Chai Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting

I have a bit of a Chai Latte addiction at the moment, which inspired me to make this gorgeous Chai Cupcakes.



Chai Vanilla Cupcakes - adapted from Joy of Baking
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons of instant chai drink powder
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and line a 24 hole cupcake tin with paper liners.

With a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, chai powder and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Evenly fill the cupcake cups with the batter and bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or just until set and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Do not over bake or the cupcakes will be dry.)

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing.


Maple Buttercream Frosting - adapted from Joy of Baking
230 grams icing sugar, sifted
130 grams unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk or light cream
2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup

In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or with a hand mixer) cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the milk and maple syrup and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).

Add a little more milk or sugar, if needed to get the right consistancy.

Using a piping bag and tip (I use Wilton's 1M piping tip), pipe a swirl of the butter cream on each of the cooled cakes and decorate as you like.

Now go eat your delicious creations!

Carrot Cake

This cake right here is one of THE BEST cakes I have eaten in a long time, so much so, that even my boss blurted out "this cake F-----G rocks!"

It is moist, delicious, dead easy to make (I promise) and will have you going back for more and more!



Carrot Cake from The Cake Mistress
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Vegetable Oil
3 Large Eggs
Pinch Salt
1/2 teaspoon Bicarb Soda
2 cups Self Raising Flour
2 cups finely grated Carrot (around 4 large carrots)
1/2 cup Walnuts, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg

Heat oven to 180 degrees celsius and grease desired cake tin (I used 2 8 inch cake tins to make a double layered)
Beat sugar and oil until thick, then add 1 egg at a time and keep beating for a few more minutes.
Add salt, bicarb soda, carrots, flour, walnuts and spices.
Mix with wooden spoon until all combined.
Put batter in well greased loaf pan or tin and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until light golden and cake springs back when touched in the middle.

Cream Cheese Frosting
300g Icing sugar
125g Cream Cheese, cold
50g Unsalted Butter, room temp

Beat the icing sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until well mixed.
Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated.
Turn the mixer up to medium high. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.