Keep Calm and Hog on Cupcakes!!!

Cupcake aka Fairy Cake aka Patty cake aka Cuppy cakes(for my niece), are a delicacy I can swear upon for life. And as far as I know, most of the ladies do too.
Literally "a cake to be baked in small cups",a standard cupcake uses the same basic ingredients as standard-sized cakes: butter,sugar,eggs and flour.
Cupcakes may be topped with frosting or other cake decorations. They may be filled with frosting or pastry cream. They gained publicity in their appearances on popular television shows like HBO's Sex and the City.

They are sweet, petite, cute, miniature, creative, unique, varied, versatile, can be eaten any time and are soooo easy to make. Why would someone resist them I don't know. You shouldn't actually. You won't win. 
 But did you know, my first tryst with a cupcake was pretty meager and humble? For the Kuwaiti born and bought ups, I like them, lived on the belief that cupcakes are those divine, moist and dirt cheap Americana cakes that used to come in orange and vanilla flavor for a mere 100 fils/Rs18 for 3 pieces(once a moon away). These succulent babies were used and abused as instant birthday cakes with a candle inserted, quick tiffin fixes, quirky tea time snacks and a bulk distributor for fancy birthday and school celebrations. But truly, I savored my first cupcake in Mumbai. I am not that Yoda to remember the first time but I do remember the best time.

'Twas a night like no other. 13th of February to be precise. A group of friends and me headed off from a grueling shift at a bakery where I worked and decided to celebrate the beginning of a Valentines day with all our might. Walking on the streets of Bandra we witnessed boys and men scrambling and running to every flower store possible with a quest to find the perfect rose, running helter skelter to find a chocolate shop or patisserie open and paying an arm,leg,tooth.fingernail and ankle for 2 perfect heart shaped balloons. We three girls joked and kidded about every passerby when suddenly I get a message from my sister saying

"Hey Mel. Heard you r busy tonight. Don't work when the clock strikes 12! Happy Valentines.."

She is my soul mate that woman. This was her first Valentines Day in Mumbai and she was alone. It was 11:20pm and I was in loss of words to reply. And suddenly, I get this gushed up gut to rush home before 12. Soooooo I joined those heady lads and run hell and above to find a rose,chocolate or balloon. But it was too late. The world had been deprived of every rose,chocolate and balloon at that time.. Feeling miserable at 11;35, I sat in a rickshaw to head to my friends place. 

Suddenly at the corner of Carter road I see my redeemer. A CINNABON STORE!!! (yes this story is of cupcakes... read on!!) It was open. And packed.

Now I don't run. Never. Never ever. Not even if u give me a Cupcake. Or 2. May be 3 but we'd have to negotiate.
Unless and until I have a pack of dogs barking behind me,I wont do it. But that day, I ran across the road, which according to me was about a km away, barged into the store, and screamed the daylights(or nightlights) of the attendant between 3 couples, a grown ass kid and a few men: 

"Oh Bhaiyaji! 3 of your best cupcakes please!! Ill pay 50 buck extra!!"

Imagine saying that to a full time Cinnabon employee!! It was embarrassing and hilarious at that moment but it didn't matter. 

The Cupcake angels smiled at me and a got a perfect triangular box of her favorite dessert flavors: Dark Chocolate,Sea salt Caramel and Cinnamon Pecan in the form of 3 decadent cupcakes.
I remember seeing my watch reading 11;42pm when I sat in the rickshaw. I was smiling like the world suddenly was a better place.

Now those of you who have traveled in Mumbai know clearly that even on a 120km speed on a pulsar bike, it takes you minimum 15 mins to get from Carters to Chakala. That is of course if you have a clear highway and no ones sleeping on the street that night. But after screaming and literally breathing down the autowalas neck, I also had my first F1 experience in an auto rickshaw and I touch downed my building at 11.58pm. Do not ask me how.

I called my sister when I was outside the door step. And asked her to see why the safety door of our house was open. In her drugged sleep state, she opened the door and there I was. Cupcakes and all.  Her reaction- Booming laughter that could have woken up the entire building.We hugged for 5 minutes,cried for 15,ate for another 5 and crashed on the bed soon after. But those cupcakes, though not the best that I have tasted, were one of the best I've ever had.

Share a cupcake with any lady in your life once you read this. Or if you are a lady,have one today. I'm devouring mine while writing. and I Feel Goooooood!!
They make you feel precious isn't it????



(Inserted picture-White Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes made by moi for Christmas 2012)

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes

Oven: 325F Bake time: 20 minutes

Yields 20 cupcakes

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

For Ganache n decoration

200gms White chocolate

100gms cream

Glazed cherries and Sprinkles(optional)

Preheat oven to 325 F. Line pan with cupcake liners and set aside.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Add vanilla extract to buttermilk.

Mix dry ingredients into butter/sugar mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner with one scoop of batter.

Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes bounce back to touch or toothpick comes out clean.

Immediately turn out onto table and place on cooling rack for at least 30 minutes before frosting.

Melt the chocolate over double boiler. Remove off flame and gradually whisk in warm cream and let this mixture cool.

Decorate as you like and serve!!