Master Baker #2: [Easter Candy]

There’s something about funfetti cake mix that brings people together. Even the most hard nosed anti-cake mix-ers will agree. Am I right? I think it was one of the first baking bonding moments I had with Nikki, our esteemed Master Baker hostess, and at that moment I knew that we were confectionately connected.

One of my favorite childhood memories was baking my funfetti cake mix birthday cake with my mom. I am sure I got sick off the batter many times! Hey, its hard to refrain from licking your cake batter fingers when you are 9 year old! Oh who am I kidding…? I still lick my fingers. LOL

For this challenge, I knew I wanted to bring some of that nostalgia back when creating this cupcake esp after learning Master Baker April ingredient was easter candy. One of my favorite non-chocolate candies are jelly beans but not just any jelly beans… they have to be Jelly Bellly jelly beans. Call me a jelly bean snob but I won’t eat any other jelly beans. LOL. I may be in the minority when I say that the buttered popcorn is my favorite.

In an attempt to reminisce about my childhood and incorporate jelly beans all in a cupcake package…

Faux-fetti Jelly Bean Cupcakes w/ Marshmallow Buttercream frosting

Click image to enlarge
(Recipe adapted from Cooks.com| photos from me!)

Makes about 20 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

For cupcakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup miniature jelly beans, cut in half (I used Jelly Belly variety pack)
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

For frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow cream
1 cup powder sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1-2 drops green food coloring

INSTRUCTIONS

To make cupcakes—
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with liners.

In small bowl toss jelly beans with 2 tablespoons of the flour. Set aside.

In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, cream cheese and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add remaining flour, baking powder and salt. Blend well. Stir jelly beans into batter.

Spoon into cupcake liners. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool upright in pan 10 minutes.

To make frosting—
Beat butter in a medium bowl with mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in marshmallow cream. When well blended, beat in powder sugar and vanilla. Increase speed to high and beat for 3-4 minutes until frosting is fluffy.

To assemble cupcake—
Frost cupcake. Toss coconut and food coloring in a ziplock bag and sprinkle each cupcake with the desired amount of “grass”. Garnish with 3 jelly beans and fondant bunnies.

Wanna know how I made the bunnies? Just ask… Its so easy!

ENJOY!

Husband rating: N/A

Wifey rating: A/A-
The “cake” was a little more dense than I prefer but biting into the jelly bean innards is yummy. I really liked the frosting and licked my fingers more than once.

Other rating: A-
My little brother loved the frosting but thought the “cake” was good but not his favorite.

23 Comments »

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My boys would probably love them. However, I am slightly repulsed and intrigued at the same time. Im not big on jelly beans.

Comment by slush — March 26, 2008 #
SLUSH, bahaha. I think T shares your sentiment and thats why there is no husband rating on this one.

Comment by CB — March 26, 2008 #
OMG I swear I was going to do this exact same cupcake! But my jelly beans disapeared when I went to put them in, I was so sad. Glad to know they turn out though, I was afraid they would burn in the cake becuase of the dense sugar.

Comment by BBKiddo — March 26, 2008 #
Sooooooo, how’d “you” make the bunnies? Super cute by the way…

Comment by NinaBeth — March 26, 2008 #
BB, really? GMTA! You should still make your version too. I wanna see!

Comment by CB — March 26, 2008 #
NINA, thanky. about the bunnies… how much is it worth to you? haha.

Comment by CB — March 26, 2008 #
omg I love the buttered popcorn Jelly Bellys as well! Looks great.

Comment by Jen — March 26, 2008 #
Ok, I’m gagging over the thought of popcorn JBs in cupcakes. Actually, I think they are gross no matter what. Back around Nikki’s bday I was trying to figure out how I could fake the funfetti. Aside from adding sprinkles I couldn’t think of anything. This is a neat & flavorful way. I might cut the JB’s into 4ths though just to spread them out between bites.

Comment by zebe912 — March 26, 2008 #
I love those bunnies…!! And what a novel idea for the beans in the cuppies.

Comment by Mara — March 26, 2008 #
ooooh so colorful and jelly-bean happy!!! and yes, “jelly-bean happy” is a legitimate adjective. I love it!

Comment by Allison — March 26, 2008 #
CB rocks my socks!

Comment by nikki57 — March 26, 2008 #
JEN, w00t! Another buttered popcorn lover!

ZEBE, boo. buttered popcorn hater! I thought about cutting the jelly beans smaller too but I got a little lazy. Not sure if I could do fourths… maybe 3rds though?

MARA, thanky! I think they turned out pretty darn cute

ALLISON, oh I agree. jelly-bean happy is definitely a legit phrase. I think I will steal. haha.

NIKKI, YRMSO. IWMBNB.

Comment by CB — March 26, 2008 #
These should win for cute festiveness alone lol annd butter popcorn is my favorite jelly belly too!

Comment by Kristina — March 26, 2008 #
KRISTINA, aawww thanks! You hear that Nikki?? haha. w00t another butter popcorn lover!

Comment by CB — March 26, 2008 #
aw man, I was also thinking the same thing for MBer this month. Looks even better than I imagined it though. Great work CB!

Comment by Andrea — March 27, 2008 #
ANDREA, GMTA! too bad I beat ya! haha. but honestly you can still use it as a base and get creative with it, right?

Comment by CB — March 27, 2008 #
I wish I could bake right now because those cupcakes look seriously fantastic! Jelly beans are my favorite!

Comment by Mary — March 27, 2008 #
MARY, thanky! Give me them a try and let me know what you think!

Comment by CB — March 27, 2008 #
These look especially adorable! I love the topping as well. It reminds me of my easter baskets as a child!

Comment by Gretchen Noelle — March 28, 2008 #
GRETCHEN, aawww thanks! I love when cupcakes can make ppl nostalgic. It adds a great dimension to the dessert.

Comment by CB — March 28, 2008 #
[...] Jelly Bean Cupcakes - Iheartcuppycakes - CB [...]

Pingback by Round Up and Winner: Master Baker March « Masterbaker’s Weblog — April 28, 2008 #
Ooh! I am VERY intrigued by these! So saving in the “to try” folder.

Comment by Kristen — April 29, 2008 #
KRISTEN, awesome. definitely let me know what you think!

Comment by CB — April 29, 2008 #