It was a couple years ago and I was in Manhattan visiting my two daughters, Sarah and Roxy. We had lunch at Serendipty (yes, the actual restaurant from the movie by the same name), and then the girls took me to Magnolia’s for another to-die-for dessert.

We had the most incredible cupcakes I’ve ever eaten in my life. Who would’ve thought something as simple as a cupcake could be so amazing? They’ve truly become an art form. This said, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to some of the best cupcake websites out there.

First of course, has to be....

Cupcakes Take the Cake.
www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com

The logo is darling, and the site is great. It’s mostly eye candy though—lots of great pictures that can give the novice cupcake maker some great decorating and flavor combination ideas.

Crazy About Cupcakes
www.crazyaboutcupcakes.com

Here’s what cupcake creator and cupcake cookbook author, Krystina Castella has to say about how it all started for her:

“When my street had a block party I baked cupcakes. When I was invited to an art opening, cupcakes. A friend's thirty-ninth birthday, a Halloween party, an Academy Award party, cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes. I started making them all the time. Experimenting with recipes and decorations just for fun. I see cupcakes as art. I consider all three parts -the cake, the icing and the decorations- all work together to make a good cupcake experience. Over five years I have developed thousands of recipes and decorating combinations. Three hundred are in my book Crazy About Cupcakes. On this web site I'd like to share some of them and more with you. Good eating!”

This is my very favorite cupcake site. She is so generous to share her recipes, tips, and fun information. Here is one of her recipes that I am trying for this Sunday’s dinner:

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Things Needed:
Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, doubled
Peppermint Frosting, doubled
White sugar
Silver candy balls
Mint candy
Mint leaves
Large cupcake pan
Medium cupcake pan
Pastry Bag with writing tip

1. Prepare the cupcake batter. Bake an equal number of medium cupcakes in greased cupcake pan and large cupcake liners.

1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 ounces (1/3 cup) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped, melted
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup chocolate milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with liners. Cream together the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Beat the melted chocolate into the butter mixture. Add the eggs, peppermint extract, and chocolate milk. Beat until creamy. In a separate bowl combine the flour and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and chocolate mixture until well blended. With a spatula stir in the chocolate chips. Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

2. Prepare the frosting. Divide the batch. Color one batch your favorite color leave the other white.

2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/3 cup cold water
2 peppermint extract

Place all of the ingredients except the vanilla in a double boiler over boiling water. Beat constantly with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 4-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the vanilla. Beat to spreading consistency.

3. Frost the large cupcakes with white frosting.

4. Set a medium sized cupcake upside down on top of each large cupcake. Frost with remaining white frosting.

5. Sprinkle frosted cupcakes with white sugar.

6. Place colored frosting in pastry bag and pipe a design. Add silver balls to the design.

7. Place a candy mint and mint leaf on top.