Healthy S'Mores Cupcakes

In my quest to get veggies into my kids AND to try to get up enough of a menu base to (maybe) start a small business, I decided to make a healthy version of chocolate cupcakes for daycare this week.  And, since their theme is camping, what better cupcake to make than a S'mores one?  Of course, for the recipe I used, everything had to be weighted instead of measured, no small feat when you are trying to tell which line is the 20g and which is the 80g.  And, on top of that, the carrots had to be shredded by hand because you needed the smallest shred you can get, and my food processor doesn't really go that small. 

Chocolate Carrot cupcakes out of the oven now - I usually put chocolate ganache inside the cupcakes and on top, but in the interest of trying to keep the mess to a minimum and the health benefits to a maximum, I think I will forgo it on the inside this time.  Anyway, after testing one of the healthy cakes, they are pretty sweet :).


The finished batter - the carrots make it somewhat lumpy...

Vanilla frosting on top then top that with a graham cracker and a toasted marshmallow, and these babies are ready for daycare in the morning!

Grown up cupcakes

So, a few weeks ago, I had several friends over for Book Club - a great way to try out new, grown up cupcakes!  Since we are in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, I decided to go with Mojito style mini cupcakes - they are light, minty and very summery!
The verdict?  The ladies loved them!  Alas, there were none left for me to photograph to include here, but just picture minty white cupcakes topped with a lime-rum powdered sugar glaze... Yummmmm!

The Peanut Butter Banana cupcakes were a hit!  Everyone, child and adult, loved them.

My next venture?  Making my sons' Very Hungry Caterpillar cupcakes for their birthday party.  I used several varieties of cupcake for this - banana, strawberry and carrot cake - and decorated all of them with cream cheese frosting. 

Setting the unfrosted cupcakes up to make sure I have enough...

Comparing my design to a stuffed caterpillar toy... So far, so good

I had to use a large sized cookie for the caterpillar's head.  Thankfully, both the head and the green frosting turned out great!

I also had some extra mini cupcakes - they made perfect ladybugs!

The finished product!  It looked great! 

This was one of those moments where I even surprised myself.  Anyone need cupcakes for an upcoming birthday party :)?  I do a great Eric Carle!

My First Blog - Peanut Butter and Banana Cupcakes

Welcome to Cupcake Lady!  My first blog, my first posted batch of cupcakes.  Got my fingers crossed that all goes well!!!

I have decided to start this blog for several reasons:
      1.  I am a stay at home/work at home mom who loves to bake for my children.
      2.  I want to make sure my kids are getting good, wholesome snacks, here and at school.
      3.  I have decided to try my hand at having a home-based cupcake business.
So...
What am I baking today?  Well, tomorrow is my oldest's birthday - he turns 3.  And, he loves bananas.  So - Peanut Butter and Banana cupcakes.  Not exactly the healthiest choice for my first post here, but, all of the ingredients are natural (no chemicals, no fake butter, unbleached, whole wheat flour, the works!) and they do have two cups of bananas in the cake. 

Of course, these aren't the first cupcakes I have made.  I do have a list of those I have made and provided for my son's preschool so far.  All have at least 1 serving of vegetables in them and all of them, even the chocolate beet ones, have been a hit with the kids so far (shameless bragging, I know!). 

Fresh banana cupcakes out of the oven...

The finished product, complete with peanut butter frosting and banana candies on top!

Hopefully, these taste as good as they smell!