icaguila

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...

2012-02-09T23:42:00.003+08:00

... and I have no valentine yet again. Forever alone hahaha. But hey! I am not complaining. I'll just enjoy the day with all my single ladies! (Now put your hands up! Oh oh oh)

So I decided to make mini red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting to give out to my friends this Valentine's Day. Well I wasn't really planning on giving anything this year because I've been too lazy to bake lately and the tv series Revenge got me officially hooked that I spend most of my free time re-watching episodes. I love Emily and Daniel. Hahaha! Going back, we had no class in the afternoon yesterday so I decided to go to Chocolate Lover somewhere in Cubao. Aaah the chocolate and baking haven. Felt like a kid in a candy store. I smiled when I entered the castle. (Hahaha yes it was a castle!) I couldn't stop my impulsive self from buying ingredients and bakeware.

I've been wanting to make red velvet cupcakes ever since I started baking. I finally had the time to do a little research and try it!

Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 egg
3/4 cup buttermilk (Substitute: 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, set aside for 5 minutes)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons red food coloring
2 tablespoons

For the cream cheese frosting:
1 8 oz. pack of cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 - 2 cups confectioners' sugar

1. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.
3. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg. Don't forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
4. Add 1/4 of the dry ingredients and mix, then add 1/3 of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern.
5. Spoon the batter in the prepared cups evenly about 2/3 filled. Bake in the oven for about 7-8 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Cool before frosting.

For the cream cheese frosting:
1. Cream butter and cream cheese together for about 3 minutes or until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Add the sugar and continually taste to get desired sweetness.

Measuring tools

Some wet ingredients

Dry Ingredients

The batter

My red velvet cupcakes :)

I'm sorry my red velvet cupcakes are vain. Hahaha! My dad saw my cupcakes and he said my friends are lucky to have me. Eh? Hahaha! My little way of showing love :) To my friends who are reading this, get ready to be fat and I hope you like them!

What are your plans on Valentine's Day?

My weekend in pictures

2011-12-18T21:11:00.000+08:00

Mercato and shopped like cray for 12 hours at Makati with Hazel.

Lunch at YakiMIX with the Bellens.

Serenitea's Okinawa MT.

Who doesn't love Oreos?

2011-12-16T00:52:00.008+08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, it's Christmas once again. A year ago, Pamps (my older sister) and I made sugar cookies as Christmas gifts to our close friends. Our first baking project (!!!) Sister, if you're reading this, say hello to New York for me and try not to freeze! ;) I miss you and mom. This year, I made Oreo pops. Original plan was to make Bakerella's famous Cake pops but no time to bake a cake from scratch. Thanks to Google! I found this no-bake recipe on the internet. I revised it a little bit though. :)

Oreo Pops

4 137g packs of Oreo

1 8 oz. pack of cream cheese

500g white chocolate chips

Food coloring (for decorating)

Lollipop sticks

Styrofoam block

1. Crush the oreos (with the filling) in the food processor until finely ground. I used a heavy duty bag, Ziploc, and rolling pin to crush the oreos.

2. In a large bowl, mix the oreo crumbs and cream cheese thoroughly. (I suggest you use your fingers to mix, but it will get messy.)

3. Roll mixture and form 1" balls and lay on a baking sheet.

4. Chill for about an hour.

5. Melt chocolate in microwave. (Don't leave your chocolate in the microwave for too long.)

6. Dip the lollipop stick about 1/2" into the chocolate and then stick it to the ball right away. Tap off the excess and use the styrofoam block to allow your oreo pops to dry.

Not really the design I had in mind. But not bad, right? I had a hard time dipping the balls in the chocolate. The lollipop sticks didn't stick to the balls. And uhh not the perfect Christmas colors. Oh well, next time!

Merry Christmas in advance!