Cinnamon-sugar-coated clarity

I just bit into this cupcake.

This is my breakfast. This is happening.

You can’t stress about too much when you’re having a cupcake for breakfast. I mean, come on.

Like really, I can’t. I’m not lying!

I would never lie to you. You know this. Our relationship has become far too deep and meaningful for me to do stupid things like that.

Before I took this ginormous bite, though, I must admit, I was a bit of a stress basket. I’ve got a lot going on.

That’s how powerful this cupcake is. It de-stresses you. Boom. Magic cupcake.

After I took a deep breath after my bite, I had a moment of clarity. My life, despite some of the less than favorable events that have taken place over the past few weeks, is pretty great.

Why, you ask?

Well, my friend, let me tell you. I have an oven, which means I can make things like that magical Cinnamon-Sugar Cupcake up above. I have an iced coffee in my hand, which, duh, is awesome. I’m in good health…which I mean, obviously rocks. And last but certainly not least, I have the BEST people in the world by my side.

So as I stuff my face with this dessert-breakfast-extravaganza and take a giant sip of my coffee, I’d like to thank those awesome people.

Thank you, to the person who calls me in the midst of her insanely hectic schedule to check up on my life and “live vicariously through me.” This girl lets me vent like a madwoman, and then manages to make me laugh and remind me that even in the worst of times, there’s always Glee.

Thank you, to the friend who lives states away but still remains as close to me as a sister. She accepts me despite my biggest of flaws, and also shares my fondness of vegetarianism and blood orange vodka martinis.

Thank you, to the person who shares my love for Drake concerts, Mascato, and Laguna Beach, and can laugh with me about things no one else would understand, regardless of how often we are able to see each other.

Thank you, to my mother who emails me to get drinks after work just because we both need to laugh and relax, because we both know that if we didn’t have each other, we’d be…crazy. Which we already are. So really we’d just be…crazier? You don’t have to understand, which is why our relationship is so unique and awesome.

Thank you, to the most ridiculously charming person I’ve ever met who not only appreciates my sarcasm, but has seen me for an umpteen number of days in a row now and still hasn’t gotten sick of me, my oddball sleeping habits, or the copious amounts of sushi we eat. ❤
I could so go for a veggie factory roll right now…

And thank you, to the friend who can only be described as my sister-soul mate. We’ve stood by each other through every decision we’ve ever made, regardless if it seemed irrational or crazy to others. This girl supports me in every way. In particular, my baking and this blog!

…which leads me to a very exciting announcement for Sugar Therapy!

For the next ten weeks, Sugar Therapy will be teaming up with Event Blossom, a wholesale wedding favor company based in Southern California. They just launched their new Mod Party Kits, and they are awesome! I’ll be coming up with new cupcake recipes for each kit and posting about them weekly.

Look how cute the cupcake wrappers are for the Blue Baby Shower theme!

I’m okay with things that make my stuff look even better. 😉

This is big news, people! I’m moving up in this little baking world!

Be sure to check out Kim’s blog for Event Blossom. She’s a fabulously talented writer, fantastic cook, and one of the most fun people I know. How do I know this? She’s that sister soul mate I was talking about! (I know, you’re jealous.)

I made Cinnamon-Sugar Cupcakes this week.

Moist cinnamon cake with a creamy cinnamon-sugar buttercream, topped with a simple brown sugar cinnamon crumble? Oh no she didn’t!

Well actually yeah. Yeah, I did.

These babies were a huge hit. It’s a ST original, too. 🙂

*patting myself on the back*

So for the next few months it’s going to be cupcake central at this blog, which is totally fine with me since I haven’t dabbled in the cupcake world since the Grapefruit Cupcakes!

Yeah, I’d say this is long overdue.

Cinnamon Sugar Cupcakes

3 1/4 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk (whichever kind you prefer – I used 1%)
1/4 cup sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with cupcake papers.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

3. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until pale yellow and fluffy. It should look airy, like a buttery cloud.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, combining well after each addition.

5. Reduce speed to medium-low and add vanilla and beat until combined.

6. Add sour cream and beat until combined.

7. Alternate adding milk and the flour mixture, making for three separate additions of each. Beat until just combined between additions.

8. Fill muffin pan 3/4 full and bake for 20 minutes.

9. Enjoy the amazing aroma of cinnamon baking. Set cupcakes on a wire rack to completely cool before frosting.

Cinnamon Sugar Buttercream

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks)
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
2 heaping tbsp of cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

1. Beat butter on high speed until light and airy.

2. Add confectioner’s sugar and beat until fluffy.

3. Add vanilla and beat until just combined.

4. Add cinnamon and nutmeg and beat until evenly distributed.

I’m a bit of an over-froster sometimes, so I ran slightly short of frosting. If you frost cupcakes like I do, increase each ingredient 1/2 – 1 cup.

5. Frost. Decorate. Use the Party Kits and show them off to your friends and family!

I’m so excited about this project. It’s going to be so fun, and just wait until you see the cupcake accessories. They make even the snooziest of cupcakes look fun and festive!

Bon appétit!

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all the fantastic moms out there! I’m very thankful for mine. I know it hasn’t been a picnic raising me but I personally think I turned out pretty darn okay. 😉 Love you Mom. xoxo