Mary Magdalen Carrot Cupcakes
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I baked these particular carrot cupcakes for a friend’s graduation party. Her dissertation focuses on art depicting Mary Magdalen, which should explain the cupcake toppers.
I knew time would be tight, so I prepared them in stages. Earlier in the day before the party, I grated the carrots and sealed them in an airtight container and measured out and mixed my dry ingredients (sugar in one container, flour mixture in another). I was back to bake them after dinner, giving the cupcakes some time to cool, then sealing them up for the night.
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That just left the frosting—and creation of the cupcake toppers—for the day of the party. I confess, I didn’t follow my own advice and tried piping on the frosting. Things got a lot easier when I turned to an offset spatula. For the toppers, I printed 2 copies of 2×3-inch images and taped them back-to-back onto toothpicks. (I actually used flag toothpicks, which provided a stable base.)
And, there you have it, Mary Magdalen Carrot Cupcakes!
Recipe: Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes plenty for 2 dozen cupcakes (exact amount needed depends on icing method)
1 stick unsalted butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound powdered sugar
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese, then add the vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until desired consistency.
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