Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes!

What's better than a sticky, sweet mess in the shape of a roll? How about a sticky, sweet mess in the shape of a cupcake?

Being fall, I decided it was time to start with some winter-type baking. And the first thing that came to mind was cinnamon buns....but everybody makes cinnamon buns, they're nothing special (However, they're still delicious) So for a potluck lunch I recently attended, I gave the basic cinnamon bun a slight twist. And it was quite  a hit. A new name for this creation is still up in the air. The debate is between "cinnafins" (a cinnamon bun muffin) and "cinnacups" (obviously a cinnamon bun cupcake). But besides not having an official name, this dessert is pretty simple and very tasty.

Now I'm not sure but I have reason to believe you could use any cinnamon bun recipe and just put each bun in a cupcake liner to achieve this dessert, but nonetheless, I shall share the recipe that I used.

 Cinnamon Buns:

2 cups milk

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons salt

6 1/2 cups flour

2 eggs

1/4 melted butter

Filling:

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons cinnamon

2 cups finely chopped apples

*In  small saucepan, warm milk to 110 F, Pour milk into a large bowl and dissolve in yeast and sugar.

*Add salt and 2 cups of flour, beat for two minutes.

*Beat in eggs and butter, stir in remaining flour.

**I wasn't able to mix in all the flour without kneading it by hand on the counter.**

*After kneading for about 5 minutes, Put dough back in bowl, cover with a towel and let sit for 40 minutes (I may have been impatient and only let it sit for 25 minutes....)

**Now would be the time to make the filling: mix sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and apples in a small bowl.**

*Roll dough into a large rectangle and brush with butter. Sprinkle filling over top.

*Roll the dough into a log and cut into equal pieces about one inch thick.

*Place the pieces in a lined cupcake pan; cover and let sit for another 40 minutes (25 seems to work here too).

*Heat the oven to 350 F. Before putting the pans in the oven, brush butter over the tops of the cupcakes.

*Bake for 20 minutes.

 Apple Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons & 1 teaspoon apple juice

*mix together and drizzle over cupcakes once baked.

Yum, yum, yum! They were amazing! Hope you're enjoying the chilly fall weather by baking up a storm :)

Take care,

Sydney <3

Snicker-My-Doodle

You know it's totally necessary to make a cookie when the name makes you laugh.  Snickerdoodle. How can you read that and not smile even a little bit? Now the belief is that "Snickerdoodle" is from the German word Schneckennudeln (which oddly translates to "snail noodles") And after reading that the cookie now sounds less appealing, but nonetheless,  I made them anyways.

And I'm very happy I did! I'm not very good at explaining how things taste, but I think I nailed it with these cookies: Heaven rolled in cinnamon. Yup, that's pretty dead on.

And because these were just so darn amazing, I shall share the recipe with you! :)

Snickerdoodles

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanillla extract
• 3 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder

*Pre-heat oven to 375

*Beat butter on high for 30 seconds. Add  the first measurement of sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt: beat until combined.

*Beat in eggs and vanilla

*Beat in as much of the flour as possible, stirring in the rest by hand.

**Now here it says to chill for one hour....but I'm impatient and did not do it and they turned out amazingly.**

*combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. After scooping dough into 1/4" balls, roll them in the mixture and place on cookie sheet.

*Bake for 10-12 minutes, let cool on sheet for a few minutes after removing from oven and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Are they not the cutest things ever? Yes, yes they are.

Now I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but October is National Cookie Month! Which means I feel the need to bake lots of cookies....honestly though I always feel that way. Now I just have a reason. So do us all a favor and get up off that couch your sitting on and please, go bake some cookies :)

Have a fantastic evening,
Sydney

Ps. That "snowball of posts" I promised you last week? well....my computer decided to go dead on me but it has been replaced with a new one, so I PROMISE they will come now!

*I got this recipe from the "Christmas Cookies 2011" Magazine. Buy it. It's awesome!