CUPCAKE EDIBLE IMAGES

Those of you who follow this blog know I volunteer for Alzheimer's Idaho (local grassroots organization) and one of the things I do on a monthly basis, is make the dessert for their support group meeting.  Decided to try something new this month and made Vanilla princess cupcakes with buttercream frosting and the edible sugar wafer with the AI logo. The edible images are very easy to use and I found a source that was very reasonable for this custom work and shipped the order quickly.  There is a link for you at the bottom of the post under "Resource."

 I instinctively knew that they would work best on a flat surface so I baked the cupcakes in my favorite cupcake paper made by Paper Eskimo.  They are more expensive but so worth the cost as there is never any bleed through the paper and you can hold each little cup as you fill so you never get any batter on the baking tin.  Love them!

 While the 24 cupcakes were cooling two batches of ice cream were whirling away.

 Made a quick label for the ice cream and after finishing the buttercream and then frosting the cupcakes, adding the sugar wafer, finished and ready for delivery.

One day last week I was surprised to have a package in the mail from my oldest son and his wife and inside were three different types of their homemade vanilla.  Aren't they clever? I love the label (great job by my DIL) and the special and very professional bottle but most of all the contents.  Eager to use I decided to make my ice cream for tonight, vanilla bean with spiced rum vanilla, yum! I have invited them to do a guest post on the blog and if they take me up on the offer I will share the recipes and techniques needed to make theses adorable little bottles.

Cupcake Recipe

Vanilla Princess Cupcakes

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 24

Ingredients

• 1 box mix Duncan Hines yellow cake mix (not the pudding one)
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted butter, NOT margarine
• 1 cup of water
• 1 T Princess Bakery Emulsion
• 2 t Vanilla Bean Paste

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in the microwave.
2. Add cake mix, eggs and water to the butter in large bowl.
3. Mix on low for 1 min. Then mix on high for 1 min.
4. Fill cupcake papers
5. Pop them in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes.
6. Let cool before frosting

Ice Cream Recipe

Vanilla Spiced Rum Ice Cream 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream 
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 tablespoon rum spice vanilla

Instructions In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes.Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving

Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or ½ pound), softened (but not melted!) Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
• 3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
• ¼ teaspoon table salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

1. Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn’t blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.

Resource

Edible cupcake images, http://www.sweetexpressimages.com
Vanilla bean pasteMadagascar Vanilla Bean Paste, 4 fl. oz.
Princess bakery emulsionPrincess Cake and Cookie Flavor, Bakery Emulsion

Draw programCorelDRAW Home and Student Suite X6 - 3 Users
Paper Eskimo Baking CupsPaper Eskimo 25-Pack Baking Cups, Carnival
Ice cream containersReditainer 32 oz. Deli Food Containers w/ Lids - Pack of 24 - Food Storage

The above are links but wanted to let you know that both the Princess Emulsion and the Vanilla Bean Paste are both available at specialty stores and at larger Walmart stores.