2010 Roundup: Baking

Here are some of the baking projects I've been up to in the past year.  The first one is actually from 2009, but I'm still including it. :)

Here are some of the baking projects I've been up to in the past year.  The first one is actually from 2009, but I'm still including it. :)

Nadine's Bridal Shower

Last January, I was the maid of honor in my friend Nadine's wedding.  For her shower, I baked her favorite: Magnolia Bakery cupcakes.  My New York friends are quite familiar with the awesomeness of Magnolia cupcakes.  They are magnificent. For those who do not know, Magnolia Bakery is in New York City and they make the most amazing cupcakes you have ever eaten.  Nadine and I have been obsessed with them for years, and we are not the only ones.  Apparently they sometimes have a line around the block.  These things are very popular.  Anyway, the recipe is available online so I made the cupcakes for Nadine's shower.  Oh and while I am at it I want to give a big shout out to the ladies who helped me make these at the shower--Kari Watson and Erika Villalba, I am looking at you.  I also want to thank Erika for helping me eat all the leftover batter.

We frosted the cupcakes with Magnolia's Buttercream Frosting.  The recipe calls for six to eight cups of confectioner's sugar; well I have made it with both six and eight cups, and eight works a lot better.  It's much thicker and frosts better.

I also made some brownies for the shower.  And I will admit that I made it from a box brownie mix.  Because you know what?  Box brownies are awesome.  I have never even made brownies from scratch and I don't know why you even would.  There is nothing better than slightly undercooked box brownies.  For these, I modified it by using coconut oil instead of straight vegetable oil, and added walnuts.  The coconut oil makes them so moist and rich and subtly coconutty.  Delicious.  And a big hit at the shower.

 New Year's, 2010 

More Magnolia cupcakes.  Aren't they so pretty in their silver papers?

 Unfrosted purity

 Such pretty pink frosting!

Kaitlyn and I have a tradition now of baking on New Year's Eve.  Kaitlyn painstakingly separated out the blue and purple sprinkles to make the numbers.  So cute!


 Thanksgiving

This apple pie recipe comes to me curtesy of Nadine.  It has a crumb top made with a whole stick of butter and a bunch of brown sugar.  In other words, it's delicious.  It's especially tasty with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream.

 Close-up of those beautiful layers of apple slices.