Lemon Curd Filled Blackberry Cupcakes

I almost forgot to post about these!  The holiday baking and planning has consumed all other thoughts.  Surprising though, seeing as how I was SO obsessed with how the color on these cupcakes came out.  Obsessed.  They are such a rich, deep shade of  purple/blue that you'd be SURE that there was food coloring involved in the batter. I mean the batter looks dyed right?

But I assure you that there was none.  Just perfectly ripe blackberries that made perfectly plump cupcakes.

That were immediately cored.

And filled with yummyness.  Oh, and the contrast between the blue of the berries and the yellow of the lemon curd?  So pretty.

These were part of the dessert table I blogged about two weeks ago.  Because of the unique color, people actually thought they were chocolate unless they took the time to read the signs. (The adorable signs made my pandippo that you can still download here.)

I used purple polka dotted liners to match the theme and they were placed on top of bright blue jelly bellys.

The recipe I used was a modification of the Lemon Blueberry cupcakes that I made a few months ago.  Birthday Girl had gotten to eat those, and requested the same for her party.  Unfortunately, blueberries are out of season and were nowhere to be found.  So I made do.  Although similar, the taste of the two is very distinct.  Give them both a try, I say.  :)

Blackberry Sauce

1 conatiner washed blackberries
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons water

Directions:
1. Take blackberries and place them in a saucepan with sugar and water over medium heat.
2.  Stir blackberries occasionally to prevent from sticking to pan, with a potato masher, mash berries until mixture starts becoming a sauce.    
3. Puree blueberries in blender.
4. Strain to remove large pieces and set aside to cool. 


Blackberry Cupcakes
makes 12, bake at 375* for 18 minutes

3/4 c flour
3/4 c sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter 
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup blackberry sauce
1.5/4 c buttermilk

Directions: 
1. Beat together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a stand mixer.
2. In a separate bowl combine both flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a third bowl or cup combine sauce and buttermilk.
4. Add flour mixture and sauce mixture to the butter/eggs mixture in five additions, alternating between the two, starting and ending with flour.
5.  Scoop batter into your muffin pan and bake.
6. Core cupcakes and fill with lemon curd (see below)

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
1 stick butter
1 cream cheese brick
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:
1. Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy and smooth.
2. Add lemon zest.
3. Add 1/2 a tablespoon lemon juice.  Add 1/2 a cup powdered sugar.  Alternate the two until you get the desired consistency and flavor.

Lemon Curd recipe can be found in this post here.

xoxo,
Anna

Welcome to Candyland

You know what's super easy to make?  Those gorgeous candy covered pretzels above.  So easy, that I can show you how to make them in one collaged picture.

Ingredients: 
Pretzels (either rods or bows will do)
Colored Candy Melts
Optional:  Sprinkles  (Because who doesn't like some added pretty?)

Directions:
1. Melt candy melts in microwave in a glass bowl.
2. Dip pretzels in bowl, tap off excess candy and place on parchment paper.
3. Optional: Toss some sprinkles on top for good measure.
4. Pop in freezer or fridge for 5 minutes to harden.
5. Done!

What are these good for?  For EVERYTHING.  True story.  The salt and sweet combo makes you never want to stop eating them. I'm surprised I'm not eating some right now.  I made purple rods and blue pretzel bows. What for?  A blue and purple themed dessert table.

Bff called me a few months ago with a special request.  His niece was turning 15, he loves and spoils her like crazy, and she wanted a dessert table -- would I help?  Of course I would.  So I spent my time planning the table, he spent his time shopping for ridiculously cute candy and cupcake themed party decor.

We used all glass jars and trays  and filled them with blue and purple candy.  Bff made centerpieces with adorable lollipops.  We tied ribbons and bows to anything we could.

Then we used polka dots and stripes throughout the table.  Especially on the place cards and signs.  Oh those place cards?  Yeah, aren't they awesome and adorable?  Thought so.  A big, BIG thanks to Pam who blogs all things art and fashion at Just Pandippo.  She made the banner I use for this site but was also kind enough to take time out of her busy day to make these for us.  And she didn't even get a cupcake or cookie in return!!!  That's friendship.   And as an extra special Halloween treat, if you're looking for some blue and purple place cards/signs she's willing to give them to you.  :)  Just head over to her post here and download them for free!  Thanks Pam!   (Also, these actually print out teal, my printer colors were off and I didn't have time to redo it.  Oops.)

I also baked a little.  I made lemon filled blackberry cupcakes and my awesome peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  The cupcakes are new.  That's not even a good look at them is it?  It's just a sneak peak.  :)

Did I mention we had another smaller side table too? We had to because we had a Chocolate Fountain!  It was so messy.  Bff got chocolate all over his dress shirt b/c they didn't secure it properly before turning it on.  The clean up was a pain, but it was worth it.  Especially if you got to make yummy little creations like that faux raspberry s'more down below.  That one was mine.  I ate it.  Twice.  Cinnamon graham cracker, chocolate dipped marshmallow and a chocolate dipped raspberry on top.  You know you want. (Do you see the heart in the chocolate on that other marshmallow by the way?  <3 cute="cute" p="p" so="so">

And then for good measure, we also had an ice cream float station with the best little sprinkle cups EVER.  I got kind of obsessed with them and took a bunch home.  I don't know what I am going to do with them yet... but be assured that you will see them again.  We had three kinds of soda to choose from. Whatever float you wanted, I served with a smile.   You will also see that I made some chocolate truffles.  Half were rolled in cocoa powder and half were rolled in graham crackers. They probably look familiar.  I've blogged about them before.  

And Oh my God the cake right?  My friend Jimmy made the cake, and BFF directed the decoration for it.  Jimmy is the same one who made this Hollywood cake for his own Birthday back in April.    Amazing right?  Two layers, two different flavors.

I had helped out with a pink bridal shower dessert table earlier this summer and was excited to do this (mostly) on my own.  It was a lot of fun.  A lot of work.. but a lot of fun.  The gorgeous birthday girl was very thankful  and gracious (so unusual for a teenager) that we spent the time to make her big day special.  

I had a blast.  And I might have had fairy wings on.  (Hey it was supposed to be a costume party, but apparently only I got the memo.) And a necklace with REAL sprinkles inside.  A candy fairy maybe?

Have a safe, sweet and happy Halloween! 

Recipe for the chocolate truffles..

Recipe for the peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Recipe for the cupcakes.

You can buy the chocolate fountain and chocolate candy we used online at Sephra.

Download Pandippo's awesome placement cards.

xoxo,

Anna