Taste test

The results are finally in!

Unfortunately, like I told you in my last posting on Saturday, my taste testers disappeared on me! Who gives up free cupcakes?!  Well, their loss was certainly my "gain"...if you catch what I'm saying. At least I didn't make the Coconut Buttercream icing I was going to test on the cupcakes.  I don't think I could handle another pound of butter...or two...or more...cause "these hips don't lie".  And I'm not Shakira.

BUT I DO SPEAK SPANISH!

Does that count?

No?

Butter. I mean bummer.

But seriously though. I promised you descriptions, pictures and results.

Here we go.

First of all, you may remember I was using coconut to bring a rich flavor to these cupcakes.  Well, the coconut milk didn't do much for adding their distinct flavor but it sure did give a rich and velvety texture. That is when I decided to go ahead with a whipped butterscotch topping and try them out in three different ways. 

Buttery yellow cake with whipped Butterscotch topping. Even in this "plain Jane" look...SO YUM!

...

Next up, I added caramel to the topping. This certainly took it up a notch in flavor!

Oh, so ooey and gooey.  Not the prettiest I've ever made but no regrets. None.

...

And lastly, I added coarsely chopped PECANS and finely chopped PECANS

(yes, yes, I know I misspelled peacans on the last post)

S.C.R.U.M.P.T.I.O.U.S.

...

The truth is I did end up having six taste testers (which included myself). They all just happened to be in my  family but they are used to me asking for the complete truth and these are the results:

1. Plain Jane Butterscotch:  Delicious. Liked by all. No complaints.
2. Caramel Love: Definitely a WIN! After tasting this one, nobody else wanted a "plain" one.
3. Pecan Nut:  I was surprised that only two liked this and two completely rejected.  Both of the ones who didn't want the nuts said the exact same thing on completely separate occasions. They mentioned they needed to be "in the mood" for the texture of the pecans. The two that did like the final addition mentioned that it tasted like Butter Pecan ice cream, which is the flavor I was going for. The last two testers were indifferent.

Huh. Very interesting.

So, thank you for reading and if you don't mind too much let me know what you think.

Happy Baking!

Testers are M.I.A

You may be thinking that I've forgotten about you AND the pictures AND the results of this week's test kitchen.  I have not. The truth is my biased taste testers are missing.  We simply were unable to meet up to slowly devour eat and critique my latest scrumptious goodness.

I will tell you that my family had some samples.

And in the words of the youngest girl, "Mommy, these are the best ever!"

SCORE!

I have another baking project today and if my testers don't make an appearance, we are going to have cupcakes coming out of every corner of this house!

I'll be back with pictures. Promise.

In the meantime...Happy Baking,

Today's Test Kitchen

I was getting ready to log onto Simply Divine's facebook page and let everyone know I am working on a new flavor combination. When I remembered that I've been staying off of the facebook screen sucking addiction, I remembered Amy.  But not for the reasons you think...nor the reason I might be adding some "Not Me Monday" posts.

So Misty and I decided it would be best to go dancing and leave facebook to those not afraid of the tide.

Ok, no. Not really. But those were some fun plugs! So check out those links when you get a chance.

Seriously though. I was going to post on facebook and thought to myself, "Well then, what is the real purpose of your blog? Post there you silly baking-because-it's-raining fool!"

Ok. I'm actually not sure if I know how to be serious. I do try.

Anyhoo.

I am working on developing a new cupcake.  So far, even though the cupcake is delicious and moist and YUM, it does not have enough of the coconut flavor I was working with.  If you watch Cupcake Wars, Florian Bellanger would be saying to me:

[frenchie, french accent]

"Aimm sorreee. Shu cupca e goo bu Ai canno fines ze flavo ough ze coconu."

translation:

"I'm sorry. Your cupcake is good but I cannot find the flavor of the coconut."

Yeah, yeah. I need the subtitles too sometimes.

Moving on.

I will work on bringing more of the coconut flavor into the cupcake for a true yummy coconut cupcake.  In the meantime I am topping these very buttery and slightly nutty flavored cupcakes with the following combinations.

• Butterscotch whipped topping (alone)
• Butterscotch whipped topping with caramel
• Butterscotch whipped topping with chopped peacans
• Butterscotch whipped topping with peacans and caramel
• Coconut buttercream.

You have to come back after I take pictures and I'll let you know what my taste testers think.  You can also leave me a comment with what YOU think would taste best.

And in the words of Florian Bellanger,

"Happee Baykeen"