chocolate chip maple mini cupcakes

With the Christmas festivities coming to an end, 2013 is also closing up. Looking back of what happened during the year, this year had its ups and downs and most probably was one of the most stressful years with the UFE and all. Now that my studies are officially (at least for now) over, everything feels a little different. Given all the holiday festivities, baking is a must, especially with days off which now come a little rare, and so I decided to bake maple mini cupcakes. I rarely decorate my baked goods, but since it's Christmas time, why not?

festive looking mini cupcakes

The decoration for these cupcakes was surprisingly easy. It's easy, but a little time consuming as you need to place each petals. But if you have mini marshmallows, sprinkles and a good pair of scissors, you're in business! Basically, to make them, you need to cut your marshmallow in diagonal, which will form the petals. The side from which you cut the marshmallow will be very sticky and so you would be able to roll it in a bowl of sprinkles and it'd stick very well. I "glued" them onto the cupcake using some cream cheese icing I had in my fridge.

the cupcakes, looking pretty regular sized

Chocolate chip maple mini cupcakes
From two peas and their pod
Yields roughly 48 minicupcakes
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk
1 cup maple syrup
4 eggs
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven at 350F.
2. Cream sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.
3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla (I used powdered vanilla, if you are using liquid, please add this to your butter).
4. Add eggs one at a time in butter and sugar mixture as well as milk and maple syrup.
5. Once all well combined, add dry ingredients in four parts until well mixed.
6. Line 2 mini cupcake pans and fill with the batter.
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on your oven (or until nice and golden edges form)
8. Next step is completely optional: once cupcakes are fully cooled, ice generously with cream cheese icing and place mini marshmallow halves to form a flower.
9. Highly recommended: devour with a nice tall glass of milk with family and friends :)

2013, that's a wrap!