Halloween Pumpkin Cupcakes

萬聖夜（ Halloween）在每年的10月31日，是西方世界的傳統節日，萬聖夜通常與靈異的事物聯繫起來。歐洲傳統上認為萬聖夜是鬼怪世界最接近人間的時間，這傳說與东亚的中元节類似. 當晚小孩會穿上化妝服，戴上面具，挨家挨戶收集榶果。

萬聖夜的主要活動是「不給糖就搗蛋」（Trick-or-treat）。小孩裝扮成各種恐怖樣子，逐門逐户按響鄰居的門鈴，大叫："Trick or Treat!"（意即不請客就搗亂），主人家（可能同樣穿著恐怖服裝）便會拿出一些糖果、巧克力或是小禮物。部分家庭甚至使用聲音特效和製煙機器營造恐怖氣氛。小孩一晚取得的糖果往往以袋計算，整袋整袋的搬回家。

我在早前买“人头“巧克力模时看到了这个蝙蝠巧克力模很可爱，打算买来等万聖夜做这个pumpkin cupcake送给同事吃。怎知日子算错了，万聖夜我正巧出远门，没机会做这个蛋糕。虽然，节日已过，但是我想模已买了，cupcake又是这个月Aspiring Bakers ＃13的主题，所以还是决定做这个万聖节金瓜杯子蛋糕（Halloween Pumpkin Cupcake）。

在这里分享一个故事，这是Jane几年前跟我讲的，但是我至今还是觉得很好笑。是这样的，Jane朋友的家公从大马来探亲，在节日当天，小朋友来到家里敲门，大叫“Trick or Treat！”Uncle不知什么玩意，英文也不好，就是听不懂小朋友要些什么。小朋友重复了几次，uncle好像听懂非懂，听懂了一个字“treat“，就以为一堆小朋友问路要去吃Chicken Treat （炸鸡连锁店），于是uncle就快快指指点点的向着家附近的Chicken Treat 炸鸡店的方向指去，然后把门关上。孩子们于是都很无奈的离去，好可怜喔！


p/s： 这个杯子蛋糕味道酷似carrot cake，蛋糕质地很松软。如果不是应节，大可不用橘色做装饰。

Ingredients:
1 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

125g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

½ can pumpkin puree (180g ) or mashed steam pumpkin

Methods:

1. ) Preheat oven to180°C. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.

2.) In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.

3.) Divides the batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. ( I only get 7 standard cupcakes from this recipe).

Frosting：

250g cream cheese, softened

115g unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups confectioners’ sugar ( I only use 1cup icing sugar)

¼ cup pure maple syrup

A few drops of orange paste


Method：

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add confectioners sugar and beat until smooth.  Gradually add the maple syrup cream and orange colour paste and whip until smooth. Add more sugar as needed to get the right consistency.

Reference:

http://www.marthastewart.com/317069/pumpkin-cupcakes  

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/pumpkin-cupcakes/

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13 : Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted byMin of Min's Blog 

一只只饿鬼在某KFC聚餐，看了恶心！

整个街道都是鬼，可怕！