French Toast Cupcakes Recipe from Cozy Mystery Red Velvet Revenge
What does a rodeo and a cupcake have in common? Murder. When Mel and Angie decide to go north in a van that was newly converted to be a food truck, Fairy Tale Cupcakes become mobile. These city girls have to figure out how to work with the cowboys, bulls, and the long held traditions in order to sell enough cupcakes to make the trip worthwhile.
This is book #4 from Jenn McKinlay’s Cupcake Bakery Mystery. This series is a perfect mix of mystery, relationships, and fun. Mel and Angie are perfect bakery partners who have know each other since high school so their friendship has stood the test of time and can even endure being murder suspects.
Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay
Cozy Mystery Novel Review
Outline and Tone:
My parents retired to North Platte, Nebraska and for many summers we would visit during Nebraska Land Days. Of the many activities going on those weeks the biggest draw was the rodeo. Nebraska Land Days must have been a stop on the rodeo circuit. Red Velvet Revenge takes place primarily at the food truck row of a rodeo in northern New Mexico. This change of setting allows for our characters to have new experiences, and express new ideas. It turns out that THE KID is serious about being a vegan and even created a vegan cupcake for the store. Mel and Angie set up a bet with a neighboring BBQ truck that they can sell more cupcakes than the BBQ boys can sell plates of BBQ. It is possible that this bet is what leads to Fairy Tale Cupcakes’ food van loses power and now with all of their cupcakes thawed, Mel has to come up with another idea to continue making sales. Oh yeah, and there is a murder of a conceited cowboy that may or may not have involved a bull. As usual for this series. Mel and Angie are fun characters to root for and the people that surround them are full of energy and entertainment too. You will enjoy this read!
The author:
Jenn McKinlay is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her website not only lists all of her books but has a pretty fascinating bio page. She is a skateboarder, has been in a glider plane, and has lived both on the east coast and in the west. I would tell you more, but I rather encourage you to check out her website. Jenn McKinlay has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and her website. Give her a shout out on social media and let her know what you think of her books and desserts.
What is not to like?:
I wonder how long the will they or won’t they plot of Angie and Tate will continue. I’d like to see what would happen in a will they scenario.
The verdict:
It is another quick read, fun mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I highly recommend you picking up this book.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
French Toast Cupcakes Recipe
Assemble the Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
The recipe calls for you to put paper liners in a cupcake pan. However, I haven’t use a paper liner in years. I absolutely love silicone cupcake liners. They are self supporting and dishwasher safe. I prefer these from OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Cups.
Reusable, oven and dishwasher safe comes in many colors.
In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 
With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
Add vanilla. 
Add eggs, one at a time. 
Add oil and milk. 
By now, you should notice these awesome liquid measuring cups. These OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Beaker style measuring cups are perfect for baking.
Not only are they snazzy looking, but when you have to measure multiple different liquid they are convenient and dishwasher safe.
Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake for about 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
Recipe for the Frosting
Cream together 1/2 cup shortening and ½ cup butter using an electric mixer. 
Add maple syrup. 
Gradually add powdered sugar and milk; beat until light and airy. 
The recipe calls for you to sprinkle with chopped bacon before frosting sets. I preferred to place small strips on top of the cupcakes.
French Toast Cupcakes from: Red Velvet Revenge
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ stick butter, unsalted
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ Tbsp vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Put paper liners in a cupcake pan. [or even better, use silicone baking cups]
- In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Set aside
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla.
- Add eggs, one at a time.
- Add oil and milk.
- Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
- Bake for about 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Maple Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup shortening
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 Tbsp real maple syrup
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- Chopped bacon for garnish
Instructions
- Cream together 1/2 cup shortening and ½ cup butter using an electric mixer.
- Add maple syrup.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and milk;
- beat until light and airy.
- Sprinkle with chopped bacon before frosting sets.
What would I do differently next time?
I added all of the bacon pieces the day I made these cupcakes and by the next day the bacon was already softened from sitting on the frosting. Next time, I would make the bacon and keep it separate from the cupcakes, adding it just before someone wanted to eat one.
You must be a fan of cupcakes. Try these. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes, Tinkerbell Cupcakes, and Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes.
