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Big Black Dog: Pomegranate Cupcakes

December 28, 2009

Pomegranate Cupcakes


OH MY...this has been a rough Christmas as far as weather! It snowed earlier in the week and we had about 6" of the squishy white stuff on the ground. But on Christmas Day it started raining, sleeting and then into freezing rain for about 24 hours. It was miserable but the rain did melt most of our existing snow and being it was Christmas we all just stayed inside where is was warm and had fun all day!

But then on December 26th, the temperature dropped and it started snowing.....and snowing.....and snowing. It must have snowed for the better part of 18 hours and it was a fierce blizzard. I took the below picture at about 4 pm on December 26th and measured the snow. At that point we had a little more then 15" of new snow. It continued snowing until about 9 pm but I did not measure until the next morning for a grand total of 17" of new snow. We are buried but it's so pretty!


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And the next morning this is what I found. Isn't it gorgeous!


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Sometimes you just need something tangy and sweet on a cold, snowy winter day and what could be more perfect then Pomegranate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

The recipe Just Plain Good Cupcakes is my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe. It is a small batch recipe and only makes five cupcakes but you can easily double it. And it adapts beautifully with any flavoring, fruit or filling I've tried. I like to bake these cupcakes until the tops are just slightly browned. The little extra caramelization adds so much flavor not to mention the crunch with every bite.


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Just Plain Good Cupcakes
Recipe adapted from "Small Batch Baking" by Debby Maugans

Makes 5 cupcakes (isn't that a hoot 5 CUPCAKES!)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Yolk of 1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I use 1/8 tsp vanilla)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

My additions:
2 tsp Pomegranate Molasses **See Note

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 5 muffin cups with baking cups and set aside.

Combine the buttermilk and baking soda in a small bowl and whisk to blend. Add egg yolk and vanilla and again whisk until thoroughly mixed.

Place the flour, sugar and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl and mix. Add the butter and half of the buttermilk mixture. Beat with a hand-held mixer on low speed until the dry ingredients are blended. Increase the speed to medium and bet until the mixture is slightly increased in volume, about 45 seconds, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Pour in the remaining buttermilk mixture and beat on medium speed until well blended, 20 seconds. Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Spoon the batter evenly into the 5 baking cups. Put a little bit of water in the rest of the empty cups in your Cupcake Tin to prevent the cupcakes from scorching. Bake the cupcakes until a tester comes out clean, about 20 to 23 minutes.

Remove from the oven and as soon as you can remove the cupcakes from the pan and let them thoroughly cool on a cooling rack.

**Note: Pomegranate Molasses is quite thick and very potent. But if you want a more tangy Pomegranate taste you can add a little bit more but make sure to taste the batter first.


Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe adapted from Sprinkle's Cupcakes

8 ounces cold cream cheese
1 stick butter, firm but not cold
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine butter, salt, and cream cheese in mixer and beat on medium speed 2-3 minutes. Add sugar until just incorporated. Don’t over mix. It should be thick but not fluffy. Add vanilla.



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35 Comments:

Blogger Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Michelle sweetie...
What a winter wonderland. Isn't it beautiful? I pray you don't need to be getting out in it anytime to soon, as there is so much. Are the roads closed, and when does the snow plow come through for you all?

I love these cupcakes. They look so delish. I have never had a pomegrante so I don't even know what the taste is, but they look so delish I am going to have to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing.

Have a beautiful Monday and Happy New Year, it sure is coming.

Country hugs...Sherry

December 28, 2009 at 7:24 AM  
Blogger susan said...

Michelle-I have never seen snow like this "up close and personal", but I do know I Hate freezing rain! Your pictures are beautiful! I have never seen pomegranate molasses (but I've never looked) I am definitely keeping the basic cupcake recipe--for all five of them :) Take care and stay warm!!

December 28, 2009 at 8:25 AM  
Blogger Haden News said...

I love that it only makes 5 cupcakes! When you are a empty nester those extra cupcakes end up on my hips :)

December 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM  
Blogger Shelley Kubitz Mahannah said...

Those look good, Michelle - one of my New Year's resolutions is to try baking with pomegranate. Can't wait to try these!

December 28, 2009 at 8:36 AM  
Blogger Cristie said...

What a unique cupcake idea- they sound wonderful. Your pictures are beautiful, of the cupcakes and the great outdoors. I love the idea of a small batch of cupcakes. I'll be checking into the cookbook. Happy 2010!

December 28, 2009 at 8:37 AM  
Blogger Heather S-G said...

These do sound really good...and I love that they only make 5!!! I always have too many cupcakes sitting around the house tempting me when I make a batch :D

December 28, 2009 at 8:49 AM  
Blogger Joanne said...

You look like you're living in a winter wonderland! I can't remember the last time we had a white Christmas...it's definitely been a few years now.

These cupcakes look fantastic! I am a sucker for cream cheese frosting, though. I like the addition of the pomegranate...sweet and tangy is the way to go.

December 28, 2009 at 9:16 AM  
Blogger Thistlemoon said...

Such beautiful snow photos! Love the cupcakes too - beautiful and festive!

December 28, 2009 at 11:20 AM  
Blogger Lori E said...

I love the taste of pomegranates and the way they look but oh how I dislike the crunchy seed in the middle. I just can't chew them up and eat them and to spit them out is not always acceptable.
I am sure the dogs are loving the snow. I hope you can get out to the store if need be.
I wonder what you are making for New Years Eve?

December 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM  
Blogger pam said...

I don't know which is prettier, the snow or your cupcakes!

December 28, 2009 at 12:42 PM  
Anonymous Kayte said...

The cupcakes are so very pretty. I love the idea that it makes 5! We have lost any sweet teeth that any of us have had...need time to recuperate from all this heavy food. I will bookmark this one for the future, though, as they sound delightful. And, a girl can only live without cream cheese frosting so long. I can believe all that snow...I grew up in northeast Iowa, not too far from MINNESNOWTA, yes you read that correctly...LOL. Don't miss those days, and I love looking at your beautiful photos from afar. My favorite porch is now covered in snow and ice? Say it isn't so...I am longing for the days when you post photos of the greenery and the food shots on my favorite porch. Yep, just waiting for the day....

December 28, 2009 at 1:35 PM  
Blogger chow and chatter said...

wow awesome cupcakes hope the snow soon clears love rebecca

December 28, 2009 at 5:57 PM  
Blogger bridget {bake at 350} said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous pictures of the cupcakes and the snow!!!

December 28, 2009 at 6:39 PM  
Blogger RJ Flamingo said...

So beautiful! Both the scenery and those gorgeous cupcakes! Love the tangy pomegranate touch. Mmmm!

December 28, 2009 at 7:55 PM  
Blogger Amanda said...

The cupcakes look fantastic Michelle. I have some pomegranate cupcakes to post too, one of these days LOL! You got a lot more snow than us. Everything you described was the same, only we probably got about 11" of new snow. Amazing!

December 28, 2009 at 8:24 PM  
Blogger theUngourmet said...

These are beautiful with the arils on top and I love that it makes a mini batch!

December 28, 2009 at 9:39 PM  
Blogger Kathleen said...

Your outdoor photos are amazing! I love the snow in the trees. These cupcakes are beauts too!

December 29, 2009 at 12:27 AM  
Blogger Julie said...

Those are just beautiful cupcakes...I'll bet they are delicious! I just used pomegranate for the first time a few days ago and I'm addicted!

December 29, 2009 at 12:34 AM  
Blogger Fresh Local and Best said...

I love that this recipe only yields 5 cupcakes! Those pictures of the snow draped trees are stunning! It's as if someone sprinkled powdered sugar all over the place!

December 29, 2009 at 6:07 AM  
Blogger Kim said...

What a wonderful snowfall you all had! I think the pictures of the snow look beautiful. I'm in Cuyahoga County in Ohio and we've had a good 8" or so. It's been so much fun for me and the kids because we don't get that much snow at home in KY.
I love how this recipes makes only 5 cupcakes. I also like how you adapated the recipe to include the pomegranate molasses and garnished with the seeds, they are very pretty. Cream cheese frosting is my favorite!

December 29, 2009 at 8:32 AM  
Blogger Ezzie said...

You rock Michelle! The cupcakes look great! Snow and more snow...great time for baking!

December 29, 2009 at 8:59 AM  
Anonymous Megan said...

Wow - what gorgeous photos of all that snow.I miss those days of living in New York and waking up to all that clean, beautiful snow.

And celebrating it with cupcakes was a smashing idea!

December 29, 2009 at 10:31 AM  
Anonymous Wine Dog said...

Gorgeous! And cream cheese icing FTW!

December 29, 2009 at 10:35 AM  
Blogger The Quintessential Magpie said...

Michelle, those are gorgeous snow shots, and those delicious cupcakes in their white icing are a perfect holiday match! YUM! Cupcakes were my grandmother's speciality.

XO,

Sheila :-)

December 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Michelle those are so pretty and festive! I was just thinking I'd be hard pressed to remember these for next Christmas and then realized they be so cute for Valentines Day. :)

December 29, 2009 at 2:09 PM  
Blogger Catherine said...

There certainly was alot of snow this holiday!
Those pomegranate cupcakes look heavenly and delightful Michelle!
Nothing like a batch of homemade cupcakes while trapped in by the snow!
All I did was bake cookies! I hope you and yours have a wonderful, blessed New Year!

December 29, 2009 at 3:13 PM  
Blogger Shaheen said...

No way, Pomegranate cupcakes. Love them, and the recipe makes how many? Five, how quaint it that!

Talking about snow, it is very white here too - but the snow is now slowly turning into an ice-rink, skiddy.

December 29, 2009 at 3:18 PM  
Anonymous Erica said...

Wow! Beautiful winter photo!!!!! Your cupcakes look absolutely fantastic. Happy new year!

December 29, 2009 at 5:17 PM  
Blogger TeaLady said...

Don't know which is prettier - the snow or the cuppys. Both are beautiful.

As much as I want snow, maybe not quite THAT much....

December 29, 2009 at 8:41 PM  
Blogger Chats the Comfy Cook said...

That beautiful winter wonderland looks like a black and white photo. Amazing, isn't it. Nature at its best.

Now for a cupcake......

December 29, 2009 at 8:58 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bakes said...

How great is a 5 cupcake recipe! I'm always wondering what to do with a huge batch. I've never heard of Pomegranate Molasses, but it sounds like a wonderful flavor!

December 29, 2009 at 9:24 PM  
Anonymous kellypea said...

Absolutely gorgeous photos! I love being able to see weather in other places in the country, so thanks always for sharing. Nice cupcakes, too :) Pomegranates are a fave and I've experimented, but not with cupcakes.

January 2, 2010 at 2:33 AM  
Blogger Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

Its a beautiful winter wonderland! But in my opinion, best viewed from inside the house, next to a fireplace with hot tea and one of those gorgeous cupcakes in hand! Those are jeweled cupcakes!! So pretty, so pretty.

January 2, 2010 at 11:11 PM  
Blogger Kiyi Kiyi said...

Ooooo your snow pictures AND your cupcake pictures are beautiful!

January 3, 2010 at 10:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful winter scenes that even have cupcakes in them. Oh you make me so hungry. Your cupcake recipe and your cupcake photos look so delicious.

January 19, 2010 at 2:55 PM  

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