Watermelon cupcakes
I saw these Watermelon cupcakes in my Google Reader and I thought they were so cute. Like the perfect summery treat. We were going to a cookout last weekend and I immediately thought of these cupcakes. I wanted to be able to pipe the frosting, so I opted not to flavor them with watermelon. I also didn’t think chocolate and watermelon really go together… So I guess mine are just watermelon look-alike cupcakes.
I made the same chocolate chip cupcakes that I made for the 4th of July, but this time I used mini chips and added some pink and red food coloring to the batter. For the frosting, I made my favorite buttercream. I actually made two shades of green that I wanted to swirl together. The swirling didn’t go as planned, so really all you can see is dark green frosting, not the lighter lime green frosting. Everyone enjoyed the summery (looking) cupcakes. 
Chocolate Chip cupcakes – adapted from Vanilla cupcakes from Crazy Delicious – original recipe from Martha Stewart – makes 24
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup mini chocolate chips + 1 Tbsp flour (toss to coat chocolate chips)
Few drops pink and red food coloring
Mix the dry ingredients
Add butter
Whisk eggs, milk and vanilla
Add wet ingredients 1/3 at a time to the dry ingredients
Stir in food coloring and chocolate chips – be sure to coat the chips with flour so they don’t all sink to the bottom while baking
Bake for 17-22 minutes at 325 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean
Vanilla and Buttercream
2 sticks butter
7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup milk – I used whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Few drops green and yellow food coloring
Beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl
Add 5 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, beat until combined. Add food coloring until desired color is reached.
Add more powdered sugar until you get to the consistency you want (not too stiff so that its hard to pipe)
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Looks great!! I love the history info too 🙂 Congrats you did an awesome job!
Love the history info and your buttercream looks so silky. Nicely done!
good job! rolls like the yule log and the pumpkin roll really aren’t too hard to make, but they’re great to bring to get togethers b/c everyone loves them 🙂
Congrats on your first “real” yule log. I wasn’t crazy about the buttercream either, though I did like the coffee flavor!
Yum! Very nice, creamy-looking buttercream. Looks delish! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I went for raspberry inside too – and agree that chocolate frosting would be tastier. Good job!
You did an awesome job, Jen!
Your log turned out so pretty – as did the mushrooms!
Way to go!
xoxo
Your log looks wonderful, so silky creamy. Happy Holidays!
Your log looks awesome. Congratulations on completing the challenge.
Very pretty! I thought this one was harder than the “Buche” I made in French class too.
I love your texturing – nice log!
Job well done. I made it with chocolate buttercream and I think it would have gone lovely with raspberry.
I love the idea of the raspberry filling with the coffee buttercream. That must have tasted incredible.
As worldly as I thought I was at the time, I never could have attempted anything this complex in high school. You did a great job with your… it looks luscious!
I hope you had a joyous holiday, and that 2008 brings you health and happiness, laughter and love.
Great bûche de Noël and I loved reading your post.
Happy Holidays!
Julius from Occasional Baker
You aced this challenge like a pro! It looks gorgeous!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Your filling looks and sounds delicious! I went with chocolate for the outside, and loved it. Great job!
A very pretty log! Well done!
Cheers,
Rosa
Nice work there. I love the combination of raspberry and chocolate – mmmm! Congrats on your challenge and happy new year 🙂
jen at use real butter
Oooh I love the idea of the raspberry in the log!