A murder, a beauty pageant and a cupcake competition. This novel has it all. Mel and Angie are making cupcakes for a beauty pageant while Mel is sorting through her personal struggles. Mel’s been carrying too much baggage. She has been dealing with grief, commitment, and self acceptance. You will find many ways to personally connect with this novel.
This is book 6 of one of my favorite series. Melanie and Angie run a successful cupcake store in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both Mel and Angie are fun, dynamic characters. Their family and friends are a hoot! They make this series endearing and a fantastic read.
Sugar and Iced by Jenn McKinlay
Cozy Mystery Book with Recipes by Jenn McKinlay
Book Review
Murder Mystery Books🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Book Review Outline and Tone:
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS NOVEL! If you have read my other reviews of the novels from this series, then you already know that I find this cozy mystery series delightful. I love the differences between the 2 leading ladies. Melanie is cautious and protective and Angie is impulsive and protective. The character group is well rounded with an older tell-it-like-it man, a young but talented man, and two love interests, one for each leading lady.
This is book #6 in the series and I am invested in everyone’s story. A beauty pageant comes to Scottsdale, Miss Sweet Tiara. This pageant decided to add a cupcake element where the contestants have to create an original cupcake as one of the elements to be judged. They hire Fairytale Cupcakes to supply a display of cupcakes for people to enjoy and to bake the contestant’s recipes for the judges. I never thought someone could combine a beauty pageant and a cupcake bakery, but Jenn McKinlay does it well.
Yes there is a murder. Yes Mel and Ang find the dead body. Yes Mel and Angie get involved in searching for the killer. Yes the reader is given many leads before the culprit is caught. But that is not what makes the book so enjoyable. Mel has been dealing with her personal, mental issues for a while now. In this book the issues get called out to the carpet and Mel is forced to face them head on. How relatable! We all have baggage and just like us, Mel doesn’t even have a good understanding of her baggage until it is called out more than one time. The beauty pageant brings out another issue and that is was she enough for her mom as a child? Does her mom wish she had been a different kid? Raise your hand if you have felt this way too (and now I can’t type well because I have one hand raised high).
Just when the reader sees Mel is getting her own issues sorted out, WHAM! There is a twist in the story.
The author: Jenn McKinlay
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?:
The only thing I found a bit hard to swallow is a beauty pageant that adds cupcake baking as a part of their contest. But that was easy to get over and enjoy the rest of the novel.
The verdict:
First a word about the cupcakes. I made the salted caramel and they are amazing! Second, I loved it! 5 stars! Read it and enjoy it!
Books to Read 📕📗📘📙
Book Club Books Recommendation: 5/5 Books 📚📚📚📚📚
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).
Salted Caramel Cupcakes from Sugar and Iced,
a cozy mystery novel by Jenn McKinlay
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy dessert to make: 4/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Or do as I do, and use silicone cupcake liners.
The first picture are standard cupcake liners from OXO.
The next picture shows jumbo sized cupcake liners.
Reusable, oven and dishwasher safe comes in many colors.
I wanted to make larger cupcakes because I love cupcakes. In the end, I found the larger cupcakes a bit too big. However, I am glad I have these jumbo cups because they will make the perfect sized muffins.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. 
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in vanilla.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
I used for both the vanilla and milk. I simply love them!
When the batter is mixed, fill paper-lined muffin cups (or silicone baking cups) two-thirds full.
Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Assemble the ingredients for the frosting
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on high speed for three minutes, until light and fluffy.
I prefer to use because the grip on the bottom keeps the bowl still when using a hand mixer.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Mix in powdered sugar and salt until fully combined.
Lastly, mix in dulce de leche. * Dulce de leche is caramelized condensed milk. You can usually find it in your grocery store, in the baking aisle next to the condensed milk.
Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. Makes three cups of icing. Sprinkle with sea salt and turbinado sugar (optional).
A Best Dessert 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Dessert Recipe 📖📖📖📖📖
Salted Caramel Cupcakes from Sugar and Iced a cozy mystery by Jenn McKinlay
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1¾ cup flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup flour
Dulce de Leche Icing
- 4 oz. packaged cream cheese
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup dulce de leche
- Sea salt
- Turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Or use silicone cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Beat in vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
- Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Makes 12 cupcakes.
Dulce de Leche Icing
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on high speed for three minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Mix in powdered sugar and salt until fully combined.
- Lastly, mix in dulce de leche.
- Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.
- Makes three cups of icing.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and turbinado sugar (optional).
- * Dulce de leche is caramelized condensed milk. You can usually find it in your grocery store, in the baking aisle next to the condensed milk.
What would I do differently next time?
Next time I will use only the regular sized silicone cupcake liners. I would also consider making a double batch, these were delicious.
Will I make it again?: Absolutely Yes! 😋😋😋😋😋
Cupcakes are the perfect sized treats! Try these too.
Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes from Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay, Tinkerbell Cupcakes (Lemon & Raspberry) from Sprinkled with Murder by Jenn McKinlay, Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes from Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay.
