We’ll admit it. We got up at 3 am and watched Will and Kate’s wedding. And we know we weren’t alone. There is something magical about royalty and their nuptials. The dress alone made us swoon with envy. Our little ones have also gone a little royal crazy, and with the royals currently visiting Canada, we thought we’d offer some ideas for how to satisfy your wee one’s Anglophilia.
Nothing says royalty like a ridiculous hat – also called a “fascinator”. And with garage sale season in full swing, why not head out with your tot and make an adventure of hat shopping? She can pick out a huge hat or two, and maybe even a few scarves, fake flowers or brooches to adorn it. And if you’ve got a boy, why not encourage him to think outside the box with accessories? Who knows, maybe he’ll be the next Philip Treacy? Your finds will make perfect additions to your dress up trunk, and your tiny royalist will be the envy of the neighbourhood.
And while you’re out trolling those garage sales for haberdashery, why not pick up a piece or two of fine china ideal for a mini tea party? Your mini monarchists will be delighted as they drink from fancy cups, and nibble on tiny sandwiches (check out our diaries for some of our favourite recipes) and cupcakes. Mmmmm cupcakes.
We love this recipe for S’Mores cupcakes, which may not scream royalty, but it certainly screams Canadian summer…and we can always use more of that!
So put on your hats, sip your tea, and lift your pinkies. It’s the royal thing to do.
S’Mores Please (excerpted from Mini Cupcakes)
Mini’s Chocoholic Cupcakes
Mini’s Matterhorn Frosting
Graham crackers for decoration
Makes 30 cupcakes in perfectly cute 2-ounce soufflé cups
MINI’S CHOCOHOLIC CUPCAKES:
Chocolate ingredients
1⁄2 cup Guittard Extra-Dark Chocolate Chips, at least 62 percent cacao
1⁄2 cup boiling water, strong coffee, or espresso
Wet ingredients
1⁄2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1⁄2 cup soybean oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
Dry ingredients
1 1⁄2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
BEFORE YOU START: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place 30 soufflé cups on a flat baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat.
Place an 18-inch pastry bag with tip inside a large cup with the outside edge hanging over. You
will use this to fill the soufflé cups with cupcake batter.
1. In a large glass measuring cup, combine the chocolate and boiling water. Let the chocolate
melt in the hot liquid, then stir to combine and set aside.
2. Place all wet ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix on low speed with a wire whisk
attachment for about 1 minute until all ingredients are blended. Slowly pour the warm chocolate
mixture down the side of the bowl while the mixer is on low. Do not add the hot water and
chocolate too quickly or you will cook the eggs.
3. Put all dry ingredients in a separate bowl and stir with a spoon to combine.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend on low speed for 30 seconds until combined.
Batter will be lumpy. Scrape down the bowl and turn your mixer on high for 30 seconds. Scrape
down bowl again, and return to high for another 30 seconds.
5. Pour batter into prepared pastry bag, then carefully pick up bag and hold the tip upright to
prevent the batter from spilling out. Fill the soufflé cups half full.
6. Bake cupcakes for 19 minutes. They are done when you can apply light pressure to the top
of the cupcake and it bounces back. Also watch for a shiny part in the center of the cupcakes; if
there is shine, they have not cooked long enough.
PRO TIP: It is important to use Dutch-process cocoa in this recipe. The normal grocery store
variety of cocoa is usually unsweetened but it has not been treated with an alkali to neutralize its
natural acidity.
MINI’S MATTERHORN FROSTING:
Frosts 25 to 30 cupcakes
1⁄2 cup egg whites, room temperature
1⁄2 cup light corn syrup
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Okay, it’s really a Swiss meringue but when finished and on top of a cupcake it reminds me of the Matterhorn at Disneyland.
1. Place egg whites, corn syrup, and sugar into a mixing bowl and whisk together. Place
mixing bowl over a pan of simmering water to double boil. Occasionally whisk the mixture to
prevent the egg whites from cooking separately from the sugars. The mixture is ready when the
temperature reaches 174 degrees F. This will destroy harmful bacteria.
2. Carefully remove the mixing bowl form the hot steam and attach the bowl to your mixer.
3. Using the whisk attachment, beat on low for about 2 minutes, then slowly raise the speed of the mixer until it is on high. Mix until dense soft peaks form. At this point add the vanilla and rewhip until combined.
4. It’s best to use this frosting right after it is made; if you do not use it all, store it in your
refrigerator for up to a week and rewhip it prior to using.
PRO TIP: Make sure when you separate the egg whites you do not have any yolk in the whites. The fat from the yolk will prevent the whites from whipping.
PRO TIP: Use a towel to put the mixing bowl onto your mixer, as the edges will be very hot from
the steam.
Assembly
After your cupcakes have cooled, frost each one with Mini’s Matterhorn Frosting, brown using a small kitchen torch, and top with graham crackers.