just because...

I found this recipe online a while ago and have been wanting to make these Samoa Cupcakes (after the girl scout cookie). The only problem I had with these is the frosting...it was wayyy too sweet so I suggest backing off on the powdered sugar, and I should do that the next time I bake these. You can use any type of chocolate cake you'd like/prefer, and all that was added to the top is toasted shredded coconut and chocolate drizzle.

caramel frosting:

melt 1.5 sticks unsalted butter in a pan. once the butter is melted, add 2 cups light brown sugar and .5 teaspoon salt. let sugar dissolve then take off heat and cool for a couple minutes before adding 1/2 cup of milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. you must let this cool completely! then pour into mixer and add 4 cups of confectioners sugar and mix. (although the recipe calls for 4 cups confectioners sugar, start with 2 cups and add a little more until you get the right consistency.)

July 4th!

Obviously yesterday was July 4th and obviously I was going to make an Independence Day cupcake. I made a yellow buttermilk cake with a cream cheese frosting. The cake was filled with raspberry jam. The jam and cream cheese go realllly well together and the cake was extremely moist. I wish the blue frosting was darker but I just could not get it to be the color I wanted no matter how much food coloring I put in it. But you still get the idea of a red, white, and blue themed cupcake.

I hope everyone's 4th of July was great! I went into Manhattan and saw the Macy's fireworks display LIVE for the first time in about 5 years and it was amazing!!