Michelle's Cupcakes

As seen in

Team Lambda Draft 3

Many people with talents seem unbefitting of their stature or temperament, such as a large, muscular man doing ballet or yoga, or a generally angry person keeping a rose garden.
Several members of Lambda are like this, but few are as noticeable or well-known as Michelle. The half-pint has a penchant and passion for baking, which surprises most people given her frequent threats and swearing. Unbeknownst to nearly everyone, Michelle has competed in several baking competitions. She won, though the victories were contested, with surprised competitors saying she coerced the judges. These complaints stopped once she forced a cupcake into their mouth.
Michelle's cupcakes can be used as a form of currency. She can bribe nearly anyone on base with them. They are widely accepted as a form of payment, though they are rare.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

....that "crunch" was sprinkles... right?

Manufacturing process

1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F or 449.5 Kelvin). Line a standard muffin/cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. On medium-high speed, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to high and add the egg. Scrape down the bowl and beat until well incorporated.
3. In a separate small bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and red food coloring to make a thick paste. Add to the batter and mix on medium speed until completely combined. You may need to stop the mixer to scrape the bottom of the bowl, making sure that all the batter gets color.
4. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add half of the buttermilk. Add half of the flour and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl and repeat the process with the remaining milk and flour. Beat on high until smooth.
5. Again, reduce the mixer speed to low and add the salt, baking soda and vinegar. Turn to high and beat for another couple of minutes until completely combined and smooth.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners and bake for about 20 minutes, or until a thin knife or skewer inserted into the center of the largest cupcake comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove cupcakes from the pan and place them on a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
8. Make the Frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt on low speed until smooth, then mix for an additional 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed.
9. Increase the speed to medium-low and add the cream cheese one piece at a time and mix until smooth, then mix for an additional 2 minutes.
10. Hide finished cupcakes away from everyone. Consume as wanted or use for bribes as needed. Should be discarded after 2 days (not that they ever make it that long, and even if they did, someone would still eat them)

Significance

These cupcakes, while delicious on their own, create a dangerous pairing with Michelle's knowledge of people and her intellect. This combination is one that only she can use to its full effectiveness, silently and legally asserting dominance, all the while ignoring laws related to bribary.
These pastries make life outside of Section L noticeably easier for the team

This recipe was taken from Michelle at TheBrownEyedBaker.

The original recipe can be found here

This was written in response to the Food, Glorious Food unofficial challenge

by Kranjax via Midjourney

Item type

Consumable, Food / Drink

Current Location

Butterscotch HQ

Rarity

As rare as she wants them to be.

Raw materials & Components

This particular ingredient list is for Red Velvet cupcakes. it is kept in a biometrically sealed, double-encrypted file somewhere. Only herself, Rinoa, and 3 unidentified entities know of its whereabouts.

Amount	Discontinued Measurement	Ingredient	Notes/comments
57g	4 tablespoons	unsalted butter	room temp
149g	¾ cup	granulated sugar
1	still 1	egg
13g	2½ tablespoons	unsweetened cocoa powder	Don't eat this by itself... no matter how good it smells
30ml	2 tablespoons	red food coloring
2.5ml	½ teaspoon	vanilla extract	same as the cocoa powder. The smell is a lie!
120ml	½ cup	buttermilk	can be made at a ratio of 15ml (1 tablespoon) of lemon juice or vinegar to 120ml (1 cup) of milk
125g + 2 tablespoons	1 cup + 2 tablespoons	all-purpose flour
2½ml	½ teaspoon	salt
2½ml	½ teaspoon	baking soda
7½ml	1½ teaspoons	distilled white vinegar

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Amount	Discontinued Amount	Ingredient	Notes/comment
113g	½ cup	unsalted butter	room temp
227g	2 cups	powdered sugar
5ml	1 teaspoon	vanilla extract
1¼ml	¼ teaspoon	salt	seriously, just measure with the spoon
227g	8 ounces (1 cup)	cream cheese	chilled and cut into 8 pieces

Tools

• An oven
• Cupcake pan(s)
• A mixer
• 2 bowls
• measuring spoons/cups or a kitchen scale
• a spoon 

Optional:

• A rubber spatula
• a toothpick
• icing piping bag