One Bowl Pine Nut Cupcakes with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

I go crazy with elaborate projects sometimes (see my Homemade Lucky Charms for a prime example).  But, it's always nice to have a few one bowl recipes on hand to quickly whip together.  Despite the gourmet sound of a pine nut cupcake, these pine nut cupcakes fall into the dump and mix category of cupcakes.  Remember, easy doesn't mean any less tasty!

These pine nut cupcakes taste nutty and familiar, yet unexpected (pine nut is hardly a staple cupcake flavor). They have an occasional crunch from the whole pine nuts mixed into the batter and the tart, sweet finish of raspberry cream cheese frosting.  

If you don't want to splurge on pine nuts, you can make this recipe using any nuts and nut butter.

Sophisticated Yet Homey Pine Nut Raspberry Bars

Peanut butter and jelly is such an iconic American duo that before my three year old had even tried it, he was singing PB&J songs in his parent/child music class.  But really, people, must we stick with peanut butter?  Give other nuts a chance!  I suggest pine nuts.

Pining For Toasted Pine Nut Butter - Nut Allergy Safe

Pine nut butter on toast (or anything you would spread peanut butter on) is a simple special treat for someone in your life with (or without) nut allergies.  Pine nuts, as it turns out, are not nuts - they are seeds!  Therefore, pine nuts do not need to be avoided by people with nut allergies.  Hooray!  And, because pine nuts are so soft, they are incredibly easy to turn into nut butter - just whizz the toasted pine nuts and a touch of vegetable oil a few quick times in a food processor. 

Magical Sugar Plum Fairy Cakes

In the United Kingdom, cupcakes are sometimes called fairy cakes.  Never has that name been more fitting than when used for my sugar plum fairy cakes!  I spun dried fruits, walnuts, honey, orange juice, and seasonal spices together in my sugar plum fairy cakes, creating a magical taste spectacle. While similar in flavor to my sugar plum recipe, these sugar plum fairy cakes are dainty, light, and majestic. Coriander orange buttercream and a sprinkle of fairy dust (edible glitter) add the finishing touches. 

How to Make Acorn Flour - A Pre-Thanksgiving Family Project

 

Acorns aren't just for squirrels. Native Americans ground acorns into flour and used the flour to make hearty stews and breads.  

I, of course, used my acorn flour to make cupcakes. Acorns (once properly prepared for eating - more on that later) are walnut-like, but have a unique flavor all their own: sweet, subtle, and earthy.  You can eat them as nuts, but I recommend going the Native American route and turning them into acorn flour.  Preparing the flour is a time-consuming process (three days, excluding foraging for the acorns), but it's a great pre-Thanksgiving project to teach your little pilgrims about Native American foods (hint: they didn't eat green bean casserole).

How to Make Acorn Flour

Honey Nut Cupcakes for Valentine's Day

These honey nut cupcakes for Valentine's Day are just the Valentine's Day treat for the special nut lover in your life.  I gave a honey nut Valentine's Day cupcake to one of the biggest nut lovers in my life - a man who will forever be my Valentine - my dad.  He said without hesitation that this was the best cupcake he had ever tasted.  That's strong praise from my father.  He doesn't mince his words.

The honey nut cupcakes for Valentine's Day are dense, with gobs of nuts and honey squirreled away inside. The cupcakes are "frosted" with honey (to act as a tasty glue) and then rolled in chopped nuts.  Nut lovers will "nut" miss the buttercream, instead they'll go nuts for the huge mound of their favorite stuff.

Honey, I'm Nuts for You - Easy Honey Nut Valentine's Day Cookies (Gluten-Free)

If you're nuts for a nut lover, this is the Valentine's day cookie to make them.  These honey nut Valentine's Day cookies are super simple to make - they have only three ingredients (an assortment of nuts and seeds, honey, and a couple of egg whites to help hold it all together in a chewy granola bar sort of way) - and they are gluten-free!  The best thing about these cookies is that you can use whatever nuts your Valentine loves.  Does your hubby crave cashews?  Use them!  Does your child pine for peanuts?  They'll work too!