Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has been a favorite novel of mine for longer than I can remember. I love being swept back to a more genteel time. When cracking open my well worn book copy yet again, I feel as if it’s my first time experiencing the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Their banter, battle of wits and eventual deep love captives me. Yes, Mr. Darcy is my ultimate literary crush. I can’t help it, not only is he intelligent and quite dashing, he falls in love with Lizzy because of her mind!
I have always felt that Colin Firth played the part of Mr. Darcy just the way I would want him to be. His smoldering looks are edged with a bit of self-consciousness as he interacts with Lizzy. The way he drops everything to fully listen to her is applaudable. How he beams after their wedding, as they ride off in a carriage, makes me go weak in the knees.
However, years later, I couldn’t help but swoon when Matthew Macfadyen stepped into the role. In one of the final movie scenes as he walks towards Lizzy across the lush countryside in the misty morning, his long coat flapping cape-like, I’m pretty sure I almost fainted!
In honor of this romantic tale, I created cupcakes that hopefully our two lovebirds would find worthy enough to take their eyes off each other to glance at. When served with Rainier cherries, rosé raspberries and edible pearls they become quite flirty! 💗
To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.
—Jane Austen
Decoration
White sparkling sugar sprinkles
Rainer cherries
Rosé raspberries
Edible white sugar pearls
Light colored small flowers, preferably little roses
Vanilla Cupcakes
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Next, in a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour the batter into lined cupcake pans.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool so you can frost and decorate.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
First, with an electric mixer, beat the vanilla extract and butter in a medium bowl. Then slowly mix in the powdered sugar, and beat. Now pour in the milk. Lastly, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is smooth and fluffy.
Now decorate each cupcake with frosting and sprinkles. Arrange on plates and surround with the cherries, raspberries and edible pearls. Arrange flowers on the tops of two centerpiece cupcakes—these two will not be eaten.
Makes 14 cupcakes
Note: If you prefer an easier version use store bought cake mix and frosting. Or…just pick up undecorated cupcakes and embellish them yourself!
(You may want to be kind to your teeth and not eat the edible pearls. Please let the sugar sprinkles melt in your mouth!)
