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Six more weeks of Winter…

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These Groundhog Day Cupcakes are a super fun way to celebrate and make with your kids. You won’t care if there is six more weeks of winter.

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Somehow I blinked and missed the month of January.

Seriously, how can it be February? \My mother was right (did I just say that?), the older you get the faster time goes.

I remember asking my mother when I was somewhere in my mid-teens(we will go with 15 for argument sake) if she felt as old as she was (no I was not trying to be a smart ass)?

She told me that though she was in her 40’s, inside she felt like she was 20.

I smiled at her like the dumb, know-it-all teenager that I was…but now I know that yet again, she was right (grrr).

If it were not for the extra aches and pains that seem to accumulate every year, the wrinkles around my eyes and the random stray gray hair that grows out of nowhere…I too still feel young.

Oh now I am not old, this I know so let us not point it out to me, however I am much older than the giggling 13 year olds that sat in front of me at the movie today.

And yet, in many ways I am the giggling teenager, heck, maybe even younger.

I still buy Hello Kitty stickers (just got some yesterday).

Run after the ice cream man.

If I am up early enough, I eat my cereal while watching Sesame Street.

I get highly amused by watching my Slinky go down the stairs in my home.

And I still celebrate my favorite holiday, Groundhog Day, the same way.

Yes, you read that right, Groundhog Day is my favorite holiday.

It beats out Christmas (though not by all that much) and is followed by Flag Day and Arbor Day…for real.

I guess you could say that I am for the underdog…or underground critter in this case.

As a child I was always so upset that no one seemed to care about the groundhog, other than to bitch that there was 6 more weeks of winter.

Why even have the holiday on the calendar if no one is going to celebrate it I thought?

And so celebrate it I do.

It’s the holiday that I get the most phone calls for.

People send me cards.

When I was younger I would get gifts.

My husband and I are actually planning to go to Punxsutawney to see Phil in person before I turn 40…it’s one of my goals.

The day starts off by eating a chocolate sprinkle doughnuts (speaking of that….have you made your doughnuts?) for breakfast.

Then either for lunch or dinner I have Chinese food.

And then usually a movie of my choice.

But always a doughnut and Chinese food.

Not that exciting…but it’s a tradition started when I was a kid. 🙂

I have groundhog puppets and stuffed animals.

Groundhog cards and cut outs.

If it has a ground hog on it someone sends it to me.

So when my friend B sent me a link to a website with a groundhog day cupcake…I KNEW I had to make it.

So in between my doughnut eating and Chinese food I found time to whip these up.

Of course the only problem is, I feel a little guilty eating the groundhog.

The good news for me is that he did see his shadow and there is 6 more weeks of Winter.

Though this makes most people unhappy.

The good news for you is that Phil is hardly ever right.

P.S. It’s a great day to buy my cookbook Holy Sweet!

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Want more Cupcake ideas?

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Chocolate Glazed Rocky Road Cupcakes

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • Old Fashion Chocolate Cake:
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 ¼ cups lightly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 ounces unsweetend chocolate, melted
  • 2 ¼ cups sifted cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • Vanilla Buttercream
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 6 to 8 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.

Place the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl often, until well blended, about 3 minutes.

With the mixer on low speed., add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing well after each addition.

Continue to beat for 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Stop the mixer add the chocolate, and mix well.

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Add about half of the dry ingredients to the batter, beat on low speed until well blended, and then add about half of the sour cream and beat well.

Add the remaining dry ingredients followed by the remaining sour cream, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beating well after each addition.

Add the boiling water and beat until smooth.

Divide the batter between two greased 9-inch round cake pans and bake until the cake springs back when touched lightly in the center, 30-35 minutes.

Let cool for about 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pan and let cool completely.

For the Frosting:

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl.

Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla.

On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency.

You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly.

(Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

These are the directions from the website with the modifications I made in bold:

Step 1:

Remove a piece of cake the width of an Almond Joy candy from the center of a baked cupcake (I decorated the groundhog before I put it in the cupcake). Set the candy upright in the hole, then spread a layer of white frosting on the cupcake.  

Step 2:For the groundhog's eyes, trim the ends from a white jelly bean (I just used white frosting), stick them in place with frosting, then dot them with black decorators' gel( I used the head of gingerbread decorations leftover from Christmas).

Add a tiny triangle cut from a watermelon slice candy for a nose ( I used a piece of red peppermint...again leftover from Christmas), brown M&M's Minis for ears and cheeks, and a tiny rectangular piece of white jelly bean for teeth (again, just used frosting).

Sprinkle chocolate cookie crumbs ( I used crumbled cake from an ugly looking cupcake) around the partially emerged groundhog, and he's ready to greet his fans.

Source: Idea from FamilyFun.com

© Peabody

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Comments

  2. if only real groundhogs were as adorable as the one popping out of your cupcake…
    great idea, great execution, and kudos to you for recognizing this often overlooked holiday! 🙂

    Reply

  5. Oh Peabody, what a great picture of you and your groundhog history!! And the cupcake is totally over the top fabulous!
    Yes, it’s awesome how our smart mouth teenager gets just deservers when we find out our mom was right all the time:))

    Reply

  7. I LOVE the groundhog cupcakes. Do you watch Bill Murrays “Groundhog Day” as well? Wiartin Willie says there is only 6 more weeks. Living in Canada I aplaud that!!!!!!

    Reply

  8. I don’t blame you for eating something so cute…mind you, I eat many cute things–slight pangs of guilt are easily washed away with a libation of choice 🙂

    It seems as if Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney Phil are at odds this year-we’re up for an early Spring (hate to tell you).

    If you ever want to see the Albino weather wonder in action, let me know and you’ve got a nice warm bed up here waiting for you.

    j

    Reply

  13. LOL when I saw your cupcake I thought, “Oh geeze…another holiday to bake for, blah…” but when I saw the crumled cupcake as dirt from the little rodent coming up out of his den….I thought, “How clever!” I just want to pinch his little cheeks.

    Reply

  14. Not only are those the CUTEST damn cupcakes I’ve ever seen, but your little chocolate/candy groundhog just gave me the best start to my day!

    Reply

  16. Happy belated Groundhog’s Day to you!
    How adorable! And what a great post, you’re never too old to enjoy the happier pleasures in life. Of course I’m referring to the HK stickers, the other things are good too. 🙂

    That’s too wonderful that you love Groundhog’s Day! I grew up not too far from Punxsutawney in PA and can appreciate the excitement and tradition. There was one lady in my neighborhood who would bake a batch of sugar cookies in the shape of a groundhog. Your adorable Phil cupcakes are the best Groundhog’s Day sweets I’ve ever seen!

    Reply

  19. I’m still pondering the question of “where did January go?” myself – time passes far too quickly!!

    Groundhog’s Day cupcakes – I love it!! It’s about time this under-appreciated holiday got some recognition; and what better way to show appreciation than by making holiday-themed baked goods :0)

    Reply

  21. oh wow! i just watched Groundhog Day this morning. I love me some Bill Murray. I think your idea of celebrating the underdog holidays is a great one! Maybe you’ll start a trend and everyone will start making delicious cupcakes on Groundhog Day. My boyfriend’s birthday is on Flag Day, so we celebrate on that day…though for different reasons than to celebrate the flag. either way, an excuse for eating cake is always welcome!

    Reply

  22. Death by Chocolate, followed by a Groundhog Cupcake that has the absolute cutest groundhog ever made…your blog dear Peabody is never dull 🙂 Happy Groundhog Day!

    Reply

  23. I’m partial to anyone named Phil…and impressed that you noted all the very important holidays that Hallmark hasn’t wrecked with their overbearing card displays. Arbor day rocks!

    And no, I haven’t make my donuts yet. I’ve just scammed my reference books to decide just what and how I’ll make them. You can be sure that at least a few will be filled with lemon-tangelo curd!

    Reply

  25. Is that not the best cupcake I’ve ever seen in my life?!? I love Punxsutawney Phil 🙂 Only thing is that 6 more weeks of winter means nothing around here – more like 4 more months!

    Reply

  27. This is too cute!! And it’s funny, because just yesterday, I was telling my husband that I don’t feel like I’m 30 – I still feel like a teenager!

    Reply

  29. I actually grew up right outside of Punxsutawny and every Feb. 2 we’d ditch school and head up to Punxsutawny to watch and see if Phil saw his shadow. After I moved when I’d ask my friends if they’d heard “the news” yet they’d all stare at me like a had a second head. You’re right – it is a very undervalued holiday. Seeing this post makes me homesick a little.

    Reply

  30. What a fantastic way to celebrate Groundhog Day. When I was little, it was my secret favorite holiday. Mostly because it was the holiday closest to my birthday (I really don’t count President’s Day because it was just too grown up).

    Reply

  32. Your cupcakes are wonderful. How can you watch any movie except Groundhog’s Day to celebrate? It just wouldn’t be groundhog’s day without Bill Murray!

    Reply

  33. Oh Peabody, this post made me so happy, you have no idea. I don’t usually think much about groundhog day but you’ve made me reevaluate that. great job with the cupcake… that’s real devotion you’ve got there. 🙂

    Reply

  38. Adorable cupcakes! I’m not teaching this year and somehow Groundhogs day came and went without me even knowing!! I’ll have to make these with my class next year! Have a great day!

    Reply

  40. That’s the cutest cupcake ever! I’m so glad you did it, I only managed to babble about making a groundhog popping up cake at my guy before getting too frazzled and never getting to it. Bless you for being more together!

    (The ice ceam man gets chased here too, I’m like a helpless poodle with an irresistable obssession when I hear the music)

    Reply

  41. Oh my goodness. Groundhogs are a real animal. I never knew that I thought Groundhog Day was just that annoying film that makes my husband laugh a lot. I learn something new every day through blogs. Everybody should do it even those who mock and look at you as though you’re unhinged because you have a blog.

    Reply

  42. No way! I just saw this decorating idea on YumSugar a few days ago and thought it was adorable, but wondered how many people would really go through all the trouble. I for one am glad that you did, because it’s totally adorable!

    Reply

  44. Will we ever see a Peabody picture that doesn’t delight the eye? I have confidence that we won’t. I love that picture and the only thing better would be the cupcake in person! Makes me want to see one of my favorite films again, Groundhog Day!

    Reply

  45. I am delurking to share this groundhog tidbit with you. My daughter watches the “noggin” network on tv (preschool type shows) and they sometimes play videos. Steve Burns of “Blue” fame (parents will know of what I speak) did a video with Steve from the Flaming Lips and it’s about groundhogs! It’s called “I hog the ground” and you can find it on youtube. I soooo enjoy your blog, you are an amazing baker Peabody!
    …back to lurking…

    Reply

  47. I just found your blog for the first time. I was happily starting to read your posts when I got stopped in my tracks. That groundhog cupcake is the cutest, funniest food item I have seen in a long time. It is more than the Easter peep of an obscure holiday. I love it!

    P.S. Anyone who adopts an unappreciated holiday to herself is a genius.

    Reply

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