Earl Grey Cupcakes

Earl Grey was the first real tea (i.e. not powdered iced tea crystals) that I ever tried, and I have loved it ever since.  I remember my grandparents drinking orange pekoe tea, black, every afternoon, but it never appealed to me.  However, when my friend made me a cup with  a bit of sugar and a splash of cream, I was on my way to a lifelong love affair with tea,

One of my coworkers also happens to love Earl Grey, so I made him these special cupcakes to celebrate his Spartan trifecta success.

Tropical Streusel Spice Cake

One of my favorite parts of my mom's coffee cake was always the streusel.  We would actual double the streusel so that we got that much more cinnamony goodness in every slice.  This streusel added to spice cake with some tropical flavors makes a really unique treat!

Smooth Cream Cheese Frosting

As much as I love a good buttercream, some cakes were just made for cream cheese frosting!

The key to a nice smooth frosting is making sure that the ingredients are at room temperature.  Cold cream cheese or butter will just make lumpy frosting.  I also like to use the whisk attachment on my mixer; it may take a little bit longer, but it really helps break up any little unblended bits in the mixture.

Homemade Protein Chocolate

Chocolate . . . Do I really need to say more??  I love chocolate, but I have found that chocolate bars just aren't what they were when I was a kid.  I swear that the chocolate itself just tastes and feels different.

It is actually really easy to make chocolate at home, although it takes some time to get used to it when you are used to the store bought goods.  However, I have found that the more that I eat my own, the less I buy other chocolate.  Not that I won't indulge in a good bar of dark chocolate now and then.  Mmmmm, chocolate!

Chai-Infused Custard

The other day I woke up thinking about custard, which is strange, because I haven't had any in years.  I like a nice thick custard, but sometimes I am too lazy to make it from scratch.  Thank goodness you can get the powdered kind!

Chai tea is one of my absolute favorites, so I used it to add some extra flavor to the custard.  It's spicy and flavorful, but not too sweet.

Red Velvet Banana Cake

I am not a fan of bananas, which is why most of my friends are surprised that I love banana cake.  It is always soft, moist and full of flavor.  Mix in some red velvet, and it just takes it to the next level.

Cherry Chocolate Cream Cheese Balls

Cream cheese anything is delicious, in my opinion, and I especially love it in any sort of dessert.  These little balls are bite-sized goodness that are very simple to make.

Mandarin Orange Crackle Cookies

Mandarin oranges are one of my favorite fruits, and in winter they are fresh and abundant!  Orange also happens to be a delicious dessert flavoring, and fresh juices make the flavors perfect!

Pumpkin Apple Crisp

Warm, autumnal pumpkin and traditional, comforting apple,  A perfect flavor blend, in my opinion!  A friend once made crisp with a cereal topping, and I thought it was a brilliant idea, as it makes it so easy to get that good flavor and crunch on top of the fruit.

Twice Baked Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Casserole

Fall is definitely the time for warm, pumpkin treats and cinnamon.  While we usually make a classic pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, I also like to try and make at least one new recipe each year.  This casserole is soft and gooey like a good bread pudding!

Papaya Pumpkin Tarts

It's fall again, which means an abundance of delicious pumpkin-spiced treats will be bombarding us at every turn.  I am a pumpkin lover, so I am going to share one of my favorite treats.  For me, papaya just tastes warm, so it blends perfectly with the traditional spices that go with pumpkin.

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is quick, easy and delicious!  It can be enjoyed as both a breakfast or a dessert, and requires minimal effort.

Guava Pots de Crème

Guava isn't common where I live, so I had never bought fresh guava before, but these ones smelled so amazing that I couldn't resist.  They were small, but so ripe and amazing!  The tartness of the guava makes it work well in a dessert that has a sweeter component to balance it out.

Red Velvet Pudding Cake

No one wants a dry cake, so I am always looking for ways to ensure that they stay moist.  Pudding is a great addition that will enhance the flavor and prevent the cake from coming out dry.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are a favorite in our family, but sometimes I like to add new flavors for a little change.

Orange Banana Bread

I am not really a fan of bananas, but I love banana cake and banana bread. After the success of the orange flavored cupcakes I baked for Mother's Day, I was inspired to create an orange banana bread. This recipe will not make the banana bread taste overly orange-y, but instead adds just a slight orange flavor to the bread.

Butter Tart Topped Shortbread Cookie Bars

Butter tarts and shortbread cookies have always been two of the most popular Christmas treats in our house.  There is often a debate over which dessert to pick, but now you won't have to!

These bars perfectly combine the airy lightness of shortbread with the gooey sweetness of butter tarts.  Bits of butter tart topping work down through the shortbread base, mixing in throughout the bar, preventing it from separating when you slice it.

Sage & Olive Oil Buttercream

I realize that this may sound like a strange combination, but I think that's why I wanted to try it.  I was making Randy's blueberry cake for her birthday and I didn't want to put plain old buttercream icing on top (even though I love the stuff).  So I decided to get creative.  The flavours are very mellow; you get the slightest taste of herb cutting into the sweetness.  So, without further ado, here's the recipe!

Cupcake Love: Berry Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing and Caramelized Toasted Lemon Zest

Who doesn't love cupcakes? Especially when Duncan Hines makes it so easy to create your own masterpieces! All you need is Duncan Hines White Cake Mix (Betty Crocker just won't do) and a little bit of creativity.