Suggestions, suggestions, suggestions

Quite often I will have someone say, "You should make a cupcake that tastes like________?"  or "Can you make a cupcake with________" or "You should make a ________________ cupcake".   I love a challenge, I often put myself in my imaginary "Cupcake Wars" situation and quickly think, "ok, how would I incorporate that ingredient and make it the star?"

Well, my friend Andrea has given me some great ideas - The PB & J cupcake, the Brown Cow and most recently, Caramel Popcorn. 

The PB & J - This one was pretty easy but the part that surprised me was just how good it was.  I was never much for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches growing up, but then when I was pregnant with my son I ate one almost everyday.  The day she came over, I was in a rush to clean up and get the cupcakes frosted, I didn't even take the time to try the cupcake in it's entirety.  She ate one, said exclaimed how great it was and then asked me what I thought.  When I said I hadn't tried it yet, she shoved one at me and demanded that I try it and yes, I will toot my own horn - it was GREAT! 


Peanut Butter & Jelly!

Brown Cow - What is this, you make be asking yourself.  Well, she described it as white chocolate mixed with milk chocolate.  Easy enough right?  Well, my first batch was not good, it was heavy and dense and fell in on itself.  I had used melted white chocolate in the batter and it just didn't work very well.  But listen carefully because I'm about to share one of my secrets - Ghirardelli makes a white chocolate powder - it's intended for making hot white chocolates, frappacinos and other delicious drinks but I use it for baking and yum, it's good.  So a litte milk chocolate, a little white chocolate, a white chocolate frosting with chocolate sprinkles and there you have it, the Brown Cow!  I tend to think of this as a "kid" cupcake but most of the time, it's adults who order it.


Brow Cow



And last but not least, the Caramel Popcorn cupcake!
If you are thinking what I was thinking, then you are thinking, "ok, this is a weird idea".  But like I stated earlier, I love a challenge.  I thought about this one for a little bit, contemplated ingredients, and finally just went for it.  I knew I wanted more than just a caramel cupcake that I would call a "caramel popcorn" cupcake, I wanted it to taste like you were eating caramel popcorn.....and cake. 

I am one of the taste testers here at Happy Hour Cuptails, as I should be, and when I tried this cupcake the first time, I giggled!  It is not only a great tasting cupcake but it's really fun to eat!  I love this cupcake and can't wait for my friend, who suggested it, to try it. 

Caramel Popcorn