Un Grand Commencement

Today is a special day for my date - first working day in the new company. Glad to see how early he woke up this morning in order to get to the office at least on time, if it is not in time. In this great moment, I would like to say: "Congratulations, wish you achieve great success in your work and enjoy exorbitant support from everyone at the new office!"

This post is meant to be just as special. It is the second serie of my cupcake decoration endeavor. And knowing how much I enjoy decorating cupcakes, on his way back from the holiday my date brought along various appealing snacks catered for the decoration.

So here I go fiddling with the colorful jelly bits he bought. We both agreed to name it Castle Cupcakes, as an expression of our dream trip to see castles in Europe someday...

CASTLE CUPCAKES
Makes 11 cupcakes



1. Chocolate Cupcakes
Prepare: 11 muffin paper cups (diameter 2 ¼ inch, height 2 ¼ inch) and a large baking tray

Ingredients:
- All purpose flour > 120 grams
- Cocoa powder > 44 grams
- Baking powder > 1 teaspoon
- Baking soda > ½ teaspoon
- Salt > ¼ teaspoon
- Milk > 190 ml
- Vanilla essence > 1 teaspoon
- Butter – soften > 90 grams
- Granulated sugar > 187 grams
- Eggs > 2



Method:
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Place 11 muffin paper cups on the baking tray with adequate gap between one another.
- Mix all purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift.
- Separately combine milk and vanilla essence.
- Place softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat at low speed until both ingredients are fully combined. Change to high speed and cream for 5 minutes.
- Change speed to medium and add eggs, one at a time.
- Adjust speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with milk mixture in a few additions. Continue to beat until batter is smooth.
- Spoon batter into each muffin cup until ¾ full.
- Bake at 180°C for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the cake turns out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.



2. Decoration

Ingredients:
- Whipping cream > 300 ml
- Condensed milk > 2 tablespoons

Method:
- Beat whipping cream. Once it starts thickening add condensed milk.
- Continue beating until hard peaks form.
- Fill into piping bag with the star nozzle and pipe.
- Decorate.