Toffee Topped Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

In an effort to be 100% transparent, I used a cake mix to make these cupcakes.  I think it was a Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix, to be exact.  If you have read this blog for a while, you know that I'm not afraid of or embarrassed by a cake mix.  I use them all of the time for shortcuts - especially when I'm making cupcakes.  Maybe it is just me, but I think that homemade cupcake batter can be a little finicky... it can roll over the sides, it can deflate, etc., and I wanted these to look just perfect in my new Gold Striped Cupcake Papers.  And it was easy.  I was really in the mood for a Fall-ish spice cake topped with creamy, cream cheese frosting and these were everything (and more!) than I had hoped.





People tend to not think about texture as much as they should.  I had a gourmet ice cream sundae at a fancy restaurant this summer, and the combination of textures was unbelievable.  I can still taste (feel it?) right now.  This cupcake combination of creamy frosting, moist cake and crunchy toffee has the same effect - in a very fall way.

Even though I used a mix, I thought I should provide you with some sort of recipe if you want to make some from scratch.  Here is my favorite, very dense and delicious spice cake recipe.  If you are making them from a box like me, just follow the baking directions and the frosting instructions.  Enjoy!

Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Toffee
makes about 12 cupcakes



1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
pinch of ground cloves
2 eggs
1 cup milk
6 tablespoons of melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
....
4 ounces of cream cheese (1/2 block), room temperature
1 stick of butter
2 cups of powdered sugar (or more)
toffee candies (I used Werther's Original, which are caramel candies), chopped

In a mixer, combine sugar, flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices.  Stir to combine.  Add egg, milk, melted butter and vanilla.  Mix on low until combined.  Beat for 1 minute on medium high. 



Scoop into cupcake papers, I used Gold Striped Papers ($6.50) for a little festive touch.  



Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes, until tester comes out clean, or cupcakes spring back to touch.  




For cream cheese frosting, combine cream cheese and butter in a mixer until blended together.  Add powdered sugar and mix for 3 minutes on low.  Frost using an 18" Piping Bag with the tip cut off.   I did a basic, easy swirl - you can just scrape it off and start over if you need some practice.  I try not to do toooo much frosting, just a good ratio.  

I used Werther's Original caramel candies, because my grocery store didn't have toffee, except with milk chocolate.  So, I just chopped up the candies with my knife - it worked great.  



These were so tasty and perfect for breakfast, I mean an afternoon snack with coffee.  What are your favorite Fall desserts?  The next on my list is soft pumpkin spice pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies with a cream cheese butter icing.  That will have to wait until next week... when I can find my rolling pin!



Products Used :


Gold Striped Cupcake Papers, 100 for $6.50
Disposable Pastry Bags, 20 for $14.50

DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece | Roses, Mums & Broom Cob in a Pumpkin "Vase"

I love traditional Thanksgiving - everything.  Traditional colors, a traditional menu, flowers, table setting, etc.  I'm not sure if creating a floral centerpiece in a pumpkin would be traditional in the eyes of generations past, but in the Martha Stewart era of holidays, it surely seems like a classic.

It has been about 6 years since I created a floral centerpiece in a pumpkin... I am not sure if I thought it was too over done, or if I hadn't had the occasion to do it.  Or maybe I got lazy and didn't want to go to the trouble of carving out the pumpkin.  This year, I've been itching to do it.  I thought about if for Halloween, then Emma's costume took priority in the project department. 

Get all of the table setting details, here >

I started by selecting my flowers and colors - getting a feel for what the colors will look like with the table setting, in the room.

I chose these apricot roses with burnt orange and deep red mums.  I needed something that would drape downward in the arrangement, so I selected the wheat-looking stems. 

As you can see (and you might remember), we received a large collection of Spode Woodland china that I always use during the Fall and Winter holidays.  I have admired them for years and am so glad to have them - and I still LOVE them every year when I get them out.

I will use this glass vase set inside the pumpkin to make the arrangement in, so I cut the top to be sure it would fit into my opening.

I cut the opening, then scooped out the insides with an ice cream scoop.

I put the vase in with a square of oasis foam, then filled it with water.

I started by putting in the best roses, trying to achieve the shape.

And then, because flowers look best in groups of the same, I bunched 2-3 flowers next to each of those roses.  I like to use different sizes of roses in these groups to add interest - and it looks more natural.

Then, I started plugging in groupings of mums in the same fashion. 

It is starting to take shape.  At this point, I realized it was a little 'tight,' so I pulled the bottom roses out by an inch or so, so it didn't look so much like a ball of flowers on a pumpkin.

To soften the entire arrangement and to add some drape, I placed the broom cob around the collar.

Done!  You can see the groupings of flowers look more appealing than if it were homogeneously arranged - it would look polk-a-dotted!

To keep it fresh, keep it in the refrigerator (or in the garage, if your garage is really cold like mine!).

Here it is on the table!

Shop  the Hemstitch Linens featured on this table here >

Hemstitch Napkins (4 for $28), Runner ($28) & Placemats (2 for $16) available in my store, here >

This tray is one of my favorite essentials.  I use it all of the time for serving drinks, appetizers or as  centerpiece.  Find the Handled Service Tray, here >

These are my favorite Fall Candles ($10.50) and are such an inexpensive way to make a table spectacular.  

A touch that we add every year to our Thanksgiving Table - "We Are Thankful For" Place cards.  10 for $5.

Here is the easy-to-pin strip!

and...


Happy Thanksgiving Planning! 

DIY Instructions for creating the centerpiece, here. 

Shop My Thanksgiving Collection >

Last year I didn't do a proper Thanksgiving Collection.  It is easy to sort of sweep Thanksgiving in with Fall decor, or just move right on to Christmas - but I LOVE Thanksgiving.  The traditions, the pretty tables, the menu, the schedule of the day, the crisp air, the crackling morning fire, pies baking... all of it.  So this year, I will not move on to Christmas, we will fully celebrate all that is Thanksgiving.  

Browse the entire Thanksgiving Harvest Collection

"We Are Thankful For" Placecards, an Everyday Occasion annual tradition.

Creamware Platters

Vintage Turkey Prints, $4-6

The New "The Plan" Planning Tablet, 25 sheet tablet, $12

I've been thinking about this concept for a while.  Finally, I've come up with this simple tablet that helps me to get organized for dinner parties, holidays - even home projects.  Here, you can see, I've listed some items to help get me organized for Thanksgiving.  I'll show more examples of how I use this soon!

Is there anything better than a "Kids' Table" at Thanksgiving?

This one set like a bit of a nature hunt + craft table.  Lots to see and touch.

Place settings don't have to be complex - just something simple and special.

Paperwhites are classic Holiday.  They bring a fresh scent and stately life to homes during the winter months.  These bulbs are extra large and a beautiful chestnut color.  They will bloom tall, white blooms.  I begin forcing them indoors in October, then they are the perfect gift for Thanksgiving and Holiday Parties.  They take about 5-7 weeks to bloom.  

Bulbs & Baskets, here >

I hand-stitched a little "H" on our Hemstitch Napkins.  It took about 5 minutes and gave so much charm to these simple staples.

Pies : )

Mini Leaf & Acorn Cutters easily give a classic pie a new twist.

This collection focuses quite a bit on table settings.  Really, besides making sure your home is cozy and comfortable, setting the table really is the centerpiece for the holiday.  I have created seven individual schemes based on Napkins and Table Linens I have available.  By combining a print with a velvet ribbon, coordinating candle and little sprig of this or that, each scheme is the essence season.

Browse all of the Napkin & Table Linen combinations, here >

 

Left : Harvest Berry Napkins + Heirloom Pumpkin Candles + Moss Green Velvet Ribbon

Right : Green Hydrangea + Edgartown Sand Candles. + Warm Velvet Ribbon

Deep Brown Topiary Linens + Rust Candles + Rust Velvet Ribbon

Acorn Linens + Maize Candles + Brown Velvet Ribbon

Beige Topiary Print Linens + Edgartown Sand Candles + Warm Velvet Ribbon

Cream Hydrangea Print Linens + Natural Beeswax Candles + Brown Velvet Ribbons

 

Classic Stripe Napkins + Falmouth Grey Candles + Rust Velvet Ribbon

Fall Taper Candles

Shop the Velvet Ribbon, here >

Deep Brown Topiary Block Print

Napkins

Tea Towels 

Cushion Covers

Acorn Block Print

Tablecloth & Table Runners

Napkins

Acorn Tea Towels

Acorn Runner (folded in half) on the Kids Table

Thanksgiving Photo Prop Crafting Kit

Acorn Pillows 

Green Hydrangea Block Print

Green Hydrangea Tablecloth & Table Runners

Green Hydrangea Napkins

Thankful Wreath Crafting Kit

Hemstitched Napkins

Classic Salt & Pepper

Harvest Berry Print Runners & Tablecloths 

Harvest Berry Napkins

Moss Green Velvet Ribbon

Plaid Wrap, $30, over the chair for warmth

Browse the entire Thanksgiving Collection, here >

For help planning your Holiday, browse all of my Thanksgiving posts, menus, centerpieces & tables, here >