My Entry for the Manly Cupcake Contest!

I was excited when I saw that C&C Cakery was holding a Manly Cupcake Contest to help raise awareness for Movember!



In case you weren't aware of what Movember is, here's a little blurb from the Movember Website:
"During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health."

This year's theme was "Mos of the Movies" and I thought it would only be fitting for my cupcakes to be based on Clark Gable's character, Rhett Butler, in Gone With the Wind. So without futher adieu, I present to you:

Rhett Velvet Cupcakes

Is eating more than one bad? Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.




These bad boys are rich and smooth, with a bit of a bite. Just how I like my men, haha.


Be sure to vote for my babies on the C&C Cakery front page November 21-25!



The Manly Cupcake Contest Prize Sponsor's Include:

• Kriskrop Memories- One dozen cupcake toppers



• The Lunch Box Project - A set of Cupcake Cards



• Cake Wrecks - A personalized copy of Cake Wrecks and a pin pack


• Vanilla Food Company - 1lb of Madagascar vanilla beans for the Grand Prize winner, and a quarter pound for the two runners up



• Bella Cupcake Couture - one pack of Cupcake Wrappers for each of our Finalists



• Drama Llama - a handmade woven and mustachioed pouch



• Freaky Fleece - a drawstring Mustache bag



• Petite Pastries - a handmade cupcake charm


• Miss Kitty Creations - a special edition Tuxedo Cupcake Charm


• Scoop-n-Save - A Manly Movember Prize pack, including sprinkles, disco dust, cupcake liners, cookie cutter, and chocolate molds



• Whodini Handmade - A mustachioed vinyl wallet
  

Also, it would be great if you could make a donation this month to a men's charity and spread the word to your friends! Here are some links:

C&C Cakery Movember Page
Movember Page for my friend Bill
Prostate Cancer Foundation

Now, who wants the recipe?



The batter and frosting were both made from scratch (honestly, is there any other way?) and I'm happy to provide you the recipe!

I adapted my batter recipe from Lucy Baker's Southern Comfort Red Velvet Cake, published in the Boozy Baker: 75 Receipes for Spirited Sweets but since it is only an adaptation of her recipe, I will show you what I did:


Ingredients

Cupcake Batter:

3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1/8 cup Southern Comfort (or a Tennessee whiskey if you'd like a stronger flavor)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bottle of red food coloring (1oz size)

Icing:

4 - 6 cups of confectioners sugar, sifted
1/4 cup milk
1/8 cup Southern Comfort (or a Tennessee whiskey if you'd like a stronger flavor)
2 sticks of butter, softened






Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Line muffin pan with cupcake liners

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt together.

In a medium bowl, whisk buttermilk, vinegar, food coloring, Southern Comfort and vanilla together.

In another large bowl, beat together butter and sugar, using an electric mixer until well mixed and fluffy (about 3 minutes).

Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each one.

Add half of flour mixture, beat well.

Add all of buttermilk mixture, beat well.

Add remaining half of flour mixture, beat well.

Fill cupcake liners to about 2/3 full.

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until soft and springy to the touch/toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Keep an eye on them, every oven is different, and I've noticed that people tend to overcook red velet and it becomes grainy. We want these to be moist and firm, but not dense.

Let cool in muffin pan for a few minutes and then take out and let cool completely.

Makes about 28 cupackes. (because it's never guaranteed that you will have 24 perfect cupackes, I always make enough for a few extras as a bit of insurance)

While cooling, you can make the icing.

Combine butter, milk, Southern Comfort and 3 cups of the confectioners sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer. Keep adding more confectioners sugar until the icing is as thick as you'd prefer. I used about 4 cups, and it was light and airy.

Ice the cupcakes using a frosting gun, pasty bag or spatula.

Voila!