DC Cupcakes New Year's Eve Strawberry Champagne Sparkler Cupcakes

Strawberry Champagne Sparkler Cupcakes
(as seen on Oprah) Servings: Serves 12
Ingredients
Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes (36 mini cupcakes, 3 per Champagne flute)
  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberries , diced
  • 1/2 Tbsp. good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
  • 2 1/2 cups flour , sifted
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder , sifted
  • 1/4 Tsp. salt
  • 8 Tbsp. (4 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 2 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract + seeds from 1 vanilla bean(NOTE: move down to next line...see edits to other recipe)
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk , at room temperature
Champagne Buttercream Frosting
  • 16 Tbsp. (8 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 4 cups confectioner's sugar , sifted
  • 1 tsp. whole milk
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Strawberry Layer
  • 24 fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Chocolate Ganache
  • 2 cups high-quality semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Directions
For Serving:

12 glass Champagne flutes

12 long spoons

12 indoor-safe sparkler candles

Step 1: Baking the Mini Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 mini cupcake pans with 36 mini baking cups or grease pans with butter if not using baking cups.

Dice up 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries and soak in 1/2 cup of Champagne. Set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.

Combine the vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.

Reduce the speed to low. Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one-third of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated. Add another one-third of the flour mixture, followed by one-third of the milk mixture. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined.

Gently fold in the diced Champagne-soaked strawberries, just until incorporated.

Scoop batter into baking cups and bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. If using paper baking cups, peel off all of the paper baking cups from the cupcakes at this time.

Step 2: Making the Champagne Buttercream Frosting

Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the confectioner's sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.

Add the vanilla extract, milk, salt and Champagne, and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Place frosting in a disposable piping bag with a large round tip.

Step 3: Preparing the Strawberries

Slice 24 strawberries lengthwise and soak in 1 cup of Champagne for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4: Making the Chocolate Ganache

Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or 2 of water and place over medium-low heat. Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a medium glass bowl over the saucepan and melt the chocolate chips. Stir occasionally until the chips are completely melted. Remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the saucepan. Pour the ganache into a plastic squeeze bottle. (If a squeeze bottle is not available, you can drizzle with a spoon.)

Step 5: Assembling Layers in Champagne Flutes

Line up 12 glass Champagne flutes. Insert 1 mini strawberry Champagne cupcake in the bottom of each glass. Next, pipe a swirl of Champagne buttercream frosting on top of each cupcake. Add several slices of Champagne-soaked strawberries, and a drizzle of chocolate ganache. Repeat layers. Finally, place a third mini strawberry Champagne cupcake at the top of each glass, pipe with a final "Georgetown Cupcake signature swirl" of Champagne buttercream frosting, and top with a final drizzle of chocolate ganache.

Step 6: Serving

Insert 1 indoor-safe sparkler candle in the top of each glass. Light the candles at midnight, serve with spoons, and enjoy!
This delicious DC Cupcakes recipe makes a dazzling addition to any holiday party.

New Drink of the Month: Santa`s Helper

Santa’s Helper

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Crown Royal

4 oz. spiced apple cider

3/4 oz. vanilla syrup

Whipped cream

1 apple slice

Method:

Bring spiced apple cider to a boil (or spice your own using clove, cinnamon and nutmeg). In a toddy glass, combine hot cider, vanilla syrup and Crown Royal. Top off with a dollop of whipped cream and the apple slice.

Hungry Girl: Scoopy Arctic Chocolate Delight

Scoopy Arctic Chocolate Delight

PER SERVING (1/2 recipe, 1 bowl): 162 calories, 2.5g fat, 115mg sodium, 33g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 16.5g sugars, 0.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4*

Grab a spoon, leave your mittens, and get ready for a chilly excursion to the bottom of your dessert bowl.... YEE-HAAAA!

Ingredients:
2 cups Cool Whip Free, thawed
One 25-calorie packet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestlé Fat Free)
1 standard-sized peppermint candy cane, lightly crushed, divided

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine Cool Whip with cocoa mix. Mix thoroughly, until uniform in color. Gently stir in half of the crushed candy cane.

Divide mixture between 2 small bowls. Evenly top each bowl with remaining crushed candy cane. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours. Enjoy!

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

From http://HungryGirl.com

Ralph`s Carrot Cake Low Cal Yogurt - too good to be true?


OMG - I just tried the New Ralph`s Brand Carb Master Carrot Cake Yogurt and it was AMAZING!!! I have Tried many Dessert Flavored Low Cal/Low Fat yogurts and have been disappointed. This is the 1st time that I have been pleasantly surprised! This yogurt tasts just like Carrot Cake and it is Only has 60 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 3 grams of sugar and 1.5 grams of fat!! I say find the nearest Ralph`s Supermarket near you and grab a bunch and if they do not have it in their stores yet, ask them to order it!!!
My Next New Dessert Low Cal/Low Fat Yogurt that I have seen, bought but have yet to try is Yoplait`s Black Forrest Cake. Stay tuned, I`ll give my review once I have tried it.

Miss Meringue Meringue Cookies Duettes - Low Cal Tasty Treats!

From Hungry Girl (Click Photo for Link)

Miss Meringue Meringue Cookies Duettes, Mint
PER SERVING (7 chocolate-covered cookies): 130 calories, 5g fat, 30mg sodium, 22g carbs, 1g fiber, 20g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4*

PER SERVING (15 un-covered cookies): 110 calories, 0g fat, 20mg sodium, 27g carbs, 0g fiber, 27g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2*


"HG! We're totally confused by the above stats!" Here's the scoop: The tub is packed with mint-flavored meringue cookies, but HALF of them are dunked in chocolate. These would be GREAT little items to set out at a party -- no baking required. Have four of each for about 104 calories (PointsPlus™ value 3*). Score!