Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. Thank you, Martha.

I have to say, honestly, that these were amazingly moist and delicious cupcakes. Let's hit it!

It seems like a lot of ingredients, but it was the easiest cupcake I've made in a long time. Note: Hot spiced wine in the cup all the way to the left. Had to share!

Peeled and shredded the carrots. Mixed them with the wet ingredients, then stirred in the dry ingredients!

Scooped the batter into the cups with my handy ice cream scoop!

In the oven they go at 325 degrees F. They were in about 24-25 minutes.

Fresh out the oven and onto the drying rack. Mmm hmm.

Mixed up the super easy cream cheese frosting while they cooled.

Toasted some coconut to look pretty on the top!

Check out those ladies! 

Had to show ya the inside, too! Obviously!

This recipe can be found on page 25 of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspiring Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat. The icing can be found on page 303. (From the Editors of Martha Stewart Living, pg. 24-25, 303) 2009.  

Or...if you really want it, I can e-mail it to you, no problem! Just let me know! :)

Next up is a fun recipe I found on a blog called SprinkleBakes...They are Blue Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I will be making them tomorrow. But don't worry! I will be right back to Martha's goodies next week! Gettin' creative here, while you should be eating cupcakes there. Sláinte!

Martha Stewart's Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting...my attempt.

Alright kids--the first challenge is over, finished, done-zo. Below you will find a photo tour of the process--compliments of Martha. Or her editors' book, rather. Anyway--follow along below!

    Here are all of the basic ingredients...now that I look at it, it seems like a lot.

                    

This photo features a lovely depiction of the marriage between the sweet,creamed butter and the distinguished sugar.

And above we have the mixture of the butter, sugar, sifted flour, baking powder, salt, milk and vanilla extract...they have been beaten "until just combined..."

This is a quick mid-whisk photo of the egg whites...my mom called me as I was half way through and I did not want to forget to take a picture...I will tell you, after this whisking--my peaks were quite stiff and delightful...mmm hmm.

Folding the chocolate chips into the mixture ever so gently. And p.s. Just in case you did not know, the reason you toss the chips in a small reserve of flour is so that the prevention of sunken chips takes place...no one wants their chips on just the bottom!

Into the oven they go...whoop!

Melting the chocolate chips for the frosting...I love my Giada de Laurentiis pots and pans!

First batch fresh out of the oven...

My version of the finished product...and now for Martha's version...

Martha's Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting (From the Editors of Martha Stewart Living, pg. 22-23, 302) 2009.


First round of cupcakes= complete. Next is Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and they come with perfect timing for a co-workers birthday...fabulous! Until then, Sláinte!

Introduction to my cupcake challenge.

Here's the dealio. My friend T.R. supports my fascination with making cupcakes so much that she gave me Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat (2009) as a Christmas prezzie. In general conversation about this Christmas gift, T.R. made the comment/suggestion that I should have to blog all of the cupcakes as I make them. So--here is the challenge: Every other week (pay day) I need to create a new cupcake from Martha's book while documenting the entire process via this very blog. I plan to keep it real and keep it non-Julie&Julia-esque. I'm not trying to invite Martha over at any time in the future. This week is cupcake number one: the Chocolate Chip cupcake with Dark Chocolate Frosting. I will be going to get the ingredients this evening! Sláinte!