Vanilla Cupcakes with White Chocolate Pumpkin Ganache Filling and Brown Sugar Frosting

Holy moly, that's a long title.

These cupcakes are worth every word, though.  They deserve it.  They're fluffy, light cupcakes with a creamy, chocolatey, pumpkiny filling and a thick frosting that has a crunch to it.  The textures and flavors are very complimentary to each other.

Vanilla Poké Ball Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

Hey guys!

The Internet has been down on campus and it's really frustrating.  It's finally back though so I'm a happy camper now.

Okay, so as I was sitting in my Digital Media class, my professor was talking about blogs and then he started talking about podcasts.  After that my mind started racing with ideas.  I was like "Hey, I'm gonna make a podcast for my blog!"  So my plan now is to get a good microphone and start a What Katie's Baking podcast.  What do you guys think?

I could talk about these awesome Poké Ball cupcakes I made.  We had a community builder, which is an event (a movie this time)  for our hall that everyone goes to, so my RA asked me to make cupcakes since I'm "Baking Katie."  That's really my nickname now, isn't that silly?  Anyway, our hall theme is Pokémon so my job was to make Poké Ball cupcakes and I was so proud of how cute they were!  And they tasted even better.  :)  I made 41 and they were all gone by the time the movie was over. I'm usually kind of wary about making plain vanilla cupcakes because they're so delicate and hard to mess up, but these turned out so well.  I  definitely recommend this recipe.

Vanilla Poké Ball Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting
Adapted from: All Recipes
*Note that my step-by-step pictures will not have the same amount of ingredients as the following recipe because I had to triple it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk
• Frosting: the BEST white chocolate frosting
• 
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.
4. Frost with white chocolate frosting.

White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Thank goodness this no sweets week is coming to an end. 

I will admit that I thought it was going to be harder, especially since I've baked 3 times this week, but it actually hasn't been that bad.  I've felt pretty good!  I've even been exercising this week, which lately I've not been able to motivate myself to do.  So... even though it probably won't last, I'm not taking the motivation for granted.

Anyway, I made some cookies!  I'm a sucker for white chocolate, and these have white chocolate in them so I was disappointed that I had to pass them up.  Hopefully there will be some left for Sunday!  My neighbor came over and had one... and then came back again for another one, so I'm assuming they're good!

Anywayyy.... I'm leaving tomorrow and I'll be back Monday the 1st, but I'll have some delicious guest posts for you in between. 

Do you guys go through spurts of motivation to work out? What do you do to push through the times when you aren't motivated?

White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Adapted from: Southern Living

****I cut the following recipe in half and got about 20 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked quick cooking oats
• 1 cup (12 ounces) white chocolate morsels
• 1 cup (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

• 1.  Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
• 2.  Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in oats, morsels, and pecans. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.
• 3.  Bake at 350° for 12 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Cinnamon Roll Balls

Okay, so remember how I told you guys I made my dad my grandma's "coffee cake" (aka cinnamon rolls) for Father's Day?

Well, I ended up burning them while I was writing that post!

How sad is that? I was really upset, especially since I worked so hard to do something special for my dad.

I haaattee when my surprises are ruined!  I put all that time and effort into making something so perfect for somebody and then it gets ruined!  Such a bummer!

It's okay, though.  You know why?  When life hands you burnt cinnamon rolls, go with it.

The centers of mine were still okay, so I made cinnamon roll balls.  Like cake balls, only cinnamon rolls!

So yummy!

Have you guys ever accidentally ruined a surprise?  What did you do about it?

Cinnamon Roll Balls

Ingredients:
2-3 large cinnamon rolls
1/8 cup water
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 cups white chocolate
2 teaspoons oil

Directions:
1.  Process cinnamon rolls in a food processor until small crumbs are formed.
2.  Add water and powdered sugar.  *Add more water if needed.  Should be a doughy consistency.  (The water and powdered sugar are to make an 'icing' flavor.)
3.  Roll into 1 inch balls and place in freezer until semi-sold.
4.  Melt white chocolate and oil.
5.  Dip balls into chocolate. Chill until the chocolate has hardened.
*Optional: Sprinkle with cinnamon.

White Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

Are you guys excited for the 4th of July?

I am, and I've got lots of goodies for you from Edible Gifts Plus!

FUN, FESTIVE AND PATRIOTIC GIFTS AND GOODIES
FOR THE 4^TH OF JULY
 

Oreo Stars and Stripes Cookies ($1.95 each) and Oreo Party Stars Cookies ($1.95 each) make for great treats as they are America’s favorite cookie dipped in chocolate and decorated with patriotic stars and stripes designs.

 
 

 

Cake Pops($2 each)  are also an excellent and fun addition to any gathering, with a rich rudgy double chocolate cake mixed with just the right amount of cream cheese filling and drenched in white chocolate or milk chocolate coating. Beautiful designs top these mouthwatering treats off.

 

 

The Big Patriotic Heart Cookie($35.50) and Patriotic Giant Fortune Cookie ($29.50) are larger than life goodies that everyone can share. The Big Patriotic Heart Cookie measures a memorable 9-10”. The Patriotic Giant Fortune Cookie weighs in at over one pound and is nearly the size of a football.

 

 

Weighing over 1.5lbs, the Jumbo Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Apple with Patriotic Stripes ($25.95) is a sweet and delicious choice for sharing at gatherings or for sending to a loved one.

 

 

Whether they’re near or far, honor your favorite military member with the American Dream Lollipop Bouquet ($41.95) or the Happy 4^th of July Patriotic Cookie Bouquet ($53.95). The American Dream Lollipop Bouquet features a festive collection of hard candy lollipops, while the Happy 4^th of July Patriotic Cookie Bouquet features hand-decorated red, white and blue cookies with your personal message displayed on the center cookie.

 

 

Don’t forget to thank the host! Do so with the Grill Master Cookie Bouquet ($53.95), featuring delicious cookies hand-decorated as everyone’s favorite barbecue items and with your personal message displayed on the center cookie.

While you're waiting for your yummy gifts to arrive, you should make these brownies.  

Kellen was coming back from visiting home and I wanted to make him something special.  He's been wanting brownies for the past couple of weeks and I wanted to make him brownies, but I've already put two brownie recipes on here, so I had to make them different.  That's when I started brainstorming.  Since he loves cookie dough ice cream, why wouldn't he love cookie dough brownies?

Well, I guess he did because he said they're the "best brownies he's ever had".  Pretty tough to beat if you ask me!  They aren't as time consuming as I thought either.  Perfect brownies.  

White Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies
Adapted from: One Ordinary Day

1 c. butter

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa

2  c. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

Prepare 13×9″ baking pan by laying a piece of foil in the bottom and up the sides.  Spray with cooking spray or butter the foil.

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a medium saucepan; add cocoa, stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat and cool slightly.  Add sugar, salt, eggs, and vanilla; beat with a spoon until combined.  Add flour and baking powder; mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread batter into pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow brownies to cool completely before moving on to the next step.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Filling: 
(adapted from Taste of Home)

1 c. butter, softened

1 c. packed light brown sugar  

1/2 c. granulated sugar

4 Tbsp. milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. white chocolate chips

Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl and cream together.  Add flour and stir until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread in an even layer on top of cooled brownies.  Chill before adding chocolate glaze.

Chocolate Glaze:

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Tbsp. Crisco shortening

Melt chocolate with shortening and stir until smooth.  Spread over chilled cookie dough layer.

P.S. I got my hair done!

One Bowl Cranberry-White Chocolate Orange Cookies

I got a precious new kitten; his name is Francis.

It broke my heart taking him away from his family, so I knew I had to make him feel extra special when he came home with me...

...which is why I made him a house!!

To find instructions on how to make the house, click here.

I also made him some milk and cookies... but he only liked the milk. ;)
These cookies are amazing though!! Seriously good.  Maybe even my new favorite... the different flavors all go together so well.  I was looking for a "one bowl" recipe and these are what I found.  So they're obviously easy, since they're one bowl, but the taste is out of this world!!

One Bowl Cranberry-White Chocolate Orange Cookies
King Arthur Flour
Yield: about 4 1/2 dozen cookies.

1 cup (2 sticks, 8 ounces) unsalted butter, very soft
1 cup (7 1/2 ounces) packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon orange oil (4 to 5 drops) (can substitute with almond!)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 3/4 cups (11 5/8 ounces) All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups (5 1/4 ounces) dried cranberries
1 cup (3 3/4 ounces) chopped pecans or walnuts

Place the very soft butter in a medium-large mixing bowl. Add the sugars, salt, vanilla, and orange oil, and stir well. Add the egg and stir until well blended. Add the baking soda and flour, mixing until blended. Stir in the chips, cranberries, and nuts.

Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto light-colored baking sheets. Flatten into disks, using gentle pressure from your fingers.

Bake the cookies in a preheated 375°F oven for 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms and edges are lightly browned; the tops shouldn't brown, they should still be slightly gooey. Remove the cookies from the oven, let them rest on the pan for 5 minutes, then slide them onto a rack to cool completely.