Hey Dude (that I’m currently dating),

We need to talk.  It’s about your mother.

Mostly… it’s about how I need to meet your mother.  We’ve been carrying on for a while now… and I need to meet the lady that birthed you, clothed you, slapped you upside the head, and made you the awesome man you are now.  If I don’t meet her soon, she will surely think me some sort of hussy harlot who was born in a barn and doesn’t much care for other people’s mothers.  This is not the case.  I care about most mothers, often.

It’s a lady thing that perhaps you don’t understand.  I need to be nervous.  I need to bite off all my nails.  I need to agonize over the perfect outfit that will make me look sophisticated, but sweet and approachable, womanly without being more womanly that her.  I need the outfit that says I can damn well take care of myself, and keep her dear and darling son in line for the rest of his life.  It’s a fine fine fiiiine line.

I need to let your mother look me up and down in examination.  I need to stand there and let her envision me as her daughter-in-law.  I need to eat her casserole, express my desire for the recipe… then I need to do her dishes.

I need to let her tell me how to do things that I already know how to do, like make a pie, and pluck my eyebrows.  We need to watch 60 Minutes together.  She in her recliner, me sitting on the floor.  I need to offer to bring dessert.  She’ll make a face when it’s being served, and enjoy it despite herself.  It’s all a dance.  Every moment of it.  It’s all a test… because mothers do not let their sons go quietly… they let them go passive aggressively.

Lastly, she needs to see that I make you happy.  That’s where you come in.  Don’t act weird.  Well, don’t act weirder than you usually act.  Be natural… and put your arm around me once in a while.  It’s your job to make sure that no one gets a third glass of wine.  That’s when things get weird.

It’s also your job NOT to tell your mother that there are beets in the cake I’m serving for dessert.  That will be our little secret.  Unless she loves it… then I’m taking all the glory.

Cool.

Love,

Joy

Quite right.  This chocolate cake is chocked full of roasted beets.

Beets are trimmed of their greens (which are delicious sauteed) and roasted whole in foil and just a touch of oil.  You know… like you’re making a beet salad, but you’re totally making cake.

Besides beets, this cake also has the usual cake- y suspects:  flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, powder, and salt.

I love preparing cake pans for baking.  Something about the ritual just calms me.

Parchment paper rounds (that are cut by hand) totally ensure that the cake will come out of the pan in one piece.  It’s an extra bit of work, but I love the insurance.

Roasted beets are cooled and peeled (which is easy… not to worry), and grated on the fine side of a box grater.

If you’re wondering about beet stained hands… yes, I had two.  They eventually wash clean.

Beets add moisture and sweetness to the cake.  Beets do not make the cake taste like a salad.  That’s an important thing to know.

The cake batter will be a purple color, but will bake into a moist chocolate cake with no trace of beets.

Let’s talk about frosting.  Butter and cream cheese are left at room temperature until soft.  They’re beaten with powdered sugar, vanilla, and a squeeze of lemon.

Beets, too!  Beets, shredded and mashed add a slight sweetness and intense color to the frosting.  It’s all you need for food coloring.  It’s delightful and delicious.  And again… it does not taste like salad.

You may have a few beet strands in your frosting as you decorate the cake.  Think of it as nature’s sprinkles.

… I can’t believe I just typed that.

I’m sorry.

I want you to fall in love with this cake.  I did.

The cake itself is moist and chocolate-y.  It’s not too sweet either!  Bonus.  The frosting is bright pink, speckled with beet bits, and creamy sweet.

No one would ever know this cake is chocked full of vegetables.  We can just keep that little bit of information between us.  Secret ingredient power!

Pssst… Valentine’s Day Cake!  I’m just sayin…

Some things I know to be true things for me:

True:  Gin martinis are best, most immediately and with olives.  True:  sometimes painful sacrifices are made for fashion… especially when it comes to wedges.  True:  In my life, Hemingway and Julia Child are devoured in equal amounts.  True:  I will always eat a doughnut.  It always seems like the right, and totally wrong thing to do.

True:  Things in life can be simultaneously exciting and terrifying.  Exciting progress.  Exciting growth.  Exciting opportunities… and at the same time totally bonkers nerve-wracking.  When the road ahead is steep, and full of the promise of adventure…. and you totally want to be on that crazy road… but you also appreciate the smooth and steady road you once knew.  That road was safer.  There were more cookies and less adventure.

Here’s another important truth for me:  Always sign up for adventure.  Always say yes.  Even if it’s terrifying to the core of your soul.  That means you’re doing the right thing.  You’re learning and growing and shoving yourself right out of your comfort zone.    Unless… well, unless there are guns and heists.  In that case… stay in your comfort zone and away from guns.

Also… before you forge forward.  Have breakfast (preferably with chocolate) and pack cookies.

These pancakes fit into a very specific category of breakfast:  breakfast dessert.

They’re what you eat after you share runny eggs and buttered toast with your breakfast mate.

Breakfast dessert is what comes after breakfast breakfast.  It’s a sweetly defined ‘second breakfast’.  Proudly, sweetly, specific.

These pancakes are an absolute treat.  Late morning.  Weekend.  Oops I’m taking a nap at noon.  Treat.

They’re a simple combination of buttermilk, melted butter, chocolate chunks, and fresh raspberries.

Oh!  If fresh raspberries are going to break the bank (I totally get it), thawed frozen berries, drained of some of their juices work wonderfully well.

Treat yourself… that’s what Tracy would say.  Treat yourself to sweet pancakes and an adventurous (although excitingly terrifying) life.

Own your life.  Own every last bit of it.

Don’t send your Christmas cards out until you’re good and ready.  Wear neon purple tights with a grey dress… why not ?  Go heavy on the gold eyeshadow…tis the season.  Green nail polish?  Go on.   Run through the rain… or sleep in and skip exercise class.

Fashion your cakes into a roll and slice generous portions for yourself, and skinnier portions for other people.  Pretend not to notice what you’re doing.

Whatever it is:  own it!

Maybe you’re one of those people who thinks that rolling a cake is bonkers crazy and waaaaay too hard for you to do.

I’m hear to change your heart and mind.  Ok?  Let’s do this!

The secret to this roll cake is its spongy texture.

The spongy texture comes from eggs.  Egg yolks and egg whites are separated, beaten in a mixer until thick and stiff, then folded back together.

Want to know the other good news about this cake?

It’s GLUTEN FREE! I know… there’s no flour.  Plain and simple.

There are some specific things you need to make this cake happen.

There’s 4 ounces of chocolate.  Treat yourself to some fancy chocolate.  It’s worth it for this recipe.

You’ll also need parchment paper.  Essential.  Don’t skip this step.

Egg yolks and sugar are beaten until pale and thick then folded with melted chocolate.

Thick and pale yellow egg yolks mixed with glossy brown melted chocolate.  The batter will be thick and fluffy.  Amen.

Egg whites are beaten to stiff, slightly glossy peaks.  Stiff like this!  Egg whites that stand their ground.

The egg whites are folded into the chocolate egg yolk-y mixture.  Folded and folded.  Bit by bit into a fluffy chocolate batter.

Cake batter.  So sweet and innocent.  Just waiting to be baked.

The baked cake come out spongy and light.  It’s just begging to be spread with whipped cream and rolled into a festive shape.

Are you scared of cake cracks?  Sure… this will happen to the best of us.  Just remember… this cake was born to be rolled.

Spread with a thin layer of peppermint, vanilla bean whipped cream.

Or just crazily spoon the whipped cream into you mouth.  Whatever works.

This is the part that might make you want to hold your breath.

Ok… it makes me want to hold my breath.  Maybe it’s just me.

Let’s roll.

Start rolling the short side of the cake.  A loose roll.  No biggie.

Use the parchment paper to help you roll.  Use the parchment paper and peel it away.

See that giant crack through the center of the cake.

No biggie.  That’s going to be in the center of the cake.  Stay on your roll!

Finish with the cake seam side down.

Nevermind that little crack.

Give yourself, and the cake a little pat on the back.

Then pour chocolate all over it… all the heck over it.

Crushed candy canes are a lovely last minute garnish.

Look how pretty you can make life!

Do you see all those cracks in the cake?  Nope… you don’t see em at all.  They’re all folded and rolled up… and covered in whipped cream and chocolate.  Even when things go cracked… whipped cream heals most wounds.

This cake is such a lovely holiday treat.  It’s festive and way way impressive.  It’s so light.  It’s effortless to eat.  It reminds me of fluffy cake ice cream.  So so dang yummy!

Don’t like peppermint?  Feel free to flavor your whipped cream filling with only pure vanilla, with almond extract, or orange zest and extract.

Make it yours.  Own it (then share it)!

Apparently we’re quickly approaching November.  Wait… what!?  In the blink of an eye we’ll be eating turkey for Thanksgiving, wrapping holiday gifts, and kissing at midnight… that’s how fast this year is going!

What are we going to do about this? Is there some sort of pause button.

The only thing I can think do to do slow things down involves these healthy-ish Pumpkin Millet and Chocolate Muffins, a cup of milky tea, and Food and Wine Magazine.  Did you slow things down this weekend?  Was there pumpkin and chocolate, too?

This is real life.  Warm muffin.  Milk tea.  Food magazine.

I don’t slow down very often… I’m a terrible relaxer.  A short moment that looks like this?  Yea… it’s a nice and necessary recharge.

Ps.  You should totally know that I ate three muffins… not just the one pictured here.  Three.  They’re small.  No biggie.

Oh!  My little bit of downtime has given me all sorts of holiday pie ideas.  Get your pie tins out!  It’s going to get delicious here.

I love the simplicity of these muffins.  I think you will too.

No mixer necessary.  All you need is a few bowls, pureed pumpkin, and crunchy dry millet.

The millet adds a tender, healthful crunch to the muffins.  Like nuts… without being nuts.

The muffins are moist and pumpkin-y.  Perfect for the season.

Perfect perfect perfect with chocolate.

You have to balance out all of that whole wheat flour and millet with chocolate, right?

It’s all about balance.

Ps.  I’m so bad at balance… that has everything to do with the fact that I’m a terrible relaxer.

I must admit that this recipe is very similar to other recipes here at Joy the Baker.

I like pumpkin.  I like chocolate.  I like millet.

If you’ll recall, the Banana Millet Bread was pretty stellar, and these Soft Pumpkin Cookies are bonkers delicious.

Also… you can totally go vegan with this Vegan Pumpkin Walnut Bread.

Just lookin’ out for you!

So there’s this thing about me.

I really really don’t like making Halloween treats.  Tombstone cupcakes.  Spider web cookies.  Witch finger snacks.  Please… just please.  I can’t get into it.  I don’t want things to look dead, or bugged, or dismembered.

I want things to look sweet and chocolatey and dripping with caramel… and not blood-colored caramel.  Please!

I feel like I should come clean now, before you expect some sort of zombie cake.

Oh.  Also… I don’t really have time to make tombstone cupcakes.  I’m dedicating most of my time to planning my super slutty panda bear costume.

I’m kidding.

…. I’m so so kidding.

Right?

I have a wonderfully exciting, secret ingredient in this Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding.  It’s Black Onyx Cocoa Powder.  See how black it is!?  Especially compared to the regular cocoa powder hanging out in the back.  See!?  Intense.

Let me tell you a little about this cocoa powder.

Black Onyx Cocoa Powder has been alkalized to the max.  That means that it’s acids have been super neutralized.  If you’re using this cocoa powder in a recipe, you’ll probably want to pair it with baking powder, as it doesn’t have the acid to react with the baking soda.

Still with me?

This cocoa powder has less fat than regular (lighter) cocoa powder, so it may produce a more dry end product.  It’s been suggested that you use half black cocoa and half regular cocoa.  Black cocoa powder is an intense chocolate flavor.  It smells like crushed up Oreo cookies.  It makes cookies, puddings and cakes as dark as midnight!  I’m so into it.    It’s perfect in this pudding because there’s no worry of over drying.

Black Onyx Cocoa Powder is an awesome way for be to act Halloween-y without making slutty witch fingers.

I love this pudding recipe because it’s thickened by both egg yolks and cornstarch.  The yolks provide a nice richness while the cornstarch is a no fail thickener.

Look how luscious!

Wait… is luscious an awkward word?

A little.

It’s like art… but it’s just a dirty dish.

See that orange flower back there?  That was my attempt at festivity.

Please say you’re proud of me or something.

Oh hey!  One more thing.  In case you’re thinking of dressing up as the slutty version of a random something this Halloween, can I please please please suggest that you NOT DO THAT!?

I might have to write a whole blog post about that.

Let’s just stick to pudding for now.

This pudding is rich, dark, unapologetic.  It’s chocolate right in your face!

Of course you can make this recipe using regular cocoa and not the fancy Black Onyx… but, hey!  Try a little darkness.  It’s the season.

14 of the 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 thoughts going through my brainscape:

-  I’m 30.  I can’t shop at Forever 21.  First of all, I’m a Large…. and the shorts are still waay too tiny.  Secondly, I look much better in Anthropologie clothes.

-  I’m worth it.

-  Yea.  So I just stress-ate a bag of potato chips.  At least I just bought the small bag and not the giant bag… even though the giant bag was on sale.  I’m alright!

-  I wish I had claws so I could scratch my cat back.

-  At least I have scissors to give my cat awkward hair cuts when he’s sleeping.

-  I can’t sing, unless I’m alone and I’m pretending like I’m Adele… and then I still can’t sing.

-  No, sir.  Laundromat flirting is not my thing.  I see you trying to find an ‘in’.  Also… the fact that you’re wearing a bluetooth and that you brought your own wooden hangers to the laundromat makes it clear to me that you’re a serial killer.  I’ve seen CSI.  I’ve seen Dexter.  COME ON!

-  Well, if Hoarders weren’t such a mind-bending show, I wouldn’t have to watch it.  It’s really not my fault.

-  I’ll write that email… but first I’ll eat this cold burrito.

-  I’m looking at you and secretly wondering if you’re an extreme couponer.

-  Can I deep fry cupcakes?  No.

-  Some girls cry when they’re sad.  I cry when I’m bonkers angry.  That must be really creepy to people.  Like… killer creepy.

-  When did girls start wearing fake hair and fake eyelashes!?  Ladies… come on.  Can we all just work on the same playing field?  Geez.  You’re really making my hair look mousy.

-  What kind of scones should I make?  I know… sweet everything bagels…  Everything Scones!  I’m a genius.

Toasted coconut is one of my favorite smells.

I wish my hair could smell like this all the time.

Scones.  Why not just throw in everything!?  By the handful… with buttermilk.

Come on!  This is how we should live everyday.

If you don’t think this looks like a blessing from the heavens… we’re not friends.

If you don’t think this looks like a blessing from the heavens… then you’re not a ninja.  That’s a problem.

Toasty, buttery, and soft.  Studded with almonds, chocolate and coconut.  A mouthful of breakfast goodness!  Add a big dollop of cherry jam and shut.it.up!  The best breakfast everyday.

I need to make some decisions.  I know… welcome to everyday living.

Who do you turn to when it’s time to make big decisions?

Mama and Dad?  Bestest girlfriends?  Awesome boyfriends?  Husband?  Wifey?  God?  Bottle of beer?  Giant stack of doughnuts?

When it comes to making decisions, I make lists… and stare at them.  I take hot showers and try to figure out my life.  I chip my manicure off. I stop blinking.

I ask friends for advice… and wait for them to give me the answer I want.  Are you guilty of this too!?  Be real.  Bad habit.

I ask God… I listen and then I try to figure out how I’m going to hear his answer.

I think.  I make more lists.  I stare.

I’ve found that tremendous amounts of fried food also help the decision making process.  Well… they help pass the time during the quiet list making/staring phase of the decision making process.

Do people actually make decisions while running around like maniacs?  Is that something that works?  Is there a lot of yelling involved?  That sounds like chaos.  I prefer the sitting, staring, fried food eat, and listening method… but really, that’s just my own personal crazybrain.

Oh wait!  Are you one of those people that makes important decisions while working out?!  Ugh.  Why can’t I be you!?

I probably shouldn’t tell you how easy it is to make doughnuts at home.

These are cake doughnuts.  They’re more dense than yeasty doughnuts.  The outside has just a bit of crunch.

It all starts with just a bit of flour and sugar.

Doesn’t just about everything here start with flour and sugar and end in a ball?

Yes.

When you fry this… it definitely turns into doughnuts.

Small miracle, right?!

There are a few things that might keep you from making these doughnuts.

Do you have the fry/candy thermometer?  Do you have lots of different circle biscuit cutters?

If not… you’re totally saving yourself some calories.

But if you do have these things handy in your kitchen, imagine the calories you can get yourself into!

I like the way you live.

Crisp, golden brown cake doughnuts.

Chocolate ready.

Monster dipping manhands ready.

These cake doughnuts don’t need that pesky yeast rise time.  They’re crisp, but soft and dense.  They’re doughnuts with chocolate glaze… so clearly they’re delicious.  How much convincing do you really need?

Should I teach my kitten to speak so he can tell you how much he enjoyed stealing one off the counter and leaving half a kitten eaten doughnut on the floor for me to step in with my bare feet?  Would that finally convince you that doughnuts are delicious!?  Geez.

Here’s a peek inside my crazy brain.

Sometimes… I wonder how many years I’ll get to live.  Not in a morbid way.  Come on.  I’m totally into living.  I just wonder.  It’s healthy.

I wonder how many years I get to live… and what the sum total of that living will look like.

How many people I’ll love.  How many people loved me. How many songs I’ll sing loudly and badly.  How many prayers say.  How many communions I’ll take.  How many sunburns I’ll endure.  How many gardens I’ll plant and kill.  How many cats I’ll have.  How many pairs of jeans I’ll buy.  How many miles I’ll bike ride.  How many bottles of wine I’ll drink.    How many tears I’ll shed.  How many slow dances I’ll have.  How many letters I’ll write.  How many people I’ll smile at.  How many times I’ll apologize.  How many cookies I’ll bake.  How many first kisses I’ll have.  How many kids I’ll have.  How many photos I’ll take.  How many flowers I’ll smell.  How many countries I’ll visit.  How much life I absorb.

Mostly though… I just really like lists, and cookies, and chocolate, and toasted marshmallow.

This recipe is a story about chocolate on chocolate on toasted marshmallow.

It’s a summer love story… really.

How many love stories am I going to have in the sum total of my life?

This particular love story starts with cocoa powder and butter.

Cocoa and butter get crumbly and sandy and look like dirt.

Go with it.  It’s definitely love.

It’s working out.

Wait.  Let me take it back a minute to ensure that you know what I’m really talking about here.

We’re making S’mores.  Indoor.  With homemade chocolate wafers and melted chocolate.

Pure love.

These chocolate wafers are some of the best, and easiest cookies I’ve ever made.

The dough comes together in a snap, and gets rolled out immediately, between two sheets of parchment paper.

No refrigerating.  No flour mess.

Bust out the ruler to make things right.

This is incredibly satisfying.

Slicing is also incredibly satisfying for my crazy brain.

And this is how these little darlings bake up.  Crisp and softly square.

Crisp chocolate cookies from the oven.  Melted chocolate and stove top toasted marshmallows.

It’s summer love.  Get it while the livin’ is good!

Once upon a time, as a young youth with frizzy hair and giant teeth, I went to Disneyland with my family.

We went on rides.  I saw Michael Jackson as Captain EO, and tried to replicate his dance moves for the rest of the day.  We got popcorn, I secretly made faces at other children standing in line (I was not trying to make friends… I was simply being a major weirdo), and I remember some sort of parade.  There’s always a parade at Disneyland.

We watched the Abraham Lincoln show, which… as a young youth… is the most boring thing I could possibly experience.  We stood there as a statue of President Lincoln was illuminated and some prerecorded speech about freedom was played.  I think… maybe I don’t remember this correctly.  Since I was not shoveling sour candies into my face, I was sure that this show was going to make my eyes bleed from boredom. I was sure it was possible.

Just after the show, as we were exiting, my aunt (who has always been the pillar of clumsiness) stumbled down the stairs and sprained her ankle.  Good grief, I thought…. I totally should make my mom buy me sour balls for having to endure this inconvenience to my funtime awesomeday.

Do you know what happens when you fall at Disneyland (back in the 1980′s before everyone sued everyone else)??  I’ll tell you… it’s awesome:

They take you to the backstage/secret/red alert/ what’s even back there anyway/ Disneyland area.  The place where Goofy walks around without his head on, and Snow Whites could care less, and Tinkerbell is smoking a cigarette (ok… that didn’t happen… but I SO wish it did)!!! They take you and your family backstage, and sit you down, and give you juice, and ask you if you’re ok, and bring you medical attention… AND YOU GET TO SEE GOOFY WITHOUT HIS HEAD ON!!! Clearly this left a lasting impression on me…. as a young youth.

What do kids have these days?  Lawsuits and Disney cruises.  Pffft.  Weak.

Anyway… Um.

Churros remind me of Disneyland.

So…. yea.

This churros recipe might be different than anything you’ve ever made.

These are my notes… I know, a little kooky.

There will be several point throughout this recipe where you might curse my name, and insist that I’ve made you mess up a recipe and waste ingredients.

Don’t yell.  I can’t hear you.

We can get through this together.  Promise.

We start by boiling water, butter, sugar, and salt.

If this feels weird… that’s because it is.  Melt down these ingredients, whisk em up, and turn the heat to low.

With me?

Over low heat, stir the flour into the hot butter mixture.  Stir it up with a spatula.  Do not freak out.

Stir through the lumps.  Keep the pan over low heat.  Trust in the process.  After about 30 to 45 seconds, the mixture will form a loose ball, like the one pictured above.

Phew!  You did it!

Let’s stir in the eggs.  You might freak out again.  Stay with me.

Place the dough into a large bowl.  Let rest for 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring in with a spatula.

Halfway through stirring in the eggs, the batter will look like this.  I know… not cool.  Keep stirring.

This will happen.  This is exactly what you want to happen.

Sticky, eggy dough.  Perfect.

You’ll need a large star tip and a pastry bag, or big ZipLock bag.

Oh!  And scissors too!

See, you’ll squeeze the batter into the hot oil, and slice the dough off with the kitchen scissors.

Totes.

They’re a little funny looking.

By funny looking, I mean… totally delicious!

Oh…. also… my cat is INSANE.

After being tossed in cinnamon and sugar, these churros are the perfect food.

I like these dipped in warm chocolate sauce… but I like everything dipped in warm chocolate sauce.  So. Yea.

I’m totally a good person to surprise.

If you tell me that you’re stuck in Seattle working all weekend, and you can’t come down for my birthday,  I’ll believe you.  I’ll believe you, because I love you and you’re not a liar.

If you tell me that you’re working away in Phoenix, and you simple can’t get away to celebrate my birthday,  I’ll believe you.  I’ll believe you, because I love you and you’re not a liar.

You’re going out of town to visit our grandparents?  Really?  You have to go this weekend when you knew it was my birthday?  Um… ok.  It must be important.  Go on.  I believe you.  yadda yadda yadda… you’re not a liar.

This birthday.  Oh man! I was hit with surprise, after surprise, after surprise.

Surprise!  Jill dyed her hair pink and you’re about to eat that mega doughnut… and why the heck is that kid screaming?

Surprise!  Your sister flew down from Seattle just to drink margaritas with you for the day!  Ps.  I love you, but I didn’t get a good picture of you on your visit down.  Pps.  I’m sorry.

Surprise!  Your mom and dad made you a cake!

Surprise!  Your family isn’t out of town!  They’re taking you to dinner… silly.  And there’s ice cream!

Surprise!  We’re at Disneyland.

Surprise!  Space Mountain is broken. Twice.  …Look at you standing in line like a numb-skull.

Surprise!  A very special boy  flew in from Phoenix to sit on your doorstep with wine and flowers… But… surprise! You didn’t get home until super late… because you’re a work-a-holic… and he was blowing up your phone… but you didn’t know he was on your doorstep or you totally would have gotten home sooner… or you would have at least straightened up your apartment… and done a load of laundry… and washed your hair… and wait,  you really hope you flushed the toilet.

Surprise!  Dinner with friends tastes AWESOME.

Surprise!  Welcome to caketown!

Surprise!  Pretzels!!  Thank you, Grande.

Surprise!  Ethan made you hot dogs out of cake!

Surprise!  Drink this beer and shove all of these jelly beans in your mouth.  Thank you, Melissa!

Surprise!  Cupcakes at midnight.

Like… the best/most ridiculous/ stupidly decadent cupcakes… at midnight.

Allow me to tell you about these cupcakes.  You might want to sit down.  You’re probably already sitting down… unless you’re one of those people that has a standing up desk situation.  You’re the future.  Look at you… showing off and being the future.

These cupcakes are ridiculous.  I apologize.

Soft chocolate cupcakes baked up and cooled.

A small hole is carved out of the top of the cupcake.  A walnut sized ball of Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie dough is placed in the center of the cupcake.

Cupcake is topped with glossy meringue frosting.  Cupcakes are torched under the broiler… toasting the marshmallow frosting.

What I’m trying to tell you is that I’ve made the best cupcake ever.  Cake meets cookie dough meets toasted marshmallows.

These are, most definitely, special occasion cupcakes.  Don’t go making these, willy-nilly, letting them sit around the house.  You’ll eat them for breakfast.  You’ll eat them at midnight.  You’ll think about them all day long.

Also… if you want to be the most popular person anywhere… bring these.  Take all the credit for the cake/dough/marshmallow combination.  That’s why I do this… to make you look great!

Seriously.

Thank you to every one of you who came here to wish me a happy birthday.  Really.  From the inside of my heart I thank you, I like you, and I appreciate you.  I feel like we’re friends… because we are.