Chocolate Potato Cupcake

When a friend of mine jokingly asked me to make a Potato Cupcake, I couldn't help myself...and it was actually quite delicious!  When you bite into this cupcake all you can taste is a deliciously moist and rich chocolate cupcake - the only hint of potato is the garnish.  For this spud-tacular cupcake you'll need...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing
• Milk (enough to replace the water your cake mix calls for)
• 2 Cups Grated Potato (I didn't bother removing the peel if you're wondering...but you can)
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Green Gel Food Colouring (Optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Plain Potato Chip or Chocolate Covered Potato Chip (you'll need chips and melted chocolate chips to do this...see below for instructions)

And here's my simple recipe...

Step 1: Preheat your oven as directed on the cake mix package.  Add all the ingredients your Chocolate Cake Mix calls for EXCEPT for the water.  Instead of the water, replace the called for amount with Milk. Mix the ingredients together until it's smooth. Stir in Grated Potato until fully incorporated.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: For the icing, I decided to make Vanilla Icing and dye it green, but you could leave it white or use Chocolate Icing instead.  So, for my Vanilla Icing, using your mixer beat the vanilla icing and butter on high until smooth. Give your icing a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking add in some icing sugar.  At this point I added in my Green Gel Food colouring until I was happy with my icing.

Step 4 (optional): If you'd like to top your cupcake with a chocolate dipped chip simply melt down 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and dip half your chip in the melted chocolate.  Place the chocolate dipped chip on a piece of wax paper and repeat for as many garnishes as you need.  If you get tired of dipping, don;t worry about it.  Simply garnish some with chocolate dipped chips and some with plain - no one will ever know!

Step 5: It's time to ice your cupcakes.  Spoon or pipe your cupcake with the icing you just mixed up.  Top your cupcake with the garnish of your choice and enjoy the reactions of your guests.

Happy Faking!

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Grinch Cupcake

Christmas isn't complete without the Grinch!  So of course I had to make this novelty cupcake that was more for the hilarity of watching people eat them than having people actually enjoy them.  If you make these, you may want to whip up one of my REAL recipes.  I would say I had a 50/50 mix of people who liked them and, I have to admit, I couldn't bring myself to try them.  They probably could have been more palatable if I had used a different flavour chip, but it was the perfect Grinch flavour, so it had to be done!  Here's what you'll need if you date to make the Grinch Cupcake...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought White Icing
• 1 cup of crushed (but not too fine) Rippled Dill Pickle Sour Cream Flavoured Chips plus 24 more chips to put on top
• Green Gel Food Colouring
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Halawa with Pistachios, Chips or Crushed Pistachios

 And here's the recipe if you're feeling adventurous...

Step 1: Follow the direction of your Chocolate Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  Mix together until the batter is smooth. Fold in 1 cup of Crushed Rippled Dill Pickle Sour Cream Flavoured Chips.

Step 2:  Spoon the batter into your cupcake pan liners and top batter with a chip.   Place in the oven and bake as directed on package.

Step 3: On to the icing. For my icing all you need to do is mix together the white icing and butter on high until smooth.  Add some icing sugar if you like it super sweet or find it too buttery.  Of course, for this cupcake the icing needs to be green.  Simply add a few drops of green food colouring and mix until it's fully incorporated.  If you want it to be greener, just add more green food colouring!

Step 4: To assemble you cupcake, spoon on your green icing.  Top with the garnish of your choice, I used Halawa with Pistachios, and serve. If you're brave enough to make these, expect mixed reviews, but it's pretty hilarious to watch people try them! 

Happy Holidays and Happy Faking!

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