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So it probably comes as no surprise that I joined a cupcake blogging/baking club! I first heard about it from my friend, Alyssa. I was super excited by the idea of joining a cupcake club and immediately went to their website to investigate!
It's basically a community of bloggers who agree to try out the same cupcake recipe each month and then blog about it simultaneously on the 15th! All the recipes are chosen by members out of the Martha Stewart Cupcake book. Thrilled by the idea, I emailed the creator, requesting membership. But to my utter dismay, I was wait-listed! So exclusive. Naturally, this made me want to join even more! You know how it is..
But alas! I was given very short notice a week ago and was informed that I finally made it! I had been waiting for about a month and I sure as hell wasn't going to give up my spot...short notice or not! Super excited, I set out to get the book and start on my first cupcake baking challenge!
And then my bubble burst when I saw what was on the menu this month: Zucchini cupcakes. Say what? Suuuuuuuper weird! I guess I've heard of zucchini bread.. but I always thought maybe it was a savory thing, one that goes with dinner or something. Obviously, I had never been intrigued enough by zucchini to try it! But I didn't want to lose my highly coveted membership, so I reluctantly dragged myself to the grocery store for the ingredients.
Main ingredient: Zucchini. Obviously.
It's kinda pretty when it's shredded.
It's kinda pretty when it's shredded.
The dry ingredients called for a variety of spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The mixture was super fragrant and totally brightened up the room! Maybe there's hope yet!
The wet ingredients included vanilla, lemon zest, walnuts, brown sugar. Ok, perhaps I was too quick to judge..
The wet ingredients included vanilla, lemon zest, walnuts, brown sugar. Ok, perhaps I was too quick to judge..
They turned out beautifully, with tiny specks of green in the cupcake!
The recipe called for Martha's cream cheese frosting, but I used one that I found on my own. I added less sugar than it called for and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice! It was delicious!
Then I topped them with some walnuts for added cuteness!
We brought them to a Sunday afternoon BBQ and they were a hit! Everyone loved them! Me and hubby included. My friend Colleen said that they tasted like Christmas. And that was the perfect description. I can't think of a better way to say it! All the spices in it made it super fragrant and delicious. Colleen's hubby said that it reminded him of carrot cake, but with zucchinis. lol! Boys are so funny with their words sometimes, but he was absolutely right!
That will teach me to judge a recipe by its name! =)
Please click HERE for the recipe.
