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pregnant lady cupcakesNo, I am not pregnant. Don’t even think about it. But my friend Jessica’s co-worker is, and all she’s been wanting is yellow cake with chocolate frosting. 3rd grade birthday party style. When Jess tasked me with the job of making a pregnant lady happy I went straight for Billy’s Vanilla Vanilla cake – my current favorite “yellow” cake recipe.

A while back, Candace Nelson from Sprinkles Cupcakes gave me some Callebaut dark chocolate nibs – and having just had another baby herself, she was on my mind while I baked – so those became my dark chocolate butter cream. The preggo had also mentioned wanting something “crunchy” so I thought back to my pregnancy cravings and rolled the frosted cupcakes in crushed potato chips. From what I read between Jess and her friend on Twitter the cupcakes were a success. And I think I have a new favorite chocolate frosting, Sprinkles’ dark chocolate frosting.

For the frosting you’ll need:

(Makes enough to frost 2 dozen cupcakes)

  • 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped
  • 1 pound unsalted butter , at room temperature
  • 1 pound plus 8 ounces powdered sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Then you:

Melt and cool chocolate (I rig up a double boiler with a glass bowl and large pot.) Beat butter until light and fluffy. With mixer on low speed, gradually add powdered sugar. Add salt, vanilla and sour cream and mix until very smooth. Add melted, cooled chocolate and mix until just incorporated.

bake and destroy, grind for lifeIn other news, it’s almost my birthday (ok it’s December 12th, but that’s close right?) and I’ve started fundraising for Grind for Life again. Last year I was able to raise over $1000. I’ve already raised $425 to date and as of today I have 22 days left to try and beat last year’s goal. You can donate as little as $10 and it all goes to Grind for Life – a non-profit that provide financial assistance to cancer patients and their families when traveling long distances to doctors and hospitals. Please consider donating if you can, and if you can’t give money, you can help by spreading the word about my birthday wish on Twitter and Facebook!