Happy Insides

We are big fans of savory and sweet mixed together.  We are always combining things like fruit and cheese, salt and chocolate, etc.  When we saw this recipe for chocolate bacon cupcakes we knew that this was a recipe we just had to try.  Chocolate and bacon are two of our favorite foods so mixing them together sounded like genius.  The we decided to add peanut butter frosting into the mix and it sent these cupcakes to a whole different level of amazing.  Both of us agree that these are by far our favorite cupcakes that we have ever had.  We will be making these again and again and again.  We served these at our Halloween Party and they were a huge crowd pleaser.  Everyone was a little hesitant at first, but once they tried them every single one of our guests raved about them.  

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During Rosh Hashanah celebrants of the Jewish New Year typically eat lots of sweet foods.  This is to start out a new year on the right track hoping that the year to come will be a sweet one.  A very traditional combination is apples and honey. Dipping apple slices in honey has been a tradition that Cassie has enjoyed as far back as she can remember.  This year when her family decided to have a belated Rosh Hashanah celebration Cassie offered to make dessert.  She wanted something different and delicious, but still with a bit of tradition.  What she found was a recipe for apple cinnamon cupcakes.  The cupcakes called for mead frosting, but instead Cassie decided to experiment with a normal buttercream frosting with the addition of honey to it.  We used a good alfalfa honey because it typically has a stronger flavor than normal clover honey.  It provided a really rich honey flavor to the frosting.  We doubled the cupcake recipe and had enough batter for ~36 cupcakes.

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
adapted from the blog  Cupcake Project

2 sticks of butter softened
1 c. + 2 T. evaporated cane juice
2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. applesauce (unsweetened)
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 large apple, cored, peeled and chopped

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  

2)  With a mixer cream the butter and sugar on medium.  Add the eggs 1 at a time until incorporated.  Slowly add the flour.

3) Once the flour is incorporated add the applesauce and the cinnamon and mix well.  Stir in the apples.

4) Measure about 1/3 cup of batter into paper lined muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cupcakes cool fully before frosting.   

Honey Buttercream Frosting
adapted from this recipe found on the Food Network website

3 c.  organic confectioners' sugar
1 c. butter softened
1 t. vanilla extract
1-2 T. milk
honey to taste (we probably used close to a 1/4 c. of honey)

1) In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter.  Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

2) Add vanilla and the milk and beat on medium for 1 minute.  Add more milk as necessary for the desired consistency.

3) Slowly start adding honey to the frosting while the mixer is still going.  It will give the frosting a nice honey hue.  Add the honey till you have the desired potency of flavor.  Frost cupcakes and enjoy.

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