If only I could dance like Vector...

I've had these pictures ready for a few days but I haven't been able to think of anything to blog about with them. Truth be told, I still don't. At least not really. I could ramble on and on and considering the fact that I it already 1:00 am I'm pretty sure rambling is unavoidable.

Vanilla Bean Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

I spent some time with two of my greatest friends this week. We were at World Market, I was buying vanilla beans (Oh, yeahhhh!) since they are pretty good and really inexpensive and I saw a jar of dulce de leche and I just couldn't pass it up. I'm not sure what makes dulce de leche different that regular old caramel. All I know is that these were delightful. The cake--if you're careful to not overfill the liners--bakes up all pretty like and the buttercream comes together easily.

I could keep talking about nothing of great importance, but I really should get to bed. I gots-ta lot to do tomorrow!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
makes approx 24

2 1/4 cup flour
1 tea. baking powder
1/2 tea. salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 c. vanilla sugar
3/4 c. butter--room temp--
2 T vanilla extract
seeds from 2 vanilla beans
2/3 c. sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pans.
In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy--about 3 minutes.
Add eggs, vanilla bean seeds, and vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated.
Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients until well blended.
Fold in sour cream until smooth.

Fill the liners about half full and bake approx. 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

When completely cool, cut out the center and fill with dulce de leche.


Dulce de Leche Buttercream

1 c. butter--room temp--
3 T. heavy cream
1 T. vanilla
4 c powdered sugar
3/4 c dulce de leche
pinch of salt

Cream together butter and dulce de leche on low in a mixer. Add cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat to incorporate. Frost as desired.