Recipe Testing
I’ve been working on a freelance writing assignment, the theme being cupcakes for adults. Not those overly sweetened, highly colored varieties loved by children, but rather cupcakes with complex flavors, subtle sweetness, and velvety textures. It’s been tough work, baking and sampling these recipes, but someone has to do it (obviously written with tongue firmly planted in cheek). We’ve been sharing the spoils with friends, classmates, and neighbors to get opinions and save our waistlines.
Chocolate Almond Cupcakes with Coffee Frosting
All of this baking has me re-assessing our 6-month no grocery challenge. We’ll still be doing the challenge, but now that I have a few freelance writing assignments, I may need to purchase items to write those articles and photograph the results. We’ve decided to chalk those purchases up to business expenses and only use them for writing assignments. Basically, we’ll only buy exactly what we need to test the recipe and no more. This wasn’t something we had planned in our challenge, but it is a blessing. I’m enjoying the several assignments I have (not all are sweets, in fact most aren’t but all are food related currently) and I don’t want them to go away. I don’t envision a ton of purchasing, and so far it hasn’t been necessary as I’ve had everything in stock, but that might change and it might not – only time will tell. We did have to purchase some milk, coffee, and eggs this month but those were always on the exception list so that’s not a big deal.
Speaking of freelance writing, my recent article in Mother Earth News, is now available on their website. If you didn’t check out the printed copy, I’d be honored if you check out the online version.
Coconut Vanilla Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
Tell me what’s your favorite cupcake flavor?
Mmmm, the coconut vanilla with maple frosting sounds delicious! I’m not generally a chocolate cupcake kind of girl… I like vanilla, carrot cake, spiced muffins… and I love real cream cheese frosting!
Sounds like a fun project!
I love the photos of your finished cakes! My favorite cupcake, not only for the taste but beauty of presentation, is red velvet with the TRUE red velvet frosting.
I’ve always had a weakness for chocolate anything, but for an “adult” twist, maybe chocolate with a coffee icing? It could be a mocha-cupcake-ccino
Or how about a lemon meringue pie in cupcake form? Light and lemony cake with white fluffy icing. Mmmmm
Love your blog by the way (I’ve been a lurker for a while but had to comment on this cupcake post).
I’m not normally a huge cupcake fan because they’re so sweet, but the ones you’re cooking up look like they might work for me.
Perhaps a German chocolate cake in mini form? I love German chocolate cake and that coconutty, nutty frosting, and that would be just the right size.
mmm, they look delicious! how about a ginger cupcake?!
the article was great! congrats on being published and having more jobs coming down the line!
Congrats on the article!!
The frosting on that first one has me drooling.
~Tara
I’m always ready for a spicy carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Mmmmm….of course cream cheese frosting on about anything is a winner in my book.
The article is great, congratulations. =)
As for cupcakes: anything citrus! Or the salted brown-butter caramel recipe I made a while back. Those were amazing.
Loved the article. I’ve made a lot of cakes using applesauce and they’ve turned out great every time.
Thanks for posting the link – I checked a couple times as I’d like to reduce the fat in some of our foods, but never found the article. Figured it would be on there eventually though – so thanks! They all sound wonderful.
I’m not a huge chocolate cake fan (the hubby is though) BUT the chocolate almond with coffee frosting sounds incredible. I agree with above that a lemon one would be yummy. Perhaps with coconut?
I love coffee flavored anything. They both look incredible though!