Friday, May 29, 2009

French Vanilla Cupcake Surprise

Kaitlin, my baby and recent graduate and I were home alone yesterday afternoon. I enjoy being able to spend one on one time with the homegirlz.

Kaitlin is becoming quite the baker and I am thrilled she is letting me post this. The deal breaker was no pictures of her.

The cupcakes are VERY good. A few of her friends came by while she was baking and camped out until the cupcakes were done. I'm telling you the whole house smelled amazing! I was lucky to get a picture of the cupcakes...these were the last three left!

So let's get busy with French Vanilla Cupcake Surprise

Grease the muffin cups of one muffin tin with shortening.

Bake one box of French Vanilla cake mix using the cupcake package directions. Fill the cups 3/4 full. Allow the cup cakes to completely cool.

In a food processor combine one 8 ounce tub of mascarpone cheese, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Pulse until smooth. Spoon the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip. Push the tip gently into the bottom of a cupcake and squeeze about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon in the strawberry mixture into the cupcakes.

Pour 2 cups of powdered sugar into a medium size bowl and set aside. Then in a small pot bring 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup of water, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Combine the syrup with the powdered sugar. Stir until smooth.

Very quickly. spread the icing on the top of the cupcakes. The icing firms up very fast.


Now, I need to learn how to move pictures around with this new web browser.

Have a great weekend!

47 comments:

Cathy said...

Wow - she did a great job! Good for her. Too funny she didn't want to be immortalized on your blog ;)

vanillasugarblog said...

I just made (by experimenting) a wonderful marscapone frosting. One of my favorite ways to dress up a frosting. Looks good!

Marjie said...

I've been using Firefox for a long time, and once you get used to it, it's fine. Supposed to be more secure, too, according to the computer geeks who sometimes invade my house. Kaitlin did a great job, and I'm glad she got to spend time with her Mom!

theUngourmet said...

Mmm! The filling sound yummy and they are so pretty too! She did a great job!

Anonymous said...

I never use mascarpone...here's a great excuse to buy it!

These look wonderful.

Katy ~ said...

Well done! I love to see young people enjoy kitchen crafts.

Reeni said...

Are those last three for me? What a divine cupcake with that wonderful filling! Kaitlin rocks!

Reeni said...

I forgot to tell you how happy I was to see your comments! I missed ya!

Heather S-G said...

Delicious...she did a fabulous job!

Pearl said...

oh your daughter takes after you! kudos to her for baking such wonderful cupcakes! kaitlin dear, if you read this, know that you're doing a great job!

Anonymous said...

Kaitlin did an excellent job! These cupcakes look just scrumptious!

Pam said...

Oh the filling sounds delightful. It's great your daughter likes baking - my kids do too.

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

those looks fabulous! congrats Kaitlin!!

~ Julie ~ said...

Those sound wonderful! My mouth is watering.... :)

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Cool-looks like she's taking after her mother :)

Claudia said...

Aside from the fact that you must have had one of the best afternoons ever - what a grand idea. The strawberries and mascarpone - makes my stomach scream, "yes!"

Steph said...

I love mascarpone cheese!!

Christo Gonzales said...

fabuloso....I love how the icing looks

Bunny said...

Your daughter did a fantastic jo with the cuppies, I'm not surprised they went like hot cakes!

NKP said...

So great that the kids are starting to cook!

Kristen said...

The cupcakes look great!

Anonymous said...

gosh, what a great day!!
I can't help smiling at the thought of you and your daughter spending the day together baking...
a sweet day for a sweet treat!

Mary Bergfeld said...

She did an awfully nice job. The filling sounds so nice. I'll ebt these were delicious.

gigi said...

Oh how fun! Glad you've got at least one of those girls baking things that make the whole house wonderful. I love cooking with the kids.

Elyse said...

Good job, Kaitlin! These cupcakes look excellent. You know it's a good sign when all the friends come over, stick around until the cupcakes are ready, and then there are only three left to photograph! Sorry I've been away for the past week; I had a good friend in town and wasn't able to do much on the computer. I'm back now, though :)

Selba said...

Nice job, Kaitlin!! :)

tamilyn said...

That is so nice-I wish my kids would want to learn. Most they like to do is Christmas cookies.

Donna-FFW said...

She did a fabulous, fabulous job. I love the sound of these and they look so pretty.

Sherri Murphy said...

Great job and now I want some!

Dewi said...

Absolutely fabulous. You are lucky, and I think I get that talent from you, no?

buffalodick said...

Love that flavor, and tell her they looked great!

Dewi said...

Katherine, forgot to tell you that I've made your Gigi's Choc Cake, and posted today. Doesn't look as moist as yours because I didn't have the shortening.

Kristen said...

Hi Katherine, I have an award for you on my blog http://whatcha-eatin.blogspot.com/
Cheers!

Lyndas recipe box said...

Your daughter did a great job with those yummy looking cupcakes!
I really enjoy it when my daughter gets creative in the kitchen.

This is the first time in days that I haven't had trouble commemting on your blog, and others- maybe the problem is fixed?

MsTypo said...

Your daughter did a great job!! :) Those cupcakes look super tasty! :)

Debbie said...

Yum! Does she make cooking house calls?

Lucy..♥ said...

Kaitlin, wonderful cupcake there, loving the surprise, and wishing I could reach in and have one!!

pam said...

Like mother, like daughter!

teresa said...

How fun! I hope my daughter likes to bake just as much when she is older. The cupcakes look divine!

Debbie said...

Katherine - Your daughters cupcakes look delicious! I love the frosting and wish I had one right now with my coffee!

Treehouse Chef said...

It seems she has your talent in the kitchen! Great Job!

Netts Nook said...

I will have to bring home some marscapone when I go to Germany to make these cup cakes. Thanks for sharing Katherine.

Jennifer said...

Wow she can come bake for me any day how great she is enjoying being in the kitchen!

Marguerite said...

Looks like strawberry cheesecake in a cupcake. How delicious! Great job, Kaitlin!

Heidi said...

These look great! Cooking is a skill that a lot of girls just aren't learning. I'm trying to convince my 20 year old cousin she needs to learn to cook, but she says that is what eating out is for. People rely to much on fast food and a lot of kids don't have a parent who cooks, leaving them to eat unhealthy food.

Elizabeth said...

I love French Vanilla anything!

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

Holy cow those look good!!!