Hope

A few days ago my friends Savannah, Amber, and I got together to make cupcakes for Relay For Life. Since our friends mother has breast cancer we thought it would be nice to decorate appropriately (although they don't look the best, but hey, it's the thought that counts) So If you wanna do something nice for an even like this or just make some tasty cakes here you go! It's a vanilla cake with chocolate ganache topping. 


Ingredients:
-3 cups flour
-2 tsp. baking powder
-1 tsp. salt 
-1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temp.
-2 cups sugar
-4 eggs, room temp
-1 cup milk
-2 tsp. vanilla extract 


Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tray with baking cups 
-In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking power, and salt. In the bowl of an electiric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter until creamy, then add sugar until light and fluffy. 
-Add eggs on at a time, beating well after each one. Turn speed on low and alternately add milk and flour mixture, ending with flour until just mixed, add vanilla until just mixed. 
-Divide batter into cupcake pans about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for about 18-22 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting, ENJOY! 


For ganache:
-8 oz. dark chocolate chopped fine
-1 cup heavy cream 
-Opt: 1 tbs. rum 


Directions:
-On medium low heat melt chocolate in a double boiler (glass bowl over boiling/simmering water) until smooth, add heavy cream and rum and stir until smooth, let cool a little bit then dip your cupcakes. 

I decorated the ribbons on the cupcakes with royal Icing I used Wilton's so here is a link to that http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Egg-White-Royal-Icing-1 
I hope you enjoyed this recipe =] If you would like to donate or learn more about relay for life please visit http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/ thank you for your support!