Tuxedo Peep Cupcakes

You know spring has officially come when you see the characteristic yellow boxes with the cloyingly sweet, but ridiculously cute, sugar-coated marshmallows start popping up at every corner of your local chain grocery store. I'm not going to lie. Somehow, I can't seem to avoid getting suckered into buying a box of these peeps every single year. And considering that the only way I really enjoy my marshmallows is via instant microwaveable s'mores (20 seconds of marshmallow in microwave = blissful, instant gratification. go try right now!), these peeps usually meet a not too pretty fate. This year they had a more honorable exit from the pantry. Inspired by the tuxedo peeps of Jacques Torres' chocolate store, I tried my hand at decking the adorable little guys out in a tux as a treat for our campus ministry's brother's appreciation night. Perched on a bed of Swiss meringue icing and coconut, these little guys helped wrap up the night in top-style.


the gang



I tried out a new vanilla-bean cupcake recipe that declared itself to be the best of its kind (but honestly, when can you ever go wrong with a recipe involving vanilla bean?). Of course, my favorite so far has to be the vanilla bean cupcakes from Annie's Eats that I baked back in September, buuutt... man, were these some ridiculously fragrant and fluffy vanilla cupcakes. I think I may have to jog my memory on the recipe from Annie's Eats, so... vanilla bean cupcake take 2 coming up soon? Until then, hope you enjoy this vanilla-bean recipe as much as I did!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
For 30 cupcakes:
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temp
4 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1_1/3 cups milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F and line two cupcake pans.
2.) Add and infuse vanilla bean to sugar.
3.) To bowl 1, add cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar (infused with vanilla). Whisk dry ingredients together.
4.) Add butter to bowl 1 and mix on medium-low for 3 minutes.
5.) In bowl 2, whisk eggs, sour cream, oil and vanilla extract until smooth.
6.) Add bowl 2 mixture to bowl 1 and beat on medium until just combined.
7.) Add milk gradually to mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
8.) Bake for 14 minutes, using a tooth-pick test to check whether they are done!
9.) Allow to cool on rack before frosting.
As adapted from www.cupcakeproject.com



noms

As for the peeps, they are pretty self-explanatory. Just some dressing up with white and dark chocolate along with some sprinkles and they will be ready to accompany you to whatever black-tie event you have coming up.


Getting Dressed...


Ta-da!





Ready to go!