White Chocolate Vanilla Cupcakes

I woke up Friday morning with a plan.  I just knew I had to make some cupcakes for our new friend and neighbor Shirley. (You can read the story about Shirley here... she is quite amazing!)

I wanted them to be something special because of all Shirley had been through, so I settled on white chocolate flowers for decorations.

(I piped out melted white chocolate onto a baking sheet lined with parchment, let them chill in the freezer for about 4 minutes, then just placed them into the frosting.)

 

Um... ok.  

 

 

Its not quite what I had envisioned.  Good news though, I still had some that were 'petal free'.

 

Yeah.  I think simple is best in this case!

 

I was really happy with how these tasted though, so I thought this would be a great time to share recipes!

 From Epicurious 

Cake

• 8 ounces imported white chocolate, chopped
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk

For cake: (their exact directions)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cupcake tins. Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Leave white chocolate in pot; turn off heat. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk in 3 additions, blending well after each addition. Add warm white chocolate and beat just until blended.

Place batter into cupcake tins. Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 18-22 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pans on racks 20 minutes. 

Chocolate frosting is from a can.  I believe Ms. Crocker was there to help me out in my time of need.  I am TERRIBLE at chocolate buttercream.  And although I would like to one day conquer said chocolate buttercream, today was not the day. 

 

Comments

[Rachel]

I LOVE the cute little pink cupcake standing out from the rest... and who couldn't love a cupcake?!

[Renee]

Those looked so good! I bet Shirley loved them.

[Sonya]

Yum! White Chocolate is my favorite! I can't wait to try these. :)

[Joy]

I thought the flower cupcakes were cute! :)

[Jillian]

what kind of icing is on the pink one? these look great!

[colleen haverhill ma]

love, love love these! I can't wait to try them. thanks for sharing all your great work

[Brenda]

mmmm those look so yummy!

[Jessica @ How Sweet]

Such beautiful creations! I just read about Shirley and can't say enough how big your heart is. You make me want to be a better person.

[CopyKat Recipes]

These are beautiful! I wish I had a couple right now with a cup of hot tea.

[Londa]

Oh wow, those look delicious...and the suggestion of hot tea?!? Now, I'm going to have to get up and go to the kitchen! What a sweet neighbor you are!

[Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles]

These are so sweet! That frosting looks luscious. Would like a bowl of it (had too much salty food today).

[the urban baker]

you are amazing! i love this story and i love the little tip on each cupcake. you are a nice person!!
x

[Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy.]

Love the simplicity of these cupcakes! I need to try this recipe the white chocolate sounds yummy!

[Lorie]

The cupcakes are beautiful, but the story you shared is 100 times more beautiful! THank you for sharing it with us!

[Wei-Wei]

These look absolutely perfect! How do you do your frosting like that???

[Bree]

those are so cute. I would love to get that little box of goodness.
Here is my go-to chocolate buttercream. Sometimes I go crazy and add melted milk chocolate instead of cocoa.
http://bakedbree.com/chocolate-cake-with-chocolate-buttercream-frosting

[bridget {bake at 350}]

I LIKE frosting from the can. :) And, I'd like you to be my neighbor!

[Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes]

why are you soooo awesome?

[Darla]

I don't understand how you got can frosting to look so beautiful??!! Any tricks?

[Amanda Rettke]

Darla, I just put the icing in a piping bag with no tip, then cut off a big chunck of the top. (so there is a large opening) then piped outdollopson thecupcakes! Its actaully pretty easy to do if you have a plastic pastry bag. :) Be blessed!

[TidyMom]

Have I ever told you my husband prefers canned frosting to any I make!.........I'm sure Shirley loved them!! Don't you just LOVE seeing a box of cupcakes?..........love the little pink one in the middle.

[Nancy @SensitivePantry]

Loving the flower idea!!

[Wenderly]

So stinkin cute love! I think that the flowers were darling!

[Robyn]

These are adorable! Love 'em bunches.

[Tickled Red]

I think the flower was adorable, but I know how it is when you have a vision. Yummy and delicious though darlin', wishing I was Shirley right about now.

[Rose in Ohio]

"Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." -Hebrews 13:2 (American Standard Version)

I hope Shirley is beginning to feel much better. Your love and attention have surely blessed her (and your family) already.

And don't forget this happy bonus--you're one step ahead when it's time to develop a boat-themed or airplane-themed cupcake---you already know how to make cute propellors! :)

[Cookbook Queen]

So, I clicked on the link to read about Shirley...and now I am a teary eyed mess!! Not only because of how it broke my heart to hear about poor Shirley, but also because of the kindness you and your neighbor Lindsey showed in her time of need.

You are both an inspiration and a wonderful example for your children. The world needs more women like you!!

The world also needs more cupcakes. Seriously, there are never enough.

[Maria]

These are so pretty! You are so kind and thoughtful. I just love ya!

[Patricia Scarpin]

The cupcakes are beautiful! I absolutely love the white chocolate petals - adorable!

[tasty tart]

oo.. I love the experiment.

[Paula]

I just read your post about Shirley. How fortunate for her that you and your friend stopped to help. She really took a nasty fall but your kindness and generosity extended toward her will help her heal.

She will be so delighted that you thought of her and made her these cupcakes (the flower petals were sweet) and your lasagna looked delicious.

You will warm her heart for sure.

[Janet]

Perfection... again, always and still!

[Barbara]

Oh yeah, simple is good with a recipe like this!

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Lovely cupcakes!

[Kristen]

White chocolate is my favorite. Those look amazing!

[Lisa]

Oh my - these look amazing! And what great photos too!

[jenny]

Cute! I've found that a mixture of good dark melted chocolate and some cocoa gives me a nice chocolate buttercream. I've often got chocolate ganache, which I add into a vanilla buttercream with some cocoa and its delicious!

[grace]

the petaled ones would be fun to use for 'he loves me, he loves me not'... :)

[Jamie]

So pretty! That frosting looks amazing!

[aimee]

I just have to say that I think you are a wonderful person, and the world needs more folks like you. I'm praying for Shirley & her husband. I bet she was so happy to get these yummy treats from you with the lasagna, and even more happy to know that you are going to keep checking in on her!

[naomi]

I love the photographs! Wow-just beautiful! I love the minimalist design of these cupcakes.

[carma]

anything containing white chocolate is my friend. Beautiful presentation as always :)

[Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog]

What a wonderful chocolaty cupcakes - I want a dozen, really!

Cheers,

Gera

[Joanna]

you surely turned cup cakes into gold ! they look just amazing like they're plastic. You sure you didn't photoshop the pictures ? :) anyway thanks for the recipe I'll try it tonight

[Lyndsay]

I would just like to say this...
You are my absolute hero!
You're a wonderful mother, wife AND baker. Your confections are drop dead gorgeous and are beyond creative. Thanks for providing so much inspiration for me. c:

[marla {family fresh cooking}]

Amanda, these are so cute with or without the petals. You are the sweetest neighbor ever - heck I don't even know mine & I have lived in this house for a decade. Whatever. I will drool from far away :)

[Bigio]

OMG! I love them! I have to try!!!

www.thebigiofactor.blogspot.com

[Deepika]

I am so glad i read the Shirley incident, Amanda. That's what's made me stop being a lurker on your blogs and actually tell you that you are wonderful. A wonderful and kind human being, a wonderful mother, neighbor and the obvious- an amazing baker. :) I wish you were my neighbor. (You'd have to live in India for that!) Aah, but 1 can always hope :)

[Tera of Healthy Foods]

Terrific! Simply amazing.

[Courtney G]

I am going to make these cupcakes today, they look delicious. Do you have directions to make a cake out of the batter? Have you tried it as a cake instead of cupcakes? I cant wait to try this recipe! Yum!
Courtney