Free Sweet Victory by Sheryl Berk

tops of the cupcakes and serve.

Creamsicle Cupcakes
    Makes 18 cupcakes
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    1/4 teaspoon baking powder
    1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
    1 cup sugar
    1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest, finely grated
    2 eggs
    3/4 cup half-and-half
    1/4 cup orange juice
    1 1/2 teaspoons orange extract
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Directions
    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans (you’ll need two to make 18 cupcakes) with cupcake liners of your choice.
    2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    3. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat together at medium speed the butter, sugar, and orange zest until fluffy, about three minutes.
    4. Mix in eggs one at time, beating well after each addition.
    5. In a small bowl, mix together the half-and-half, juice, orange extract, and vanilla extract.
    6. With the electric mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and cream mixture until all are combined.
    7. Fill the muffin cups about two-thirds full and bake for approximately 20–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
    8. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely, about fifteen minutes, before frosting.
    Cream Cheese Frosting
    I like to fill the center of these cupcakes with frosting as well, to give each cupcake a real “Creamsicle” taste when you bite into it. Ask an adult to help you use an apple corer to remove a little cake from the center of your cupcake. Use a pastry bag with a large, round tip to fill the hole with frosting. You can then frost the top of your cupcake as well.
    Makes two cups
    8 ounces (1 package) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
    1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
    1 cup confectioners’ sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Directions
    1. Place cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix to soften it.
    2. Add the butter, and continue beating until smooth.
    3. Next, add the sugar slowly on low speed, gradually turning up to high speed once it’s combined. Add the vanilla. If you want to make the frosting more orange, add a few drops of orange food coloring (about 4 or 5 will give you a nice, bright color). Beat the mixture until smooth and creamy enough to pipe.
    4. Using the piping bag, fill the inside of the cupcake with frosting. Then frost the top using the piping bag, a knife, or a flat spatula. If you want, garnish the frosted cupcake with a clementine or orange slice.

I was really impressed to hear about a young woman named Blakely Colvin who runs an organization called Cupcakes for Cancer ( www.cupcakesforcancer.org ). She was only thirteen in 2007 when she started this group to help a classmate. Even more moving: Blake had been sick herself and undergone chemotherapy when she was only ten.
    â€œI wanted to help his family, but most of all I thought if I could just put a smile on Kevin’s face, it would be so awesome! I combined my love of cupcakes and my desire to make a difference.”
    I asked Blake to sit down and chat.
    Carrie: When did you start your organization and why?
    Blakely: When I was thirteen years old and in eighth grade I had heard of a boy in our hometown who was diagnosed with leukemia. I immediately knew that I had to contribute in some way to help him. I personally know the emotional and physical effects of chemotherapy after being terminally ill when I was about ten years old. I knew that hope could help restore faith to him and his family. So, I simply set up a cupcake booth at my elementary school with the help of all my best friends. The cupcakes were a dollar apiece and sold like hotcakes! And everything just took off from there.
    Carrie: Tell us about your national campaign! Cupcake Angels and Fairies!
    Blakely: Our national campaign is to help “frost hope across America.” It allows anyone from anywhere to adopt Cupcakes