Chocolate Beer Frosting

I've put beer in the cake, and now I've put beer in the frosting. That's right its an all-round beer festival in the cake house. And yes, now you can beer-ify your life too, simply read on sweet lovers of the stout.

Chocolate Beer Frosting

Ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cups powdered sugar1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)1/4 cup stout beer (I used Old Rasputin Russian Stout)
2 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate (melted and cooled to room temperature)

Directions:
1) Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa into a small bowl.
2) Cream butter and stout beer till incorporated (they won't fully mix and that's okay).
3) Add powdered sugar and cocoa mix and beat on medium/high speed until light and fluffy.
4) Add chocolate and beat until smooth and creamy.

Note: Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature or the chocolate will seize.


Now frost up some cupcakes and have a beer-tastic day. For some cupcake ideas to go with your frosting check out these posts:

Old Rasputin Bacon Cupcakes (which I originally used for this recipe).
Regular Bacon Cupcakes (sans the beer).

Now go bake and be merry!

Irresistable Nutella Frosting

Everyone loves that sweet hazelnut spread known as Nutella. But life just got a little bit sweeter (and more irresistible) with Nutella frosting. This incredible frosting dresses up even the simplest of cakes, from chocolate to vanilla. Add a few strawberries and you're in Nutella heaven!!!


Irresistible Nutella Frosting
Covers one 8-inch Cake.

Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup nutella
5 tbsp butter (at room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:
1) Combine first five ingredients in a mixer and beat until mixed
2) Add cream and beat until mixed.
3) Frost cupcakes or cake and devour!

Pink Baby Shower Cake

My good friend Crystal is having a baby! A baby girl! And last weekend she had her baby shower and I was honored to make her a baby shower cake. So here's to Mama and baby birds - Crystal and (the soon to be with us) Josephine.

The cake is made from pink fondant, with fondant birds, butter cream dots, and fabric ribbons. The inside was classic yellow and chocolate layer cake. Mmmmm good.




These fantastic photos were created by Russell Gearhart Photography.

Old Rasputin Bacon Cupcakes

Oh, baking blog how I have neglected theeeeee. I'm sorry everyone for my lack of posting. This doesn't mean I haven't been baking. Oh, contrare my sweets. I have been baking, but I have not had any photos. Yes, I'm blaming this on my photographer.

*My photographer gives me the stink eye*

Okay, maybe we ate up some of the baked goods before we had a chance to photograph them. (They were sooooo tasty). And, yes, I shouldn't be complaining. I have my own personal photographer (for goodness sakes!).

Anyway, back to the baking! I took an couple of previous recipes and mixed 'em together for an intense and stouty kick for the man of the house. Nothing screams Man-cake more than Old Rasputin Bacon Cupcakes! So bake these up and invite all your carnivorous beer-guzzlin' men to the party!


Old Rasputin Bacon Cupcakes
Makes about 24 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
4 oz (1/2 cup) unsalted softened butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 bottle (12 fl. oz) Old Rasputin Russian Stout (1 1/2 cups)
1 (16oz) package of bacon cooked

Cupcake Directions:
1) Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2) Line cupcake tins with paper liners
3) In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4) In a bowl or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter until light and fluffy.
5) Add sour cream and beat in.
6) With the mixer running slowly, pour in the Old Rasputin Russian Stout.
7) Sift the dry ingredients into the batter and slowly stir until it is evenly mixed. Be sure to scrape down the sides so everything is mixed in.
8) Break up half of the bacon into bits and mix into the batter.
8) Divide the batter up into cupcake liners.
9) Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
10) Cover with your favorite icing (look for my chocolate beer frosting recipe coming soon)! You could also try Ganache. And top with remaining bacon pieces. Mmmmm. Good.