Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Failure and A Success

I have been looking forward to trying this scrumptious looking recipe, from the October Country Living, for weeks now. Yesterday was the day! I got Emily all dolled up in her apron and we set to work.

I decided to make it into cupcakes since I needed to deliver a dessert and wanted a few leftover. WHAT happened?!?!?!? This is what I pulled out of the oven:

They would not come out of the muffin tin in one piece, so I let Emily eat one and I tasted it and the rest are history.

But, I had tried a new icing recipe which DID turn out and I still needed a dessert. I did not have any more shortening, so could not try this same recipe again. I did a quick search and found this recipe - I made half and even reduced the milk because it seemed runny (also a problem with the first recipe).

Here was my one success in the whole affair - discovering a delicious and beautiful new frosting!

Cinnamon Frosting

2 c. powdered sugar
2 1/2 T. milk
1 1/2 T. melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together and frost cake - this makes enough to frost one 8x8 cake.

I also love the color of this icing! This suggestion from Country Living did work. Use one drop of red food coloring for each five drops of yellow food coloring. Such a lovely Harvest color!

Here is my finished cake ready to be delivered tomorrow:

Note: the chocolate maple leaf on top has been in my freezer for a while, but it seemed the perfect chance to use it up. I melted chocolate chips and spread the melted chocolate on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Place in the freezer to harden. Use a cookie cutter to cut out a shape and peel off of the waxed paper!

If anyone has a tried and true spice cake recipe - I'd love to get a copy of it!

11 comments:

Wendi said...

Spice cake is a favorite of my husbands. I have never had success with it from scratch. I am still in the process of trying different recipes. If I find a keeper I will pass it on to you.

Darcy said...

The chocolate maple leaf is the perfect touch!

*carrie* said...

So pretty, Monica! Bummer about the first set of cakes, though.

I'm delivering a meal tonight, too, so the oven will be busy today!

Tamara said...

Our wedding cake was a spice cake with apricot jam between the layers. I think it was from a Duncan Hines mix, but it was delicious!

Katy said...

Sorry about your first recipe...we have all had some of those happen to us! LOL But your cake looks fantastic!!! Great job!

Amy said...

I have had that happen with cupcakes before and I had no idea what I ever did wrong. The worst is cleaning up the kitchen and having nothing to eat :(

Your cake turned out beautiful and I love the maple leaf. Very cute!!

Anonymous said...

Monica,I just bought the new Taste of Home because of the Spice Cake recipe and Carrot Muffins with Cream Cheese filling. I will let you know if either of them are a success. Did you cut the maple leaf after the chocolate had hardened? It is so pretty. The receiver of the cake will be blessed, but you will be as well, as it is better to give than to receive. Blessings on your day!

Arlene said...

I just recently made this spice cake, and it was DELICIOUS! I added 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, and some nutmeg, as well. I baked it in two 9" rounds for about 30 mins (make sure to place a round of parchment paper on the bottom) and used my mom's cream cheese frosting (I can email you the recipe, if you want). Oh, and I just used one (reg size) can of pumpkin since that's about two cups.

Anonymous said...

Monica! I could cry! I just saw that I am on your blogroll! I am so SO honored. I seriously am inspired by you every.single.day. and I am so blessed that you have linked to me!

About the muffins: SO sorry. I have been there! But the frosting sounds yummy and the maple leaf is a DARLING idea I will be trying!!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Thanks for your comments and recipe ideas!

Yes, I cut out the maple leaf shape after the chocolate had hardened. Just peel it off of the waxed paper after cutting.

Stacey - you made me smile! :) I'm so thrilled that you canned apples and they turned out so wonderful!

Melissa said...

My mom still tells the story of how she made her first spice cake at the age of 9. She put in 1 CUP of CLOVES instead of 1 Teaspoon. Needless to say, it wasn't edible, and she's never lived it down!

BTW, your cake is beautiful!