Happy Birthday Brunch & What's Coming Up.....

Birthday Muffins

Hey friends! This has been a busy week and next week isn't looking any slower! I wanted to take a few minutes and give you all a heads up about what's goin on in my life and what you should expect to be reading about in some upcoming posts. First, remember I told you that we'd be taking a few detours from cupcakes this month because of birthday celebrations at work? Well, today is my second birthday with two more - one on Monday and another on Tuesday - next week. For today's birthday girl, Debbe, we're having a surprise birthday brunch. I made Glazed Spice Muffins that I found on Pinterest (the recipe I used calls them Glazed Doughnut Muffins, but I don't get the correlation between these and doughnuts so I changed it), Breakfast Casserole, and a fruit salad with a Marshmallow Cream Cheese dip. Now, this sweet lady's birthday is actually on Saturday - St. Patrick's Day - but the office is closed on Saturday so we celebrated a bit early.  The muffins were wrapped in birthday themed liners with a candle in one so that we could sing to her and she could make a wish and blow it out. Let's face it, a birthday isn't a birthday without candles , singing, and wishes! We also had juice and coffee and lots of fun! I love surprises!!

Fruit with Marshmallow Cream Cheese Dip (equal parts marshmallow fluff and cream cheese)

The spread :)

Let's see...this week we've had missions conference at church and tomorrow morning is our ladies' breakfast and then church-wide missions banquet in the evening - yes, lots of food. Also, I have friends moving out of state so I'm meeting up with them Sunday night; I have to get things planned for the two birthdays next week - one of which is my BFF, Michal's (from my Lemon & Raspberry post); and I have a bridal shower Tuesday night which will bring us back to cupcakes - Tiramisu and Mint Chocolate Chip - YUM! Oh yes, and two other friends are coming into town over the weekend with lots of plans and fun to be had for all throughout the week!! Whew...I'm tired just typing all of that!

So, what can you be expecting to read next week? Well, first there will be the aforementioned Tiramisu cupcakes in a post titled "I Do with Tiramisu" and "A Luck O' the Irish Month O' Cupcakes #2 - Mint Chocolate Chip for the Bride". There will also be a post about the two special birthdays next week but I don't want to give any surprises away so you'll just have to wait and see....don't let the suspense kill you! ;) Anyway, I'll be happy when life settles down a little bit because I have some really exciting ideas for cupcakes and can't wait to share them with you!

Some fun and exciting news - Terry over at These Peas Taste Funny featured the Green Velvet Cupcakes from my previous post on her Facebook page so head over and check out her fun blog! Thanks, Terry, for the shout out! Also, Kara over at Happy Go Lucky just featured the Lemon & Raspberry cupcakes from last week (thanks to all of you wonderful "clickers") so head on over and check them out on her blog! Thanks, Kara and Amy, for a fun party!

As you can see, great things are happening in my little corner of world and I'm loving every minute! Talk about blessed! As always, happy reading and, more importantly, happy cupcake-ing!

Coffee, Doughnuts, & Cupcakes - Ahhh...

Seriously, just reading this title makes me smile. There is nothing I like more on a rainy day than curling up on the couch with a strong cup of coffee and a good book. Add to that a delicious doughnut and it's pure bliss. However, as this blog is all about cupcakes, we're gonna go a step further and put it all in an adorable treat that you can't tell your trainer about - Coffee and A Doughnut Cupcakes!

Now, this idea isn't mine. I'm not the first person to try it. In fact, it never ceases to amaze me the crazy ideas people have come up with for cupcakes. I came across a few pictures of this idea and was simply smitten. I have a doughnut glaze recipe that I've used before and, to be honest, have no idea where it originated from. My dilemma in planning this cupcake was which of my many cake recipes should I use? I started thinking it over and realized it was simple, really. One of my all-time favorite doughnuts is an Old Fashioned Sour Cream Doughnut and it just so happens that I have an amazing Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe that is reminiscent of that very treat. I'll be dipping these cupcakes into one of two glazes - chocolate or vanilla, icing them with a Mocha buttercream from Wilton ( happiness ), and then topping them with a delicious doughnut hole from a local doughnut shop where I live. I could've made my own doughnuts from scratch but this is a cupcake blog and why mess with perfection? Seriously, these doughnuts are unbelievable! If you're ever in central Florida, look up Donut King in Minneola and you won't be disappointed!

The results? I'm a fan! It definitely had the flavors of the classic coffee/doughnut combination. I was worried about using a pound cake recipe for cupcakes but it worked fabulously and once again reminded me how much I love this pound cake recipe. So good! A few notes on the icing and glazes. For the buttercream, be sure to use quality coffee that you like to drink. It will make a difference. A coworker of mine said it was delicious and that she wouldn't change a thing about it! When you make the vanilla glaze, add the milk a little at a time. You won't need the full amount but, unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly how much you will need because I did add it all at once and had to add more sugar - not fun! I don't think I need to comment on the doughnuts. You use your favorite for the toppers and there won't be anything to complain about! Do try this cupcake because one, I think you'll be pleased and two, they just look so darn cute!