{ Apple Pie Cupcakes & Pumpkin Juice }

So, if you haven’t figure it out yet, I’m a complete and total geek when it comes to Potter.

And other things, but we need not discuss that.

You may, or may not (most likely NOT) realize that today is Hermione Granger Weasley’s 32nd birthday.

I couldn’t let my friend’s birthday pass without doing something, now could I?


As Hermione said herself: "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things -- friendship and bravery."

So, I decided to make her some Pumpkin Juice. Every good wizard loves pumpkin juice.

Also, some Apple Pie Cupcakes with Browned Butter Icing. Apple Pie was served at the very first Hogwart’s Feast that Harry (and Hermione) ever attended:

"When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavour you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding…" Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone

It’s also not the “normal” Harry Potter treat. I feel Hermione would be partial to a more Muggle dessert.

I’m sure Ron will end up eating most of these cupcakes I made. After all Hermione always says: “Do You Ever Stop Eating?”

Pumpkin Juice is often mentioned in the Harry Potter books. This is what the Harry Potter Wiki has to say about it:

Pumpkin juice is a cold drink favoured by the wizarding world, and among the students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is extremely popular and is very common. It is drunk at any occasion, such as breakfast, lunch, at feasts or on other occasions. It seems to have taken on the same role that orange juice has in the Muggle world. 

Pumpkin juice is readily available, and can be purchased on the Hogwarts Express. Severus Snape threatened Harry in his fourth year that he might slip Veritaserum in his morning pumpkin juice while believing that Harry stole his potion ingredients. Dolores Umbridge offered Harry Potter pumpkin juice in 1996 when she wanted to secretly administer Veritaserum to him, but he chose tea instead. Prior to a Quidditch match in his sixth year, Ron Weasley believed that Harry had slipped Felix Felicis into his morning juice to help him play perfectly. 

Pumpkin Juice

2 Cups Apple Juice

(organic if you are leery because of the recent “apple juice scare”)

1/2 Cup Canned Pumpkin Puree

1 Cup Vanilla Cream Soda

1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

3 teaspoons sugar (if desired)

Whisk together & chill. When it is time to serve, you’ll need to whisk it up again, as the pumpkin tends to settle.

This is sweet and lightly pumpkiny.

Browned Butter icing is caramely with a little salty bite. A great topping for a sweet cupcake.

Browned Butter…yum

Browned Butter Icing

1 stick (1/2 cup) real butter

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

2-3 Tablespoons Milk

dash of salt (optional)

Start by making this so the butter can cool while you make your cupcakes.

In a skillet, add 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup). Allow to cook for about 5 minutes, while stirring. When it turns brown, remove from heat and allow to cool.

My friend Darla of Bakingdom has a great step by step photo tutorial on browning butter.

Once fully cooled, add to mixer bowl with the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 Tablespoons milk. Beat until well mixed. If too firm, add the 3rd Tablespoon of milk.

Beat on high for 5 minutes.

Taste. If you feel it’s too sweet, throw in the dash of salt to tone it down.

If you are planning to frost 24 cupcakes with a large icing tip, this will NOT be enough. Double the recipe. If icing using a knife, you should be fine with this amount.

Apple Pie Cupcakes 

Spice Cupcakes

Can of Apple Pie Filling, (run through the food processor for a few pulses)

Start with baked Spice Cupcakes. Use a box mix (like me!) or a recipe of your choosing. Allow to cool.

Then using an apple corer, or as I showed in this post, a large icing tip.

Then fill with your mashed up Apple Pie Filling

Top with the Browned Butter Icing and serve to Hermione… or you know, someone that actually exists.

I’m pretty sure I need another one of these about now.

Accio Cupcake!

Delish.

Hope your day is magical!


~Tina

I’m partying at the Pi Day Pie Party at Crazy for Crust today. Come party with us!



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