Birthday Baking

One of the all time best compliments I can get is when someone asks me to bake or cook for them. I know this is really more of a tribute to the person who created the recipe than me for just being able to follow instructions, but it's still exciting that they like what I do so much that they want me to do it again (and are even willing to pay for it, if I allow them to), instead of just asking for the recipe and doing it themselves. So we're continuing Sweets Week with cupcakes that were requested for a coworker's birthday. She asked if I could bring in chocolate mint cupcakes, using the same recipe I used for my birthday cake back in May (from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World), so I did.

Normally, when I make cupcakes, I love breaking out the pastry bags, attempting to get all fancy with the decorating and actually making them look wholly unattractive. This time, I was lazy and just used a spatula and spoon. Oddly enough, I think they look better now than they usually do (though I should have put aside a bit of frosting to put a dollop in the center of the ganache. It just needs a little something in there). I guess less really is more (when you can't decorate to save your life).

When making recipes from VCTOTW, I sometimes wonder if Isa and Terry expect us to have frosting fights or something. The recipes make so much that I always halve them unless I'm making a big cake. This time, even with only making half the recommended amount of frosting, I was able to go over each cupcake twice, giving it (sometimes more than) double what I would be comfortable eating. Does anyone else experience this? Am I the only frosting minimalist in these parts?

Frosting amounts aside, I love these cupcakes. I got to spend a whole hour asleep on the train with them on my lap. It may have been my best smelling nap ever.