Butterscotch Crumpcakes

Over the holiday weekend I went on a baking frenzy! I made a sweet potato danish braid, chocolate cookies, lemon curd and cupcakes! The cupcakes were a special request from my brother as a belated birthday present. Since I didn't give him anything but a hug and a "Happy Birthday" I obliged. He is not a fan of icing of any kind so he asked for plain vanilla cupcakes. I have made Chockylit's recipe and while I liked them, my taste tester found them extremely sweet. My go to vanilla cupcake recipe comes from Williams-Sonoma Cakes book.

While getting the ingredient together to make the cupcakes I just couldn't help thinking about what could go on top of them. I know my brother loves Tastykake Krumpets so I decided to translate them into a cupcake.

Vanilla Cupcakes
Adapted from Butter Cake recipe in Williams Sonoma Cakes book
makes 12 - 14 cupcakes

1 1/4 cups plus 2 tbsp cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
seeds from 1/2 of vanilla pod
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

1. Preheat oven to 350. Place cupcake papers into pans.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
3. Place the butter and sugar in your bowl and cream ingredients until light and airy, about 2 minutes.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly before adding the next. Stop the mixer and scrap down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds.
5. Add one-third of the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Next add one-half of the milk and mix until incorporated. Continue adding the ingredients in the same order, ending with the last third of the dry ingredients
4. Scoop batter 2/3 full into cupcake cups and bake for 15-20 minutes or until tester comes out clean and the cupcakes are golden brown.

Butterscotch Icing
from CDKitchen
makes 3 cups

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Melt butter in saucepan. Add brown sugar; bring to a boil over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Stir in milk; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Pour mixture into standing mixer bowl and cool to lukewarm.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency. Beat until thick enough to spread.

I dipped the tops of the cupcakes into the butterscotch icing and let them set for 15 minutes. Make sure the cupcakes are room temperature when you dip them or the icing will melt.

END VERDICT - 4 1/2 Stars

These cupcakes are FREAKING awesome. I think they taste as close to a Krumpet as possible. This is how good they are: My brother picked up his gift (8 cupcakes...My Stinkie and I had a couple and he ate a couple before leaving the house) Sunday night 9:00. By Monday noon I received a phone call from my mother telling me how greedy my brother is BECAUSE THEY WERE GONE. Tell you alot huh?

Until next time,

Happy Smacking!