Thursday, June 21, 2012

What's the worst that could happen?

Hello my friends, I am back from a wonderful vacation in Sunny California. Did you all miss Aunty Lucy? LOL! 


Once again, I would like to thank my good friends from the bottom of my heart for blog sitting for me while I had a  wonderful time with my family in the USA. My splendid blog sitters were:


Alan of Travelling Foodies
Lena of Frozen Wings
Elisabeth of Food and Thrift Find and 
Wendy of Table for Two or More
You guys RRAWK!


I am very eager to share with you all the stories of my trip but my brain is not working and photos are not edited and organised yet. I am still feeling like a zombie (jet lag + exhaustion) so I thought I would share with you a post in my file which I had no time to publish before I left for my trip. Here you go:

There are so many fellow bloggers who have tried their hands in replicating the famous Hokkaido cup cakes. I used to drool over all their yummy cake photos. I did not think of making them myself because there is a bakery near my home that sells them and they are very delicious. That was actually an excuse. The real reason was, I have a fear of making chiffon cakes. I did not want to venture into making them because previous attempts did not work out.

A week before I left for my USA trip, I went to the neighborhood bakery to buy the cakes and there was a long queue in the shop. I had other errands to run so I did not want to wait. As I was driving home, something struck me. It was advice from a very dear ex boss. He often said, "Veronica, don't worry too much. No venture, no gain. What's the worst that could happen?" When I arrived home, I went straight into the kitchen and baked the Hokkaido cup cakes. My ex boss was right. What's the worst that could happen? Here are my home baked Hokkaido cup cakes. I am very happy with the result. I think they taste better than those I bought. I am glad I ventured to try and I definitely gained. Prices at the bakery are high for a confection and now I don't think I need to buy them anymore. The ingredients are cheap and it is so simple to make them. You can do it as well if you (or your friends and family) have a taste for this soft, cream filled, confection that could please the most demanding sweet tooth.



Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes (北海道戚風蛋糕)
Adapted from Jessie of Hearty Bakes 
who got it from the book 不用模型做点心
(with slight modification)


Featured on Asian Food Channel (Official) Facebook Page 
on 22 June 2012

Whipped cream to fill the cup cake:

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation:

Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks.

Cup Cakes Ingredients:
4 large egg yolks 
70g castor sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup full cream milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil

135g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

6 large egg whites 
50g castor sugar

2 tbs powedered sugar for dusting

Method:
Preheat your oven to 180°C. Place the egg yolks in a bowl and whisk them together with the 70g of sugar until yolks turn a pale yellow. Add the vanilla extract, followed by the milk and oil. Whisk well to combine. Sieve in the flour and baking powder and mix till all incorporated. In another bowl, beat the egg whites on high for about 30 seconds until foamy, then add 50g of castor sugar. Beat the egg whites until firm peaks not stiff peaks. Take a third of the egg whites and fold it into the egg yolk mixture to lighten it.  Continue folding in the remaining egg whites gently till you get a pale yellow batter. Fill the cupcake liners until about 3/4 full. Bake the cupcakes for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops turn a golden brown and a cake skewer comes out clean. White the cupcakes are baking, prepare the whipped cream. Once cupcakes is baked, let them cool completely on the wire rack. Fill the piping bag with whipped cream and pipe into the cup cakes and put them in the fridge. Dust the cupcakes with powdered sugar before serving. 

This cupcakes make a very nice gift, don't you think?



If you like the polka dot cup cake liners and the cake box. You can get them at:
BEST BAKING SOLUTIONS 
57, Jalan USJ 8/2B, 47610 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Telephone: (603)5637-6637 



74 comments:

  1. Happy hear that you had a wonderful trip in USA.

    Delicious and beautiful cupcake. Love that liners.

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    1. Thanks Swathi. I am sure you can get nice cupcake liners at your end. Here in KL, they are quite limited choices.

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  2. Quay Po, great to have you back! These cupcakes look heavenly and you have done a good job on them. Looks like this will be on my next baking list.

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    1. Thanks Phong Hong. Good, looking forward to see your post.

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  3. Forgot to mention, a resounding YES! We all missed Aunty Lucy! Glad to know that you had a wonderful holiday.

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  4. Of course I missed you! But I was fortunate to see all that you've been up to via fb, so that wasn't so bad. And now, you're back and tempting me (torturing, I might add) with this ... I totally fell in love with it when someone brought it for a potluck party. I still haven't the time to make this. Will definitely do so real soon!
    These look even better than those bakeries ... they are more than perfect!
    Thanks to your blog sitters, we had a great time on your blog even when you were of gallivanting with cute chefs (did you bring him home to share? Bet you didn't. Kept him all to yourself, didn't you? Huh.).

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    1. Oh not so many cute chefs I met, only one but he is really damn cute and funny. I wish I could bring him back and share with you all but he rejected my offer. LOL!

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  5. Oooooo...they're beautiful. Something like the Japanese baked cotton cheese cake? Next time I go KL, you bake for me, can? Hehehehehe!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, for sure! When is that NEXT TIME going to be?

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  6. The cakes look Gorgeous ! I like your header. Indeed, what's the worse that can happen? By being too perfect, we sometimes miss out too much. Thanks again!

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  7. I also tried making them last week after persuasion from you guys, and it was really easy!

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    1. I do not doubt this is easy for you. You are a talented baker my dear. If not, how can your cream pie be featured in AFC facebook? Congrats again. Very proud of you!

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  8. These are beyond darling! Each one looks like a litte gift. Really beautiful. Hope you had a splendid trip!

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    1. Thanks. I have a the time of my life in California.

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  9. Welcome home, Veron!
    Absolutely lovely cakes :-) I've got all the stuff at home - just waiting to see when the mood strikes me to bake this, hehe!

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    1. Thanks Chris. So bake these beauties quick quick. hehe

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  10. Glad to hear u had a great vacation...I think I know which bakery you meant that sell the delicious Hokaido cupcakes..ehhehehe

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    1. I am sure you do, that bakery are very famous now. Everyday long queue at the shop at 3pm. BTW, when do you want to collect those story books you wanted? Text me ok?

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  11. Welcome back, Quay Po! Your Hokkaido cupcakes look fantastic..I don't think you need to fear chiffon cakes anymore! They look so fluffy and nice!

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  12. Welcome back- looking forward to your stories about the trip. Thanks for the recipe.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Elaine. Still editing and organising the photos from my trip. I have so much funny stories to tell. You know lah Aunty Lucy just did not want to leave me alone. LOL!

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  13. Oh, your Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes looks so beautifully done! I have yet to bake this but I will very shortly. This must be real delicious.

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    1. Mel, I am sure yours will turn out even better. You are already doing so well with all your bakes. Eager to see your post.

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  14. The recipe looks simple, I am tempted to try. Looking forwards to hear more about your trip.

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    Replies
    1. Yan, try it. I am sure your kiddies will love them. I will be posting about my trip soon. So many funny things happened. hehe

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  15. welcome back! and such lovely chiffon cupcakes!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Alan. Compliment on desserts and cakes come from you means a lot to me.

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  16. 很开心再见您的分享。dot dot的杯子很美丽。做起这个北海道蛋糕来很大方,美丽。

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Joceline. I am in love with the polka dot cup liners too. They are two colors available. Blue and Pink. I like the pink one better.

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  17. Looks really pretty and delicious! Love those paper cases. Veronica, I think it's time you open a bakery :D I need to try and make too. You have started my craving...haha. Need to bookmark this. Thanks very ugh for sharing. Welcome back! MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

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    1. Thanks Mary. How are your leg? Fully recovered yet? Open bakery? You really see me SO UP. Standard tak cukup leh. LOL!

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  18. They make a perfect gift. They look so good I could eat them right off the page!

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    1. Yes, it is. This will definitely be something that I will consider giving a gift to my friends when we meet up.

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  19. Of course we've miss Aunty Lucy! So glad that you're back. Love reading your posts because each post not only comes with a recipe but a story behind it..:) I haven't tried hokkaido chiffon cupcakes though. Anyway, can't wait to hear more stories about your trip to Sunny California.

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    1. Thanks Caroyln. You must try making these beauties for your kiddies, they will love them. Stories of my trip is on the way! Hugs.

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  20. Hey, Veron. Glad to know you and Gary are back from SoCal.

    Lovely Hokkaido cupcakes, too.

    Any plan for the Fourth with Gary this year?

    Take care. Send my regards to Gary.

    P.S. I realized that Gary's birthday is only two days before Ken's. If you're up for anything with me on those, let me know. I'm planning on making a birthday cake.

    P.S.S. Already got something for Gary? Still interested in the Dutch oven? I'll start work next Monday, hopefully, depending on my (injured) hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant, "P.P.S." Lol. Sorry about the typo.

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    2. Thanks Pei-Lin. I am not sure about the Fourth. Have to check with Gary. Gary sends you his regards too. Frankly, I do know what to get for Gary for any occasion now. He is one person that is so hard to buy things for. Did you forget? I already got the Dutch oven. Congrats on your new job. Hope you hand healed quickly. Hugs.

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  21. Yes missed you. looking forward to your post with photos. hmmmm...home made ones certainly look very good. yummy.

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    1. Thanks Kathy. Will be posting about the trip soon.

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  22. very pretty Hokkaido chiffon cake! It looks yummy and I wish to have one right now :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Tze. How is your little one doing? Give him a hug for me.

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  23. i love this cake, planning to make it soon!

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  24. Welcome back , Lucy ! We really miss you ! hahahaha Your blogsitters really did an awesome job ! I've seen your post before I went window :P :D shopping and been on a lookout for some cute cup cake liners just like yours ! No sightings though ! :D ...
    These Hokkaido cakes looks deliciously pretty !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You too on a look out for cute cup cake liners? Hope you find what you want soon. I love pretty cup cake liners and I can not resist buying them when I see it. Thanks for the compliment on the cupcakes.

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  25. So nice to see that you are back home, Veronica...welcome back! You obviously are still so jet-legged and have already been busy baking these awesome little cupcakes. Just love the polka dot pink liners. I'm sooo pinning this to my 'polka dot' board on Pinterest!

    I had so much fun guest posting for you...thank you for having me guest post!
    Get some much needed rest, if you can!
    Hugs,

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    1. Yes Elisabeth, it is good to be home. These cupcakes were baked before I left for the USA. Thanks for pinning this on Pinterest. OH YES, we both had so much fun on your guest post. It is a story I can tell for long time! LOL! Lots of love and hugs.

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  26. Welcome back to Malaysia, Aunty Lucy! :))

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    1. Thanks Claire. Have you been good while I am away? LOL!

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  27. Veronica,

    Thanks for linking this beautiful cakes to Favorite recipes event: Cakes

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    1. Swathi, you are most welcome. Thank you for the effort.

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  28. HELLO, welcome back and a big hug to you! Bravo for making these cupcakes,you've conquered the fear of making chiffon! They look gorgeous! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a co-star in your blog, that's an honour! Looking forward to hear about your vacation stories!

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    1. Lena, I would love to have you as a Co-Star in my blog anytime!! Will tell you lots of stories of my trip soon.

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  29. That's sinfully delicious....can I place my order?

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    1. Choi Yen, no need to place order. Give me a few days notice when we want to meet up and catch up. I will bake this for you.

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  30. oh...looks so yummy...ive always wanted to try making this...hmm...about time then...just a question : how many cupcakes can u make using this recipe uve given?thnx ;)

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    1. Hi Resh, thanks for stopping by. The cupcakes liners I used is 55mm square on the base and 45mm tall. I made 14 cupcakes.

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  31. nice to see you back..lovely and sweet Hokkaido chiffon cupcake!

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    1. Thanks Sonia. Long time no see. Looks like you are traveling a lot. Good for you:D

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  32. Welcome back Aunty Lucy. Sat in business class still jetlag?
    Anyway I like these Hokkaido cakes,but RT sells it a little expensive..dont you think so??

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    1. Thanks. Yes, any class for me also I will have jetlag. LOL! I agree with you. These cakes are sold way too expensive in the bakery.

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  33. WOW, I simply looooooove your blog :D
    I just can't get enough of all these yummy recipes. The only thing that would be better is a button of "Taste" or "Have a bite", lol, just a wish..

    Have a fabulous day, xx
    Loly
    http://abudhabifood.blogspot.com/

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  34. Loly, thanks for dropping by. Glad you like my blog. I wish I can place those buttons. LOL! You too have a wonderful weekend.

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  35. Welcome home, my friend!!! It took me about a week to get back in the swing of it all after our holiday. I'm so glad you took the plunge and made these gorgeous cupcakes! They look PERFECT...and your cupcake wrappers are so cute!

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    1. Welcome home too Lizzy, I am not back in swing yet. These cupcakes were baked before I left for my trip:D

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  36. Another great holiday? great for you.

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  37. Quaypo,
    there's a 'typo error' or you have missed out typing in the weigh measurement in the 1/4 ____ vegetable oil.

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks Mel. It is fixed. Yes I left out the the word 'cup'. My apology.

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