Love Potion # 9 Cupcakes

Not as in the song but as in the recipe. Yes, there is a love potion # 9 recipe. Google it :)

I wanted to get more creative with decoration but with a sick kiddo at home I didn't have the time. But these little heart sprinklettes are cute!!

Anywho, the cupcake is a vanilla based cupcake with the following love potion ingredients - strawberry, apple, clove and basil. I added cinnamon for another taste. I did not add ginseng as I don't have any and was going to add rose water but that stuff is really strong. Next time I might consider sugared rose petals. That should work!

I was afraid after looking at the ingredients that it might taste awful, as you probably did too. However, it is actually good! You just have to be careful about HOW you incorporate the ingredients. You can definitely taste the clove and strawberry which is nice together.

The buttercream is a vanilla bean buttercream.

You're suppose to make the love potion and give it to the person you want to fall in love with you. I don't think my cupcakes can do that for you but, maybe you'll fall in love with them? :)

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercreme

Doesn't that look yummy? For anyone who likes strawberries this is the cupcake bomb! Although with the recipe I don't taste a whole lot of lemon in it which is probably nice. It is slightly tart, however. I can't remember where I got this recipe from, but the buttercreme was a nightmare. No matter how much confectioner's sugar I put into the mix it would still be loose and runny. So I switched gears and pulled out a tub of vanilla buttercreme I had made last week (it turned out awesome) and added strawberry jam and some lemon juice. VIOLA! That worked. I believe from this point on I will not stray from my own buttercreme recipe and will just add to the vanilla base what I want. I thought it might be fun to try other people's recipes for buttercreme but it turned out to be a not so good idea. Not saying other people don't have good buttercreme / icing recipes, just the one I selected wasn't as good as some others. Plus the jam (I recommend jelly next time) has small pieces of strawberry in it that adds to the buttercreme. This one might be good with a straight lemon buttercreme but I was afraid it would be too sour.

What's Coming Up!!

I try to do a cupcake a week...but sometimes life gets in the way. Boo life! So this is what I have planned (in the next few days) and hope to get them up to you soon!

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercreme
Dannen O'Donnells with Salted Caramel and crushed pretzels
Mayan Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Cocoa Buttercreme
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Next week will be Pumpkin Cheesecake 'Cupcakes'
Tinkerbell Cupcakes the following week (for my daughter's birthday party)
Amnesia SparkleCakes Cupcakes the week following
and something Halloweenish the last week of October.

If you have a request, let me know either by the blog or email Cupcakeables@ymail.com

You can look at my list on the first blog or come up with something all your own :D