Apple Cider Spiced Maple Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:
• 1 spice cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1-2/3 cups apple cider
For the Frosting:
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions 

For the Cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cupcake tin with 24 cupcake wrappers.
3. In a mixing bowl mix together the cake mix, eggs and apple cider.
4. Mix until smooth.
5. Fill cupcake wells two-thirds full and bake 19 to 24 minutes or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool on a wire cooling rack.


 For the Frosting:
7. Cream together the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
8. Add the syrup, extract, pumpkin spice and sugar.
9. Mix on low for a minute and then on high until creamy.
10. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes.
11. NOTE: If your frosting is too thick you may add water but only a teaspoon at a time. (I didn't have to but it was thick)
12. DOUBLE FROSTING: THIS FROSTING RECIPE IS ONLY FOR 12 CUPCAKES. (I didn't and it was plenty)

I got this recipe from: http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/apple-cider-maple-spice-cupcakes/ 

Kirsten

5 Tips When Working with Kids

Dear Readers,

Though I do not have kids, I work a lot with them and I love to bake with them. Here are my five tips for when working with kids in the kitchen.

1) Don't underestimate how much they can do. You may not think a two year old can do very much to help you in the kitchen, and it is alway easier to work with one kid, but even when working with a group of little kids, they can still stir, pour, smash, etc., and they will have fun doing it. If working with more than one kid, delegate who does what.

2) Use your senses. Even adults love to taste test. So allow kids to do the same. When working with a large group of kids, tasting the dough may not necessarily be sanitary. I allow my kids to taste the sugar, and flour by putting a little bit of the ingretants on a paper towel. Have them smell the vanilla and the spices. I have even had my kids put glove on so the could feel, and knead the dough.

3) Be willing to adjust your game plan. Your expectations on the experience may not line up with reality. Be prepared to adjust the recipe if the kid puts more of one item.

4) Be Prepared. Make sure you have all the ingredients out and ready, as well as measuring cups and spoons. It makes the process easier. I remember my grandma always doing this before we baked together when I was a kid.

5) Have Fun!

I hope these tips help you on your next adventure when cooking, or baking with a kid. I encourage you to allow the kid(s) in your life learn the fun of messing around in the kitchen and eating something they made. I found it to be very rewarding for me as a kid.

Kirsten

Holiday Life as We Know it

I am one who hates unanswered promises, and I know that I am a hypocrite for being the person making such promises. I want to genuinely apologize to all my readers for not making this blog as much of a priority in my life as it should be. I know that is what I need to work on, while I juggle the other aspects of my life. However, I would appreciate grace for when I come up short, like the last couple of weeks.

Okay with that aside let's get to the real reason why you follow me, the food!

Since my disappearance, I made chocolate chip cookies, spiced apple caramel cupcakes, and homemade bread (thanks to my bread machine that makes the process of making the bread a lot easier).

The cookies were something that I just whipped up one night, so they are not blog worthy.

The cupcakes were really good. I might have gone overboard with the frosting, which made the cupcakes really sweet. Even with this factor, my husband and brother-in-law ate them up.

Now I don't know how much credit I can take for the bread. I did make it from "scratch," meaning I put all the ingredients in the bread maker. But it looks so good! I made it last night, so I haven't been able to see if my $4 yard sell find was worth it. I'll keep you posted.

Once the holidays are over, I will try to be more consistent, and though my creations for Christmas presents may not be dessert, or food for that matter, I would still love to share a little tangent post about it!

Kirsten

Women's Conference

For those who don't know, for the last two weeks  I have been busily making some sweet treats for the ladies at my church. In July one of our Women Ministry leaders came up to me to ask if I would be interested in such a project, and of course I took her up on the offer. After meeting up again in September to discuss the logistics of what they were looking for and what I could help with, I started planning out what I was going to make and the cost for the ingredients. I told them that I would charge them for my time as a gift to them and the church. So this is the list of what I made (recipes are sure to pop up on Wednesday Recipes):

Homemade Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Apple Puppy Chow

Turtle Pie

Apple and Pear Crisp

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Almond Whipped Frosting (gluten free)

Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

English Toffee

Pomegranate Mousse 

Scones

Pumpkin Muffins

Tea Cookies

For time management purposes, I baked something every day, then I either freezed it or locked it an air tight container. This was my first job/ big project! It was so exciting and nerve racking, but all in all a great experience. Everyone kept on telling me how great everything tasted. It was such a blessing but also a humbling experience. 

I hope you enjoy all the pictures and I am egger to share my next big project once it comes my way.

Kirsten