Spuds Sweet Delight and a CSN Stores Giveaway

Spuds.....Sweet....Delight. Yep...thats' what it says and that's what it is. Basically, we're talking about a sweet potato in cupcake version with a sweet maple and brown sugar icing. I think the icing needs some work. Not in flavor...but texture. I have a lot to learn in this area. This was one of the cupcakes I baked for Cupcake Camp L.A. and the thing I really stressed out about the most was the decorating. In short...the icing. I mean...there's so much to consider.....the texure...too thin? too thick? and the whole execution. Omg!! I am sooooo not an icing / frosting person.

So, to make up for my lacking in icing making / applying skills, I'm going to give away a $50.00 USD gift certificate for CSN Stores. Sound fair?

Ok...picture a chilly winter morning. You're sitting in your living room with a cup of coffee and a Spuds Sweet Delight Cupcake...when you let out a big sigh as you once again notice that your coffee table is older than your first child and is in desperate need of retirement. Then you remember that CSN Stores has just about everything....including coffee tables! And not to mention great prices. So head on over and look at some coffee tables, do a little day dreaming and wishful thinking cuz we all know that times are tough for us all. But hey....it never hurts to dream. And who knows....you just might (and probably will) find something within your budget. Which means this little story has a very happy ending.

So take a quick minute to check out those coffee tables. Even if you don't need one right now. Who knows...maybe you'll need one in the near future.

(sshhhh....we'll get to the recipe in a second).

Sooo....how do you win this awesome $50.00 USD gift certificate? Please take 2 seconds to read carefully:

Rules:
This contest is for US  and Canadian residents only
Gift Certificate does not cover applicable shipping and handling charges (don't worry....CSN Stores has sooooo many items that are "free shipping")
Gift Certificate will be good for any and all CSN Stores
Leave a comment for each hoop you've jumped through

Ways to enter: (how many hoops do you want to jump through?)
1. Leave a comment (if you do not want to be entered in the giveaway...that's fine, leave a comment and say it's not for the giveaway. easy peasy)
2. Comment including what your favorite coffee table is
3. Follow me
4. Like my Peaceful Cooking Facebook Page
5. Tweet about my giveaway
6. 2  entries if you Blog about my giveaway

Don't forget.....I need a way to contact you!!! Especially if you're anonymous. If your blogger identity does not link to your email, please leave me your email address or email it to me: peacefulcooking at gmail dot com

Did I forget anything?

Oh yes....This giveaway will end on Sunday, December 5th, 2010 at 11:50 p.m. pacific standard time. I will announce the winner late Monday night or Tuesday.

Good enough? I mean... come on guys.....it's the holiday season. Think GIFTS!!! $50.00 to spend any way you wish. On a loved one or yourself. Not bad....eh? You gotta love free.

Ok...now for the recipe.

Spuds Sweet Delight Cupcakes (inspired by EvilShenanigans.com - Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Printable Version

Makes 24 cupcakes

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, room temp
1 14oz can sweet potatoes
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla (1 TB plus 1 tsp)

Maple and Brown Sugar Icing (inspired by Joylicious.net)
 1 lb powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temp
1 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350' F. Line 24 muffin tins with paper liners. 

Batter: Beat together the butter and sugar until light and smooth. Add eggs, sweet potato, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until combined well. Set aside.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon and allspice. Gradually add to sweet potato mixture....stirring until combined and no lumps remain. Do not over mix.

Divide between the muffin tins (filling about 3/4 full, or a tad more). Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool for a couple of minutes. Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool completely before attempting to ice them.

Now....for the icing. I followed the initial instructions. If I were to do it again, I 'd try it differently. The instructions said to:

On low speed, stream the sugars, butter and salt. Stream in maple syrup. Add vanilla. Increase the speed to med and beat until light and fluffy.

My icing came out a bit grainy from the brown sugar....and it was very "wet". Which tells me it needed more powdered sugar? I think.

Anyways, I think next time I'll work the butter first: beat until creamy, approx. 2 minutes on med-high speed. Then reduce the speed to med. and add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Add brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Stream in the maple syrup and vanilla...continuing to beat until light and fluffy again.

Maybe....just maybe, I'd end up with an icing with a little more body and the brown sugar will have smoothed out a bit.

 Either way...they had great flavor and they did have a bit of personality to them...kinda Shabby Chic. A little droopy but in pearls.