oatmeal cookies in a different form

I like oatmeal raisin cookies--it's easy for me to convince myself that they're healthy. Plus, it seems like they're always redolent of cinnamon, which can never be bad.


What if I could have the same pseudo-health benefits and cinnamon aroma in half the time and with less than half the effort? Win-win.

It's time again for Taste & Create, the blog event in which bloggers get paired up and must make a dish from each other's recipe archives. My partner for this go-round (XVII) was Stef from Cupcake Project. I was actually paired with her once before, and I attempted to replicate her Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcakes. They were delightful, as are all of her clever and creative concoctions.


This time, I picked her Oatmeal Raisin Cupcakes with Maple Glaze. Isn't the very idea of it pure brilliance? I can't believe I haven't come across it before.

I made absolutely zero changes to her cupcake recipe, and they couldn't have come out better. I just love when the aroma of cinnamon fills my apartment. The texture of the cupcakes is quite unique, and I suspect that the vinegar has something to do with that--after all, it's not a common cupcake ingredient. They're soft and pillowy and just break down right in your mouth, but at the same time, there's a bit of a chew from the oats. Nice.

Stef used maple extract in her glaze, and instead of buying some, I used a different recipe. Although I'm sure the original glaze is good, I thought this one was completely perfect--it was extremely tempting to just take the mixing bowl and spatula, have a seat, and revel in its tastiness.


Great recipe, Stef--you're a superstar!