Sunday, September 7, 2008

Cupcake 45 - Crackerjack Cupcakes


Do you think Cracker Jack prizes have become lame? As a kid I remember getting trinkets, maybe a ring or magnifying glass, compass or a tiny flip book. Now its only a mini baseball card . Come to think of it cereal prizes have ratcheted down a bit too. Along with breakfast, you'd net out with a Dawn doll, refrigerator magnet, Hot Wheels car, or bobble head. Along with the in-box prize, the cereal folks would up sell with mail-in offers galore. I spent several summers collecting box tops, UPC codes and labels in an effort to "send away" for all sorts of wonderful merchandise. Thanks to Funny Face drink mix I consumed a tanker truck of sugar laden colored water to get the set of mugs. The next summer they offered up iron on decals, I was there. 9-Lives cat food hyped Morris t-shirts in return for zillions of cat food can labels, I was on it. Later they expanded the offering with a laundry list of goods from cat bowls to tote bags more shirts and even and watches - all for the taking with just enough labels. Christmas ornaments from Campbell Soup, Bazooka Joe notebooks, Jiff measuring cups, Camel Joe watches. The mailman should have worn a Santa Suit (and possibly a back brace) when delivering our mail. And my Mom should have worn a strait jacket to grocery shop. I had needs in the grocery store and they didn't always involve products we liked, used or needed. Patience was not my strong suite either. Before the groceries were put away, I'd cut the much needed box top off long before the contents were consumed. Our cabinets were littered with labeless cans and boxes with a gaping holes.

This week brings Cracker Jack Cupcakes - vanilla cupcakes topped with cracker jacks drizzled with caramel and a prize!

I used the Magnolia Yellow Cupcake recipe, before baking I added 1 T crushed Cracker Jacks to the top of each cupcake.

Carmel Frosting

1/2 c butter
1 c light brown sugar
1/4 c whole milk + 3 T milk
1 3/4 c powdered sugar, sifted or your frosting may be lumpy
pinch of salt

Melt butter and brown sugar in saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 c milk, return to boil and stir again for two minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in powdered sugar and salt. Add additional milk as needed.

Pour 1 T onto each cupcake as soon as you remove from oven, it will fill all the nooks and crannies. Top with additional crackerjacks. Cool on wire racks.

Note: I used 7 boxes of Cracker Jacks for 24 cupcakes.

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