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I have been away from my blog and twitter for what seems like forever, but in reality, it’s only been a little over a week. A rough week, a sad week…keeping a long story short, our two and a half year old Maltese pup, Lola passed away unexpectedly last Monday.
Lola was a happy, loving, loyal pet and the best buddy to our male Morkie, Henry. We are all having a difficult time dealing with our loss and miss Lola dearly. It is truly amazing to me the bond that us humans can have with our four-legged babies, but it’s a bond I will never be without. In my opinion, pets can be one of the most pure forms of unconditional love you can ever experience and we were blessed to have Lola in our lives.
Needless to say, I wasn’t really into baking or cooking the last week, but I did manage to make some cupcakes. After they baked, I was contemplating how to frost them and decided to make them white and fluffy looking…just like Lola. This may seem a tad bit odd, but at the time, it offered me a bit of comfort, so I went with it! I topped them with traditional cream cheese frosting then tossed on some shredded coconut. These last minute Lola inspired cupcakes, turned out to be quite a tasty combination. Thanks so much for stopping by, have a fabulous day and if ya have a pet, be sure to give them some extra lovin today!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1-2/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups water
For the Frosting
2 (8) ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
2 lbs. confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
For the Cupcakes
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl; beat on high speed of mixer 3 minutes. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add alternately with water to butter mixture, beating until blended. Add candy, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
(If making cupcakes, divide the batter into cupcake pans lined with paper liners and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Batter will yield approximately 24 cupcakes.)
For the Frosting
Using a mixer, blend all of the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Spread cream between layers and on top of cake. Top with shredded coconut if desired.
Notes:
The dark brown cupcake liners are from bakeitpretty.com
adapted from hersheys.com
All images and text ©Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
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I am so sorry for the loss of your pup. I wish you peace. I love to think of my gone babies in a big expanse of green grass, where there are no bad dogs and no mean cats, chasing squirrels and waiting till their owners join them. If you can find it, a great book, even though written for children, is Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant, and this healing poem:
http://www.rainbowbridge.com/Poem.htm
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Lola. Animals seem to make their way into our hearts and stay there forever. Never forgotten. I am sure you have read the “Rainbow Bridge” poem but in case you have not get ready for a good cry and read it over. I am a believer you will see your Lola again but for the time being enjoy the memories of your precious pup. A life ended too early but she gave you joy and you gave her the same. My thoughts are with you.
I had a german sheperd borther and when I lost him i was decastated, and yes, i considered him my brother, my canine brother, they really are one more in the family and when they are gone, a piece of us leaves withe them, bless them…
Well done fo r the cakes! cheers from london
Jamie I totally know how you feel. We got a Maltese when I was 13 and she lived to the ripe old age of 15 when she could last no longer. The day she died, I remember phoning my mum from Paris where I was living, speaking to my dad in Sydney and my sister in Singapore and we were all just in floods of tears. Even though I wasn’t there, in a way it was worse. My mum just got another Maltese a few years ago but it took her a good 8 years to be able to feel ok with loving another animal. Am giving my Burmese cat an extra big hug today in tribute to Lola’s life. Hugs xoxo
I am so sorry to hear about your sweet dog. I have been there and it isn’t a fun place to be.
Your cupcakes look amazing, such a nice tribute!
So sorry to hear about Lola. They really do become members of the family just like any human would and it’s always heartbreaking to see them go. I’m sure she was very loved in her short life. These cupcakes look like a fitting tribute and I would really like to eat one :)
Cupcakes look delicious and I am sorry about your dog….:( very sad…keep baking, it is therapy!!
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My husband and I actually just lost our Maltipoo 2 weeks ago. He was 1.5 years old. He was hit by a car while chasing a rabbit. I have never been more heartbroken. I miss him so much and think about him daily. It was harder losing ‘Peanut’ than it was having a miscarriage just 2 months ago. My husband and I have been going through infertility treatment for 2 years so Peanut was our only BABY!!
I am an avid reader of your blog and have started my own by influence from you. I enjoy reading and making many of your ‘masterpeaces’ and I am IN LOVE with food. If you visit my web blog…you will see why (Food is my life…I am a Registered Dietitian working with cancer patients in the mid west). Keep the recipes coming!
Im really sorry for your loss!!
I’m so sorry to hear about Lola (great name!) She will not be forgotten with these wonderful cupcakes :)