Criminal Cupcakes

I want to eat a cupcake and have that be the only cupcake I want to eat. I rarely eat them, so when I do it must be an indulgence. Many of you have heard of Magnolia Bakery, especially those of you in New York, for it's a pretty big name in the cupcake world. My introduction to Magnolia cupcakes, however, was not at the original bakery in the West Village, or any other locations for that matter, it was in my kitchen in Alaska. Five or six years ago my mom had bought the Magnolia Bakery cookbook, and being a longtime lover of cake, white on white that is, I whipped up a batch of their vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting.

It's a simple recipe and the result is divine. The cupcakes are substantial and satisfying and certainly fit the indulgence bill. I'm not recommending them for their nutritional value, I'm recommending them for their goodness.

I don't think any sort of cake can surpass that of the homemade Magnolia cupcake, except obviously, Shaw's white on white. If you're not from New England, Shaw's is a supermarket chain with the best vanilla cake in the whole wide world (Katie and Nini, back me up on this). Maybe it's the ratio of butter to crisco or sugar to sugar, whatever it is, their white on white is unbeatable. So, for the purpose of rationality, let's say that homemade Magnolia cupcakes get as close to perfection as humanly possible. I'm just being honest. 

I follow the recipe to a T, but sometimes I make a little extra frosting. I like my cupcakes top-heavy, what can I say? And last time I made them I added shredded coconut to the frosting which makes for a fantastic variety.

Homemade

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

1 ½ cups self-rising flour

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting:

1 cup butter, softened

6-8 cups confectioner’s sugar

¼ cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ cups unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

Directions:

Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

Combine the flours, set aside.

Using electric mixer, cream butter.

Add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 min.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.

Fill cupcake liners about ¾ full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Frosting:

Mix softened butter, 4 cups of the sugar, milk and vanilla. 

Gradually add the remaining sugar. 

Add coconut last, if desired.

Magnolia's

Shaw's take the cake. What I wouldn't give for a corner with a rose...

And then there's Zealand, who prefers healthier options