Rose Cupcakes - total time 1.5 hours

Valentines Day is coming up... and whether you will be spending the day with your sweetie, hanging out with friends, or staying in... everyone loves to celebrate with something sweet!

Have you ever wondered what a rose tastes like?  I never thought about it until Ali from GimmeSomeOven posted a rose cake recipe last year.  She actually used real rose petals to decorate it too.  I have used lotions with rose water in the past... and they smell amazing.  Then I saw this rose water at a cutesy chef shop in the Short North (while we were waiting to eat at Melt) and thought this is perfect for V-day!

Now don't be fooled, just because it says rose water instead of extract doesn't mean the flavor is any less potent.  So don't add more because you want it extra rosy...this recipe is already there!

Since these cupcakes taste like roses (which is hard to describe), they should look like roses too!  At first I was a little intimidated by some of the instructions.  And some of the "easy" ones just wouldn't work on mini cupcakes.  But then I found a video that walked through each step (didn't make me feel much less intimidated) and then I tried it.. easy peasy!  Box up a dozen and send them to your Valentine (or keep them to yourself)!


Cake
12 tbsp butter
.75 cup sugar
1 tbsp rose water
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp baking soda
.333 cup cream
2 eggs
1.5 cup flour
salt
1 cup strawberries (optional)

Frosting
12 tbsp butter
1 tbsp rose water
3 tbsp cream
2 cups powdered sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Whip butter in mixer.  Add sugar and mix on high speed.  Add rose water, vanilla, salt, and baking soda.  Once combined add eggs and mix at a slower speed.  Add in flour about a half cup at a time.  For a fruity, more muffin-y flavor, add chopped strawberries (optional).
2.  Spoon cake batter into cupcake liners.  Bake for 15-18 minutes
3.  Whip butter in mixer.  Add the rose water and cream.  Slowly add powdered sugar until desired consistency and sweetness.  Add 1-2 drops of food coloring (optional).
4.  Let cupcakes cool for at least 10 minutes.  Using a 101 or 102 decorating tip and fill your piping bag with frosting.  The wider end should be closest to the cupcake.  Start from the center and add individual petals all the way around.  (Use this video.)  Refrigerate to let the frosting set.