Thursday 13 March 2014

St. Patrick's Day Chocolate Mint Gluten Free Cupcakes




It's official. I have a problem. After whipping up those adorable sugar cookies...I just couldn't help it. I got to thinking. Green? Green....mint. Mint chocolate...CUPCAKES? Gluten Free? Why yes. I think I will.

This was also my chance to try this:

PC Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix


Keep Reading for a how-to!





Chocolate Cupcakes Ingredients:

  • One box gluten free cake mix (chocolate or vanilla, up to you!)
  • One box corresponding pudding mix
  • Other ingredients the recipe calls for (eggs, oil/butter, water)
  • Mix until combined and spoon into liners!
  • **NOTE** this was gummy, and REALLY thick. It nearly broke my mixer. Gluten free mixes can be tricky, so I'd forgo the mixer unless you have a strong one 
  • ANOTHER **NOTE** After making these I have read that an extra egg may  have helped....Oops again.

Ready to be baked..

All done. They have a crispy, brownie like top. Hmm. Oops?
 Before I made my frosting I made these with green chocolate wafers:


As you can see, I printed a template I found online and placed parchment paper on top. I poured my cooled melted chocolate into a piping bag, and made my chocolate decorations! You can see my little free-hand one up to...it...was....interesting.

Fully hardened after I popped them in the freezer for 10 minutes!




Green-Mint Buttercream 


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter 
  • 4 cups icing sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream
How to:

  • Beat butter until fluffy and pale yellow
  • Gradually add in icing sugar until smooth and full of air
  • Add vanilla and heavy cream
  • Scoop into piping bags fitted with a large star tip!

Two bags: Half with the mint flavour and half regular buttercream (for my mint hating friends and family..I know, wild!)






Finish of your cupcakes by swirling on the icing, adding chocolate chips and sprinkles and then putting on your cupcake toppers! (Dark chocolate chips went on the mint cupcakes and plain vanilla on the plain buttercream cupcakes! Thanks to my little cousin for his genius plan !)



My cousin said my little cookies look like Frodo and Bilbo Baggins! I kind of agree! And the coins remind me of Smaug. Sigh. Hobbits are the best. 






FIRST OF ALL: I don't have adorable themed cupcake liners. This breaks my heart. There was a blizzard yesterday and I just couldn't get out of my driveway. But if I could? Ohh the liners. They would have sham-rocked your socks off. YES. I have waited all year to use that pun.

Anyways..the cupcakes were a hit. The buttercream was heavenly. So full of air and very smooth. The trick is to really make sure the butter and sugar are whipped before you add the sugar. Would I repurchase the box mix? This was my first time using anything from a box. To be honest I have always prided myself on making things from scratch. Mostly because I have the ingredients handy, ALWAYS! But I have begun to notice that box mixes are quite popular. A lot of places use 'doctored mixes' which make the box cake more luxurious. I'm unsure as to what I prefer...but I do know box mixes are accessible and knowing the gluten free one was loved by all was reassuring! I'll do more research. You know, for you guys... 


Happy Baking and more importantly, Happy (slightly early) St. Patrick's Day! 

XO

1 comment:

  1. Kids need to have gluten free sweets and foods; therefore gluten free wafers and other items are best for them. Just try one of them to keep the kids healthy...

    ReplyDelete