I will admit that I have always been one of those think outside of the box people. People have even accused me of not knowing where the box is some days. π I see the world a little different at times, and I know I see food a little different.
My mother once said to me, “I add some cranberries to pumpkin bread and think I am being creative. But you take it to a whole other level”Β. And I must, because people do ask me all the time how I come up with my ideas. Um, I just do. It’s how my brain thinks. And it usually is thinking how to make something have more calories. π
When Lynn left my house on Friday I had 24 mini cinnamon cupcake staring at me unfrosted. The original cupcakes, the one in the book, had a sour cream chocolate frosting. That sounded good but for some reason oatmeal raisin popped into my head. Now most people would have made oatmeal raisin cupcakes and made cinnamon frosting. I did the other way around. I didn’t want chunks of oatmeal in my frosting so I ran it through the old food processor to make it into oatmeal powder. Throw in some butter, powdered sugar, cinnamon and some chopped up raisins (mine were really big) and you’ve got some tasty, though all be it, unusual frosting. But then again, I wouldn’t have it any other way. π
The whole reason I picked these to bake in the first place was because I was given the choice (by Kestrel Growth Brands, Inc) a couple weeks back to try either Singing Dog Vanilla or Red Ape Cinnamon. It was a tough choice, but I went with the cinnamon since we are in full Fall baking mode around these parts.
First off I just love the name. It makes me happy, as does singing dog. Second, and more importantly, it has a really good, strong cinnamon flavor. It’s one of the strongest cinnamons I have tasted, which is great because a little goes a long way. It’s organic. It’s reddish because “only the pure inner cinnamon bark is ground and the extra outer bark that would normally dilute the final powder is disposed of”Β. Can’t wait to try using it in cinnamon buns! I only wish I could have gotten the vanilla as well. If it’s anything like the cinnamon, it’s probably really awesome.
Cinnamon Sour Cream Cupcakes with Oatmeal Raisin Buttercream Frosting
Cinnamon Sour Cream Cupcakes
4 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
ΒΎ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
Β½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 TBSP cake flour
1 Β½ tsp ground cinnamon (I used Red Ape)
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Β½ cup sour cream
Position rack to center of the oven and preheat to 350F.
Spray a mini muffin tin(holds 24 or 2 that hold 12) with baking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat together, on medium-high speed, the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs and vanilla together. Add to butter mixture in two additions. Scraping down after each addition.
In a medium bowl add together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add half this mixture to the mixer with the mixer on low speed. Add the sour cream. And then add the remaining flour mixture, blend until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop, or a piping bag, fill the muffin tins ΒΎ of the way full. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and a cake tester inserted comes out clean.
Let cool for 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes and let cool on a wire rack. Frost when completely cool.
Adapted from Bite Sized Desserts by Carole Bloom
Oatmeal Raisin Buttercream Frosting
1 cup oatmeal, just not steel cut
4 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
ΒΎ cup raisins (cut raisins in half if too large or use dried currants)
milk to thin
Using a blender or food processor, pulverize the oatmeal until it becomes powder form.
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until it is soft, about 1 minutes. Add the oatmeal and 1 cup of powdered sugar and beat on medium speed.
Add the remaining 2 cups, 1 cup at a time. Add vanilla and beat until fully incorporated. If frosting is too thick, thin out with milk to get your desired consistency.
Beat in raisins, making sure that they are evenly dispersed…as best you can.
Since these are mini, I found it best to use a piping bag (I used one of the large star tips) to get the frosting on the cupcakes.
Nikki says
I love it. I’m so glad you decided to keep blogging. Your ideas are so inspiring!
Amanda says
I just have to tell you, I can finally see your pics again! I am so excited because that of course is my favorite part of the blog. Followed by a close second of your humorous write-ups. I am looking forward to drooling over all of your future endeavors.
Barbara says
Love your switch- using oatmeal and raisins in the frosting was an inspiration!
I’m with you. Anything called Red Ape cinnamon would make me want to give it a try. Sounded excellent.
I love your ideas and your photos!
Ashley says
I am somewhat new to your site.. and I just have to say, I am addicted!! I check it every day to see what else you’ve made and to look at all of the old posts. You have some A-MAZ-ING looking dessert! Thank you for sharing
Felice says
I for one am so glad that you are a think-outside-of-the-box kind of person. I am not the most creative person so I can live vicariously through you. Maybe I need to start thinking “What Would Peabody Do?” I really like the idea of flipping the flavors around so that you get the opposite of what you expect. I think I am going to try doing this with something like carrot cake cupcakes – I will try to make cream-cheese flavored cupcakes with carrot-flavored frosting.
LilSis says
Very creative! You certainly do think outside the box! It’s a lot more fun that way, right?
I think you should be the next food blogger with a book deal!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Mmmmm I want a bowl like that waiting for me in the morning:) I have been dying to get my hands on some really good cinnamon. You lucky girl you:)
Natalie says
These look so delicious and I am totally saving this frosting recipe! Ground oats makes it healthy, right?
I am thinking about purchasing somt of the cinnamon, if its anything like the vanilla is then its sure to be a great product!
Erika says
Those are the cutest little cupcakes! I admire your “think out of the box” ability….I’m so the opposite!
VeggieGirl says
YYYES!! Your site is loading now. And oh man, I laughed out loud with the whole ” People have even accused me of not knowing where the box is some days” line, haha π
Cinnamon cupcakes = mmm…
HeartofGlass says
Haha–one of the first writing jobs I ever had, after coming back from England, was for a woman who kept stressing how I had to include the fact that she and her son were ‘out of the box thinkers’ and I had to include THAT PHRASE in every press release, etc, I wrote for them…I had been out of the country so I kept wondering ‘what is the box they keep talking about?’ I didn’t even know there was ‘a box.’
So far out of the box I can’t find the box!
And glad to see that whoever was trying to put your blog in a box failed.
mimi says
Great idea with the cupcakes and frosting.
Mimi
Laura says
And I thought I was being creative with things like mocha cheesecake with a ganache crust or deconstructed chocolate cream pies… But you take the cake! Or should I say cupcake. π
Alicia says
What a great idea for a frosting – I can just imagine the taste now, delicious!
Thanks so much for stopping by my little blog. I might be a little tragic but I actually gasped when I saw that you had left a comment. I love your blog!
Jill says
I love the idea of raisins in frosting! I’m a huge fan of raisins!
Dawn says
These are too cute, and I love the idea of using oats in the frosting, I can honestly say I would never ever have thought of it, thanks for sharing!!!
zenchef says
I think the same way too.. Always trying to figure out how to make things have more calories! hehe.
These cupcakes look evil.. in a delicious way! π
Allie says
Those are adorable!
Anda says
These are so cute all crowded in a bowl. Nice pairing of flavors – I love cinnamon a lot.
deeba says
Yippee it’s back. Well done! I had so many thoughts when I read the post yesterday & now have gone blank. Love the sound of the deep cinnamon you talk about, & love what you did with the toppings! Me & my son are ‘out of the box thinkers’, and my Mom says my mind is wired differently (she’s a psychologist…hmmmm).. I love what you do with food. You really are good!
Katie says
Wow they look fabulous and I love the flavour combinations. I wouldn’t have thought you could put raisins in a frosting, but sounds yummy.
Anh says
These cupcakes stuck in my head ever since I saw it this morning! I will bake myself a batch really soon.
PS: When I first saw it, i thought the frosting was cream-n-cookies π
Laurie says
i love these peabody. sooo f’n cute and i adore anything oatmeal raisin. as soon as i pick up more raisins, (my boys eat them as fast as i buy them) im going to bake these up. i envy your creativity! maybe if i keep reading your blog, some will rub off. π
sidenote: so stoked the regular season starts this week! go pens!
Veggie Belly says
brilliant! its good not to know where the box is! π
ingrid says
Your frosting sounds delish well, except for the raisins but I’ll just leave those out! π
~ingrid
Katrina says
What a clever idea. Reverse. Love it. And I’ll take the raisins!
Jayne says
Very interesting…they do look good!
Margaret says
Now that’s innovation! I, for one, am very happy that you aren’t even acquainted with the box. It’s made for some very special recipes that I would never have come up with on my own. Love the names for the cinnamon and vanilla – a good product name is just about as important as a good product and when the two combine, it’s truly a force to be reckoned with.
Melinda says
well…you didn’t think to put eggplant in them, did you Blanche?
hahahaha.
I would love these intense little cinnamon pop cuppies. How many equal 100 grams? I am sure 7 is correct answer. Yep.
Lynn says
Mmm – they look amazing. Good call. I’ll have to try your oatmeal frosting. Can you give me a call when the cinnamon rolls are in the oven, please?
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) says
LOVE the way you think!! They look so adorable, and I’m sure they must have tasted amazing!!
Blond Duck says
It sounds lovely!
Colleen says
The flavor combinations you come up with are amazing! Oatmeal raisin buttercream sounds fabulous.
maggie says
When I saw the picture of your cupcakes I thought for sure it was some kind of cookies n cream frosting, but you suprised me!
dawn says
oh yeah, I love to curl up with a good movie and a bowl of my favorite cupcakes. Indeed!
the photo of you taking photos with your leg up on the table–love that, I so totally do that too. LOL
Abby says
Awesome! My husband would call this breakfast food. I mean, oatmeal and raisings, why wouldn’t it be?
Abby says
RAISINS, that is.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Yum. There is something about cinnamon and Fall that is so perfect.
Manggy says
Out of the box and very clever indeed Pea! I love the way you’ve turned them around. I would’ve thought the oat might give the frosting a raw flavor but I guess it absorbs the liquid readily. Very nice! π
elly says
Great idea, and super cute cupcakes. I love oatmeal raisin anything.
Nakiya @ Taste of Baltimore says
I just love how creative you are! I always look forward to your funny posts – keep it up!!!!
Natashya says
Pour some milk on those babies and I’ll eat them for breakfast!
I love that you threw convention on its head and put the oatmeal raisin in the icing. Totally delish.
Such a cute bowl too. I was bowl and cup shopping in my dream last night, picking up all sorts of amazing styles for $1-$2 each. And then woke up! So disappointed. Some women dream of men…
Laura says
Those are adorable and sound amazing. I’m so impressed by your creativity!
I have to support someone that can find a way to make cakes even more delicious and unhealthy π
Eliana says
Oatmeal raisin buttercream—-you are in a league of your own with this one my friend. Great combo!!!!
George says
Thinking outside the box sure has creative possibilities. Who would ever think of ‘oatmeal raisinβ frosting? Now I like your style… this is definitely a must try. Many thanks & keep doing what you are doing.
Sarena says
Did you seriously just put oatmeal it the icing??? I love you! That is brilliant! I am always trying to figure out another use for oatmeal! I will absolutely make this one!
Chaya says
You have great and unique recipes here. What a treat for all of us. Thanks for sharing.
Deborah says
I love that you think outside of the box and come up with recipes like this one!
Elle says
Not only is oatmeal buttercream with raisins outside of the box…YAY!…but so is a bowl of cupcakes. What a great concept! Hope you life right now is as sweet as that bowl of cupcakes and as fun as the twist on the frosting. Fall seems to finally be here!!!