#20 PIGGY CUPCAKES

I made this piggy cupcakes for when I was invited to a new year's eve party. Pigs are supposed to bring you luck in the new year and I thought cupcakes would be something new other than the traditional chocolate piggies.

They are of course perfect for new years but I mean, piggies are cute in general, how about taking them to a kid's birthday party or just share them with your friends when you have them over. they are cute no one can deny that and they taste good too! 
it's definitely always a good way to bring a smile to someone's face.
My friends really enjoyed them and I hope they bring them a lot of luck for this new year.

Piggy Cupcakes
for 12 cupcakes

for the dough120 g flour
100 g butter
100 g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp baking powder
5 tbsp yogurt
zest of 1/2 lemon

for the icing
well if you live in Austria you can simply buy
some "Punschglasur". but if you don't you can just
as easily make it yourself.

200 g icing sugar
tiny bit of red food colouring
1 tbsp rum or a bit of rum aroma
enough water to make a smooth paste

50 g dark chocolate


preheat the oven to 180°C

to make the dough, make sure the butter is at room
temperature, then beat it together with the sugar.
add vanilla sugar and lemon zest to the mixture.
add the eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.
mix the flour with the baking powder and carefully
fold it into the mixture. add the yogurt and make
a smooth dough.
spoon the dough into the cups and bake for about 10-15
minutes until golden. remove from the oven
and leave to cool.

for the icing, simply mix together all the ingredients
to make a smooth pink paste.
if you are using the "Punschglasur", simply follow
the instructions on the cup.
once the cupcakes have cooled you can carefully
spread the icing on top of them to form a smooth
surface. once that's done, let it cool for a bit.

melt the chocolate over steam (as always, make sure
the chocolate pan doesn't touch the water.)
use a piping bag or just any plastic bag and cut off a
tiny bit off the edge.
you can now give the piggy cupcakes faces so
they can smile at you and everyone you'll share
with.

create your own piggy face or you can use
mine as a template if you like.

enjoy! oink!

Magdalena.