Happy Birthday Alia! Chocolate Cupcakes

From a recipe I jotted down on the back of a previously used post-it note (probably from www.allrecipes.com,) this recipe is quintessential cake. Omit the cocoa powder and add almond extract for a light yellowy cake.

Preheat oven to 350.
Whisk together: 2 1/3 cups cake flour 1 tbsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1/3 cup cocoa powder
Cut in:
1/2 cup butter, softened
Add and mix in: 2 eggs 1 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract

Pour into paper baking cups and bake for about 20-30 minutes. Decorate. Voila!


I frosted mine with inferior canned stuff, since I was short on time and am not particularly good at frostings. However, here's a good recipe for fudgey icing (that even I can pull off) should you want to try it:

Melt in a saucepan over medium heat:
4 tbsp butter 1/2 cups brown sugar
When sugar is dissolved, add:
2 tbsp milk
Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
Sift together and mix in:
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
Add:
1 tsp vanilla extract
This frosting sets up pretty quickly, so keep it over a very low heat if you work slowly, adding more milk if it gets too thick.