Confectionery Canary

I don't know about you, but I love a good Pineapple Upside Down Cake!  This delicious twist was inspired by autumn apple season and my Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe!  I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we do!

What You'll Need:
- 1 boxed yellow cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
- 2 Golden Delicious Apples
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put butter and sugar in cake pan and place in the oven to melt the butter and sugar. In the meantime, peel, core, and slice apples.  Remove pan from oven and arrange apple slices on top of the melted sugar.  Prepare cake mix per box instructions, or make your own.  Add in cinnamon.  Pour batter into cake pan, over the apples.  Bake for about 40-45 minutes.  The top will get golden brown early, but this is normal.  The center will be liquid until full baking time is reached. As soon as you remove your cake from the oven, carefully invert it onto a cake plate. Tap the bottom of the pan and slowly remove the pan to reveal your beautiful cake!  If you let the cake cool down, even slightly, you risk the fruit or caramel sticking to the inside of the pan, ruining the look of your cake.  This cake is best served fresh and warm.  The topping tends to get soggy if leftover. Enjoy this with friends on a chilly fall evening!

Who doesn't love cupcakes?!  I've actually always had difficulty making homemade cupcakes, but with this recipe, I finally had success!  That and lowering my oven temperature and not improvising ingredients.  I made this fun batch of cupcakes for Easter but this basic recipe works great for any occasion!  This recipe will give you about 20 delicious little cupcakes!

What You'll Need:
- 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare cupcake pan(s).  In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.  Add in eggs and vanilla.  Cream together until the mixture is smooth.  In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together then add to the butter mixture, mixing on low.  Scrape down sides and bottom.  Slowly add in milk.  Mix everything until it's just combined.  You don't want to over mix or else your cupcakes will become dense.  Spoon batter into cupcakes liners, (two tablespoons worth per liner worked for me), about half full because they will rise.  Reduce oven temperature to 325 when you put your pan in the oven.  This technique effects how they rise.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool completely then frost with your favorite frosting or a delicious buttercream! (click the word "buttercream" for my recipe!


**Canary Curve Ball: Click HERE for a fun floral cupcake decorating idea, perfect for spring! >>>>>>>>

If you're looking for a tasty topper for your cakes or cupcakes, look no further!  A basic buttercream frosting is a classic that's always the right choice, unless you're making red velvet cake that is. ; )  I was tweaking a buttercream frosting recipe last night and here's what I ended up with!

What You'll Need:
- 1 1/2 sticks of butter or 3/4 cup (room temperature)
- 5 cups confectioner's sugar (sifted)
- 3 teaspoons of vanilla
- 2-4 teaspoons of cold milk or heavy cream

Directions:
Let your butter reach room temperature. (Do not try to quickly soften it in the microwave!!!!)  Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Whip on medium speed for five minutes, until the butter starts to turn a pale yellow color.  Slowly add sifted confectioner's sugar to the butter, mixing on low until all the sugar is incorporated.  Scrape down bowl occasionally.  Add vanilla and mix well.  Add in cold milk and food color if desired. Add more or less milk depending on the consistency you want. Once incorporated, whip on medium speed for another five minutes. You can use the frosting now or refrigerate for 30+ minutes for an even firmer consistency. (The five minute increments of whipping are very important to help make your frosting fluffy and thick.)

**Canary Curve ball:  Add only 1 tsp of vanilla and 1/2 cup of your favorite jam or preserves to the frosting mixture for a fruity decadent twist sure to impress any cupcake connoisseur!

What could be better than cake and cookies? Cake cookies!
Oh yes, these cookies are delicious and incredibly simple!
I discovered these tasty treats while visiting my husbands parents.  His sister and mom had made some, so we gave them a try and it was love at first bite! I knew I had to make them for us asap and add some cream cheese icing too!  They've quickly become one of my favorite "cookies!"

Cream Cheese Frosting is one of the most simple, delicious and versatile frosting's you can make! It's great on cupcakes, cakes, cookies and spoons! ;)

What you'll need:
-1 8oz block of cream cheese (room temperature)
-3 to 4 cups of confectioner's sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Let cream cheese reach room temperature. Place in bowl of electric mixer. Sift in confectioner's sugar cup by cup. Cream together on medium speed. Add in vanilla, scrape down bowl, mix thoroughly until thick and fluffy. Add more sugar for thicker frosting.  Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes if using a piping bag, (this helps stiffen the frosting to better show the design you pipe) otherwise, ice cooled cakes or cookies and enjoy!  For more frosting, simply double or triple all ingredients.

*Sweet Tweet Tip: Oh no! Forgot to let cream cheese reach room temperature? No worries, simply place on your stove top surface, above your warm oven, while you bake. (obviously doesn't work if stove top and oven are seperate units.) The heat from your oven will warm the upper surface of your stove top where your cream cheese is, softening it much faster. Works for butter too!