It's Vanilla Cupcake Day...

Yes - November 10th is "Vanilla Cupcake Day"

That's Naked Vanilla Cupcake Day For Me!

There are so many kinds of cupcakes out there, many very fancy,

but sometimes you just want a plain old vanilla cupcake.

No froo-froo involved. No sprinkles or glitter, no fondant or frosting ...

just a yummy "naked vanilla cupcake".

Celebrate the day and treat yourself to a not-too-sweet one...

with a cup of coffee perhaps. 

Pick one up at your local bakery or make one yourself. 

Here is an easy recipe. 

Makes 1 dozen

1/2 cup plus 1 tbl butter (soft)

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 1/2 tea. baking powder

1 3/4 cups plus 2 tbl. cake flour

1/2 tea salt

3 egg whites

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 tea. pure vanilla extract

• Whip butter with sugar until fluffy. Sift dry ingredients and set aside.
• In another bowl, whip egg whites and gradually add buttermilk. Combine.
• Go back to butter mixture and intermittently add buttermilk with flour, stopping every once in a while to scrape down the sides. Finish by mixing in vanilla. Pour batter into lined muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Stay Cozy

and enjoy your treat...

Carrie

They're Back......

 Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars -  A blondie dotted with white chocolate and cranberries

                                               with a slight hint of orange.

I'm not sure how you feel about these sweet treats - but I always look forward to 

seeing them show up on the deli shelf in Starbucks each holiday season. 

I have seen so many people that have duplicated the recipe and they really look 

delicious and so close to the original bars.

Below is just one recipe to try if you want to try making them at home.

 As for me, I will continue to treat myself here and there throughout the season. 

 It might be too dangerous for me to have an entire pan at home :)

Stay Cozy...

Carrie

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Ingredients

Blondie Layer:

• 3/4 cup 1 1/2 sticks salted butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 6 ounces white baking chocolate , coarsely chopped

Frosting:

• 1 package (8 ounces cream cheese, softened)
• 1 cup powdered sugar , sifted
• 6 ounces white baking chocolate , melted
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries , coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the blondie layer: In a medium bowl, melt butter for one minute in the microwave or until melted; stir in brown sugar. Pour the butter and sugar into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Use an electric mixer to beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate (batter will be thick).
3. Spread the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost brownies. Sprinkle with chopped cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Let the frosting set (speed this up by throwing them into the fridge) then cut into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.