2012 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest

Celtic Pride Cupcake
Green Velvet Cupcake with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and  Chipotle Vanilla Frosting

      I decided to be adventurous and enter in the 2012 Ice Cream Cupcake Contest that is being held by cupcakeproject.com and http://www.scoopalicious.blogspot.com/. Once I heard about it a million ideas ran through my head and I wasn't sure which one would be the right one, but then it hit me.... I'm going to make a Boston Celtic Pride Cupcakes and why not? Isn't right now the perfect time to have such a cupcake for the ultimate Celtic fan! So here we go. I hope your ready to feel like your right there at the one of their games fan or not! :) 

Green Velvet Cupcakes

Green Velvet Cupcake

• 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 tbsp. of cocoa
• 1 tsp. of salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of oil
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• .5 oz green food coloring

   First grease or place cupcake wrappers in your pan(s). As well as preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

   To make things easier I placed all my ingredients in prep bowls so all I had to was add and be done with it. The only one I didn't have prepped was the sugar because I failed to realize I was missing this and had my hubby make a run. How nice of him, huh? 

  After doing that you can start with the eggs in a small bowl that will be big enough to add all of your liquids eventually. Whisk the eggs. Now gradually add all of the other liquids except the food coloring, which we will be saving til the end. 

  Add all your dry ingredients into your mixing bowl and stir together well. 

 Now you can add half of your green food coloring bottle to the wet ingredients.  

 Mix the wet ingredients into the dry gradually and turn the mixer onto medium high. Mix for about 2 minutes.

Pour the batter using 1/4 cup into each cup. Place into the oven for 15 mins. You should be able to make about 24 cupcakes. While your waiting for them to finish you can maybe lick the spoon... or get started on the next task to come. :) 

Chipotle Vanilla Frosting

Chipotle Vanilla Frosting

• 4 cups of confectionery sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 1 whole chopped chipotle chile 
• 2 tbsp. adobo sauce

 Start out by mixing the butter and shortening until fluffy. Now you can gradually add the rest of the ingredients. That is basically is all there is to it. Easy right? 

 Now comes the fun part. After the cupcakes have fully cooled start to cut holes about 1/4 the way down. I had a nifty cookie cutter that did the job just fine. Any circular object that will cut will do.

Now get the yummy mint chocolate chip ice cream out of the freezer and scoop a little in. Be very careful that you don't push too hard or you will break the cupcake in half. Next put the cupcake in the freezer so that it will hold it shape better when you frost later.

When I took mine out I placed mine one at a time as I frosted them in my already frozen ice cream maker bowl. If you don't have one don't fret just put a bowl that will be ok in the freezer for a little bit in the freezer.

Now I am not a pro froster. In fact I had to switch my method in between because one was just not working for me. You can pipe with a gallon bag and your choice of piping tip or you can do it like how I did. I used a Wilton cupcake froster. I showed both methods below.

With setting up your piping bag grab a cup and place your back inside, placing the sides of the bag over the cup. Now you can easily scoop in the frosting. Then rubber band the top so that it makes it harder for it to keep seeping out. Finally attach the piping tip of your choice. I had the tips from the Chef Duff collection. This method was a major fail for me. :)  I cut open the bag and scooped it all into my Wilton cupcake froster. The tips were way bigger and honestly I think dealt better with the frosting.

Finally now it is time to place the final touches to the cupcake. Pipe the frosting and if you felt need be like I did add a fondant Celtic logo. Go Celtics!