Ginormous Mini-Cupcakes

Ok, let's start with the obvious question: Is this really necessary? Answer: No, no it's not, but that doesn't mean it's not fun.

Now to the more obvious question: What on Earth am I talking about? Why, The Wilton Multi-cavity Mini-cupcake pan, of course. 

I got my paws on one of these bad boys and just had to give it a spin. Since I don't believe in using box mixes, and I haven't had a chance to cook any desserts from my current favorite Vegan cookbook, Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Moskowitz (of Post Punk Kitchen fame), I decided it was a great opportunity to do both. I went with Isa's Lemon Gem Cupcakes (p 228). The recipe said it made a dozen, but eyeing the shear size of those cupcakes (and the fact that I was going to have to make more than four finalized cupcakes) I wisely decided to double the batch. As it turns out, I should have more than doubled the recipe. I ended up with only 6 cupcakes!

When I set out to use this pan I was more than a little excited, I mean, really? Ginormous double cupcakes? This was bound to rock!

Enter the first pain point: This pan is supposed to be non-stick. So will someone please tell me why I had to butter and flour the thing (per the directions)?? The first batch I did as I was ordered, the second I didn't. There was some residual butter/flour, so it probably took care of the sticking, but I really felt it was overkill.

Pain point number 2: Does anyone ever really make just 4 cupcakes in a go? My typical MO is to use the pan, take out the cupcakes and bake the next round. This should have worked, but the directions told me to let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 20 minutes before removing. My oven cooled down before I could get the next batch in. You'd really have to have at least two of these pans to optimize you're cooking time.

These annoyances aside, the pan did produce some good looking cupcakes! Tragically, they were devoured before photographic evidence could mark the occasion.

One thing to note: We had to cut these in half, since they were just too much cupcake for one person. Keep that in mind when serving to minors, or children you don't want too hyped up on sugar, or adults you don't want too hyped up on sugar. Ok, just keep it in mind.

And, in case you're wondering: I'm totally using that recipe again. Isa Moskowitz really knows what she's talking about.

--Amanda Luthy