July 19, 2011

still lovin' the cinnamon

Woefully, cinnamon hasn't been featured on this blog in quite some time. Lest you think I've abandoned my love for the stellar spice, I've concocted two batches of cupcakes to refocus the spotlight on its rightful place.


The first cupcake I bring you is of the snickerdoodle variety. The cookies are grand and the blondies are delicious, but these beauties have cream cheese frosting! Cinnamon cream cheese frosting, to be exact. I was thrilled to death with these, and that's coming from a somewhat modest cinnamon connoisseur. Well done, Martha Stewart and friends. Well done. (I used her recipe, replacing the seven minute frosting with cream cheese frosting with cinnamon added. Obviously.)


The second batch of cupcakes wasn't quite as successful, but it's still definitely worth mentioning. I took a recipe for Mexican chocolate cake and used it to make cupcakes with no adaptations.


The resulting cakes were tasty, but flat and crumbly in appearance. The frosting I used in lieu of the original glaze was killer, though--buttercream with a smidgen of cayenne incorporated. The whole cinnamon-chocolate-cayenne theme will most certainly be revisited.


No, cinnamon will not be leaving my center stage any time soon.

45 comments:

  1. Rosa's Yummy YumsJuly 19, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Heavenly! I am also a cinnamon addict.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Leah Wolff-PellingraJuly 19, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    What a perfect way to do Mexican Hot Chocolate in the summer.

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  3. tamilynJuly 19, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    Oooooo {squealling with delight} those look fantastic! Filing this one away......

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  4. lisa is cookingJuly 19, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    I can't decide which one of these I want to taste first. I mean, cream cheese frosting is always a winner and the added cinnamon is lovely. But, chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne is very interesting!

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  5. LucieJuly 19, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Glad to see cinnamon is here to stay. Those cupcakes... I say there is no such thing as too much cinnamon. Bring it on!

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  6. MimiJuly 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    I'm all for snicker doodles in any form they take... cookies, blondies, cupcakes or even ice cream. I love chocolate and heat either cayenne or chipotle work for me.
    Mimi

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  7. A Plum By Any Other NameJuly 19, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    Martha sure does love her 7-minute frosting. What I love is your addition of cinnamon ... and of cayenne.

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  8. PamJuly 19, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Cinnamon is my FAVORITE (besides coconut) so this one has me drooling.

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  9. oneordinarydayJuly 19, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Cinnamon cream cheese frosting! Be still my heart!

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  10. AnonymousJuly 19, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Oh, the cinnamon cream on top looks so good! I just came from Sweden where i totally fell in love with their cinnamon rolls, so wonderful!

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  11. MelanieJuly 19, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    So glad to see a cinnamon post. Both cupcakes look divine...I have to admit snickerdoodles fall at the bottom of my cookie-loving-list but a snickerdoodle cupcake really appeals to me!

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  12. Angie's RecipesJuly 19, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Heavenly! The swirls look so sexy.

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  13. JulianaJuly 19, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Grace, I love how you decorated the cupcake, so pretty your swirl. I too love cinnamon!
    Hope you are having a fantastic week :-)

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  14. José ManuelJuly 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Que delicia, esto es maravilloso.

    Saludos

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  15. MarjieJuly 19, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    And your frosting is so pretty, too! I tell everyone to take their frosting glooped on with a knife and consider themselves lucky.

    Cinnamon cream cheese frosting? Check and double check. On the to-do list for sure.

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  16. Kim BeeJuly 19, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    New follower, these look heavenly.

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  17. vanillasugarblogJuly 19, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    cinnamon is very good for you. did you know that? it's good for your blood--helps it circulate.
    you did such a pretty job on the frosting. i'm not that creative with frosting--i am very creative with eating it.

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  18. Gloria BakerJuly 19, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    Dear Grace I always love cinnamon, look amazing! gloria

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  19. KerstinJuly 19, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Cinnamon frosting? Yes please! I might devour it all before any made it on the cupcakes... :)

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  20. Lisa-MarieJuly 20, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    Grace, I believe you are trying to kill me! Cinnamon is my FAVOURITE!!!

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  21. The Blonde DuckJuly 20, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    I'm as addicted as you!

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  22. BarbaraJuly 20, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    You are so funny! Only you would take a close up of cinnamon-laden frosting. But adding the cayenne was a genius move!

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  23. Emily MalloyJuly 20, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Holy Moses.

    I'm in love.

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  24. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaJuly 20, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Oh phew! Grace I thought you had broken up with cinnamon for a while there! :P

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  25. katJuly 20, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Must make those snickerdoodle cupcakes! If you decided to do a Mexican chocolate cupcake again check out the recipe for it on my blog, its really luscious.

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  26. sweetlifeJuly 20, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    cinnamon,chocolate and cayenne..oh how interesting, yum

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  27. marla {family fresh cooking}July 21, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    Oh thank goodness cinnamon is a star in these cupcakes. I add that spice to just about everything. Come to think of it I should keep a bottle in my pocket ;)

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  28. Hungry DogJuly 21, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    I like the sound of both of these--snickerdoodle cupcakes sound much better than the cookies to me (cuz of the frosting, natch) and Mexican chocolate anything is brilliant.

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  29. Lucy LuJuly 21, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    cinnamon is the best thing i agree! organic cinnamon have a wonderful truly flavor :) this looks so tastyyyyyy...


    Have a nice day and btw. check out my new post, finally :)
    Lucy,

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  30. RobinJuly 21, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Yeah I was getting a bit worried over not seeing much cinnamon lately. Thought you broke up!

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  31. Jayanthy KumaranJuly 22, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    oh my...looks divine..
    first time here..love ur space..
    gorgeous recipe collection..
    Am your happy follower now...:)
    do stop by mine sometime..
    Tasty Appetite

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  32. foodhoeJuly 22, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    I love how the first cupcake looks like a rose! I haven't had cream cheese frosting with cinnamon before, sounds delicious

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  33. VonJuly 23, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Oohh...I love the sound of the cinnamon cream cheese frosting! I've never had it before :( :( But these cupcakes look so good!

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  34. LoriJuly 23, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    I will take one of those and maybe an apple for my breakfast this morning, thank you very much.

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  35. FaithJuly 23, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    Oh my...I could eat that cinnamon cream cheese frosting with a spoon, Grace! It looks incredible!

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  36. Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet July 23, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    A snickerdoodle cupcake - now that is perfection. With the addition of cinnamon into the cream cheese, now that is pure perfection. Delish!!!

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  37. JoanneJuly 23, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I'm glad to see you're back on a cinnamon kick because it's one of my favorites as well! Cinnamon cream cheese frosting is always the way to go.

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  38. MariaJuly 23, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Cinnamon is my favourite too! Gosh these look so beautiful!

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  39. shazJuly 24, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    Oh my! They both look so sensational. Can you believe I've never had a snickerdoodle yet Grace?

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  40. Rosita VargasJuly 24, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    Dear Grace have developed a luxury cupcake, I love cinnamon, I congratulate you on your good hand in the kitchen, hugs and kisses.

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  41. LilSisJuly 24, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Even though I'm not much of a sweet eater, I adore cinnamon. The cayenne, cinnamon, chocolate combo sounds so delicious!

    In case you've never tried it, Penzey's has an excellent Extra Fancy Vietnamese Cinnamon.

    I may have to try a batch of these cupcakes just so I can taste the cinnamon icing.

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  42. Alicia FoodycatJuly 24, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Both look amazing! I am so impressed by anyone who can pipe icing.

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  43. Carolyn JungJuly 24, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    Pure swirly goodness! ;)

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  44. DeborahJuly 24, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    I can't imagine your blog without cinnamon - I'm glad to see it's comeback!

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  45. IraAugust 31, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    the frosting has a life of its own. i admire the looks of this cupcake

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