For the love of cupcakes

INDIANAPOLIS - Cupcakes are possibly the most perfect Valentine’s Day pastry. So, when that holiday all about love approaches, grab the sprinkles, the chocolate and baking supplies and get in the kitchen to start whipping up cupcakes.

Why cupcakes? Why not cookies, or cakes or pie? Why not homemade candies? Honestly, there really isn’t an answer except that cupcakes can be so versatile– from sweet to savory, each decorated differently, each with its own personality. With one batch of batter, you can produce multiple flavors and tastes.

Each one can be personalized, whether you are giving it to your crush, your spouse or even your kids.

For Valentine’s Day, though, chocolate is mandatory. A dozen or so Devil’s Food cupcakes, slathered in Chocolate Fudge icing and topped with a fresh strawberry can melt even the toughest customers.

Another amazing cupcake idea is Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing (also with strawberry adornments.) Still in the chocolate family, these cupcakes are like Cupid’s arrow right into the heart of your taste buds. This cupcake is rich, complex, sweet and leaves you heartbroken when they have all been eaten up.

If you want to stray from chocolate, or you are just wanting to try something a bit different and frou-frou, Lavender-Citrus cupcakes are all win. It’s a basic sponge recipe with lemon zest, a little lemon juice and a few teaspoons of lavender flowers tossed in the mix.

What comes out is a delightful, moist and fragrant cake. You can take a basic cream cheese icing recipe, add some lemon zest and sprinkle a little candied zest and you are good to go. Essentially, this cupcake is pretty close to perfection.

So for the experienced baker and even the novice, cupcakes make a lot of sense price-wise, as well as time-wise, with no deliciousness lost. The only struggle may be keeping yourself from eating the entire batch before you share with everyone else.

The Recipes:

Basic Cream Cheese Icing

Devil’s Food Cake

Chocolate Fudge Icing

Candied Citrus Peel

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