Autumn Butter Pecan Cupcakes

I cannot take any credit for these cute little treats. They are my Mother-In-Law's creation, but she was kind enough to share a batch with me to take to a Bible study.

My lovely Mother-In-Law, Bonnie, is a blessing to everyone around her. She has a real gift and passion for quietly serving and giving. She loves to cook, and feeding people truly is her love language. These things do not come as naturally to me, and I have enjoyed having a relationship with her and learning so much from her.

Here's her recipe.
Ingredients: 

Butter Pecan Cake Mix (plus mix's additional ingredients)

1c. butter

16oz package powdered sugar

1/4c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

pecan halves

butterscotch chips

pie dough

The cupcakes themselves are made with a Butter Pecan cake mix. Bonnie says she added extra crushed-up pecans to the batter.

To make the Brown Butter Frosting:

Cook butter in small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly for 6-8 minutes, or until butter begins to turn golden brown (B warns that it's easy to burn the butter and that "stir constantly" is not just a suggestion). Remove from heat immediately and pour into small bowl. Cover and chill one hour until butter is cool and begins to solidify. Beat butter with electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with milk (beginning and ending with sugar). Beat on low until combined. Stir in vanilla.

Once the cupcakes are frosted, you get to add these cutesy decorations.

The leaves she makes of pie dough. Do not use sugar cookie dough because your leaves will grow when baked! She uses tiny leaf cookie cutters and scores the details with a sharp knife before baking them. She advises that if you want a curve to your leaf, shape it over a roll of tin foil.

For the acorns, use melted butterscotch chips to hold two pecan halves together. Dip one end of you "acorn" in the butterscotch and then in crushed pecans that you blended in a food processor. 

Use the pecan crumbs also to dust the top of your cupcakes. B also advises to not place your acorn and leaf too early before serving, as they may get soft in the icing.

So far, everyone has been charmed by this festive dessert. The extra decor really makes them feel special. Enjoy!

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 

Proverbs 31:10,11