Since I’ve been blogging for a whole year, I made a list of baking goals I’d like to tackle in year #2. The list includes: mastering a layer cake with smooth perfect frosting, figuring out macarons (which I may have done already last night…) chocolate soufflés and bakery-style swirled on frosting. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of using piping bags to make frosting look beautiful on cupcakes, but I just adore that swirled rustic look that I see in bakery windows. (I have tried and failed to do it at home many times.)
When I saw that a wonderful cupcake shop called Butter Lane was offering a Groupon for a cupcake frosting class, I signed up right away with my baking buddy Melissa. The class promised to give 6 easy frosting recipes as well as a tutorial in swirling the frosting. I have to say it was a blast! (They teach this class regularly so if you live in the NYC area or are ever planning a visit- I highly recommend it!) The frosting we made was amazing and the class ends with a fun little contest to see who was the best swirler and I won! :) My prize was a gift card for more cupcakes which I don’t think I’ll have a hard time using.
At the end of the class, we were sent home with leftover frosting and I couldn’t wait to practice “swirling.” But first of course I needed something to practice on so I whipped up my favorite Banana cupcakes and paired them with the Cinnamon and Chocolate Peanut Butter frosting flavors. The fluffy cake and the creamy frosting paired perfectly together, and these classic flavors were just right for the simple swirl. As much as I like fancy piped frosting on special cupcakes- I think I found my new go-to design!
ps- I want to share the technique for “swirling” with you all- but I’m not sure how to do it in photos. Would a video tutorial be of intrest? If so- I’ll plan to make that happen soon!
- 2 sticks of butter
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 splash of vanilla extract
- ¼-1/2 tsp of cinnamon (depending on how strong you want it.)
- Combine butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl and mix on a medium speed for 5 min. While mixing in at low speed add sugar. Once combined, add a splash of vanilla extract and the cinnamon, and mix on a medium to high speed for 3 min, or until smooth and fully combined.
cupcake recipe adapted from: AllRecipes, frosting recipes from: Butter Lane
Me And My Sweets says
February 23, 2012 at 12:05 pmLovely recipe!! Happy anniversary! :-) I think your goals for year 2 is very very good:-)
Veronica Chiari A. Dy-Liacco says
February 23, 2012 at 12:35 pmoh yes, please, please, please post a video tutorial! Those swirls are so pretty and so very appetizing! Would so love to learn how it’s done ^_^
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
February 23, 2012 at 12:59 pmMmm I’m a fan of both of these cupcakes! Delicious!
Anniebakes says
February 23, 2012 at 1:27 pmlooks delish and the class sounds like fun, a video would be awesome!
Samantha Haddow says
February 23, 2012 at 1:29 pmHooray! Another use for bananas! Thank you!
Bookish at Breakfast says
February 23, 2012 at 2:36 pmThose look incredible!!
Maria says
February 23, 2012 at 2:53 pmI want both!
Heather says
February 23, 2012 at 3:20 pmA video tutorial would be fantastic!
Cassie @ Bake Your Day says
February 23, 2012 at 3:58 pmI loved seeing your Instagram pictures of your class. how fun! These look incredible too!
Cassie @ Bake Your Day says
February 23, 2012 at 3:58 pmPS – chocolate souffles are on my list this year too!
Becca Looney says
February 23, 2012 at 5:34 pmI like the rustic look some cupcakes have, it gives it a sense of itbeing homemade and everything is better when it’s homemade. :)
Ldginn says
February 23, 2012 at 5:47 pmLove the swirls!! A video tutorial would be wonderful!
Lacy @ NYCityEats says
February 23, 2012 at 7:40 pmTotal coincidence that I was searching for an awesome banana cupcake recipe last night! I can’t wait to try these! They look and sound delicious!
Kiri W. says
February 23, 2012 at 8:36 pmOoooh looks fantastic! :) The class sounds very cool!
Kali Orkin says
February 23, 2012 at 9:52 pmA video would be awesome! Making frosting look nice has always eluded me… and I have a culinary degree :S
Erin says
February 23, 2012 at 11:40 pmCupcakes looks awesome! Would love to learn how. The class sounds like so much fun!
nicole {sweet peony} says
February 24, 2012 at 12:56 amI think I would appreciate a video tutorial because I have tried & tried the bakery swirl and it always looks like crap haha. Yours are beautiful and look so yummy. I’m totally trying that chocolate peanut butter frosting :)
Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out says
February 24, 2012 at 3:54 am1.) These banana cupcakes look amazing with that cinnamon frosting. OH man.
2.) YES, please do a tutorial video! Lord knows I need some help when it comes to making food pretty, not just taste good…
Lyn @LovelyPantry says
February 24, 2012 at 4:27 amThese are spectacular to say the least! And yes, please do a video tutorial! I’d love to see how to swirl… I really need my cupcakes to look yummy! You know… like yours? :-)
Niecole says
February 27, 2012 at 2:16 amYes a video please!
Elyse @The Cultural Dish says
February 27, 2012 at 8:15 pmWow… those frostings sound amazing! I would not be able to choose between the two. I’ll just have to eat a bunch of both! :)
Erin says
February 28, 2012 at 9:49 pmThe cinnamon cream cheese frosting was incredible on these cupcakes! I got so many compliments for these! Thanks!!
Jacqueline Raposo says
March 4, 2012 at 4:20 amBeautiful! I love Butter Lane classes too – fun way to spend a few hours on one skill.
Lynn G. says
April 11, 2013 at 1:40 pmHi! So excited to have stumbled on your blog. I was getting ready to make these cupcakes, but didn’t see the measurement for the melted chocolate in the chocolate peanut butter frosting. Any chance you could update it? Thanks so much! I’ve bookmarked a number of your recipes already and have added you to my feed as well. Thanks!
Audra says
April 12, 2013 at 11:19 pmSo sorry! I fixed it! :)