Snickerdoodle Cupcakes With Vanilla Glaze

I have been obsessed with Pinterest lately, but it is a rather creative obsession. One of the things that caught my attention was a cupcake decorated to look like an ornament. Unfortunately, when I clicked on this particular pin, it brought me nowhere. So, I did some more searching. Mainly I was searching for what had been used as the hook attachment on the cupcake. And, I found nothing. Then I noticed in a picture {again, no web site, just a random numbered image} that some genius had used Rolos to represent the hook attachment. So I set to work on making a Christmas ornament cupcake.

A day after I made these my daughter brought one of her sister's cookbooks, a candy cookbook. There was the exact picture I had seen on the internet! I am quite happy that I had not found this before, because I learned that the cupcakes were decorated with fondant. I am not one to use fondant. I never have, and I don't think I ever will. You see, I am not a cake/cupcake decorator. I like simplicity.

I needed a cupcake that would standout because of its taste and texture but also one that could be easily decorated As I brainstormed, snickerdoodles came to mind. Vanilla. . . cinnamon. . . sugar. . . that's the taste of festivities. So I searched for a snickerdoodle cupcake recipe and I found some. But the first one or two I looked at didn't have great reviews for texture. What to do? I decided to make my own recipe that would feature the secret ingredient of moist cupcakes~ instant vanilla pudding mix. And, I already knew what I wanted to top these with~ vanilla glaze {which I have used to top sweet rolls for a simplified version of a donut}.

The cupcake recipe is one that gives a nice dome which I know so many may work to eliminate. The dome was needed because the cupcake isn't topped with a pile of frosting. Instead, the glaze clings to the cupcake and dries to a smooth finish, much like a glass surface.


Do you know what? I was so pleased with the outcome. These cupcakes taste exactly like snickerdoodle cookies. And without the frosting, they would be an incredible snickerdoodle muffin. Even with my sad decorating skills, the cupcakes turned out pleasant enough. I added a smidgen more gel food coloring than I wanted, but the blue was rich. I also heated the glaze a wee bit longer than I should have so the glaze was speckled. The children really liked the effect though. My son said it looked like a blue jade.


They are real simple even without a recipe. Start with a basic cupcake recipe or a box mix and add instant vanilla pudding mix and cinnamon to the batter. After baking and cooling, dip cupcakes in glaze. Allow the glaze to dry. You could stop here and would have an entirely delicious cupcake. But with the next few steps you could have a Christmas ornament cupcake, too. Whip up a batch of frosting, any decorating frosting will do. I used the Best Butter Cream Frosting from the snowman cupcakes I love to make. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small hole tip. Pipe on dots and swirls. Finally, take a Rolo candy and add a dollop of frosting. Attach to the top of the cupcake as the ornament hook. Ta~da!


Snickerdoodle Cupcakes With Vanilla Glaze
2 1/4 c flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 3.9 oz pkg of vanilla instant pudding mix
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 12 fl oz can evaporated milk {may sub 1 1/2 c whole milk}
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
glaze {recipe follows}

Preheat oven to 350F.
Place dry ingredients {flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking powder, salt and cinnamon} in a large bowl. Whisk together. Add wet ingredients {milk, oil and eggs}; blend together on low then increase to high speed and blend for two minutes. Batter will be on the thicker side. Divide between twenty-four paper lined cupcake tins each filled about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing. Cool completely before decorating.

Vanilla Glaze
3/4 c {1 1/2 sticks} butter
4 c powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2+ tbsp milk

Melt butter in small saucepan. Whisk powdered sugar and vanilla into melted butter; add milk and whisk till smooth adding more milk as needed. Dip tops of cooled cupcakes. Decorate with hard candies or sprinkles before set. If decorating with icing, let glaze set before adding. If glaze thickens, reheat a bit and add a tad more milk. Whisk between dipping.

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