Red Velvet, Avengers Birthday Cupcakes

Now how's that for a title! ha! My hubby's birthday is tomorrow and he's been asking me since his last birthday for these cupcakes and an Avengers theme. I think he's been feeling a tad left out since we always go kinda big on the kid's birthdays. ;) He's the one that found the cupcake liners and toppers on sale at Williams-Sonoma several months ago. You can find them HERE. I love how the website describes these toppers: "Team up with legendary superheroes as they battle evil, avenge dastardly deeds and spread delicious cupcakes throughout the universe."


Anyway! My husband requested red velvet cupcakes so I searched Pinterest and found a really delicious recipe via www.Torispelling.com.Don't they look scrumptious?! 

torispelling.com

INGREDIENTS FOR CUPCAKES:

• ½ cup of butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 ounces red food coloring
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 ounces water
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

INGREDIENTS FOR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

MAKE CUPCAKES:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease cupcake pan or line with paper liners
3. Cream softened butter & sugar together until fluffy
4. Add eggs and blend well
5. In a separate bowl, combine cocoa & food coloring & stir
6. Sift flour and salt together into mixture
7. Add vanilla, buttermilk, and water to mixture
8. In another bowl combine vinegar and baking soda. Then fold into cupcake mixture.
9. Pour or spoon mixture into cupcake cups
10. Bake 15 to 20 mins or until a wood toothpick inserted into the middle of the cupcake comes out clean
11. Let cool for about 10 mins. Then put on rack or plate and let finish cooling.

MAKE FROSTING

1. Blend together softened cream cheese and softened butter
2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract
3. Blend until smooth
4. Frost cupcakes and enjoy!    

 Here is how the Avengers cupcakes turned out along with a few pictures of the happy birthday boy. =)

A little Thor action

Happy 29th Birthday!! =)

Black Bottom Cupcakes

These are chocolate and banana cupcakes with cream cheese and banana topping. OH MY...they are so good! I'll start with a picture by Bakerella because mine simply don't do them justice. If you ever get around to making these, here's a tip: warm them up in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and they're like little molten cakes. These cupcakes are best when warm! It's too bad most of them didn't stay at our house. I made them for a dear lady from our church that just had knee surgery this past week. 

Photo by Bakerella

Here is the recipe:

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Cream Cheese Mixture
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 small banana, pureed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Chocolate Mixture
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large bananas, pureed
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For the cream cheese mixture:

• Beat cream cheese and sugar until nice and fluffy.
• Add banana, egg and vanilla and mix together until combined.
• Stir in chocolate chips and set aside.

For the chocolate mixture:

• Sift together flour, cocoa, sugar, soda and salt using a wire whisk.
• Add bananas, oil and vanilla and mix together on low until combined.
• Use a large scoop to fill cupcake liners with batter.
• Repeat topping the cupcake batter with the cream cheese mixture.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until done.

Makes about 18 cupcakes.