There's a VERY popular bakery / cake shop in the DC area called Cake Love. I've tried a couple of their cakes, and they're not bad, but they're not even close to being the best I've ever had. Their cupcakes are downright terrible. The cake is super dry, and the buttercream frosting is unmemorable. The last time I tried one of their cupcakes, I couldn't even finish it.
I really don't understand why this place is so popular. I can only imagine that people buy their cupcakes because of the owner's biography (he's a former government attorney) rather than the quality of his baked goods.
If you're in a cupcake mood, I highly recommend these pina colada cupcakes. They're fun, festive, and addictive. I made them as dessert for a tiki party I hosted last weekend. I got the recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, Good Things Catered. I made them tiki-themed by decorating them with colorful umbrellas, but you could also decorate them with straws.
Pina Colada Cupcakes Wearing Party Hats
Ingredients
2 1/4 c. sifted cake flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. oil
2 large eggs
1/2 c. fresh or canned pineapple, diced and patted dry
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
Splash of dark rum (I used Meyer's)
2 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped vanilla frosting
1/2 bag of unsweetened coconut flakes (you can also use shredded coconut)
Maraschino cherries, drained and dried
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with baking cups.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine rum and coconut milk in small bowl, mix to combine and set aside. Place sugar and oil in mixer and mix until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and coconut milk mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla and fold in pineapple. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Sharply tap the pans once on counter top to remove air bubbles. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks, and remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. When cupcakes are completely cool, frost with whipped vanilla frosting (this acts like a glue for the coconut) and roll tops in coconut flakes. Top each with a cherry. Serve with paper umbrellas for a fun presentation!
I really don't understand why this place is so popular. I can only imagine that people buy their cupcakes because of the owner's biography (he's a former government attorney) rather than the quality of his baked goods.
If you're in a cupcake mood, I highly recommend these pina colada cupcakes. They're fun, festive, and addictive. I made them as dessert for a tiki party I hosted last weekend. I got the recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, Good Things Catered. I made them tiki-themed by decorating them with colorful umbrellas, but you could also decorate them with straws.
Pina Colada Cupcakes Wearing Party Hats
Ingredients
2 1/4 c. sifted cake flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. oil
2 large eggs
1/2 c. fresh or canned pineapple, diced and patted dry
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
Splash of dark rum (I used Meyer's)
2 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped vanilla frosting
1/2 bag of unsweetened coconut flakes (you can also use shredded coconut)
Maraschino cherries, drained and dried
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with baking cups.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine rum and coconut milk in small bowl, mix to combine and set aside. Place sugar and oil in mixer and mix until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and coconut milk mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla and fold in pineapple. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Sharply tap the pans once on counter top to remove air bubbles. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks, and remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. When cupcakes are completely cool, frost with whipped vanilla frosting (this acts like a glue for the coconut) and roll tops in coconut flakes. Top each with a cherry. Serve with paper umbrellas for a fun presentation!
3 comments:
Awwww! You are soo sweet to actually like my blog! lol. And AMEN TO THAT! Cake Love's cupcakes SUCK! Seriously. WASTE of my money. Fo sho! I was just talking about this with a friend of mine last night. Glad you liked the cupcakes. They are WAY cute and I LOVE the little umbrellas!
I have never had CakeLove....but these cupcakes look amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I agree that Cake Love's cupcakes suck. I think their regular cake is good, though.
Post a Comment