Hi-Hat Cupcakes

I was introduced to hi-hat cupcakes by Joann's on Third while I was living in Los Angeles. I think they call theirs the cloud cupcake. And it is much taller than these and truly a very epic looking cupcake. :) So after seeing those about 3 years ago, I of course wanted to go home and try to make them. I found a recipe via Martha Stewart, who says it's originally from the book Cupcakes!My first attempt was a big FAIL. I couldn't get the frosting to stay on the cupcakes while dipping. So frustrating! I would end up with a big pile of upside down frosting in my melted chocolate cup. And I could not figure out what I had done wrong! I felt like I followed every step. If you bake very often you've probably had a moment like this in the kitchen. It's that moment where you feel kind of dumb and realize what you've been doing for the last hour or two will NOT be rewarded with a delicious cupcake. Cruel, cruel world.Lately I have been in the mood to try past failed recipe attempts. I think it's something about the new year (even though I realize we are starting to get well into 2013 at this point). I really love cooking, baking and creating recipes. But I'll be the first to admit I'm no expert on a lot of things. I want to be. I want to improve and learn and grow in that area of my life, because it has been such a positive outlet for me over the years. So any dish that I've struggled with before, like say macarons, I am in the mood to try, try again. Take another crack at it. Give it the ol' college try (what does that one even mean anyway?).As you can probably tell from these photos, I did it! And these are amazingly delicious! I decided to make two versions: dark chocolate and white chocolate. I think the main difficulty here is having enough patience to make these happen. They are a process for sure. And when the directions say to beat the frosting mixture for 12 minutes, this will feel like an eternity. And I had to buy a hand mixer because I realized I didn't have my immersion blender with me, (I was house sitting) and a Kitchen Aid mixer couldn't accommodate the simmering water. Read the directions if that sounds confusing. Then, I put the cupcakes with the frosting in the freezer for a bit. I think patience beating the mixture and the freezer step were crucial to preventing all the frosting from just falling in the chocolate. It is also advisable to allow your melted chocolate to cool before dipping. It can't cool enough that it is beginning to become solid, but the cooler it is the less likely it will be to melt the tips of your cupcakes off. But if this happens it's not really a big deal. Way better than the entire top coming off. :)I will for sure be making these again. I am hoping for some kind of wizard party (or maybe Halloween), because I think you could easily add a little black construction paper loop to the middle of the cupcakes after they are done and boom. Witches' hats! xo. Emma

Comments

[Chelsea]

OH MY GOODNESS! I want to try one of those bad boys right now! Looks perfect, Emma!

Cx
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/

[Kerry @ Kerry Cooks]

Emma these are just gorgeous, well done for persevering!

[Whitney]

Totally brill! I'll have 3. or, er... What about my diet, you ask...? It's going well. Oh, you can't get anyone to eat them?! I'll take 7 then. THANKS :D
-Whit

[natalia h]

*drools*

[Rachel]

num num num chocolate!! These look incredible <3

[kathryn]

thanks for sharing your cooking story with us Emma... it's even more inspiring to see HOW you have gotten so good at baking! so now we have no excuse to give up... ;)

[Charlotte]

Yum, congratulations these look delicious, wish I had the patience to make them, ohh and an electric mixer!

[Juliette Laura]

Oh my gosh, YUM. those seriously look delicious. I need to make them. asap.

xoxo
Juliette Laura
juliettelaura.blogspot.com

[Sophie]

Oh God these look so delicious! I'm meant to be on a diet, and this is not helping me keep off the sweet stuff.
I'm definitely going to give these a try once i've finished dieting, I can't wait!
x

http://spotty-teapot.blogspot.com

[Denisa]

Wooo, that is soo greeat recipe. I love it. Have a nice friday.

http://www.fashiondenis.com/

[Jordan Kearney]

A bite of heaven for sure, i must try!

[Chloe Moon]

I have to try this out!!! They look so unbelievably scrumptious!!!

http://chloemoonergo.blogspot.com

[Laura]

They look amazing! Glad you got it to work the second time!

[meag]

i MUST make these!
an ice cream parlor i went to as a kid did this and these photos are bringing me back~

xo the egg out west.

[Flor]

Hi girls, i've been a huge fan of A beautiful mess for the last two years i think, and I finally started my own blog. I read all advices you wrote, and I took the courage, I´m so happy! I wanted to share it with you, because I'm from Argentina, and there aren't many cute and interesting blogs like yours from here, you are one of my biggest inspirations, thank you guys!

[Rachel Denbow]

I have never seen a cupcake made this way. Well done for showing this recipe who's boss.

[María Antonia Uscátegui]

rico!!!

[Yak Man]

ohmygod ;O that looks so freaking gooood!♥

[Kasia]

That's so awesome!:)

[The slow pace]

Oh my! That looks amazing! I always want to start a diet but with these recipes... it's just impossible!