Celebrate Oscar Night with “Red Carpet” Cupcakes!

by Auntie M on Mar 04, 2010

This scrumptious and very clever recipe comes from Doris Cassar. It has become a favorite at her and her husband’s annual Oscar cocktail party. We especially love the final glamorous touch of gold dragées on each cupcake.

It seems particularly fitting for us to feature DORIS’ recipe as it will be a “Doris” kind of night at the Oscars this year. The incredibly talented and gorgeous Doris Day will finally be receiving her long overdue Oscar (for Lifetime Achievement). And Doris Cassar will be receiving a $25 Hammertown Gift Card for sharing her recipe! — Auntie M

My husband Rick and I host an annual Oscar cocktail party, which we actually call “The Coveted Lefty Awards,” (for reasons only our closest friends understand.) There are ballots to be filled and prizes to be won. The competition can be pretty fierce.

Each year we attempt to serve a witty yet delicious menu inspired by the best picture nominations. With a total of 10-this year presents a real challenge. Some highlights from my 2010 menu are: Gruyere and bacon AVITARts (mini quiches) and A SEROIUS MANwich (pulled pork sliders.)

These tasty, glamorous cupcakes are always a winner for best sweet treat!

Red Carpet Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c canola oil
2 eggs
1 c buttermilk
1 ounce red gel food coloring*
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.
2. In a mixing bowl, sift together dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
3. In another bowl, beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth.
4. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins, filling each cup about 1/2 way. Bake in the oven for about approx 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

8oz cream cheese (softened)**
8 tbl butter-1 stick (softened)
4 c sifted 10x
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp orange flower water-or to taste (optional)***
sanding sugar, gold dragees (optional)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, combine. Mix at high speed until light and fluffy.

Frost cupcakes generously with cream cheese frosting. Accessorize with some fabulous sanding sugar and gold dragees. Thank the Academy and enjoy!

*For maximum color brilliancy, I prefer the gel food coloring to powders or drops.
**For a smooth frosting, be sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temp.
***I think this gives the frosting a light, “dressed up” flavor.