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It was a memory-making, not-so-quintessential-London spring day. The skies were a brilliant, exhilarating blue and there was no need to tote the customary English umbrella. A perfect day for a visit to a nearby park; a lovely park surrounded by ancient, ivy-covered stone walls. There was lots of space for the children to run, play and burn off their storehouses of exuberant energy.
I wasn't actually there, but ever since my daughter relayed the incident that occured that day in the park, the scene's been permanently etched in my brain's, "adorable-memory" file………
………….. the children were having a wonderful time playing in the warm spring sunshine when little Elliot, 4 years old at the time, stopped her frolicking to tie an undone shoelace. An elderly, somewhat dour-looking woman happened to be walking by on the pathway that wound through the park. She paused as she saw Elliot bent over her shoe and stared for a minute. Then with a very crisp British accent, she said "Excuse me, little girl, did you know you have your shoes on backwards?". Our little Elle Belle (a favorite nickname) looked up and responded, with no hesitation and and with just as crisp a British accent; "That's because I was upside down and backwards in my mummy's tummy". End of conversation. The woman stared for a moment longer, then walked away, still dour, but most likely smiling a bit (beneath the dourness) at the unanticipated response.
That's our Elliot Rose, fun, funny, unpredictable, lovable and very imaginative. You can never be certain what will come out of that impish little mouth, and this story seems to epitomize her wonderful personality. It's true, her mum had mentioned to her that she'd been born "upside down and backwards" being a breech and posteriorly positioned baby at the time of birth. But mum never dreamed how these words would play out in the park that memorable day.
I could tell you a zillion more stories about this little sweetie pie but, suffice it to say, she keeps us all delighted ................ and brings many smiles and laughs to all who know her. Oh, and she's beautiful too; long dark, shiny hair, big green eyes fringed with dark lashes and a face shaped like a liitle cherub. Words could never tell the joy she's added to this grammy and papa's life.
Elle Belle has a birthday this month and when I asked her, a few weeks ago, what kind of cake she wanted, she requested "caramel" (hear care-a-mel in a British accent). I checked out a few of recipes, then deciding on these Vanilla Bean Cupcakes w/ Caramel Icing.
I tried a new recipe with a somewhat unconventional method of preparation. Instead beginning with the customary creaming of butter and sugar, this recipe's instructions start out by combining the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt and baking powder), then adding butter and mixing till the mixture resembles "wet sand". The wet (eggs and milk) ingredients are then added and everything is mixed together. It sounded a bit "upside down and backwards" to me but, honestly, I think these are the best cupcakes I've ever made. My chief taste tester agreed!
Are you ready for the really cool part? We get to celebrate Elle's birthday with her in London! Yup, wer're sitting at the airport right now waiting to board the plane. I'll be recreating these fun cupcakes in a few days for the birthday girl.
We'll be spending the next ten days in the UK. Don't worry though, we've lined up some fun new recipes to share while we're away. The Cafe's just being temporarly transported to the other side of the "pond"! Of course Scott 's camera equipment is coming for the ride and we'll be sure to share pictures of any fun "royal" adventures we encounter.
In the meantime, you'll want to try these fabulous Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream. The "unconventional" method makes them super easy to throw together. The icing can either be piped or simply spread with a knife. The recipe makes thirty cupcakes, so there's plenty to feed a crowd. Too many? They freeze beautifully. They're so good they made me talk out loud with the first bite (no one else was home). Do you need anymore encouragement? I didn't think so. Make them!!
- 1 ¾ cup cake flour
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cup sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter not softened but remove from refridg and allow to warm for about 15 minutes
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean extract or 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped out
- Caramel Butter Cream recipe below
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with 30 cupcake liners.
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Place the first five ingredients in the bowl of stand mixer and stir together for one minute using paddle attachment.
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With mixer on low, drop in butter, a few cubes at a time continuing until all butter is in and mixer resembles coarse sand.
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Add eggs one at a time on low speed. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in milk and vanilla. Turn mixer to medium and beat for 2 minutes until batter is smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
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Scoop batter into cupcake liners filling cups ½ to ⅔ full. Do not be tempted to overfill. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until centers are set and toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
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Adapted from Back in the Day Bakery
- 1 stick 4 ounces butter, melted
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 6-8 tablespoons whole milk or half and half cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1 vanilla bean split in half and beans scraped out
- 1 stick butter softened
- 1 2- pound bag powdered sugar
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Combine melted butter, brown sugar and 4 tablespoons half and half in a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir well to combine.
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Place in microwave and cook on high power for 2-3 mintues or until mixture is furiously bubbling. Watch carefully to make sure it does not boil over.
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Remove from microwave and set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes.
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In the meantime, place softened butter and powdered sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Start with mixer on low speed and mix for 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and mix for another minute or two. Add vanilla and cooled brown sugar/butter mixture and mix for 5 minutes. Add more half and half, as needed to make a smooth, creamy frosting.
Notes:
~ For the cupcakes pictured, I used a 1M Wilton piping tip. To pipe the swirls, place a portion of the icing in a piping bag, fitted with the 1M tip. Starting in the center, with tip perpendicular to the cupcake pipe icing in an outward concentric circle. When you've piped all the way to the edge, work your way back in with incresingly smaller circles till you're back at the center. Pull back slightly to finish. I promise I'll do a tutorial one day but in the meantime Our Best Bites has a great one.
~ If icing is difficult to pipe, you've probably not added enough half and half. Just return the icing to the mixing bowl and add a bit more half and half. Beat on medium speed till icing is smooth and creamy. Making the perfect buttercream is not an exact science. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error. Believe me, I know!
Mychal Voorhees says
Chris,
These cupcakes. Oh my goodness.. I made 50 of them last night for a friend's party, and I am amazed at how delicious the icing was. I added some sugared salt to the top, and my taste buds exploded. Thank you for always sharing your delicious recipes with us!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Mychal, I'm so happy you liked these. 50?! Wow, you've been busy as a bee. Love the idea of sugared salt, very cool! Thanks for your kind words too.
A Little about Ally! says
Chris..I hope my previous comment came through! I'm so thrilled for you! Xo ally
A Little about Ally! says
Chris! What a special and warm story...I was captivated! The cuocakes are works of art...this trip will be sweetly emotional xox ally
www.you-made-that.com says
Have a great time I wish I could visit there someday soon. I am swooning over these cupcakes!
Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says
Hope you are having fun in London! Elliot Rose is such a beautiful names for a beautiful little lady! I am sure she's all royalty! Happy birthday to her! These cupcakes will be the "crowning glory" of the party, I am certain of that!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Beautiful cupcakes, I especially love the caramel buttercream!
Beth says
Those are beautiful birthday cupcakes! Have a wonderful time with your family - Elle looks like a real sweetheart.
Lenia says
Have a great stay!Your cupcakes are really decadent!
Kisses!
The Mom Chef says
I love Elle Belle's taste in desserts! Please thank her on my behalf. And tell Scott that the close-ups of the cupcakes made me want to lick my screen. That caramel buttercream looks divine. Have fun squeezing out every minute of time that you have with your grandbabies!
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says
Chris, then I whish you the best of times!!! Enjoy vacationin London with your adorable grandkids, your daughter and all the family! These cupcakes will certainly bring a huge smile to Elliot´s face when you bake them for her upcoming birthday!
Have a safe trip and a fantastic birthday party!
Angie Schneider says
These cupcakes look excellent! The frosting sounds really rich and addictive.
Have fun in London!
Angie
Mr. & Mrs. P says
Wonderful looking and sounding cupcakes... Need to make this frosting soon!
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
These cupcakes are perfection, Chris! That frosting is expertly piped and the flavor is irresistible! Love your little baker's assistant, too, haha. Happy birthday to Elle!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
How do you always manage to make such beautiful cupcakes? They really look too pretty to eat. Ok almost too pretty to eat. Have a wonderful Birthday Ellie! Safe travels Chris and I can't wait to see photos of the Birthday girl enjoying her cupcakes.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Such a great job with these cupcakes! I would like a dozen right now!
Enjoy your London trip! We went last year for a few weeks and it was an amazing time! If you haven't already visited, go to the Tower of London! Enjoy!
Kitchen Riffs says
It's always interesting how children process things, isn't it? Great story. And great cupcakes! These look so excellent. And lovely photos. Thanks.
peps says
Your pictures are always so clear, so alive!!!!!!!!!
The cupcakes look delicious!!!
Jo Anne Tell says
Yum, Chris! Have a fabulous trip and visit with your family!
Sandra Lee says
How wonderful that you get to see your girls as often as you do. These look scrumptious and that buttercream is just over the top. Have fun!!!
La Table De Nana says
They look great and of course so does SHE:) and her little story..
I love kidlets.Oli just turned four and sated his second yr of pre shool with a new group..on his way to school yesterday he asked his mommy.;"What's my new best friend's name again mommy?"
Oh to be as sweet as innocent as a child..
Pinning..
BON VOYAGE!
Ginny says
What a wonderful picture of her, and she sounds so smart!! I think she was just what that lady needed! She so much reminds me of our Ella, who we call Ella Belle. The cupcakes look divine and the macros want to jump out of the screen and into my mouth!
Kim G. says
Ohhhhhhhhh your going to London:) It's so perfect that you can celebrate the birthday of this cute little one:) And these cupcakes are definitly the day to do it properly as they look fantastic!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
So pretty...both the cupcakes and Elle Belle! I love all your creations, Chris, especially the sweet ones. You have the Midas touch.