some-bunny needs a treat

With the easy peasy recipe below, and a bag of woolies speckled eggs, you will be well on your way to treating your loved ones with the perfect Easter cupcake!

Yellow Butter Cupcakes

From Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook
Makes 24 delish cupcakes

• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for baking pans
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-raising)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.
Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cups so that each is about two thirds full.
Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until cupcakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and allow to cool completely.

Dark Chocolate Frosting


From Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook.

• 1 slab best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon boiling water
• 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• Pinch of salt

Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Turn off heat; stir occasionally until chocolate has melted completely, about 15 minutes. Set bowl on countertop, and let chocolate cool to room temperature, 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl; stir until cocoa is dissolved.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, icing sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add melted chocolate; beat on low speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Beat in cocoa mixture. Use immediately or chill until ready to use. Bring frosting back to room temperature and beat until smooth before using.

Making my batch on Saturday ... Hoping they look just like Martha's!

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter this Sunday!*