Cupcakes!

It's no secret I love cupcakes.  I mean how can you not love those little cakes of goodness?  Simply put you can't.  I don't believe they are going out of fashion either.  A cute bite sized treat will always be en vogue with me.

I bet you would never believe that I also like to bake cupcakes a lot.  Here are two tasty treats I have baked recently:

To me nothing says Valentine's Day quite like red velvet cake.  Especially in heart cupcake form!  This recipe was adapted from one of my new favorite blogs: Sprinkle Bakes.  I think these cupcakes are de-lish!  A little note about buttermilk: if you have it on hand then great but if you don't you can make and use "sour milk" (don't freak out, just put 1 Tbsp. of vinegar or lemon juice in a one cup measuring cup and fill the rest of the one cup up with milk.)  At some point I would love to make this into a cake like she does but cupcakes are easier to share.  I must make sure things are shareable because I looooove to bake but cannot (well I could but I know I shouldn't) eat an entire pan of brownies or two dozen cupcakes, so I share.  Plus it makes a fatty recipe less so because you're only having a lil bit...or at least this is what I tell myself and others ;)  Baking for others is my way of showing love and appreciation.

I also had some extra cream cheese frosting on hand the other day from another baking project.  So what's a girl to do with extra frosting?  Bake up some cupcakes to to put that frosting on, of course!  Now this comes from another favorite blog of mine: The Pioneer Woman.  This was my first time making something of her's but I have adored her site forever!  (side note: I look at A LOT of cooking blogs!  It's an addiction that is fed by my lovely and just as obsessed friend, Ali.  Thanks.)  I did forget one main ingredient from her recipe: a Hershey Kiss in the cupcake.  I can't believe I forgot this because what would make a chocloate cupcake even better?  A lil bit o melty chocolate in the middle!  But have no fear, I'll make these again the correct way real soon :)  Oh, but they still turned out super tasty!  So check out the recipe; note that I didn't do the chocolate ganache but will at some point and you should probably add the Hershey Kisses!

Oh and a third recipe as a bonus!  I know it's not Halloween but I made these little cuties last year and can't wait to make them again!  Candy Corn Cupcakes!