Cupcake War

Not really a war but I really couldn't make up my mind which ones to make so I made two base flavors - Lemon & Red Velvet - and three icings with four toppings.  Yes. Yes.  Yes.

My favorite by far was the Red Velvet with Maple Bacon Icing.  I am going to fill it next time with a Maplene filling.

Use most any Lemon & Red Velvet recipe or even a box mix would probably work.

Icings

Maple Bacon

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 Tbls Grade B Maple Syrup*
1 cup powdered sugar
4 pieces of maple glazed bacon, cooked and crumbled

Cream butter and maple syrup until smooth.  Add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.  Frost liberally and top with bacon bits.

*You can use regular Grade A syrup but your icing will be lighter and have less maple flavor.

Fresh Blackberry Buttercream

1 cup butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup blackberries
1 tsp vanilla
Blackberries

Puree blackberries and pour into fine mesh colander to sieve out seeds.  Set puree aside.  Cream butter until fluffy.  Add blackberry puree and vanilla and mix until incorporated.  Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.  If icing is too thin add powdered sugar several tablespoons at a time.  (Sometimes the berries are extra juicy and thus the need for more powdered sugar)  Top with fresh blackberry garnish.

Chocolate Cream Cheese

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 Tbls butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar

Cream cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.  Add cocoa and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and mix until fluffy.