No, no, I’m not pregnant – but my friend is! One of my good friends is expecting her first baby, and while all pregnancies are very wonderful and exciting, hers is really something special. After trying without luck to have a baby for years, and attempting multiple fertility treatments which were unsuccessful, my friend and her husband decided to adopt. They were incredibly excited about the prospect of becoming adoptive parents and then the week they went active with their adoption agency, they found out they had their own biological little one on the way! Life is funny sometimes, but I am just tickled to death with excitement for them. They will be truly wonderful parents.
They came over for dinner a few weeks ago and I wanted to come up with a dessert that would somehow incorporate a baby theme. Pink and blue are a natural choice, so I opted for a classic vanilla cupcake with my favorite vanilla buttercream. I topped with jelly beans because one of her nicknames for the baby is “bean” (and that is what we called Andrew sometimes as well). I thought these were a cute, simple way to celebrate such joyous news. I was also happy to make these because I rediscovered the wonderfulness that is Dorie’s Perfect Party Cake. I haven’t made this cake since the first time I tried it, and now I have no idea why! It is just as easy as any other vanilla cake, yet so light and flavorful. I am positively giddy over how well it worked in cupcake form. I’ll be using this a recipe a lot more now! These were definitely a hit with the parents-to-be, and I heard that the box of cupcakes I sent home with them did not entirely survive the trip 🙂
Because I am lazy, I will simply direct you to my previous posts where you can find both the cake and frosting recipes. I bake these cupcakes about 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A half batch of the frosting was enough to generously frost 10 or 11 of the 12 cupcakes I made, so if you skimp a bit more I’m sure you could stretch it to all 12 – I just like a lot of frosting!
Happy Friday, everyone! Go enjoy a cupcake 🙂
Filed under: Cupcakes, Dessert, Gifts From the Kitchen |
Annie's Eats 
Adorable. Congratulations to your friend!
Congratulations to your friends – such exciting news! The cupcakes you made look and sound perfect for the occasion. Very festive.
These are so cute and you could customize them in endless ways!!
What a sweet gesture! And such a cute idea! I don’t know if you’ve read my blog or not but we have suffered infertility for about 9 yrs now and are in the process of using a surrogate! I can completely understand!
Wow, God does truly work in mysterious ways. That’s so exciting for your friends and what a good friend you are to make such cute cupcakes!!
You blog is amazing! I enjoy your approach to recipes so much. These are the cutest cupcake ever…we just found out this week about our 9th grand baby coming. Our daughter has 4 boys and it would be nice to welcome a little girl, but we are loving what we get! We do have 2 precious little grand daughters…but they are a little out numbered wouldn’t you say! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Annie – again, thank you, thank you for dinner and the cupcakes! And the blog post got me all teary eyed. You’re awesome! 🙂 (PS – I posted a link to it on my blog – hope that’s ok!)
Aww, you are so welcome! And of course it’s okay to link to my blog, silly! We’re so happy for you guys. Let’s get together again soon!
🙂 Annie
So cute!
Congratulations to your friend! You are so sweet to make such adorable cupcakes:)
I know a couple that was in the same situation! They actually adopted a child, and found out they were expecting. These cupcakes are adorable!
Hey! I found your site because it automatically linked to mine at the bottom. I’m so glad it did because you have such a cute site 🙂 🙂
These look so delicious and what a simple yet effective idea. Thanks for sharing. x
Your cupcakes look gorgeous as usual! Have you tried The Way the Cookie Crumbles’ adaptation of the CI recipe (http://www.crumblycookie.net/2009/07/01/white-cake-comparison-2/). That recipe is reported to better than Dorie’s. Anyway, I bet it was still delicious!
I think this is a great idea! And if you eat a cupcake or two, you just don’t feel as guilty as eating a huge slice of cake! 🙂
Riley
Awww, they’re adorable, and I love how you topped them with jelly beans! Congrats to your friends 🙂
These are adorable. You always decorate so beautifully. I nominated you for an award.
Congratulations to your friends! I’m adopted and my son is adopted, and I have many friends having gone through infertility treatments and the adoption process so I know this journey must have been so long and tiring for them. What a joyous surprise for them to have a little one! Thanks for sharing a little bit of their story and being a great friend to them.
Thanks for all the great recipes! I love your blog. Something I always wonder when you post cupcake recipes is how you get the icing to look so great. Is it a specific tip or brand on icing bag? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
I use a large star tip for frosting most of my cupcakes – it is my favorite! I don’t have an exact name or number because it came with my mechanical pastry bag from Williams Sonoma. Hope that helps!
🙂 Annie
From someone who also went through alot of fertility treatments before being blessed with my miracle babies, yippi! And great cupcakes and love checking out your blog 🙂
Abby
these are adorable! even more exciting (and ironic) is that I know your newly-pregnant friend! I got a link to your site last year and check it often for great recipes. I read your newest one and said that sounds alot like my sister-in-law’s best friend! i checked to see if it could possibly be the same person and saw the same pictures on her blog. what a small world 🙂
Congrats to your friend. Such a blessing! I love how you honor and bless your friendships with such a loving, thoughtful, creative, giving heart.
Love all your cupcakes. Love the vivid colors too! They are so pretty with the full icings. Need to commit to using a tip the next time I make/frost cupcakes…instead of a plain old icing spatula!
I need a white cake recipe for a baby shower. Does this qualify? How many cupcakes did this recipe make? Thanks.
Hi Caroline,
This is pretty close to a white cake, though not pure white in color (not sure if that matters). If memory serves, I think this recipe makes about 18 cupcakes.
I just love all the recipes on your website! I forward your links to my friends and family because they always rave about your recipes when I make them! 🙂
These cupcakes are so cute! I do have a question about them – How do you apply the frosting? All of your cupcakes look beautiful and I was wondering what tools or techniques you use.
Thanks!
Melissa,
I use a pastry bag to frost my cupcakes. A large star tip is usually my favorite.