Strawberry Mint Scones

We are a week into Spring and although the weather may have not gotten the memo yet, my kitchen sure has! Spring cooking makes me happy!

The slightly warmer weather and sunshine gives me so much inspiration and motivation to bake with light and bright ingredients.

My favorite ingredients around this time are fruit! From citrus fruit to berries, I love to incorporate them in any way I can. And for my first bake of Spring 2019, I chose scones! To tell you the truth, scones always looked very heavy and dense and I have never had the desire to eat one, not until I tried this recipe. With one bite, I was hooked! From the light and buttery dough to the strawberry and mint filling, they scream spring!

This recipe was taken and adapted from one of my absolute favorite magazines, Bake from Scratch where they use basil instead of mint. What's great about this recipe is how versatile it is, so if mint or basil aren't your favorite herbs, you can easily substitute with thyme, or rosemary, or leave it out entirely.

Bake up a batch and enjoy them with a lovely cup of coffee or tea.

---

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

• ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, grated

• 1 cup diced fresh strawberries

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

• ¾ cup whole milk

• 2 large eggs, divided

• 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

• Garnish: sanding sugar

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add cold butter, tossing to coat. Cover and freeze for 15 minutes. Stir in strawberries and mint.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together milk and 1 egg. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring and folding just until moistened. Turn out dough onto a heavily floured surface. Using well-floured hands, knead dough 5 to 10 times, about 1 minute. Roll dough to ¾- to 1-inch thickness. Using a bench scraper, cut the dough into triangles or use 2¾-inch round cutter, cut dough, rerolling scraps only once. Place on prepared pan.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together cream and remaining 1 egg. Brush egg wash onto scones. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired.

5. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

6. Let cool slightly; serve warm.

   Recipe by Bake from Scratch

Mickey Mouse Vanilla Cupcakes

I made these adorable cupcakes for my friend nephew’s birthday! 

 From the fluffy texture of the cupcake to the cute decorations, this cupcake was a hit! And because the cupcake is not to sweet, this fluffy vanilla frosting is the perfect pairing!

 Vanilla mix, especially boxed ones, are usually overly sweet and full of artificial flavors. I'm not completely against boxed mixes; however, when it comes to baking for someone you love, I think it is essential to go that extra mile and make it from scratch. Not only they will taste good but your loved one will taste the love and care you have put into them.

 To make these Mickey Mouse themed cupcakes, I topped the frosting with two mini Oreos. And to complete Mickey’s outfit, I took a step further and added little yellow buttons (tiny pieces of paper) to the red cupcake liners.

For any other occasion, leave the Oreos out, and you will have the perfect Vanilla frosted cupcake!

---

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcake

• 1/4 cup salted butter, softened

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 tsps vanilla extract

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsps of baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Vanilla Frosting

• 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 to 4 tbsp heavy cream

• Mini Oreos

Recipe

Vanilla Cupcake

1. Preheat to 350 degrees F.  Prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the baking powder, salt and flour. Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Beat in oil and vanilla. Turning the mixer on low, beat in the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk, and beat again until the mixture is just combined.

4. Using a small ice cream scoop, fill the liners half full.

5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool  in the pans on a wire rack.

Vanilla Frosting

1. In an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat butter and powdered sugar. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream, mix until light and fluffy.

2. Frost the cupcakes. Using Mini Oreos, place two on the frosting, side by side, to make it look like Mickey Mouse ears.

Heart Surprise Cupcakes

Valentine’s Day is only 5 days away and what a better way to show your sweetheart how much you love them than by making these cute cut out heart cupcakes.

I was inspired by the blog A Cozy Kitchen, which is one of my favorite blogs! Adrianna, not only makes the most delicious meals but also, photographs and presents them beautifully!

When I saw this cut-out heart cupcake, I knew I had to give it a try. I used her method and red velvet cupcake recipe for the cupcake.

I adapted it with my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe that is the ultimate go-to cupcake recipe! This vanilla batter creates a fluffy cupcake, that is an excellent pairing with the red velvet heart and of course, my favorite frosting of all time, cream cheese frosting.

The surprise heart will leave your loved ones speechless!

---

Ingredients

Inside Heart

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup buttermilk shaken

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 8 drops food coloring, less if using gel

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Vanilla Cupcake

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• 2 eggs

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1 1/4 cups milk

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Recipe

Inside Heart

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line the bottom of a sheet baking tray with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bow, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

3. In an electric stand-up mixer, with the paddle attachment, add the butter and sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Pour in the buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla.

4. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just combined.

5. Pour the batter into the baking tray and spread the cake batter into an even layer. Transfer to the oven to bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

6. Allow to cool completely. Stamp out hearts using a 1 1/2-inch heart cookie cutter.

Vanilla Cupcake

1. Preheat to 375 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the baking powder, salt and flour. Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Turing the mixer on low, beat in the dry ingredients. Add the milk, and beat again until the mixer is just combined.

4. Fill each cupcake tin with two tablespoons of batter, about halfway. Carefully, snuggle cut out hearts in the center of each cupcake batter, make sure to face them all the same way.

5. Transfer to the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the white cake comes out clean. Cool in the pans on the wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until combined. Carefully, add the powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream. Beat again until all combined.

2. Before frosting, it's important to give yourself an indicator to know which way to cut the cupcake. I lined them all in the same direction before frosting and then used a my sprinkle on top of the frosting to remind me which way to cut.

3. Enjoy the surprise !

Adapted from A Cozy Kitchen