11.15.2009

Stepping Out of My Kitchen: Cupcake Class at the BCAE

This past Wednesday night I helped out at Dustin's 'How to Bake the Perfect Cupcake" class at the Boston Center for Adult Education. If you know me, you know I love cupcakes, and I would never pass up an opportunity to bake and eat them for three hours. We made 13 different cupcakes and eight different frostings. Amazing, right?

The class was broken up into stations and each of the stations worked on a different cupcake and frosting. While the cupcakes were cooking, Dustin talked about different tips and answered questions.

One of my favorite tips is his use of the ice cream scoop to fill the cupcake tins. You get the same perfect amount in every cupcake without the mess you might get when using a spoon.

The best frosting of the evening was the peanut butter frosting. I included the recipe.

Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe:

  • 1 C Butter Flavored Vegetable Shortening
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 4 C Confectioners' Sugar
  • 2 T Milk
  • 1 C Peanut Butter

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and mix thoroughly.

Another fun tip I loved was using white chocolate to make spiderwebs (or other shapes depending on the season) to decorate the cupcake. Simple ideas like that really add to the presentation.

Here are a few of the sample cupcakes Dustin made. The Necco wafer flower cupcake was really cute, but my favorite was the peanut butter and strawberry jam cupcake (use jam instead of jelly because it holds up better and will not run like jelly).

If you are in Boston check out some of the other classes Dustin is teaching at the BCAE. I am looking forward to the Cupcakes & Cocktails class!

3 comments:

  1. Yum! Looks so good! I love peanut butter frosting! Can't wait to try that out myself!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. These cupcakes WERE delicious - Dustin sometimes leaves leftovers for the staff the next morning and they're always so good. Thanks!

    -Jennifer Scott
    External Affairs Manager, BCAE

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi!! I attended this class!!! Dustin is really fabulous and a great teacher. I'd loved learning from him... Look at my blog: http://valevanilla.blogspot.com

    Kisses
    VALE (from Italy)

    ReplyDelete