Snicker-doodle Cupcake

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups cake flour , sifted

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 3/4 cups sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare cupcake pans with liners. Sift together flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until combined.

Fill your prepared cupcake pans 3/4 full. Bake, rotating halfway through, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Cinnamon Sugar Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine softened
• 2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (about 2 LBS)
  
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, add more to taste
  

Makes:

About 6 cups of icing.

Instructions:

(Medium Consistency)

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.

For thin (spreading) consistency icing, add 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk.

For Pure White Icing (stiff consistency), omit butter; substitute an additional 1/2 cup shortening for butter and add 1/2 teaspoon No-Color Butter Flavor. Add up to 4 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk to thin for icing cakes.