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Firecracker Cupcakes

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Yep, the kids have elevated me to the likes of Albert Einstein.  Up until yesterday they thought of me as dull, boring, blah.  I couldn’t be more of a plain Jane to them.

But when I made these FIRECRACKER CUPCAKES and sprinkled POP ROCKS all over them you would have thought I just invited the circus over to perform.

I instantaneously became the coolest, hippest and craziest Mom evah.  The hooligans couldn’t have been more pleased. 

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What makes me mad is I didn’t think of it first.  It’s so simple.  I saw it in the newspaper as a fun way to celebrate the upcoming 4th of July holiday.   Brilliant I thought.  A firework show in their mouths.

As the kids ate away, their mouths were exploding with candy and their noses and cheeks were covered in whipped cream.  Their day could not have been better.

From the second these treats came out of the oven they were circling the kitchen island like a pack of hungry wolves.  Everytime I turned around they were picking away at the edges of the cupcakes.  Having to wait while I photographed the goods was the ultimate punishment.

I think these would be the perfect cupcakes for a birthday party too.  The kids would just love it. 

The trick is to pour the POP ROCKS on just before serving or better yet, give each person their own pack.  If you are stingy with the POP ROCKS the full effect of this dessert will not be realized.  Be generous!

Adults would like them too.  It was fun eating the cupcake and having tiny explosions going off in my mouth and throat.  A nice reminder of childhood. 

Do they have POP ROCKS in other countries or is this a U.S.A. only phenomenon?

Anyway, I made cupcakes from scratch, which is totally not necessary, unless you are having a Martha moment.  I also used whipped cream for the topping but canned frosting would be fine too!  So would store bought cupcakes for that matter!  The POP ROCKS are the main attraction here.

But this is a great cupcake recipe, so come on and bake with me.  The kids and adults in your life will LOVE YOU!

Heres what you need to make these happen:  All-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, rainbow candy sprinkles, blueberries, raspberries and POP ROCKS!

First, sift together 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 

In a large bowl cream together 1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter and 1-1/4 cups sugar until fluffy, is increased in volume and is lightened in color.  About three minutes.

In another bowl, with an electric mixer, add 8 eight yolks and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Beat until the mixture is thickened and pale in color, about four minutes.  Add this to the butter-sugar mixture and mix to combine.

With the mixer on low, add a third of the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.  Once mixed, add half the milk (1/2 cup) followed by another third of the flour.  When well mixed, add remaining milk, mix, then add the remaining flour.

Fold in a 1/2 cup of rainbow sprinkles.

Line cupcake pan with liners and fill with batter.  I fill mine to the top but 2/3’s full would work as well.  Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool completely before decorating them.

While waiting let’s make the whipped cream.  You will need: Heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

In a large bowl, add 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.  Beat with an electric mixer on high until thick, about 4-5 minutes.  Whipped cream should hold it’s shape and not be runny.

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Pipe or dollop on the whipped cream and garnish with blueberries, raspberries and generously cover with POP ROCKS of course! 

Or leave the POP ROCKS off and serve everyone with their own pack of POP ROCKS, which I think is more fun.

They are so pretty aren’t they?  I can see where a hooligan already nipped off an edge of this one.  They couldn’t wait to get their hand on these.  Stinkers.

Happy Birthday U.S.A. “You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave.”

Firecracker Cupcakes
adapted from Patrick Decker

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1-1/4 cups sugar
8 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
1 cup milk
1/2 cup rainbow candy sprinkles
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
About 3/4 cup blueberries, to garnish
About 3/4 cup raspberries, to garnish
Lots of Pop Rocks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line 12 muffins tins with paper baking cups.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is fluffy, substantially increased in volume and lightened in color, about 3 minutes.

In another large bowl, use an electric mixer with clean beaters to beat the egg yolks and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla until thickened and pale in color, about four minutes.

Add the beaten egg yolks to the butter-sugar mixture and mix to combine.

With the mixer on low, add a third of the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Once mixed, add half of the milk, followed by another third of the flour.  When well mixed, add the remaining milk, mix, then add the remaining flour.

Use a silicon spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are mixed in.  Gently fold in the sprinkles.

Fill the prepared muffin tins with batter.  Cook until a skewer inserted at the center comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes.  Do not over bake.

Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Just before serving, in a large bowl combine the heavy cream, powdered sugar and remaining vanilla.  Use an electric mixer to beat until thick.

Dollop or pipe whipped cream over each cupcake, then garnish with blueberries and raspberries.

Sprinkle each cupcake GENEROUSLY with POP ROCKS.  Or serve each cupcake with it’s very own pack of POP ROCKS which is what I would do!

Have fun with these, they seem to provoke a good time.

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Comments

  3. this is such a great idea ! im going to make for 4th of july ! your photography is amazing…. i want to reach through the picture and taste.

    Reply

  9. Cupcakes + Pop Rocks = Pure Genius!!

    Once my kids try this, they’ll want to put Pop Rocks on everything! It might be fun on ice cream too!?

    The cupcakes look beautiful–I like the rainbow effect of the sprinkles in the batter!

    Reply

  13. This recipe makes me want to have kids just so I can make them pop rock cupcakes 🙂 Look at you…inspiring wanna be mothers! These are perfect for 4th of July. I might have to make them for my adult friends who are somewhat like kids and would probably giggle just as much. Great job!

    Reply

  14. Wow ..I didnt know that Tastespotting took rights to the photos..Thats kinda tacky!!!! The only problem w/ Food Gawker is that I cant seem to reduce the size of my correctly w/o warping them

    Reply

  16. Wow!!

    I have the WORST luck in the kitchen and I mean the worst, and I don’t think this is even in my capability of cooking, but I am really, really going to try to make these for our family 4th celebration. Even if I can’t do it, it will be fun to try and maybe, just maybe I can pull them off, because they look delicious and I know my chilis will love them too.

    Thanks for posting this!! 🙂

    –snow

    Reply

  20. There is no way that a homemade cupcake piled with fresh whipped cream can be anything but spectacular- the berries and pop rocks send it right over the top!

    Reply

  24. mmm, these look delicious!

    by the way, in england we have pop rocks too although called something different. we dont have one main brand like you do, i dont think there as popular over here.

    Reply

  26. Love the cupcakes, both their look as their ‘personality’. We have pop rocks in the Netherlands too, at least we used to have it when I was little (years ago 😉 In Israel they have chocolate bars with the stuff…also fun!

    Reply

  28. What a great idea! Do you think my kids (17, 16, 14, 11) are too old for these? Nah! You’re never too old for cupcakes–or Pop Rocks. Oh, how I remember Pop Rocks! My Gram and Pop were so freaked out by them. They’d heard that urban legend about kids eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time and their mouths exploding. LOL! The things we believe sometimes!

    Reply

  29. WoW! Talk about eye candy! You are such a genius, dahling. I kind of miss baking for the Fam, but then again, not. I’m surprised your kids just figured this out… they should have known this fact forever ago.

    Reply

  33. So excellent.I think what I like the best ( besides the pop rocks ) are the sprinkles you put into the batter.. they make the muffins look so sci-fi & with the pop rocks…its fun all the way.

    I must keep this recipe in mind for the next time I’m asked to bake for work… should be fun to see the expression on the faces of totally unsuspecting adults *lol*

    obtw.. Happy 4th of July 🙂 !!! Our “birthday” is the 1st of July and I’m working an event at the “national bash” that day

    Reply

  37. I’m so tagging this – fabulous idea. Kevell for a while if you’ve reached menza mentality – it can’t possibly last – soon you’ll be dweeb mom again and loving it. You won’t even consider “wha???”

    Reply

  39. You my dear are the most rockingnest person in the whole freaking world. I am SO making these for my party on Friday night and I am totally going to be as cool as you for an hour. Martha Stewart is SO passe, Cool Cathy is the new domina of decadence. You rule.

    Reply

  40. Ahhhhh! Pop Rocks. I. Love. Them. This is a great idea and now I can’t wait for my neice to visit in two weeks so we can bake this together. Thanks!

    Reply

  43. Truely amazing. I just love your photographs.It’s as though the food is right in front of my eyes and I just want to take a big bite out of those cupcakes.
    Happy 1st July to you. From down under.

    Reply

  44. You have gotten so good at this, Cathy. You know, this whole blogging thing. You were always good, but your photography, your recipe presentation, your writing . . . it just gets better and better. Bravo!
    This recipe looks awesome. If my boys were young, I would so make these. You are a pop rocks superstar, you are.

    Reply

  48. Poprock is my favorite snack ! I haven’t had that in years until lately I went to a restaurant in NYC where chef played his dessert with pop rock..

    No wonder why your kids think you are genius. 🙂

    Reply

  49. hi Cathy! i’m back blogwalking (while i can). those are fantastic cupcakes! i have to try it for my son’s birthday, i think he’ll have a blast too. thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

  50. i love love love the colors that the sprinkles give to the cupcakes! and obviously, the pop rocks are a stroke of genius. al einstein’s got nothing on you. 🙂

    Reply

  53. These are great since fireworks are being frowned on in fire-consumed Cali. I don’t plan on hanging out with any kids on the 4th but might make these for those who are kids at heart.

    Reply

  54. What a great idea! We’re celebrating my husband’s birthday with family on the 4th and I think I’ll definitely be adding these to the celebration!

    Reply

  60. Love this idea and I agree – it makes me kick myself whenever I see something sublimely simple like this for not of having thought of it myself! I’m glad you read it and decided to share the idea here on your blog. These cupcakes really do look fantastic. Great job, Cathy!

    Reply

  66. OK – and here I was talking about smoothies being a hit. Forget it… you take the cake, missy! This is a fantastic recipe. Thanks for sharing it! Can’t wait to be mom of the year with this one too 😉

    Reply

  72. I’ve never heard of poprocks before. Do they fizzle and pop in your mouth or something? I think they are called by another name in the UK, I’ll ask my husband! Really gorgeous cupcakes, I love the colours.

    Reply

  77. You ARE the coolest mom, evah! Thanks so much for posting these. So creative and cool. I don’t have any little ones to give Pop Rocks to, but I think I’ll pick up a few packs, some Coca Cola, and have a grand ol’ time with my husband tonight.

    Reply

  81. cathy, there are pop rocks here in brazil.
    but i don’t remember seeing them except in a little package with a lollipop inside and for one summer in the crust of a popsicle/ice lolly.
    i do not go to bakery stores very often, though, so they might have it =)

    love the way you present your recipes, the photographs and when you talk about your hooligans!
    kudos and keep up the good work!

    Reply

  84. We do have Pop Rocks in Australia, as Christie @ FigCherry wrote.. but Christie, it’s not FizzWhiz! Fizz is a sherbert thing, whereas there IS a PopRocks equivalent – it’s “Popping Candy” or something like that, in the lolly aisle, with the lollypops. The lollypop is a dipper shaped like a foot,that you dip into the rocks.

    Totally awesome recipe – I’ll be trying it for sure!

    Reply

  85. Pop Rocks do exist in Israel, but they’re not sour… and they’re usually in CHOCOLATE. Israel is an amazing and wonderful country and I need to go back there right now. Seriously, milk chocolate with sweet pop rocks in it. *swoons*

    Reply

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