School is officially out for summer and you have no idea how thankful I am! This seemed to be the longest year of all, and maybe part of that was because I was full time again. If you have been around for any time you know how much I value creativity, baking, and just all around learning so it is nice to have some free time back. This weekend I found myself back in my familiar routine of baking and it was for a fun little challenge given to me by Dawn! The result were some pretty amazing cupcakes as well as a speedy clean-up.
Keeping things simple is generally my motto. I like to work efficiently and effectively and spare as much time as possible for having new adventures and time with my boys. One of the things we enjoy doing together is baking. Ok, so the boys really enjoy eating more than the process, but they do like to help along the way. Many times I have the entire sink full of dishes halfway through baking just because it is such an art that requires mixing here and there and then combining. I try to keep it at a minimum, but sometimes you just can’t help it. One way I simplify life is by using products that work quickly and the first time. Dawn has been a trusted brand in our family for a long time. My own mother even uses this brand for her dishes. I’ve even been known to add a few drops to an almost empty foaming hand cleaning bottle to stretch it out a few more weeks.
This particular project involved an entire dropper of blue food dye which meant a mess in my white sink and in the bowls being used. You can see the mess I accumulated while making the cupcakes. In just a few short minutes I had things tidy, clean and ready to start making the frosting. Dawn cut right through the oil and grease and allowed me to quickly get the project finished and headed back outdoors to play with my boys. Time is ticking by so quickly that I want to soak up every last minute of time with them.
So, just in time for 4th of July, here is the delicious Blue Velvet Cupcake recipe that you can share with your family! I hope you enjoy it.
Blue Velvet Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients for cupcakes:
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour (no cake flour on hand? Just replace 2 tbsp of all purpose per cup with cornstarch)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp dark blue food coloring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray the cupcake tin with non-stick spray or line with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
- Combine the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and white vinegar in a separate bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix for about 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
- Add batter to cupcake tin filling about 3/4 full. I like to use an ice cream scoop to keep things even.
- Bake for about 17-19 minutes or until the tops are springy.
- Remove cupcakes from the tin and let them cool on a wire rack until room temperature.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting ingredients:
- 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature or warmed in the microwave for about 15 seconds
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions:
- Beat the butter with an electric mixer for about 20 seconds.
- Start adding in the salt and confectioners sugar at a low speed and increase the speed once all is added.
- Scrape frosting from the side and add in the heavy cream and vanilla.
- Mix on a medium speed for about 4 minutes.
- Frost the cupcakes once they are completely cooled.
This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Dawn. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Now one lucky Go Grow Go reader will win a a kit in order to help you make your own Blue Velvet Cupcakes which includes:
· A Bottle of Dawn Ultra
· Apron
· Blue food coloring
· Dawn Ultra Blue Cupcakes recipe
· Mixing bowl
· Non-stick cupcake tin
Melinda says
I can’t imagine cleaning that mess. looks like Dawn did it perfectly
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says
Those cupcakes look delicious! We only use Dawn in our house because it’s one of the only ones where you only have to wash the dishes once lol.
Angela S says
I have never heard of blue velvet cupcakes before. Those are so pretty for summer!
Family Travel Blogger says
Once of the reasons we use Dawn is because of their work with wildlife protection. They do so much especially when disaster strikes.
cam | bibs and baubles says
The cupcakes look deelish! I’m sure it was a fun, blue mess. I’d never heard of blue velvet cupcakes!
K. Elizabeth @YUMMommy says
I like to simplify our summers by keeping a list of free or inexpensive activities that we can do outside of the house. Cabin fever sets in really fast and then we all end up cranky otherwise.
Beth @ TheAngelForever says
I am trying to simplify our summer by just going with the flow. Some plans, but a lot of flexible free activities around the area.
Danielle @ We Have It All says
Oh those look yummy!! I’d love to win – I’d simplify summer buy disconnecting our cable lol.
Stacey b says
I like to simplify by reducing my sons time on the play station and encourage him to go outdoors and play
Marie says
We’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors this summer. Simplifying our technology usage.
Jackie says
I like to simply the summer by grilling often and planning easy dinners.
Thank you!
Jessie C. says
I like to simplify in the summer by doing more outdoor cooking, grilling veggies and salmon are among all choices.
Betty B. says
I like to simplify during the summer by having fruits and veggies cut on hand and readily available for easy snacking!
Sherrie C. says
I simplify in the Summer by creating easy meals that are healthy so I don’t have to spend too much time in the kitchen and spending more time outdoors.
David says
We simplify our summer by encouraging our kids to go outside. They tend to over think things when looking for a cure to boredom, but if you just go outside you will find something to do.
Maria Malaveci says
I would simplify by eating outside instead of inside each day!
Jessica To says
We eat lighter meals and use paper products more in the summer!
Rochel S says
We simplify by having easy dinners like BBQs!
Leigh Anne Borders says
We simplify by not making plans and just going with the flow. Setting no alarm clocks.
Jessica H. says
We simplify by making dinners easy and quick to give us more time to enjoy the nice weather. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
Susan Christy says
I like to use disposable (but recyclable) plates and cups for my BBQ’d food, so I don’t have to run the oven or the dishwasher as often.
Liza @ Views From the 'Ville says
I’ve always wanted to try making a blue velvet cake! For summer, we simplify by trying not to set too much of a schedule. It’s nice to be able to take advantage of whatever pops up!
Eileen Richter says
Realizing that summer goes so fast, concentrating on doing things and not working towards having things or having things DONE. The projects that should be done give way to a LOT of baseball games…that means easy meals, paper plates, and not as much clean up. Dawn though…dang, that stuff is like gold, not just for dishes. I Use it on floors, clothes prewash, especially white kids uniforms, Just used it to clean our entire inside of our small boat up. It is for scrubbing stickies on walls and greasy microwave, or above the stove. I’d be hurting without the Dawn.
Tina W says
I try to always have one quick and easy meal ready to go: salad with leftover grilled chicken, frozen meatballs for spaghetti. when it’s hot and everyone’s tired it makes my life much easier!
Cynthia R says
I like to simplify summer by visiting the pool a lot, lots of fun times for everyone, can swim, play, read, nap, etc.
Linda says
Our family does our best to disconnect from technology and spend lots of family time together.
Donna says
We take a lot of family vacays
Laura J says
We try to simplify in the summer…buy just relaxing more! Spending time outside and letting Carter run and play!
Julie says
I use less technology
kellie rose wilson says
Spend more time outside and with family
Cori Westphal says
I like to grill a lot. So we have a lot of simple, grilled dinners. Just some meat and veggies. No mess in the kitchen to clean up and more time to play!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
trixx says
We bike or walk almost everywhere during the summer to cut down on fuel cost and to spend more time together!
Lisa L says
We simplify summer by grilling most our meals and eating lots of salad so that we’re not indoors cooking all the time.
polly says
Sometimes we use paper plates just so we don’t have dishes to load in the dishwasher!