You just need to find  the pot of gold!

DF asked me to bake cupcakes for the women in human resources (to thank them). With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner I thought they should be decorated for the occasion. I was inspired by, of all things, a 21 century insurance commercial. I realize how odd that may sound, but in the little commercial they show this fantasy land with grass, a pound, and flowers; the person who has the 21 century insurance receives a visit from a leprechaun dancing around a pot of gold. I knew I wanted the cupcakes to resemble the scenery.

When Sydney saw the leprechaun hats, prior to petal dusting them, she remarked they would be great for Dr. Seuss’ hats, I agree if the hats were painted red with white stripes they would be cute. Dr. Seuss’ hats or the mad hatter from Alice in wonderland..maybe we will create some fun cakes while she is home for spring break!

Crème de Menthe Cupcakes:

• 150 grams/1 1/4-cups all purpose flour
• 168 grams/ 1 5/8- cups cake flour, not self rising flour
• 9 grams/2-teaspoons
• 1-teaspoon salt
• 300 grams/ 10.5 ounces butter, room temperature
• 300 grams/ 1 1/2-cups sugar
• 1-vanilla pod, seeds only
• 3 drops cherry blossom extract
• 5 eggs, room temperature
• 30 grams/ 2-Tablespoons Crème de Menthe
• 1-Tablespoon lime zest

Equipment:

• Standing mixer or hand mixer
• Rubber spatula
• 50 mm ice cream scooper, medium
• 2 muffin pans
• 24 liners of choice

Prepare your mise en place.

Use the three stage method.

Line 2 (1/2 cup-12 capacity) muffin tins with cupcake papers.

In a small bowl, sift the flours, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and vanilla bean until smooth. Add zest, add the sugar gradually,  and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Whisk the eggs with the crème de menthe in a measuring jug. Sift the dry ingredients until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Add the mixture, alternating with the flour mixture and egg mixer (beginning with flour and ending with flour) beat on low speed until all the ingredients are amalgamated . Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended.

Use a medium ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 180 degrees C/350 degrees F, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

**if you do not want to use alcohol substitute mint extract or an emulsion i.e. mint oil.

The Leprechaun Hats and Pot of Gold

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Prepare your mise en place and cover your cupcakes with marzipan.

Marzipan scene mise en place

I chose marzipan, but buttercream would be prefect for the Luck of the Irish Hats; you would need to use buttercream for all the piping instead of royal icing, but the method is the same.

The Pots of Gold and Leprechaun Hats’ mise en place.

Mise en place for the hats and pots.. a few items would not fit in the photo refer to the materials & equipment

What a wonderful baking project for the family or even a kids cake decorating class!

How fun to change the hat and have an “Alice in Wonderland” tea party!

Enjoy!

Voila!