Cinnamon Chips

They are here...they are finally here!!!

Found the most desirable Cinnamon Chips, online in Kings Arthur Flour and I just got them yesterday. This are not your regular chips, normally we would buy chocolate chips and often find butterscotch chips in the supermarket and bakery supply stores. But this cinnamon chips really puts its own stamp in desserts like scones, muffins, cookies, cakes and even breads. If you can think about it, you can definitely bake it!

Having the cinnamon coming in the form of chips makes it pop (break up) with the heat of the oven and gives that distinctive taste that is more concentrated than when you add certain amount of cinnamon powder to a recipe. Plus it looks beautiful when you break into it (or bite into the scones, yummy!).

Here are the new pictures of the scones I made just today. This scones are a little different from the ones I made earlier this month. They don't have the sugar glaze, but they are definitely different inside. The cinnamon chips makes all the difference in the world, design wise and taste wise. It looks like dots of cinnamon inside. Make them for yourself and loved ones, enjoy!

For the recipe look at: Cinnamon Scones

Spice is in the air!

I truly enjoy holidays, but Christmas is my absolute favorite. It's all about the weather, the atmosphere in the stores and seeing the houses so pretty decorated. This time of year is also special in my heart, because it represents the birth of God and it's like his big birthday party. A special time of year that almost everyone enjoy and celebrates with family get-together and presents exchange and lots of food and desserts.

After window shopping and seeing some Christmas items in the stores I got some holiday jitters. Nothing says Christmas more to me than Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and that's exactly what I have been up to this past week.

Everyone is getting a cupcake to say til later to Summer and welcome the Fall (even though Fall is not officially here).

Now for the exciting part, the recipe:

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 can (15 oz.) solid-packed pumpkin

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs

For the frosting:

1 stick of butter (room temperature)

1 stick (80z.) cream cheese (room temperature)

4 cups of powder sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract (great quality)

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 350°F. Line three 12-cup muffin tins with decorative cupcake papers.

To make the cupcakes, in a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Toss the walnuts and raisins with the flour mixture. (This will help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the muffin tins.)

In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition.

Add the flour mixture in three additions, stirring with a large wooden spoon until just combined. Don't over mix.

Tip: I add a small amount of cream cheese (about 1/2 tsp.) in the center of the cupcakes before baking for extra flavor.

Now, do you want to see what happened to the cupcake above? I had it cut in the middle so you could enjoy the inside. Yeah it tastes as good as it looks... Yummy!!!