Announcement

This site will be migrating to a new address.
Please visit me at @Køkken and change your subscription to this blog to my RSS Feed

You Will Be Redirected!

Please do not leave any more messages on this blog. I will not be publishing or responding to any more comments left here. You will be automatically redirected to http://www.atkokken.com All posts have been migrated. You will be able to locate any posts by performing a quick search at my new site. Thank you.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Martha Stewart's Easy Easter Cupcakes - A Peter Rabbit Treat

Peter Rabbit 7

Peter Rabbit 1

Peter Rabbit 2

When I went to the National Library to search for these Peter Rabbit books for the photos, the librarian had told me to look under 'books for babies'. Lucky babies! How fortunate to be growing up with beautiful wholesome illustrations like these. I didn't get to know about the Peter Rabbit series until I was in my twenties. The only books I can remember growing up with during my pre-school years were a couple of big paper back picture books with titles like : Three Little Pigs and Puss In Boots.

When I eventually went to primary school, my reading material were 50cents weekly monochromatic periodicals. My parents would take us to the bookshops during school holidays where we stock up on story books and stationery... Even then, we would only be allowed to buy books that were 'cheap and good'. Hence, I ended up reading the whole collection of Oxford Classic series because they only cost $1 each... while my friends would be showing off their $5 Enid Blytons and Nancy Drews...The good thing that came out of this 'crunch' was that by the time I moved on to Secondary One (equivalent to junior high?), I had already finished reading titles like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Little Women, Wuthering Heights and The Hound of Baskervilles. Hence when we were assigned to read Little Women for our literature class, I had already known the book inside out...:)
I have never griped about not having what my classmates had. In fact, in retrospect, I am really thankful for the foundation those experiences from the early years had provided me.

Today? Books are still a big part of my life. I still have a full wall of bookshelf...albeit the cookbooks are quickly edging all other books out of the shelves..but no worries, I have just bought myself my first Kindle E-reader last month when I was in US and am thrilled to bits with it.

Apart from the E-reader, I also managed to get my hands on these Peter Rabbit Cupcake Kit from Williams Sonoma. Very appropriate for the Easter Holiday. Sigh, why are pretty things like these never available in this part of the world?

To celebrate Easter, I have chosen to make Martha Stewart's Carrot Cupcake with a Tangy Cream Cheese frosting. I am beginning to really enjoy Martha Stewart's Cupcake cookbook. The last time I worked with a recipe from the book was for the Ginger Bread Cupcake  - the texture and flavours of which I had totally enjoyed.
This Carrot Cupcake is equally wonderful. Totally easy to make, the recipe contains loads of shredded carrot which gives it a very moist and fine crumbed finish. Perfect for children (and adults, like myself) who do not like carrots! The addition of yellow raisins lends another delightful burst of natural sweetness and sunshine to every mouthful.

If you are considering to bake something for Easter, I would strongly recommend this!

Peter Rabbit 1(250)
Recipe (Adapted from Martha Stewart's Cupcake Book)
Cupcake
1 pound               carrots, peeled and finely grated
3                          large eggs
1/3 cup                buttermilk (I used full cream milk)
2 cups                 sugar (I used 1.5 cups)
1.5 tsp                vanilla extract
1/2 cup               golden raisins
3 cups                all purpose flour
1 tsp                   baking soda
2 tsp                   baking powder
1tsp                    salt
1 tsp                   ground cinnamon
1 tsp                   ground ginger (I omitted the ginger and cloves because I am concerned about how the
1/8 tsp                ground cloves   my neighbour's 4 year old kid would take to the spices)

Cream Cheese Frosting
225g                  Butter
340g                  Cream Cheese
4 cups                Confectioner's sugar (sifted)
3/4 tsp               Vanilla extract

Method :
1. Preheat oven to 160C.  Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Whisk together carrot, eggs, buttermilk, sugar,oil, vanilla extract and raisins.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour,baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir flour mixture into accort mixture until well combined.
4. Divide batter among lined cups. Fill each liner to 3/4 full.
5. Bake at 160C for 25mins until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Frosting
1. Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Lower mixing speed and add in powder suger.
2. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Refrigerate if frosting becomes too soft to pipe.

Assembly
1. Place frosting in a piping bag fittled with a large round tip. Pipe swirl onto cupcake and decorate with Peter Rabbit pick.

39 comments:

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Wow, a very nice and special cupcake set. I love carrot cake too but not my kids.,,

Cool Chic Style Fashion said...

Una graziosa e simpatica idea , ciao

grub said...

hahhaa i LOVE Beatrix Potter and her picture books! we had the whole collection of them at our primary school and i think i've read most of them :) the favourites will still be Peter Rabbit and the mischievious Huncha Mucha and family breaking into the dolls house haha. brings back memories. oh did i mention i love carrot cake too :)

Ribbon and Circus said...

Shirley,

I just borrowed few Peter Rabbit books for my son, Adam from NLB last week.. how coincidence is that? I love Peter Rabbit and Jemima character btw. Love your Peter Rabbit cupcakes.. :D Nice work!

Jo said...

Definitely a special treat and the cupcake liners are gorgeous. So right for the entire theme.

Janine said...

all i can say is...gawdddd i love those cupcake liners! they are SO PRETTY! and carrot cupcake with cream cheese is the best easter treat - after chocolate eggs of course ;p

Honey Bee Sweets said...

I saw those too at WS! I was there last week, heehee! But I didn't buy any of the Easter stuff...kind of loss touch with it since I moved back...perhaps that's why this part of the country don't sell cute stuff like these, lol! Seems like I have been neglecting my MS's cupcake cookbook way too long...only got to try 2 and shelved it ever since...*sigh* Okay will try this one too!

{L} said...

Very hoppin' pretty ur cupcakes!! i rem there's a Peter Rabbit themed cafe in taipei (secluded in one of the small alleys), feel like i must go find tt pic! U bought back gd'O memories =)

La Table De Nana said...

One of my favorite posts of yours! I love these cupcakes:)

So much.
The cutest.

Have you seen the movie of Beatrix Potter? A treat.
You do well when you shop in the US:)
It is a shopper's heaven.

Shirley @ Kokken69 said...

Monique, yes, I have seen the Beatrice Potter movie. That was the closest exposure I have with Peter Rabbit, really. I haven't really read her books - just admired her illustrations.

Yes, US is a consumption driven country- the demand has fed the creation for all these lovely 'stuff'

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I love Peter Rabbit! As a child i read all many Beatrix Potter books.

Those cupcakes are marvelous!

Cheers,

Rosa

Unknown said...

Plan a business trip to Austin :)

&& those rabbits are adorable! Perfect for easter

Maria @ Scandi Foodie said...

Oh I used to love Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton's books! These cupcakes look adorable!

Juliana said...

Oh! The cupcakes look so cute decorated with the rabbits...sure perfect for Easter. Have a great week ahead Shirley :-)

La Table De Nana said...

I came back..It's my favorite:)
I have a small collection of the books..i will try and post..They are sweet in a little shop shaped box:)
I LOVE those WS wrappers and toppers.That is a great store,you made them proud.

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

So adorable! Love the toppers.

Sneh | Cook Republic said...

Gorgeous pictures with the Peter Rabbit books. The frosting looks to die for :-)

Lisa H. said...

love..love...love your cutie cupcakes... :D
Asking silly question here ~ are those little cutie Peter Rabbit figurines edible?

Zurin said...

I never read Peter Rabbit. I have no clue what it s about. Seen lots of illustrations of it though. youre right....it was always puss in boots etc..3 little pigs and all those ladybird books when I was really young.

the toppers are so cute n the cases too! YOU are lucky to be able to have access to them when you travel so often Shirley! we who are stuck here just turn green with envy. :P

lovely post!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Shirley, they are just so precious! I can imagine these would be perfect for a baby shower too!

j3ss kitch3n said...

such cute cuppies!

maameemoomoo - a ½ food blog said...

Lovely! I would never think of doing my cuppies this way.. So creative!

thecoffeesnob said...

These are so adorable, Shirley! And bunnies and carrot cakes- what a clever little combination!

Cooking Gallery said...

You're killing me with these cuties...!! I ADORE Petter Rabbits and love reading stories from Beatrix Potter even though I am not a child anymore. Her illustrations are simply magnificent!

pickyin @ LifeIsGreat said...

Lovely cream cheese frosting color compared to the normal whitish ones. The cupcake set is cool too. I don't think I can be allowed into places like WS, PB and the likes.

Anh said...

So. Cute! Loveeee this! :)

tigerfish said...

That is stunning and cute!

Sad to say, I am not much of a person who reads a lot of books (and story books) :(

My Asian Kitchen said...

wow!! so cute and pretty presentation Easter cupcake!! I'm so lazy, didn't bake or make and Easter stuffs for Mishu..Tomorrow going to her Easter parade at school...maybe I should bake something since official Easter is not yet here!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Shirley! trust you to come up with such fantastic ideas to decorate the cupcakes. absolutely wicked!

mycookinghut said...

Really cute! Well done on you.. it is such a great idea!

Anonymous said...

This is such a gorgeous cupcake set. I absolutely love to read about your finds around the globe. I have a huge wall of books too, but mainly cookbooks :p

Swee San @ TheSweetSpot said...

lol Peter Rabbit is so cute! I have some of the photo albums (of course only the cover is Peter rabbit and the photos are my dogs. lol) I love how your National Library have so many books, especially cookbooks.. Ours .... lol I rather not say :P

hanushi said...

I love your photos with the cupcake sets and the layout!!

P/S: I have not read or seen Peter Rabbit before. Guess I am suagu.

The Experimental Cook said...

I love your photos ! They are a visual treat :)

Joanne said...

The peter rabbit books were definite favorites of mine as a kid! And these cupcakes are perfect for Easter. They warm my heart.

Eesh said...

Cutest things ever! I loved Beatrix Potter as a child. My sentiments exactly re. Williams Sonoma - so many things i would like to buy from there!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

So adorable! Especially teh toppers. Definitely has an old-fashioned schoolgirl charm :).

Yoanna said...

I love Peter Rabbit, this is adorable.

Tia said...

really really cute. i love the frosting color too. thanks for sharing!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails