The Church Musical

Sunday, June 10, 2012


Twice a year I have a feature on this blog about recipes inspired by musicals.  Today I’m writing about a musical very dear to my heart – the one my youngest daughter’s youth choir performed in church. 

The musical was called Once Upon a Parable, and my daughter played the role of Judas Iscariot.  (For those of you who don’t know the story, that’s not the good guy role.)  But she was the sweetest, prettiest Judas ever, and my heart burst with pride as I watched her and her friends perform.  From the Pharisees dressed in red choir gowns to the embrace of the prodigal daughter and her mother, from the irrepressible Simon to the lively Palm Sunday crowd, it was a show full of energy, beauty and depth.


A successful musical calls for a celebration, and I can’t think of any better way to celebrate than with these carrot cupcakes.  I must admit, I’ve never really fallen for the cupcake craze of the last few years.  I enjoy the occasional cupcake, but they wouldn’t be my first choice to bake or to eat.   I often find them too sweet – yes, even for my notorious sweet tooth.

These cupcakes are the exception to my stance.  Carrot cake is unbeatable, and served in miniature format they’re just a delight.  I can’t think of a better way to honour a young actress!

Carrot Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
(adapted from smitten kitchen)

Makes 12 cupcakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups grated peeled carrots
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line twelve cupcake molds with papers, or butter and flour them.

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger in medium bowl to blend.  Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well-blended.  Whisk in eggs one at a time.  Add flour mixture and stir until blended.  Stir in carrots and raisins.  Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling each 3/4 full.

Bake cupcakes 20 to 22 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the centre of one comes out clean.  Let cool in pans for about five minutes, then remove from tray.  Let cool completely before frosting them.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

One 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ (icing) sugar
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy.  Chill the frosting for 5 to 10 minutes, if necessary to spread smoothly.  Frost cupcakes and enjoy.

31 comments:

Bonnie said...

Beth, I have to admit I am crazy about cupcakes. I made and loved cupcakes long before cupcake shops began showing up on every corner or cupcake wars had marathons on television. I will use almost any excuse to make cupcakes (and this recipe maybe my newest:) I do not over power the cakes with icing. On my chocolate, I am most likely to dust with confectioner's sugar. On the strawberry I use a glaze. I think it is the icing that over powers the cake. I love carrot cake in any form and fashion. Thanks, Bonnie

Valerie Gamine said...

How exciting for your daughter! Playing the villain sounds so much more enjoyable...and fun! :)

I love just about everything from the Smitten Kitchen, and I can attest that these cupcakes are one of The best carrot cake recipe out there. What a treat for the future Oscar winner.

Gloria Baker said...

Beth these look really amazing!!

Anonymous said...

I am a big fan of carrot cake, so I know I'd love these cupcakes! I bet it is easy to eat 4 or 5 of them since they are mini! I'm sure your daughter was a wonderful Judas.

Belinda said...

How sweet! I bet she rocked it. Proud mum...and what treats to celebrate!

Sue said...

That's so fun that your daughter was in the production... made it even more special! The frosting sounds so good with the added maple:) I'll have to try it.

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Your daughter must have been awesome - this is so cool :D
And gorgeous cupcakes to celebrate with naturally!

Cheers
CCU

Jess said...

Ooo, maple cream cheese frosting! I didn't hop on the cupcake bandwagon either~ I'd rather have a piece of cake, I guess. BUT, these are so darn cute and I LOVE carrot cake (we have some in the house right now, actually). The musical sounds like a lot of fun, and I'm sure your daughter was a glowing Judas :)

Vi said...

My hubby loves carrot cake, I like that these dont sound too overly sweet like you said! I bet the play was fabulous, your daughter was brave to take on that bad guy :)

Carol said...

I'm sure your daughter did an awesome job! The maple frosting sounds like a delicious combination with the carrot cake, your cupcakes look so good!

Angie's Recipes said...

Definitely worth the celebration! And these cupcakes with beautiful swirls are perfect for the celebration.

Kitchen Riffs said...

I'm with you on baking cupcakes - always seem more trouble than they're worth. I'm OK with eating them, though, although I agree the sugar content is sometimes over-the-top. Yours look wonderful - I don't use carrot when baking nearly enough. Thanks for this.

Mary said...

I love the addition of maple to that frosting. These sound good to me. I almost never make cupcakes either. I don't really understand the craze myself.

Oh! I made your Butter Tart Squares this weekend and they were AMAZING. Thanks for the great recipe!

Caryn Caldwell said...

Congratulations on the successful show!

I never, ever thought of doing carrot cake as cupcakes, but what a wonderful idea! And that frosting does look delicious.

Beth said...

I'm so glad you liked them, Mary. They're one of my favourites!

Cathleen said...

I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate either. These just look perfect!

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful--still looking for the inspiration to finish off last seasons stored carrots so maybe this will help!

Stina said...

*wipes drool of keyboard* Do you know how hard it is to read a post with all these yummy looking pictures??? :D

Angela said...

They look delicious. The cream cheese frosting looks irresistible. I wish I could reach into the computer screen, take one out right now, and taste it. Sheesh, can you tell I'm on a diet?

I would have liked to have seen that musical too. I think Judas gets a bum rap.

Joanne said...

Sounds like a lovely musical and these are the perfect cupcakes to accompaniment! So delicious they touch you to your core.

nancy at good food matters said...

delectable cupcakes--especially with maple syrup in the cream cheese frosting. congratulations to your daughter for her esteemed role in the musical!

Anonymous said...

I bet your daughter was the most adorable Judas ever--if there is such a thing. ;) I love cupcakes for the built in portion control factor. Carrot would be wonderful!

Anonymous said...

This looks heavenly!!

Anonymous said...

These look so cute and tasty!

Claudia said...

I'm not a cupcake fiend but I will admit that carrot cupcakes are one of my favorites. And they do have the necessary lightness of being that most musical have!

Anonymous said...

I love carrot cake and would eat this, too. :)

Elaine said...

Your daughter's church musical sounds lovely. I love a good carrot cake, so I think these cupcakes sound perfect and I like that they have some maple syrup in the cream cheese frosting.

Kristy said...

Carrot cupcakes?!! How did this never occur to me before? Yours look delicious!

CJ - Food Stories said...

I love cupcakes because of the built in portion control ... and what a great way to celebrate the performance!

grace said...

maple cream cheese frosting is a killer topping for carrot cake!
also, it made me laugh then get sad when i read your clarification of judas as a bad guy. do many people really not know that story? sigh.

Katerina said...

I can understand your pride. This is how I feel whenever I see my son performing at school. I think these cupcakes is the best way to reward the little actor and all the rest of the family!

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