Baking Adventures III: Vanilla Chai Cupcakes with Swiss Honey Meringue Buttercream

Due to the gods of 'broke'ness, I've absolutely no choice but to stay at home and refrain myself from shopping. *@#$% Not an ideal setting to a shopaholic free from exams like me. Anyway, back to the yummy stuff, I've always wondered what kind of frosting the Cupcake Family (the cupcake bakery at QV: must try their green tea cupcakes which are todiefor). I've made sticky chocolate icing (which was yummy and... sticky), frosting with buttloads of icing suger (here) and my failed can't form ftlog chocolate ganache.

Today I discovered it: buttercream. Contrary to its name, there is no cream in it but plenty of the former. And YUM, its creamy and soft but it still holds. But, there's a whole story behind it. ;)

Probably one of the simplest pleasures in life is good hot chai latte. Discovered its awesome goodness about two years ago. Perfect for cold winter days and if you're coughing up a flu, drink one of these. Miracle worker I swear. :)

Throw this and that in to this and that and you'll get this. To be honest, this would probably one of the harder recipes I've tried to follow. All that "put sifted dry ingredients in three batches alternating with milk" and "beat it till fluffy but not too fluffy". @.@

All fluffy and golden! :) And now moving on to the swiss meringue... It was quite interesting to learn how to make this. First off, placing honey, (four!!!) egg whites and sugar into a double boiler!

Started panicking when I saw the ring of egg-white forming at the sides. Removed it a.s.a.p and moved it to a bowl. 

By far, this was the most funky smelling baking mixture I have ever smelt. Like.. seriously. It was eggy and sweet and to be honest, I was quite close to puking. After letting it cool for a while, I mixed 'funky smelling mixture' with the cubed butter. After mixing about 3/4 butter (I've to mix the butter cubes one by one), the the buttercream was not holding!! @#$% Imagine a frosting to be the consistency of... milk.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no. *inserts remaining 1/4 of cubed butter*

Oh no. *mixes*

Ecstaticism!!!! Buttercream = formed = success!

And into the piping bag it goes! Holding this just makes me feel so pro. :3

I just had like three of them since I haven't had my breakfast or lunch yet. I've been awake since 10.30am and its now... 5pm. Nice. ;) Oh and I haven't showered yet. Double nice. ;)