The frosting shot heard round the world

So apparently the AP story on frosting shots by Terry Tang (who is a big cupcake fan and had a post up that she reads this blog, but that was taken down) was very popular. Lots of people are lining to it and marveling over the existence of frosting shots, including Leslie Goldman over at the Huffington Post:

Apparently the frosting shot has been created (and served up at bakeries like Sprinkles and Babycakes NYC) in response to consumer demand to cup the crap, ditch the cakey part of the cupcake and just cut to the chase. After all, we all know the frosting is where it's at. I remember being served Ding Dongs as a little girl and peeling off that dense fudgy lid with the white squiggle, 86ing the cake and slowly chewing the top with pure gastronomic glee.

So what was it like to cover the story? Here's Tang's behind the scenes report:

I spent Saturday afternoon and part of the evening at Sprinkles Cupcakes. My story on frosting shots, slated to run this month, was missing one key ingredient (pardon if that sounds like a bad pun), a quote from a customer. So, I spent more than two hours waiting, hoping, chanting for someone to order one so I could pounce on them for an interview. I don't know what it says about my social life that I didn't mind waiting there for so long. The girls behind the bakery counter were really nice. I could tell they felt really bad for me just waiting there. It got to the point where one of them was asking customers if they would be interested in buying a frosting shot. That was nice of her but it really should be someone who either wanted one to begin with or ordered it for a special reason. I told them that it was a helluva lot more fun than the time I had to do a stakeout in front of a serial killer suspect's house. I was indoors and surrounded by cupcakes after all. Well, it was about half an hour before 7 p.m. closing when a guy ordered one. Hallelujah! Otherwise I would've had to go back Sunday morning. Once again, no life, hehe.

This version of the article also had recipes:

Cinnamon-Vanilla Frosting Shots

Makes: About 30 shots

8-ounce package cream cheese

1⁄4 cup butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1⁄8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

41⁄2 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Use electric mixer with whisk attachment on high to beat until well mixed. Add powdered sugar and mix on low until just incorporated.

Increase speed to high and beat until thick and smooth.

(Frosting can be refrigerated. Allow 10 to 15 minutes after removing from refrigerator before proceeding.)

Transfer frosting to a large plastic bag or piping bag fitted with a large icing tip. Pipe frosting into small paper muffin cups, shot glasses or onto spoons arranged on a serving platter.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Shots

Makes: About 30 shots

1⁄2 cup butter,

room temperature

8 ounces marshmallow cream

1⁄8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1⁄2 cup cocoa powder

2 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, combine the butter, marshmallow cream, salt and vanilla. Use an electric mixer with the whisk attachment on high to beat until well mixed. Add the cocoa powder and mix on low until just incorporated.

Add the powdered sugar and mix on low until just incorporated, stopping to scrape the sides as needed. (Frosting can be refrigerated. Allow 10 to 15 minutes after removing from refrigerator before proceeding.)

Transfer the frosting to a large plastic bag or piping bag fitted with a large icing tip. Pipe the frosting into small paper muffin cups, shot glasses or onto spoons arranged on a serving platter.