In my next post, I'll be announcing the winning charity for Cupcake Project 4.0, revealing the cupcake recipe that you'll receive if you donate, and telling you how to donate. But first, join me on a trip to India for Diwali.
These Diwali cupcakes are a twist on traditional Diwali sweets. One of my readers, Pia BRoy, requested Diwali cupcakes on my Facebook page. I told her that I would be happy to make some incorporating her favorite Diwali sweets. She replied that her top Diwali sweets are carrot halwa and gulab jamun - so, Pia, I bring you the Diwali sweets-inspired carrot halwa cardamom cupcakes topped with carrot halwa and a gulab jamun.
Close your eyes as you eat these and you can imagine yourself in India for Diwali. It's easy for me since I was there in '94. Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, and when they say lights, they mean LIGHTS! Our July 4 celebrations don't hold a candle to Diwali (mainly because - at least when I was there - there was no one stopping people of any age from lighting fireworks in the street). There were so many fireworks that it looked like the entire city (I was in Chennai, formally known as Madras) was on fire. Our bus driver could only see two feet ahead of him as he tried to maneuver around cows, people, cars, and carts. I did not envy him!
Open your eyes after you've taken your first bite so that you can peek inside the Diwali cupcakes and see the light texture and scattered orange carrot halwa flecks.
fresh out of the fryer, soaked in sugar syrup, and then served on top of some extra syrup. That, my friends, is gulab jamun. Gulab jamun are little syrup sponges (in this case a cardamom, syrup) your arteries will hate you for, but that you won't be able to resist (if you feel guilty, you can remind yourself that they aren't as fattening as 
