My mom wasn’t a big fan of sweet food, so growing up, my siblings and I really didn’t have much exposure to desserts. I remember vividly how shocked people used to get when we refused their candies as little kids. Don’t get me wrong though, we did have plenty of birthday cakes and occasional ice-cream every now and then, we were just not that crazy about sweet food in general. As I got older, I got more and more interested in cooking, I discovered the magic of sugar. Wow, what an eye-opener! I have to admit I’m still an amateur in this area, but I'm getting better. I never knew there was such a huge craze with cupcakes until my recent years of my life here in America. At my job, I have gained a group of friends/coworkers who love to cook like me. We cook for each other for different occasions and and sometimes compete in cooking for fun. Here’s the most recent one with CUPCAKES again! Turned out that we have a lot of "PROS" around. Yes, did I mention that I like sugar now? Ha!
Entry: Kahlua Cupcakes
What's in it? Wow, a true winner of a piece. A chocolate cake with a mocha mousse filling and a Kahlua soaking syrup with caramel icing and a caramel and chocolate drizzle topped with a caramel bliss chocolate. Just listing out the ingredients is enough to make my mouth water for more!
Entry: Mochaccino Cupcakes (Casaundra), Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes (Faye)
What's in it?
I was surprised by how light these 2 cupcakes were. They were fluffy and full of flavor. I could easily eat more than one at a time. Goes perfect with a cup of hot coffee or tea.
Mochaccino Cupcakes: Coffee flavored chocolate cupcakes, topped with coffee butter cream, drizzled with vanilla salted caramel and garnished with a vanilla pirouette cookie.
Lemon-Blueberry Cupcakes with Honey-Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting: Delicious combination of fruit flavors - lemon and fresh blueberries - all wrapped up in a buttery batter. The cupcakes use the lemon zest from 4 lemons; 3 in the batter and 1 in the frosting, which gives these guys a wonderful flavor and sparkle. Topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting enhanced with honey and lemon zest, this cupcake is a refreshing delight.
Entry: Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes
What's in it?
So beautifully decorated that I almost hesitated to put my fork into it. This chocolate caramel filled cupcake was moist and delicious. The cupcake is a rich and moist chocolate cake with mini-chocolate cups floating in it with a soft caramel filling. Really great with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee. It’s a great way to sink into chocolate bliss. Mmmm, yum yum, Cindy. Great job as usual!
More delicious entries!!
Contestant: Christy Massie
Entry: Deluxe Peanut Butter Cupcakes
What's in it?
These cupcakes are my personal favorite. I don't like peanut butter that much normally but somehow these cupcakes really worked. Christy outdid herself with these absolutely perfect cupcakes. She combined chocolate cake and peanut butter cake and topped it with a smooth peanut
butter icing, chocolate ganache, and cruchy chopped peanut butter cups. OMG, sooooooooo good.
Contestant: Casaundra Bronner (2nd entry!)
Entry: Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes
What's in it? These classy cupcakes reminded me of a beautiful ice-cream sundae from my childhood. They were yellow cakes with raspberry whipped cream filling, topped with a tier each of chocolate, vanilla and raspberry whipped cream icing, a raspberry and chocolate sprinkles. So light and delicious that you don't want to stop at one.
Contestant: Stacie Eftink
Entry: S'mores Cupcakes
What's in it? Cute cute cute. S'mores on a cupcake. Who can say no to that? These are chocolate cake topped with a toasted marshmallow, Hershey's chocolate and graham cracker on top of a dollop of marshmallow créme with a piece of Hershey's chocolate and a graham cracker crust bottom. Wow, talk about childhood, this one sure is a winner.
Contestant: Frances Wun
Entry: Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
What's in it?
These cupcakes were elegant. They were easy to make yet have a sophisticated appeal. The simple cheesecake was made from natural ingredients, topped with a homemade raspberry jelly and fresh raspberries. Sprinkled with powder sugar.
Contestant: Rica Kirn (Scott Kirn's Wife)
Entry: Oreo Chocolate Cupcakes
What's in it? Oreo, yes, I knew this would come up in this competition. Oreo is increasing in popularity in today's desserts. Scott's wife Rica took a creative turn with the yellow oreo cupcakes chocolate cake mix with a cream filling and mini Oreo’s inside. I smell love in the air.
Contestant: Mandi Stone
Entry: Meatloaf Cupcakes
What's in it?
Let me say this, these were delicious. So good that they would go with any meal. Mandi actually didn't enter the competition with these cupcakes, but she really should have in my opinion. While we were chowing down on the pot luck, I looked around and almost everyone in the room had one of these meatloaf goodies on their plate. So inviting that you just had to taste it. Mandi's words, "You just make the meatloaf in foil cupcake liners. I used 90% lean beef. Topped with gold mashed taters, ketchup and bacon."
That's it for now. More to come soon!!!
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