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Now you're turning three and we're thrilled to be able to celebrate this special day with you.
You didn't have many expectations for your birthday. The only request you had was for pink cupcakes, in fact, I think it was last summer that you first informed me about the pink cupcakes. And many times since, when we'd talk about your birthday, it was always the pink cupcakes that were the highlight of the conversation.
So pink cupcakes it is! I used my favorite recipe, a never-fail, super-simple recipe from the folks at Cooks Illustrated. You don't know much about stuff like this yet but these people are experts at cooking and baking. They test and tweak and re-test and if they say something is perfect, well you can be sure it's going to be not only perfect but delicious too!
The icing is also a favorite here at The Café. I worked on this one for a while till I got it just right; buttery and sweet... with just a bit of cream cheese, lots of vanilla and a hint of almond extract.
It's nice and creamy, making it easy to frost the cupcakes, spreading the icing with a knife or piling it into a pastry bag and doing a fancy swirly twirl. When you get just a bit bigger, I'll teach you how to do these fun swirls I made on your birthday cupcakes. I tried a new tip this time; a Wilton 2D, which makes these pretty swirls that look a bit like roses.
From the look of delight on your sweet face when you saw the cupcakes, all sparkly in the candlelight... to your enjoyment of the very last crumb, I'd say the pink cupcakes were definitely a big hit! We love you so much Lilly, and pray we'll be able to celebrate many more birthdays with you, in whatever ever color your little heart desires!
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Perfect White Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour
- ½ cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, but still cool
- pink food gel coloring, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line twelve standard size cupcake cups with paper liners. I really love the greaseproof liners you can find at many stores these days. They stay bright and pretty, even after baking.
- Lightly whisk milk, egg whites, and vanilla extract in large glass measuring cup.
- Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of an electric stand mixer and add butter; beating at low speed until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no large clumps of flour.
- Add ¾ of the milk mixture to the crumbs and beat at medium speed (or high speed if using a handheld mixer) for 1-½ minutes. Add remaining milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for 20 seconds longer at low speed. Add a tiny bit of gel food coloring. Add more if needed to achieve desired hue.
- Evenly distribute the batter in the cupcake tins, filling the cups no more than ⅔ full. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan carefully and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Frost with Best-Ever Cream Cheese Icing (recipe below). To swirl with the rose technique, use a Wilton 2D tip. Here is a wonderful tutorial for the swirling technique.
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Best-Ever Buttercream Icing
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese, I use the low fat - not no-fat at room temperature
- 1 pound bag or box powdered sugar, more as needed. 2-3 tablespoons milk or half & half, more as needed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Beat the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, (use the wire whisk attachment if you have one) stopping to scrape the bowl once or twice.
- Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated, add milk one tablespoon at a time till icing is soft and fluffy. Add vanilla, almond extract and a pinch of salt and beat at a low speed until incorporated, then increase to medium-high beat for another five minutes. If icing is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar, if too thick, add a bit more milk.
- Makes enough to frost 18-24 cupcakes. You'll have more than you'll need for the 12 cupcakes. You can store any unused buttercream in the refrigerator in an airtight container; to reuse, let it come to room temperature and then return to the mixer for a minute or two before spreading.
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I tried out your cupcake recipe to make for a friend's birthday yesterday and they were great! Moist and delicious! Thank you!
Thanks for getting back to me about your results, Erica, I'm so happy they turned out well for you.
Absolutely precious! And such beautiful cupcakes...lovely!
The smile is priceless. I'd love a lovely pink cupcake to celebrate my birthday too if they were as beautiful as yours.
chris, you're really a wonderful grandma!i'm sure these cupcakes will always be remembered by Lily, these are really beautiful!! lovely pink , lily even wearing a pink dress!!
These are sweet beyond words. She expression is priceless! You are gifted indeed. Hope you have a blessed holiday season!
Aw, you are the BEST grandma!!! Lilly's cupcakes are perfect!
I thought those cupcakes were the cutest things I have ever seen until I saw her face, what an amazing photo!!!
Both Lilly and the cupcakes are so gorgeous! That's such a great shade of pink on the cupcakes - super job. Thanks for this.
Oh my gosh, I love the expression on your sweet Lilly's face as she was being presented the cupcakes. Cupcakes and grandaughter--both so cute (but as pretty as these cupcakes are...Lilly gets the top spot!) 🙂
Oh my gosh, I love the expression on your sweet Lilly's face as she was being presented the cupcakes. Cupcakes and grandaughter--both so cute (but as pretty as these cupcakes are...Lilly gets the top spot!) 🙂
Happy Birthday to Lily! These are a perfect celebration treat, especially with that lovely pink color! How fun! Must try this buttercream!
Oh, that precious look on Lily's face is enough to tell me that she just loved these pink cupcakes! Love the pearl sprinkles on the icing...And who doesn't like a good buttercream?!?!
Happy Birthday to Lilly, what a blessed little girl she is to have her heart's desire for her special day! The cupcakes look amazing wrapped in pink frosting,extemely tempting for adults as well.. 🙂
Look how thrilled Lilly is:)You made her birthday extra special. I remember when it was all about pink for my little girl. I miss those girly sweet days:)
I've always hated cupcakes made with box mix and store frosting, but I bet I'd eat every one of yours!
Happy Birthday Lilly! Chris - your presentations of the food are beautiful. What an inspiration! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
What beautiful and cute pink cupcakes...and I love the look on lil Lily's face when the cupcakes were brought in...Precious!
Regards,
Manju
http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com/
These are perfectly pink cupcakes in every way!!!
Happy 3rd Birthday Lilly 😉
I am always so impressed by your cupcakes and decorations! These are just gorgeous & the look on Lilly's face must have melted your heart! What an angel!
Perfect pink cupcakes for a gorgeous little girl, I am sure she loved them!
So very pretty! Happy Birthday, Lilly!
Aww that little face just melts my heart Chris. What a beautiful post for a gorgeous Birthday girl. Happy Birthday little Lilly! xx
Your post brought tears to my eyes, what a lucky family you are! The cupcakes are absolutely perfect.
Beautiful pink cupcakes for a Christmas angel. Happy birthday Lilly:D
Hi Chris, OMG... your pink cupcakes look superb. The topping is so gorgeous and very nice pipping skill. Excellent!
Happy birthday to Lilly, she is so adorable.
We can see from her face just what a delight these cupcakes were for her!
You will be the grandmother with the BEST reputation!
These cupcakes are so, so pretty, Chris! What a sweet treat for Lilly :).
The cupcakes are beautiful, but they can hardly compare to the priceless joy on Lily's face when she sees her pink cupcakes. Truly, a priceless photo!
A very happy birthday to Lily...and wishes for a wonderful, joy-filled, health-filled new year of life.
And to you, a huge thank you for the cupcake recipe.
OMYmymy ! you understand me:) Im without words look amazing and wonderful and georgeus, I will pin these in beauty foods:)
Happy birthday, Lilly! I love, love, love the joy on her face as she sees her wish come true. I think even my non-pink Dudette would dive into those beautiful cupcakes if they were placed in front of her. They look amazing.
These cupcakes are sooooo cute and sweet!!!!
wow! I can read Happiness in your message, through the smiles and the cupcakes. How great it is to please those we love with a special treat like those beautiful cupcakes. Have a great day 😉
The cupcakes are so girly and festive. Lily is absolutely adorable!
Ooh, these are wonderful! Lilly is really happy!
The cupcakes match her top! How gorgeous. Happy birthday to the precious little one.
Beautiful! Speaking of beautiful, I need to let you know that I recreated your beautiful jalapeno jelly topped cream cheese with pomegranate seeds for a Christmas party. That screamed Christmas. I also made your lemon-rosemary sea salt for gifts. My friends were delighted! You've been a great inspiration to me! Merry CHristmas!
Aw, looks like your pretty cupcakes were a big hit! Enjoy:@)
I had so many thoughts about your post today. What lovely memories you are building with your family. This is how we should be living everyday. We should all have more pink days. Thank you for sharing the beauty in your life. And, I am so envious of her hair with the gorgeous curls. It is just perfect.
I want to save this recipe for my nephew because white cake is his favorite. His sister thinks that is weird since hers is heavy dense chocolate and carrot cake. I tell my sister one of her children was switched at birth.
Oh my goodness!! Your Granddaughters face is priceless! Your so lucky to get it on camera! She loves those cupcakes and I think you by far exceeded your expectations!! Happy Birthday to your Granddaughter! Your cupcakes are adorable and my face would light up like that to, if I got a pretty pink cupcake!
Oh yes, PINK it is. My favorite color for sure. Anything is better in PINK. Her expression was priceless!! Cutie pie for sure even had on a hot pink outfit. Now that girl knows what looks good.(-:
I watched the tutorial on how to do the frosting design. Yours was way prettier than theirs. You should do a video.