most-favourite baked goods (so far) for them and their loved ones. And today, I'm also baking these moist, colourful and festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes! I thought my huge love for Christmas just continues in this latest recipe of mine.


I'm about to give them as a Christmas gift for some of my bestfriends. Really hope they will also love it as much as I do. :)


Let's treat yourself, family and dear ones to these delightfully delicious chocolate Christmas cupcakes! If you haven't prepared anything yet, you still have less than 24 hours to bake these yummy goodness. Here's the recipe to follow!


Making ca. 6 large cupcakes or 12 normal-sized cupcakes.

For the chocolate cupcakes:

Ingredients:

175 grams all purpose flour
50 grams Dutch-processed cocoa powder
240 ml boiling hot water
113 grams unsalted butter, room temperature
200 grams granulated white sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1). Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter, or line 12 baking cups with paper liners.
2). In a small bowl, stir the boiling water and cocoa powder until smooth. Let them cool to room temperature.
3). In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
4). In a medium-sized bowl, with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat only until incorporated. Then add the cooled coco mixture and stir until smooth.
5). Fill each baking cup about two-thirds full with batter and bake for about 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Don't overbake or the texture of the cupcakes will be dry).
6). Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

For the christmas tree frosting and assembling:

Ingredients:

1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
4 cups (460 grams) confectioners or icing sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional)
green food colouring

M&M's chocolate, sprinkles, biscuits, for decoration (optional)

Directions: 

1). In a large bowl, with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth and well blended. Beat in the vanilla extract.
2). With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add milk or heavy cream, peppermint extract and green food colouring (2-4 drops or until you reach the desired shade of green), beat to combine.
3). Then, on high speed, beat frosting until it is light and fluffy (about ca. 5 minutes).
4). Fill a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with the green buttercream frosting and pipe to resemble a Christmas tree (or whatever you wish).
5). At last (after all cupcakes have been perfectly frosted). decorate them with M&M's chocolate (I chose red and green ones as they represented Christmas-themed colours), some colourful sprinkles and biscuits for topping - or you can easily decorate them in any other way you fancy!.
6). Done and serve!.

 Enjoy! Hope you all like it and having a great time :)

one bite is never enough!

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Have a beautiful Christmas everyone!
God bless you!

Lots of love,
Laras