Thursday, August 12, 2010

Peach Anniversary Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and a Giveaway


This week marks the one year anniversary of Espresso and Cream! And while it pains me to look back at some of my earliest posts, I am so excited about how far my little blog has come and how it will change in the year ahead. I could not have anticipated the kind words, e-mails, and interactions I've had with those of you who read Espresso and Cream. Some interactions are with people I know personally and others I know only through the power of the internet. However I may know you, a big thank you is in order. Thank you for reading, e-mailing, commenting, and, most importantly, cooking and baking.

To celebrate the occasion I'm having another long-overdue giveaway! I briefly though about keeping these coffee cup inspired measuring cups for myself instead of giving them away, but then thought better of it. Just know that I'm very jealous of whoever wins this giveaway. To enter, post a comment below telling me what your favorite dessert is any time between Thursday, August 12 and Sunday, August 15. The winner will be selected at random and will be announced Monday, August 16. If you win I'll send you an e-mail asking for your address and ship these little beauties (from Anthropologie) your way!

Trendy or not, cupcakes never cease to make me smile. They're creative, fun, loaded with frosting, and can be made in almost any flavor imaginable with minimal fuss. Plus, for people with a massive sweet tooth like me, cupcakes are imposed portion control. Leave me with a cake and I've been known to cut 'just one more sliver' a few too many times.

It goes without saying that August and peaches go hand-in-hand, and I would be a food blogger disgraced if I went without posting at least one peachy recipe. One bite of these cupcakes and I think it's safe to say that peaches and cupcakes go quite nicely together, too.


Peach Anniversary Cupcakes with Peach Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from Joy the Baker
(Printable Recipe)

Peach Cake
Ingredients
*1 (18.5-oz.) box white cake mix
*1 (3-oz.) package peach jello
*3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
*4 tsp. granulated sugar
*3/4 cup vegetable oil
*4 large eggs
*1/4 cup water
*1/3 cup peach preserves, such as Smucker's Simply Fruit

Peach Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
*1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
*1 stick unsalted butter, softened
*1 tsp. vanilla extract
*1/2 cup peach preserves, such as Smucker's Simply Fruit
*1 (32-oz.) bag powdered sugar
Sliced peaches (optional)

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin cups with liners and set aside.
*In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, jello, flour, and sugar. Stir to combine. Add in the oil, eggs, water, and peach preserves and beat until all ingredients are just combined.
*Spoon the batter into the 24 muffin cups (about 1/2 full for each) and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until cakes are golden brown around the edges and the centers are just slightly soft. (centers may fall just slightly, but don't be alarmed)
*Cool completely on wire racks.

*Meanwhile, prepare frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add in the vanilla extract and peach preserves and beat another 1 to 2 minutes.
*Add in the powdered sugar, a cup at a time, beating until well combined and creamy.
*Spoon frosting into a zip-top bag and snip one of the corners of the bag off. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and garnish with sliced peaches, if desired.

Happy Baking!

Madison

26 comments:

Jeanne said...

Oh how fun! Count me in!

My favorite dessert has always been apple pie.

Jeanne

Lenna Cummings said...

I'm kind of new to your blog, but I have enjoyed it immensely! I have told quite a few people to check it out. I am the lady whom you helped with the No Knead Whole Wheat Bread recipe. My favorite dessert, so far, is the Light and Fit Berry Sorbet. I have made it several ways: with peaches (how fitting), mixed berries, and black raspberries. Last weekend my daughter wanted black raspberry ice cream, so I told her I would make your sorbet using black raspberries. She absolutely loved it and took the recipe home with her. Last night, I had some of the leftovers with a little homemade chocolate sauce over the top. We all think the sorbet is the bomb. I really enjoy your blog; keep up the good work.
Lenna

Amber said...

I'm a sucker for angel food cake, especially with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries! Yum!

Amanda O. said...

It might sound simple.. but a great oatmeal chocolate chip cookie with a tall glass of cold milk is the way to go.

Tanja @ Postmodern Hostess said...

Though I try to branch out, if there's creme brulee on the menu, I always order it. I can't resist.

Keep up the great work on the blog! It's a lovely read, and wonderful eye candy.

xoxo,
tanja

Kat said...

Awesome giveaway!! My favorite dessert is either peach cobbler or some kind of cheesecake!!

Erin Eva Butcher said...

Those are so cute! My favorite dessert is definately carrot cake- I die for it, especially cream cheese frosting.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Anything with the words "death by chocolate" in the title.

Courtney said...

Madison, your blog is my new obsession! I love reading it! Thanks for sharing! My favorite dessert is a moist, brownie caked in frosting with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and topped with some hot fudge!

Angela said...

My favorite dessert is one my mom always used to make while I was growing up.It is a german chocolate cake mix with cream cheese and chocolate chips swirled in with frosting on top. Yum! Thanks for the recipes!

Marilyn said...

Cookies, cookies, cookies. I love most ANY kind of cookie, but especially the Ina Garten Oatmeal Pecan Raisen recipe. And of course, I make them huge! So huge, I give them away in a ziplock sandwich bag. One per bag :)

Love your blog...but I'm your mom so I guess you figured as much. Right?

Unknown said...

I have always loved desserts with fruit, but my most favorite is probably a fruit tart!

(You don't know me, but I'm a friend of Laura (Jensen) Wifler :)

Jera said...

Puppy chow. (aka Chex Mix muddy buddies, monkey food... I've heard a few different names). It's more like a snack... but too good to be just a snack so I label it dessert!

Jennifer said...

I love Pumpkin Bars with of coarse cream cheese frosting during the Fall.

Kathryn said...

MMMmmmmm the Oatmeal Scones with Coconut Glaze made my tummy rumble all of the way on the plane to Boston. Love you site!

Anonymous said...

Happy One Year Anniversary Madison!! Your blog is fun to read and the recipes I have made are delicious. Thanks for the great ideas. My favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake...

Karen Rau

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! My favorite dessert is ice cream - almost any flavor!
Jill Ritz

Abby said...

Favorite Dessert? Now that is a tough question! I could never pass up a quality banana cream treat, my favorite is topped with homemade whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and shaved almonds! Keep up the amazing baking and cooking, your blog is so inspiring! Happy One Year Anniversary!

Unknown said...

How can I possibly pick one favorite dessert! So much depends on when I am eating it. In the fall, I want anything with apples; apple pie of course, apple crisp or apple walnut cake. Winter calls for chocolate; pudding or brownies are best. On dark stormy days though there is nothing like gingerbread. Spring is time for anything lemony. Summer is all about berries and August is time for my grandmother's blueberry cake. Perfect for a cool evening after a warm day.

Anonymous said...

The cupcakes look great. I am going to try them this weekend for my family. My favorite after supper treat blackberry cheesecake.

Thanks for all the great recipes
Donette Yaw

*Eli said...

When my mother asked what I'd like for my birthday dessert this year I immediately linked her to your blog and said, pick anything. The chocolate raspberry cups [from a post in April of this year] were what I got and everyone LOVED them. They are now officially my favorite dessert.

Love the blog, Madison. You are slowly easing me out of my fear of the kitchen...especially with all the cupcake recipes. :)

APepito said...

I love love love my grandmother's Butternut Cake. Reminds me of Thanksgiving!!

Anonymous said...

Favorite dessert - that's a hard one! We love anything chocolate in our house! Thanks for posting all your yummy recipes!!

Missy Hofmeyer

Heather said...

Yay for giveaways! Favorite dessert hands down is Creme Brulee. Yum.

Your peanut butter oatmeal is now a favorite in our house. DELISH.

Anonymous said...

I know the contest is over, but wanted to let you know that I LOOVE the triple berry pound cake muffins! They were a hit! Anything with almond and berries and you got me!

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...