baking was so much easier with the EasyBake.

My first attempt at baking from scratch. Cocoa cupcakes with coconut-vanilla icing and strawberries. 

So basically I thought I could be a superhero and toss the Betty Crocker aside for my own from-scratch cupcakes. Little did I know- this would be no easy task. Growing up I watched my Mom adding in "a little of this" and "a little of that", mixing it up throwing it in the oven, and all I knew is that I ended up with a cake to ice (or an excuse to eat half the bowl of homemade icing). 

Lessons learned:

1) Gas ovens bake WAY faster than you think.

2) ALWAYS remember to grease the pan before baking - yes even if you are using those little paper cups for cupcakes.

3) Be careful with icing sugar, if accidentally inhaled... well let's just say it isn't pretty.

4) Garnish is very neccessary.

Here is the recipe I used (or ballparked):

Cake:

1 3/4 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. sour cream (do not skip this, its so essential!)

1/2 c. butter

2 eggs

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup hot water (must be hot!)

5 tbsp. cocoa powder (or more, depending on how chocolatey you want it!)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon (careful with this!)

Icing:

1.4 c. softened butter

1/2 c. icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

I added shredded coconut to the icing, strawberries for garnish (optional).

Tips: (if you're lazy and impatient like me)

1) Preheat the oven before you start making the batter!

2) Although it may seem easier to use a cake mixer, don't forget that you have to wash all the cake batter (aka gunk) off it when you're done! My solution? Use this opportunity for an upper body work out! Mix it by hand! It might take a bit longer, but then you get to skip washing the cake mixer when you're done, and enjoy your cake (to make up for those burned calories of course!)

3) Pre- make the icing and throw it in the fridge (with saran wrap)- you can store it for a day and then have it ready when you're ready to ice!

4) Don't bother pulling out a saucepan to heat up the 1 cup of hot water you need for this recipe! Too many recipes call for saucepans- they're not always necessary! Use a kettle to heat up the water! It's faster, and much easier :)

Enjoy and let me know how it goes!

lady.cuisine