I made some cupcakes for a friend and thought it might be a good time to try a new buttercream recipe!
So I hunted the internet and came upon this one from Sugarcrafter.net.
But then I only had 2 tbsp of butter in my fridge (which is pretty much the worst thing that can happen to me) so I had to modify it. Honesty, if you are going to make it I would start with Tracy's beautiful recipe. Because even though I adore my silly adaptation of it, I have a feeling hers is Gold. Gold I tell you!
I will remake it and let you know as soon as I get to the grocery store and replenish my butter supply.
I started with these amazingly delicious chocolate pumpkin cupcakes.
Then progressed to a beautifully sweet pumpkin spice buttercream.
Pumpkin Buttercream
3/4 cup shortening
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 - 1/2 cup milk
4 - 5 cups powder sugar
Directions:
Cream together butter and shortening until well combined. (about 2-3 minutes) Add pumpkin puree and cinnamon and blend for 30 seconds. Start adding powder sugar, one cup at a time, until reach desired consistency and taste. (Yes, that means you need to be sampling it as you go. Lick that spoon girl!)
Add milk in when you need too, probably after second cup of powder sugar. Add a little at first and then more as needed.
From here I wanted to add a fun seasonal embellishment... so I decided to throw some Halloween inspired chocolate treats on top!
These are SO easy.
Draw your design onto a piece of paper with a Sharpie or dark marker. Melt some chocolate in a pastry bag.
Slip the paper behind a piece of parchment (or wax paper) and pipe melted chocolate over the drawing.
Let sit for a couple hours or pop in the freezer for two minutes.
Then simply place on your cupcake!
Oh. I almost forgot.
When my official taste tester arrived home from work I asked him what he thought and he said, "Really sweet." So then I added some Pink Sea Salt to the top of my cupcake and it was fantastic. If you happen to have any kosher salt or flaked sea salt on hand, I recommend trying a small amount and seeing what you think! :)
*****
I recently asked some of you brilliant bakers about your favorite frosting's... if you want to weigh in or just see all the decadent and delicious options shared, just visit the iambaker facebook page!
Darling! You've made me swoon once again!!!
Posted by: Wenderly | Oct 20, 2011 at 06:23 PM
I LOVE these Amanda! I've made cinnamon butter cream, but I think pumpkin butter cream must be heaven!!
Love the chocolate toppers too!
Posted by: TidyMom | Oct 20, 2011 at 06:27 PM
these look awesome, love the toppers. there is never enough chocolate! I too made chocolate pumpkin cupcakes this week too! Great minds :)
Posted by: Karen @ Trilogy Edibles | Oct 20, 2011 at 06:29 PM
*Sigh* I only wish I could draw and pipe chocolate as well as you. Those toppers are perfection.
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | Oct 20, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Love them! Id also love to eat one right about now :o)
Posted by: Kristen | Oct 20, 2011 at 07:29 PM
These look so cute!! And tasty : )
Posted by: Kelly | Oct 20, 2011 at 08:12 PM
I love how the cake toppers turned out! SO adorable. I love, love, love them!
Posted by: Shaina | Oct 20, 2011 at 09:29 PM
How delicious! I'm up for anything pumpkin (duh). Your embellishments are quite adorable!
Posted by: Lauren@LittleYellowKitchen | Oct 20, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Anything with pumpkin has my name all over it! I can't get enough of it. Love the chocolate toppers, Amy you always amaze me!
Posted by: Sheila | Oct 20, 2011 at 10:08 PM
So clever!
Posted by: Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] | Oct 20, 2011 at 10:11 PM
I love pumpkin anything and I know the both of you are great bakers, so I'm going with anything from you two is pretty much the gold standard.
Posted by: naomi | Oct 20, 2011 at 11:35 PM
I just love these chocolate toppers - so easy and yet so GREAT! I will be doing this for every cupcake with the different theme according to the season - THANK YOU!
Posted by: Lucy Lean | Oct 20, 2011 at 11:40 PM
I love this toppers, its a great idea and they look so elegant.
Posted by: Rakelilla | Oct 21, 2011 at 03:22 AM
Love those little chocolate shapes! It is amazing what can be done with 2 tablespoons of butter isn't it?!
Posted by: Marla@familyfreshcooking.com | Oct 21, 2011 at 07:09 AM
Please share your Halloween toppers with us so that we can download. I can't draw with a lick! Please don't forget to tell us how to get the ghost inside the cake. I am anxious to make it next week for Halloween. Thanks
Posted by: fran n va | Oct 21, 2011 at 07:10 AM
Yum, yum, and yum!
Posted by: Maria | Oct 21, 2011 at 07:25 AM
Those look and sound so great. I am so going to try the salt, we got some pink salt and I had no idea what to do with it until now.
Posted by: sue | Oct 21, 2011 at 07:35 AM
The cat and web are my favorites! I can do without spiders on my food - they give me the heebie jeebies lol
Posted by: Rachel @ Baked by Rachel | Oct 21, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Great job with the toppers! Halloween-y, but not too spooky:) because I am a wuss when it comes to spooky! I love love that frosting can be created in a million different flavors....including pumpkin!
Posted by: Possible Baker | Oct 21, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Too creative and cute!! Whenever I see posts like this I truly miss having little boys... hmmm... may have to go and adopt some of the neighbors just so I can make these cupcakes!!
Posted by: Nancy@acommunaltable | Oct 21, 2011 at 02:20 PM
*Really* sweet is fine by me. But I will try with sea salt too ;)
Posted by: Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen | Oct 21, 2011 at 03:09 PM
WHAT?! You are a genius. Can't wait to make these!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth @ Coppertop Kitchen | Oct 21, 2011 at 05:14 PM
I wish I could write with chocolate like that! I can hardly write my name, but Halloween decorations? WOW.
Posted by: Georgia Pellegrini | Oct 21, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Cute idea! How do you get your chocolate to be smooth when decorating/writing with it? I've tried and had a hard time/a sore thumb and wrist.
Posted by: Christy D | Oct 21, 2011 at 06:04 PM
you are so talented!!
Posted by: linda | Oct 21, 2011 at 07:18 PM
What a great idea! I've used a similar technique to make spider webs, but never thought about other possible designs. Thanks for sharing! It's brilliant!
Posted by: Cupcakes Plain and Fancy | Oct 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM
YUM! I see some cinnamon rolls with pumpkin buttercream in my future!
Posted by: Lorie | Oct 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Very cute cupcake adornments and the cupcakes themselves look and sound delicious.
Posted by: Paula | Oct 21, 2011 at 11:28 PM
I just made these. Instead of the toppers I put chocolate chips in them. I used Tracy's buttercream with very little cinnamon in it. It was so good that my girlfriend, who is dieting, ate three! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Liz | Oct 22, 2011 at 01:18 AM
Amanda, these are such classy, elegant Halloween cupcakes! How did you pipe the frosting?
Posted by: S. | Oct 22, 2011 at 08:56 AM
I wish you would do a tutorial on how to melt chocolate IN A PASTRY BAG. What size tip do you use? Cute idea. Thanks.
Posted by: Lexy Lawrence | Oct 22, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Wow, what a simple solution for DIY/ custom toppers!
Posted by: Rachel | Oct 22, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Absolutely adorable! You are so clever! I'd screw those up totally.
Posted by: Barbara | Oct 22, 2011 at 11:05 AM
These are adorable! Love the black cat :)
Posted by: Tickled Red | Oct 22, 2011 at 03:08 PM
thank you for this nice post. This is something that I can involve my daughter (age 7) to do with me - she could easily make the chocolate toppers. Great fun + memories!!
Posted by: trisha | Oct 22, 2011 at 03:31 PM
Those piped chocolate decorations are SO clever - I never would have thought of that, even though it would be so expensive to buy that kind of thing. Would you use regular milk chocolate?
Posted by: Kerry | Oct 22, 2011 at 04:25 PM
These designs are great, you found a very smart way of making chocolate toppers, thanks for sharing!!!
Posted by: Silvia | Oct 23, 2011 at 03:52 AM
Delicious. Love the toppers too.
Posted by: Nic@diningwithastud | Oct 23, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Looks so delicious, I will try them sometime.
Posted by: Jade | Oct 24, 2011 at 05:29 AM
You had me at pumpkin spice buttercream!!! Love love love pumpkin treats this year!!!!
Posted by: sweetsugarbelle | Oct 24, 2011 at 08:29 AM
i would never expect you to run out of butter--disaster of all disasters! :)
Posted by: grace | Oct 25, 2011 at 03:37 AM
Adorable, adorable, adorable! I especially love the spiderwebs!!!
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Oct 25, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Okay, I made them last evening. I am not an especially good baker, as my husband will attest. When he tasted these, he was in disbelief. These are possibly the best cupcake I have ever tasted let alone made. The frosting with the cinnamon and pumpkin made it especially interesting! Great recipe! Thank you so much for making me appear to be a baker!
Posted by: Shelly | Oct 26, 2011 at 07:14 AM
These look divine... And, the toppers are so adorable! :)
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | Oct 28, 2011 at 06:35 AM
I love your handmade toppers, and they really seem easy to do. With Shelly's comment above / rave :) I'll have to give the recipe a try too!
Posted by: Glenys @ Cupcake City | Oct 28, 2011 at 09:07 PM