A few weeks back I had the pleasure of throwing my friend Misty a baby shower for her second girl. Since we live in Houston and the weather at the time was extremely hot I thought it would be so much fun to have an ice cream themed shower, decked with toppings, espresso, cupcakes and more. (below are just a few pictures from that day)
I got the idea from my sweet friend Jordan over at Polkadot Prints along with the printables I used for the toppings and sundae cups. Obviously everyone is not the huge ice cream lover that I am because the star of the show was not the toppings, the ice cream or the incredible cute little baby bottle sugar cookies I made but rather the spiced cupcakes. I got so many rave reviews on them that I promised everyone to post the recipe on my blog. Even though it was still hot outside the calender said it was September and I was feeling fallish so I decided to make cupcakes representative of my favorite fall spices like nutmeg, chai, cinnamon and cloves. Best part was the brown butter buttercream. Cooking the butter until almost burnt (can be scary) was well worth the patience because the brown butter added a new level of flavor to an ordinary spiced dessert. Don’t worry, a pumpkin bread recipe is soon to follow but for now these spiced cupcakes will sing for joy!
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Spiced Cupcakes with Brown Butter Buttercream
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 4 TBSP cake flour
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
3 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin spice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk
Directions:
Sift together your dry ingredients and set aside. Beat your butter until light and fluffy then add in your sugars, beating for another 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the egg and vanilla, beating the mixture after each egg. Now add in the dry ingredients and milk, alternating between each and ending with the milk. Pour into greased muffin tins or into 2 9″ greased cake pans and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Brown Butter Buttercream (adapted from Cupcake Wars):
2 sticks, unsalted butter, softened
6 TBSP milk
4 cups of powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Heat 1/2 cup butter over medium-low heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the remaining 1/2 cup butter for 30 seconds then add the cooled brown butter, beat until combined. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat in the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until spreadable.
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What an adorable shower! Can you come throw one for me? Even though I’m not pregnant? You did a fabulous job, everything looks great!
You throw a lovely shower! Your brown butter buttercream sounds just right for a spiced cupcake 🙂 I can just imagine the yumminess!
ahh!! your friend is so lucky to have you. and i am absolutely trying out these cupcakes on saturday!
Delicious!
You are so talented!! Everything just looks so pretty and those cupcakes look amazing!
such a cute cute shower! you are welcome to come host mine one day! 🙂
Hey consider it done! I will give you a virtual baby shower with all the works! Any time soon perhaps? 🙂
you’re not only good in cooking and baking, you’re also good in hosting a party. the decor and the spread there looks so lovely! that buttercream sounds yum!
That is a lovely and beautiful, cute baby shower! I’m impressed! And your cupcakes looks beautiful! Your brown butter buttercream sounds yummy!
Thank you for stopping by, if you’re making the Strawberry cupcakes, you might want to add on a little more sugar if you like it sweeter, as these cupcakes are not sweet at all, but I like it that way! Enjoy!
Thanks girl. I didn’t get a chance to make them before I left but will do this coming ip week for my sweet little boy. I might add a little more sugar but not much! Thanks
I would have loved to be at that party – that big stash of oreo’s, caramel…
Brown butter is just crazy good! I love the idea of an ice cream party too. I don’t normally get invited to baby showers, so I better have one for myself. An ice cream party that is!
What a fortunate friend you have. In Canada, it is not as customary to have a baby shower for the second child (not sure why). What a beautiful table, Martha would be proud!
Eva- it’s not really customary here either but my group of friends like to do it anyway! Gives us a reason to have a party:)
Oh how sweet! I love the ice cream theme, the tags are precious and the cookies and cupcakes look amazing! So, you should have one coming up, huh?
what a cute shower. I love this idea and the deocrations are awesome!! I can imagine your shower, so fab!!
What a beautiful shower. The details are just darling. You are a good friend. Brown butter is just heaven. Throw it on a spiced cupcake and I am a very happy girl. Love this post!
What an adorable set up, you did such a great job. The cupcakes look so moist and I know they were delicious, particularly because of the brown butter buttercream frosting. Wish I could get my hands on one right now. 🙂
Heaven! That entire spread looks awesome – what a fun idea, definitely saving this recipe!
What a beautiful blog you have! Looks like you had a fun baby shower! The cupcakes look wonderful.
I absolutely adore brown butter! I’ve actually been trying to devise a recipe to use that in. These look like pure autumnal perfection 🙂
Oh my goodness those little baby bottle cookies are so adorable! But I can see why these cupcakes would be the hit, browned butter is pretty much irresistible.
Brown butter makes everything better…period! 🙂
Holy gorgeous, yummy looking, awesome shower! I’m not having a baby, but will you throw me a shower? 🙂 Your friend is a lucky gal!
Wow! All of the food and decorations look amazing! I’m totally coming to your blog when I need ideas for Kaylin’s first birthday! Those cupcakes? YUM!
That baby shower looks amazing! what a treat you have put up- especially with these delectable cupcakes!
Is there anything better than brown butter? If I ever have a child I want you to do my baby shower! 🙂
What a wonderful shower theme – especially since I crave ice-cream from conception to delivery! The cupcakes are lovely. I will be giving the frosting a try, I bet the browned butter adds a nice flavor. Thanks for sharing your recipe and gorgeous photos with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
Awww your friend is so lucky to have you as a friend! Everything on the table and decorations are SO CUTE! Wow!!!! The spiced cupcake sounds so good! Chai? Yumm…
Very lovely cupcakes.
Everything look and taste heavenly! I love the baby bottle cookies, so cute! I can’t decide to have the cupcake or the ice-cream first if I am in the party! 🙂
The cupcakes look great but I’m loving the ice cream bar idea. I may have to borrow that one next summer!
That spread at the party looks amazing! I can’t wait to try this buttercream!
You make me want to have a baby all over again. Hopefully the cupcakes will subside that craving. 😉 That buttercream looks amazing! Your friends are lucky to have you! This is so sweet and so well done!
Everything about this post makes me all warm and fuzzy! Beautifully done baby shower Belle and what magnificent treats your made for everybody and must say, these cupcakes are the bomb!
Have a great day.
🙂 Mandy
Thanks Mandy! Wish I could share all the goodies with you all!
What a beautiful shower….
I must say your friend is really lucky.
Those cupcakes are really to die for….
Got with a friend like you and a baby shower like this I won’t mind getting pregnant again… 😉
Your friend is lucky to have you. This shower looks incredibly perfect!
Everything’s adorable, but to be honest, you had me at “buttercream”
Everything looks gorgeous, Jessica! The Spiced Cupcakes look heavenly…but I must say the baby bottle sugar cookies are sooo cute…I would love dipping them in ice cream. 🙂
Awww so cute! My heart melted on the third photo .. such cue presentation. 🙂
You are SUCH a great friend! This looks so fun – beautifully done!
Mary x
Hi tHere, these are so cute and sinfully delicious cupcakes. I love the spicy version and will surely try this recipe. Gorgeous pictures… !!! Best Regards, sonia
Your friend Misty is very lucky, what a beautiful baby shower you’ve created! I liked the baby bottle cookies too:)
Thanks barb. I got the cookie cutter on etsy. I should probably tell everyone where huh? 🙂
So is it weird that I would get pregnant JUST so I could have a baby shower this awesome. Seriously, you outdid yourself girl! Everything, especially the cupcakes, looks and sounds amazing!
What a wonderful friend you are! You did such a great job. Love the cupcakes!
You have such a beautiful blog! This look wonderful – and I’m sure the smell while baking is an added bonus!
Yes! It was quite hard to resist eating the cookies and cupcakes the day before!
That is – hand down! – the cutest baby shower I have never been to!
I would have been so excited that nobody was killing the ice cream because it leaves more for me!! 🙂 It was a great idea.
You are amazing! You are a fabulous cook and can host a party? Amazing !!! Your friend is so lucky to have you as well. Your cupcakes look so delicious I will have to make these soon! Lovely! xxoo Anna
What a cute table for a shower! The cupcakes look delicious, and so does everything else. The baby bottle cookies are adorable. 🙂
OMG…….cupcakes de lujo, look delicious and beautiful,abrazos,hugs,hugs.
I am copying this recipe to make for church next Sunday!
This is just the cutest thing EVER. I love the decorations and how you served the toppings. And the spice cake sounds perfect for Fall despite your hot weather!
you throw a beautiful shower!!! delicious fall cupcake recipe- i too have a pumpkin bread recipe coming soon! 🙂 love fall. the buttercream doesn’t look like brown butter BUT I’m sure it tastes amazing!
Super yummy and so cute! Showers are so much fun, thanks for sharing this one with the Hearth and Soul.
Holy cow girl, you know how to throw a party!!
BROWN BUTTER BUTTERCREAM sublime sublime sublime
Okay, I must must try this- my sister would go nuts for that frosting and my mom would spoon over the spices in the cupcakes