cupcake photos | cupcake related | cupcakes | filling | frosting | lemon | marmalade | materials | meringue | preserved foods | recipe | reviews | strawberry

Cupcakes in boxes for a Cupcake Rehab birthday.

September 8, 2011

If you’re a baker like me, or rather, I should say a person who enjoys baking/does it all the time/bakes for birthdays & holidays/gets requests all the time/pretty much rocks at it, then you know that there are serious problems presented when it’s time to transport said baked goods. Sure, you can use the old school way: a plate covered in tinfoil. But that’s kinda, well, ghetto. Or you could buy one of those silver foil take-out containers, or use a disposable foil cupcake pan… but those are also kind of cheap. And sure, you can go the “mom” route & buy one of those cupcake carriers (which are no doubt awesome, useful & very easy, but they’re kinda ‘bake sale’ & not very ‘bakery’). But you could also get yourself some bakery boxes.

How professional looking, right?

…

Recently, I was lucky enough to be sent a large box (yes- a box of boxes!) from Bake-A-Box. Inside was a variety of different-sized bakery boxes. Needless to say, I was super excited about this. And when presented with an opportunity to go somewhere for dinner, I decided to bring some cupcakes in my nifty new boxes. Killing two birds with one stone; bringing a lovely dessert to my host & also testing out these convenient little portable cupcake containers. Not to mention the fact that this coming Monday, September 12th, is my blog’s 4th birthday! Usually, I do a giveaway or a big birthday bash, but this year I just wasn’t into it. However, at the very least, I thought we I deserved some prettiful cupcakes after almost 4 years of bloggin’, rockin’ & rollin’… & beating people with whisks.

So me & Lola got to work.

Lola lookin’ foine & reppin’ Sourpuss Clothing! Have you met Lola?

…

You have to make a pretty dynamic cupcake to have it be prettier than Lola, just saying. My first attempt (strawberry shortcake cupcakes) was kind of a failure. Not for any other reason than they just weren’t “post-worthy.” They looked okay, tasted awesome, but just didn’t have enough oompf or pizzazz to blog photos of ’em. I mean, look at these cupcakes I posted last week. They’re perfection. I can’t follow those up with average-looking, amateurish cupcakes. But not being one to waste perfectly good food, I packed up the boxes with them anyway to give to another deserving person. Not someone any less important, mind you, just someone who appreciates the taste more than the aesthetics. Then I went to Plan B: lemon marmalade cupcakes, all of them piped high with seven-minute frosting; some topped with marmalade, frosted, then toasted & some not topped with marmalade, but with candy lemon slices on the frosting. Ta-da!

See, I had an open 16 oz. jar of strawberry jam in the fridge & the urge to use it. Sure, it’s being eaten on toast & scones & bread, etc. But I wanted to bake with it. So the first batch was a vanilla cupcake filled to the bursting point with this strawberry jam, then topped with a Swiss meringue buttercream. Seeing as how those weren’t photo-worthy, I went on to make these, crossing my fingers they’d be better. But… the jam was mysteriously much emptier when I went back to use it. Not wanting to open another jar, I used the lemon marmalade I’d made recently instead of the strawberry jam (recipe here). The cupcakes are bright, lemony, sweet & tart yet had a slight complexity from the tea; plus they’re vintage-y looking. They were basically the perfect cupcake to showcase these awesome boxes- and celebrate 4 years of Cupcake Rehab!

…

LEMON MARMALADE CUPCAKES

Makes about 18 cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 8-oz. jar Lady Grey’s lemon marmalade
  • 2 cups flour
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Line cupcake or muffin tins with papers; set aside. Into a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg & mix thoroughly. Combine vanilla with milk in a glass measuring cup.
  2. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk mixture and starting and ending with the flour. Do not overbeat.
  3. Add ¾ cup marmalade, a ¼ cup at a time, until combined.
  4. Spoon batter into prepared tins, filling cups about ¾ full. Bake until a cake tester inserted near the centers comes out clean and the tops spring back when pressed lightly in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven; spoon a teaspoon of marmalade on top of each while still hot, then remove from pan after 10 minutes. Let cool completely out of the pan before frosting.

..

SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Makes about 4 cups, plenty of frosting for 18, possibly 24 cupcakes depending on how high you frost!

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature

Directions:

  1. Combine ¾ cup sugar with the water and corn syrup in a small saucepan; clip a candy thermometer to side of pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Continue boiling, without stirring, until syrup reaches 230° degrees.
  2. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With mixer running, add remaining tablespoon sugar, beating to combine.
  3. As soon as sugar syrup reaches 230° degrees, remove from heat. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup down side of bowl in a slow, steady stream. Raise speed to medium-high; whisk until mixture is completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl) and stiff (but not dry) peaks form, about 7 minutes. Use immediately.

For those of you who have trouble with 7-minute frosting: the key is to accurately measure the temperature of the boiling sugar/water mixture. It MUST reach 230°! If not, the frosting will probably not work. I’ve never had a failed attempt at 7-minute frosting, and that’s because my candy thermometer is my best friend. If you don’t have one- get one. Especially if you plan on ever attempting cooked frosting’s or if you want to start to make candy or begin canning. Also, you probably need a stand mixer to make it. If not, your arm will most likely become numb & fall off long before the frosting is done. Have you ever tried to mix something with a hand mixer for over 7 minutes straight? You can also double the above recipe for frosting layer cakes or 24+ batches of cupcakes. Also, when it says use immediately, it means immediately. Do not wait. If you wait even a little bit, it’ll get clumpier and not pipe as smoothly. So make this frosting only when you’re 100% ready to use it.

Anyway, I piped the frosting high with my favorite tip, then toasted it slightly. For the rest, I used a quartered slice of candy lemon. Then of course I put them in my new Bake-A-Box boxes for delivery. Thanks to Lyns for the cute little yellow scalloped liners; they were perfect with these! Not only did the scalloping match the boxes, but the yellow was just the right color.

…

The thing I hate about most boxes- the assembly- was a cinch with these. And they were really cute! Not boring or plain, even though they’re white they’re attractive. People even asked me where I got them, or suggested I bought the cupcakes at a bakery *gasp* AS IF! So yes, I’d definitely buy from them, and yes, I’d encourage my fellow bakers to do so as well. The cupcake holders inside pop in and out, so you could fill them with cakes, cookies or brownies too. And they come in a ton of different sizes. The shipping was super fast too! Go visit Bake-A-Box & tell them I sent you (I always wanted to say that).

Anyway, I love the yellow sunshine-y-ness of these cupcakes. The scalloped edges of the liners & the box not to mention the colors remind me of my marigolds.

…

It’s been a tough summer, and I know that there’s more rough spots ahead. And between my grandma’s passing, my crazy neighbor’s antics (another story for another day), an East Coast earthquake & then a friggin’ hurricane, it’s been full of excess drama & bullshit that I really didn’t need. But I’m making the best of things, and trying to enjoy at least a little bit of every day. I want to thank Nicole at Bake-A-Box for sending the fantastic boxes… all you bakers out there, go buy some! They’re awesome. And I want to thank all my readers & followers! You guys are the best & you make every blog post worth it, not to mention the past 4 years.

I may not have the most popular blog ever, I may not make the most beautiful or most creative cupcakes (however I do happen think they’re pretty amazing), I may not have the best or even the funniest blog (although, shit, I think I’m fucking HILARIOUS), I may not get so many hits my server overloads weekly, I may not have KitchenAid giveaways weekly or 560 comments kissing my ass on every post. But none of that has ever been important to me, nor was it why I got into doing this. I got into it for fun, all I really wanted to do was to bake fun stuff & share it with other cool like-minded people. So to me the fact that I have almost 1,000 Facebook fans & over 800 Twitter followers just blows me away. Every single time I get a comment or an e-mail that praise me or compliment me or the blog in the slightest, it automatically turns into a good day. That’s how much I value all of you. And don’t worry- I’m doing just fine in the visitors department, by the way, of course I ain’t on Dooce level… but who is? Other than Dooce, I mean. So no, I don’t make so much money off the blog that I can retire at 30, I don’t get any huge compensation for it, I don’t get money or trips thrown at me, nor is it always easy to do this; between the tech aspect, the design aspect, the social media aspect & the recipe aspect itself, it’s actually like a full-time second job. But I adore it. And it’s my personal opinion that anyone in anything JUST for money or fame is a phony, so rest assured when you read this blog, you’re reading the work of someone who puts 100% into it just for the fun & enjoyment of it, and for the community of it, not for any monetary gain. Not that that’s a bad thing at all… it’s just not where I’m at. I don’t give a shit about getting a TV show that might air after The Neely’s, getting an advertising deal with Le Creuset, or that I may have too filthy of a mouth to impress Martha. But again, I don’t give a flying fig about that or anything else; especially what people may think of me. Never have, never will. I’m in it for my amusement & yours, and that’s all, whatever positive things come from that are greatly appreciated & welcomed, but definitely not needed. I’m having a blast just the way things are & I hope my readers are too. The day it becomes a chore or just a way to make a buck is the day I quit. I enjoy it, I hope you do too, and I hope it continues for a long time.

So it’s been four whole years! And I, for one, am not going anywhere. Not anytime soon. But I just want to thank you all… you all who’s e-mails & comments make it doubly & triply worthwhile… all of the amazing bakers & cupcakers I’ve gotten the chance to “meet”… all the great businesses who I’ve had the pleasure of discovering… THANK YOU! YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY LIKE ME!

…

I look forward to spending many more with you.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
PSST... SHARE THIS:
Facebook Twitter Email
7-minute frosting Bake-A-Box cupcake boxes Cupcake Rehab's 4th Birthday cupcakes Lemon marmalade cupcakes

Only registered users can comment.

  1. Your Very welcome….I am looking forward to the next 4 years of enjoying your awesome (I use this word too much…but only when it is truly AWESOME) blog…you remain my ff…like a Bff…but different…(Favorite foodie yuk,yuk)…..Congratulations on 4 years!

  2. Haha thanks Mara! I’ve loved doing it for the past 4 years & I’ve met some really amazing people & found some incredible businesses in the process… I really do love it. I’m glad other people enjoy reading it & participating as much as I enjoy writing & creating it!!!

  3. Happy 4th Anniversary!
    I look forward to your blog entries every day – your blog is AWESOME!
    Thanks for a great 4 years and I look forward at what’s to come.
    Congrats again!

  5. Hey cupcake girl,

    I love your blog and I am definitely happy I bumped into it all those months ago. Life is fun and interesting and I appreciate the discoveries we bakers make while living every day extraordinary lives!

    I admire your sense of adventure, but most of all, I admire your fearless mission in life: to be yourself! I can think of nothing better to do! Martha Graham said: “There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.” This is why it is so important to be yourself. You do a beautiful job of that!

    I look forward to more Being and baking with our twin Lolas. May you have many more anniversaries and cupcake adventures in your happy life!

    😀 Pola

  6. seriously!!!! i think you have the best cupcakes, and i’m not just saying that to be an ass kisser. i read a bunch of “healthy living”/baking blogs, and i’ve come to realize that their tone is exactly the same. it’s like robobloggers. they are (or are trying to be) the exact same person. i am tired of seeing 560 ass kissing comments about how someone is a baking genius when it’s a recipe that’s a)a box mix b)stolen from another web site when their only modification was apple sauce instead of oil.. AUGHHH!!!

    this is why i love your site. you’re real and honest and post the best looking cupcakes on the net! you are inventive and creative. i love that you post different kinds of recipes. i get a couple bucks to make cupcakes for work parties and have to usually stick to the basic flavors, so when i’m doing them for family or friends, i love coming here for something a little more adventurous.

    these cupcakes literally made my mouth water. i looooove 7 min frosting. AND i totally bought that frosting tip because of your blog. it makes gorgeous swirls, i love it too. happy blog birthday to you and lola!!! i hope i get her ice blue sister some day!

  7. Pola & Mandee: thank you both so much! I can’t even tell you how happy your comments made me! I read them over & over & I have to say that that’s why I keep it up… because of people/readers/commenters like you. Of course I’d probably still do it even if no one read it, because I “like to hear myself talk” so to speak… haha. But you all make it so much more worthwhile! Thank you 🙂

  10. I have been browsing on-line more than three hours nowadays,
    but I by no means found any attention-grabbing article like
    yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers
    made excellent content as you probably did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever
    before.

  12. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it
    😉 I will come back yet again since I saved as a favorite it.
    Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  14. Hello would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re
    using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
    internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
    Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price?
    Many thanks, I appreciate it!

  18. This design is spectacular! You certainly know how to keep a reader
    amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start
    my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to
    say, and more than that, how you presented it.

    Too cool!

  20. Simply desire to say your article is as surprising.
    The clarity to your publish is just nice and i could
    assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well together with
    your permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to keep updated with approaching post.
    Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.

  21. I would like to use the ability of saying thanks to you for
    your professional advice I have always enjoyed visiting your site.
    We’re looking forward to the particular commencement of my university research and the general preparation would never have been complete
    without coming to your web site. If I may be of any assistance to others,
    I’d personally be delighted to help through what I have learned from
    here.

  23. When I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time
    a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment.

    Is there a way you can remove me from that service?
    Kudos!

  25. You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve truly read something like this
    before. So good to find someone with some original thoughts on this issue.

    Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something
    that is needed on the web, someone with a bit of originality!

  29. You can definitely see your expertise in the article you write.
    The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as
    you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. All the time go
    after your heart.

  30. Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

  31. What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively helpful and
    it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to
    contribute & assist different users like its helped me. Good job.

  34. Currently it appears like Expression Engine is the top blogging platform out there right now.
    (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

  35. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours lately, yet I by no
    means discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is
    pretty value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
    the internet can be a lot more useful than ever before.

  36. Good day very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent
    .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also?
    I’m satisfied to find numerous helpful info right here within the submit, we’d like work out extra
    strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . .
    .

  37. Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to
    my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
    LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

  38. The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

  39. Valuable information. Lucky me I discovered your website accidentally,
    and I’m shocked why this accident did not came about in advance!

    I bookmarked it.

  40. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that
    I’ve truly loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I
    will be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write
    again soon!

  43. You could definitely see your skills in the work you write.

    The arena hopes for more passionate writers like
    you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart.

  45. Good post. I learn something new and challenging
    on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be helpful to read through articles from other writers and
    use a little something from other web sites.

Comments are closed.