Dessert for Two

Small batch recipes that serve two people. Desserts for two, dinners for two, and drinks for two.

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Wedding Cake Cupcakes

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Wedding cake cupcakes for two, for your wedding anniversary!

Wedding cake cupcakes, small batch cupcakes for two.

Not to be a buzzkill, but someone looked me right in the face and told me a wedding cake for two is a dumb idea.

She clearly has not drank the ‘dessert for two’ koolaid and realized how cool it is to make miniature desserts. (Or, she can resist leftover cookies and cupcakes better than I can, who knows? Maybe a pan of brownies doesn’t whisper to her, begging her to eat them the way they do to me).

The point is: the criticism stuck with me for a long time. Sometimes, it’s a good thing when someone undermines your passion. It makes you re-evaluate.

I ran through my elevator pitch of what exactly ‘dessert for two’ is, and what it means to me. I made some tweaks to my words, and I added more emphasis on ‘small batch’ and ‘no leftovers’ and ‘date night,’ because that’s what dessert for two means to me.  It’s a way to enjoy desserts without tons of leftovers (a new dessert everyday, if you wish!), it’s a fun way to bake (just 1 egg and small scoops of flour!), and it’s the perfect cap on date night.

All good things.

Wedding Cupcakes with Almond and Buttercream Roses. Small batch cupcakes for wedding anniversary

Would you make wedding cake cupcakes?

So, what I want to know is: are you with me? Would you make a mini wedding cake on your anniversary? Would you make wedding cake cupcakes on your wedding anniversary, or on a random Tuesday just because you really love almond-scented cupcakes with buttercream roses and sugar pearls?

I know who’s on my team. Ina is on my team. She makes a mini wedding cake for Jeffrey on their anniversary, and since they are #relationshipgoals, we best do the same.

Almond wedding cake cupcakes with perfect white buttercream roses.

So, what exactly is wedding cake flavor?

Wedding cake cupcakes: they’re light and fluffy because they’re made with only egg whites. They’re rich because they’re made with sour cream. They’re delicately almond-scented, because that is what gives wedding cake it’s traditional flavor.

The buttercream on top is perfection. I learned how to make buttercream roses from Sally, and I can’t stop piping them. You kinda won’t believe how freaking easy they are! Plus, they’re made with the one piping tip we all have in our drawer.

This recipe makes just 4 cupcakes, but I photographed more than 4 because I had several batches laying around. The recipe is easily doubled, too!

Happy Anniversary (or happy Tuesday!)

Yield: 4 cupcakes

Wedding Cake Cupcakes for Two

Wedding cake cupcakes, small batch style.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 large egg white, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream, at room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of fine salt

For the frosting:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • sprinkles, for decorating

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350, and line four cups in a muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. First, make the cupcakes: In a medium bowl, beat with an electric mixer the butter, sugar and almond extract. Beat until light and fluffy, at least 30 seconds.
  3. Add the egg white and beat until combined.
  4. Next, beat in the sour cream.
  5. Finally, sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt evenly over the batter, and then beat until just combined.
  6. Divide the batter between the cupcake liners, and bake on the middle rack for 17-20 minutes. When done, the tops will spring back, and a toothpick inserted will come out clean.
  7. Let the cupcakes cool.
  8. To make the frosting: beat the butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of the cream and the almond extract. Beat until very light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add more cream, if necessary.
  9. Scrape the frosting into a piping bag fitting with a star tip (I used a Wilton 1M). To make the rose shape, make a circle starting in the center of the cupcake and work your way out.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 665 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 35mg Sodium: 335mg Carbohydrates: 152g Sugar: 138g Protein: 2g
© Christina Lane

 

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Comments

  1. hi, yes, i'm with you and would definitely make gorgeous mini almond-scented cakes that are probably too extra for a random tuesday but i want them anyways. also, i need to get on that buttercream piping train asap because i've been loving how all the buttercream piping has looked on social media recently!
    Reply

  2. What better way to say "I'd marry you again in a heartbeat" then wedding cupcakes on a random Tuesday!!!! Love this and am loving all your recipes! ????
    Reply

  3. Yumyumyum. The only reason I go to weddings is the cake! Oh, and the eternal celebration of love and all that. (but seriously, the cake, and to see creepy uncle get drunk and foolish)
    Reply

  4. I am SO with you. I made the chocolate rice crispies and the gooey chai bars from your cookbook this weekend.. LOVE. I made the brioche buns too and can't wait to have them with burgers tonight! definitely want to make the mini wedding cake too because it's just too cute to resist!
    Reply

  5. "Desserts for two is dumb"....say what?! Made a full batch of cookies yesterday and had to hide the extras from myself--I hate that!! Many times I bake your cupcakes for two in mini cupcake liners but for baking in a 6-in pan, do all your cupcake recipes need to be doubled?
    Reply

  7. My five-year-old is fascinated by our wedding. ("So who was looking after me? What kind of cake did you eat? Is there any left?" It was seven years before he was born and the strawberry-filled cake is long gone.) If I made these for our family (of now four!) to enjoy every year on our anniversary, the kids would be so happy to FINALLY be included!
    Reply

  8. That poor, confused, person you were talking to. I hope she got home safely. Wedding cakes for two is so perfectly romantic! I love the idea (like all your others)! I'll whip these up in June. Thanks!
    Reply

  9. Hello,I'm totally with you. Before your blog I'd make a couple dozen cookies or a 9" cake and put the leftovers in the freezer. It was OK but not as good as freshly made cookies or cake, so these small recipes are very helpful for small households. That said, nothing works for everyone and this person you mentioned is entitled to her opinion. However, if she can only equate "this isn't something I would do" with "this is a dumb idea"; well, that says more about her than about you. As you said, she made you re-evaluate your passion, so good came out of it after all.I am happily eating one of your brownies as I write this!
    Reply

  11. I am totally with you (and you are a genius)! These cupcakes are perfect. They are stunningly simple and elegant, like a good wedding cake usually is. Now I will have to make wedding cake cupcakes or a mini wedding cake for my next anniversary!
    Reply

  12. YUM! I'm so glad you didn't listen to the person who said wedding cake for two is a dumb idea. I can't wait to make these! My husband doesn't really like cake so I don't make it very often, but I will definitely be making these since they are a small batch (and I will eat them all). Almond wedding cake is my favorite! Thanks for your small batch desserts, they are so hard to find. Keep up the great work and don't listen to the haters ;)
    Reply

  13. I think dessert for two is a perfect date night activity. You get to make them together. Then you get to eat them together. So much fun! The recipe looks amazing and the rose is the icing on the cake. Hehe. Beautiful cupcakes.
    Reply

  14. Totally with you on the cake! I didn't have a wedding cake so maybe now is the time to start!As a side note, could you maybe use another phrase besides "drank the koolaid" that doesn't invoke a literal massacre? Maybe "jumped on the bandwagon" or "joined the club".
    Reply

    • The vast majority of people today have no idea about the Jonesboro incident. The phrase "drank the Koolaid" is used in every single sub-community in American culture, particularly the military; at this point, it just means buying into whatever 'the man' is selling. Don't allow yourself to be afraid of words.- From your friendly neighborhood English professor.
      Reply

  15. For someone like me, who does not like being the center of attention and does not plan on having a large wedding, small batch wedding cake is a brilliant idea. Why the hell would I want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a "standard" sized wedding cake, most of which will get thrown out, when I can bake just enough for my immediate family?But for the person who made the "dumb idea" observation, I suppose they see a wedding as an opportunity to showboat for hundreds of guests. In that case, small batch cupcakes would not be the best plan. And I hope their future divorce goes smoothly.
    Reply

  16. Wow, what a strange reaction. I think cake, of any size or flavor, is always a good idea! These, in particular, look so similar to the cupcakes we served at our wedding and I can't wait to whip them up in July. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply

  18. When I got married my sister made your wedding cake for two for me. It was wonderful and perfect! Our guests had cupcakes and we had an adorable, perfectly sharable cake. My anniversary is on June 20th and I like knowing that I can easily recreate the cake we had at our wedding. I think that is pretty special!
    Reply

  19. Yes! I am totally with you. My husband has juvenile diabetes so desserts are a real treat & we only eat one serving...or just 1/2 a serving...on special occasions. So yes, I would definitely do this for an anniversary. I religiously follow your blog, save your recipes & try them often. I love using them for a girlfriend lunch or brunch as well because I don't want leftover sweets & breads laying around.If anything, I'd love to see more recipes from every food group; main dishes, sides, pasta dishes, ect. I cook for one or two people every day & love being able to have variety & no food waste.
    Reply

  20. "Someone" clearly needs to get in the kitchen & make a batch of that tasty Kool-aid! Since our kids have all grown & gone their own ways, there is no need for us to have an entire cake or meal sitting around. While I do still cook full meals once in a while just for the two of us, at least 1/2 of it gets frozen right away because we can only eat the same leftovers for so long. Cake for 2 is a fabulous idea for we who are trying not to puff up like a delicious cream puff. Hahaha!! Thank you for taking SO much time & exerting effort into creating tasty, proper portions made just for 2. You have simplified my life immensely. Our 9 year wedding anniversary is the 14th of this month & these cupcakes are happening! Splurge day! I "may" have 2
    Reply

  22. Love, love your recipes! Do you know why when I print the recipes the font for the title, times, and subheadings come out in a crazy font that I cannot read and have to write on the recipe what it is for. This happens on my little home printer and the large laser printer at work. Just wondering.
    Reply

  23. My mom had the audacity to say something similar to me when I was making one of your recipes. "Why go to the trouble of baking if you're only going to make enough for two people?". Uh, I don't know mom. Maybe because I like dessert, have no self control and don't want to get fat! You have to read that in a teenager type tone for the full affect.
    Reply

  24. I am sooo with you, Christina! I come from a family of sweet dislikers. That's right. My family is made up of weirdos. So when I bake, I, the sweet tooth extraordinaire, devour the whole thing. I need your recipes in my life. And wedding cake cupcakes for two (or one, in my case?!). Oh yes.
    Reply

  25. I'm very happily single, but I can't think of any time in my life I would turn down wedding cake! Plus, these would look just DARLING on a cake plate for a pretty ladies' tea! Or just a pretty lady's tea...as in just one lady. As in me. By myself. Eating ALL four.
    Reply

  26. So with you! I had made a wedding cake for two for my wedding day, just a little 6" for us to have something to cut. I look forward to trying these for our anniversary in the fall :)
    Reply

  29. Could these be made into mini cupcakes? bake time? how many would one recipe make? Have you doubled the recipe? thanks....
    Reply

    • I've only made the recipe the way you see written, but I did mention in the post that I doubled it successfully. As for changing the size of the cupcakes, it will decrease the baking time, but I can't be sure exactly how much.
      Reply

  31. Christina, your recipes are a match for so many of us. Thank you. The idea I wish to add is: wouldn't these wedding cupcakes make a sweet gift for a non baking friend's anniversary? Imagination is all it takes.
    Reply

  32. Although i like your idea of cupcakes for 2. I really love the way these cupcakes look. I would love to make them for a Baby Shower. Can you please give me the recipe to bake these and frost them for a batch of 24.Thank you, Susan
    Reply

    • Hi Susan, Sorry, but I only make small-batch cupcake recipes. I believe you can search google for a full-batch wedding cupcake recipe, and I think Sally's Baking Addiction just posted one. I could be wrong, though!
      Reply

  33. What?! That woman is living in Crazytown. I taught myself how to make wedding cakes specifically because I love eating them AND my friends weren't getting married at a rate that would quench my need to eat said wedding cake. I mean, how DARE they, right?Now that I'm older and wiser I realize eating an 9" multilayered cake by yourself is, perhaps, not the healthiest thing one can do for oneself.And so I find this to be a PERFECT solution (and sure, my husband can have one). Thank you. :)
    Reply

  35. Hi, Do you think I could take this recipe and just bake it in a 6 inch cake pan instead of cupcakes? I did see your wedding cake (gorgeous by the way) but don’t want something that large. If you think that would work, would I need to adjust the temperature/bake time? Thanks for the help. Always!
    Reply

    • Hi Holly! So, my mom frequently doubles my cupcake recipes and makes them in a 6" cake pan. I haven't tried that with this recipe, so I'm not sure about baking time, but you could try checking at 20 minutes!
      Reply

  36. These cupcakes are beautiful, almost look too pretty to eat. Nice thought to have them randomly, on a Tuesday or a surprise when you two run away for a day adventure. I will be using this recipe. Thank you
    Reply

  37. These look perfect for my daughter's upcoming birthday ...21! Not sure how that happened? I do need to mail them to her. I'll do my best with the shipping, but do you think they will be ok? Wasn't sure if they need to be refrigerated? Thanks.
    Reply

  38. Do you have a large recipe? I am making cupcakes for my daughters bridal shower and these look to be just what I want! I’m going to make the small batch to try today. Do you have a chocolate cupcake recipe?
    Reply

    • I'm sorry, I don't, Susan. But you can double the recipe easily, I've tested it that way. I'm not sure if you could triple it, though..I haven't tested it that way. Best of luck :)
      Reply

  39. I had success making one batch of these when I first whipped the egg white alone, then added it to the creamed mix. The trial where I simply added the white then whipped it all, the cakes lofted nicely, then fell like a crater.
    Reply

  40. I made these exactly as written, and doubling it. I only got 6 cupcakes rather than 8, which was totally fine because I was just baking them for buttercream decor practice. They were absolutely DELICIOUS! My family all LOVED them, and I will certainly be making them again! I wonder if maybe I did something wrong since I only ended up with three cupcakes per recipe... but like I said, totally doesn't matter. If I could, I'd post a photo. The flavor was terrific and the crumb was moist and fluffy. Learning to decorate cakes is a tough job, but *somebody's* gotta do it.... :-)
    Reply

  41. Hi! This looks like a great recipe! If I wanted to use this recipe to make a 6 inch cake, would I need to double the quantities?Thanks!
    Reply

    • Hi Sneha! I'm not exactly sure because I haven't tested the recipe this way. But typically, if you double one of my small-batch cupcake recipes, it fits in a 6" cake pan. But I can't guarantee results, sorry! I would like to test it this way myself, so let me know if it works :)
      Reply

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