Celebrate Hufflepuffs with These Blackberry Vanilla Cupcakes and Black Bean and Corn Guac!


If you’ve been here any length of time, you probably know that I love Harry Potter. If you didn’t already know, now you do- I love Harry Potter! I was talking with a group of friends the other day, and we were sharing our different experiences with reading the Harry Potter novels and then sharing it with our children. I think a big reason that I’m such a fan is nostalgia. The books came out in my childhood, and I remember staying up late so that I could buy the newest book at midnight (thanks, Dad ;) ) and then staying up all night to read. I was obsessed with the books, and so reading them now just takes me back to my childhood. They’re comfort books for me.

With all that said, July 31 is Harry Potter’s birthday, so naturally, we’ve got to celebrate! This year, I’m all about celebrating my house- Hufflepuff!

At first glance, Hufflepuff seems like the “leftover” house. It’s just where everyone who’s not brave or clever or ambitious goes. But I think Hufflepuff is actually an awesome house because it’s full of people who accept everyone! They are generally kind and compassionate, and they don’t shun people away. They are loyal and loving. If you don’t feel like you belong anywhere, you can always hang with a Hufflepuff ;).

Huffelpuff colors are yellow and black, so if you’re gonna celebrate Cook’n style, we gotta eat some tasty yellow and black party food!

A candy bowl with a mixture of lemonheads and black licorice would be easy to put together and would stand out as a centerpiece! You could also just have yellow boxes of candy set out- peanut M&M’s, Dots, Charleston Chews, etc.

I love baking cakes, and it would be fun and easy to make a Hufflepuff theme! You could make a layer cake, and have some layers be yellow, and other layers black (or chocolate). Then of course the outside could be yellow buttercream with black accents- a checkerboard, polka dots, black stripes, or a picture of a badger, if you’re really feeling creative.

Lemon bars are the perfect treat for this time of year, and it’s totally embracing the mellow yellow of Hufflepuffs. You could also make sugar cookies with yellow frosting, lemon cake pops, even a lemon cheesecake!

For a veggie tray, sliced yellow peppers, yellow pear tomatoes, and black olives would be right on with colors and would be a healthy, tasty addition to your Hufflepuff spread.

There are many yellow fruits you could serve as well! Pineapple, banana, mango, even yellow apples. Blackberries or black grapes would be a tasty black addition. It might be fun to serve it with a chocolatey fruit dip to help tie in a darker, blackish color as well!

For drinks, you could serve lemonade and rootbeer! Or any dark colored soda, if rootbeer isn’t your thing.

You can also do a play on words- Huffle “puff” and serve anything puffy! Pirate Booty, popcorn, Cheeto Cheese Puffs- even a puff pastry!

And if you’re wanting something a little heavier, Mac n’ Cheese is a great way to go! You could also serve this Black Bean and Corn Guacamole- delicious and totally on theme!

Black Bean and Corn Guacamole

Head to any Mexican restaurant and we guarantee you’ll see this combo on the menu. The bright colors and contrasting textures make black beans and corn fun additions to guacamole. For extra flavor, grill the corn first.—

Serving size: 6
Calories per serving: 88

Ingredients:
3 medium ripe avocados, peeled and cubed
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup uncooked fresh whole kernel corn
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper


Directions:
In a bowl, mash avocados until almost smooth. Stir in lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Adjust seasoning with additional lime juice and salt if desired. Top with black beans, corn and pepper.

Source: stasteofhome.com


Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.



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You can also just serve these delicious cupcakes! These sould heavenly, and such a fun way to incorporate the Hufflepuff house colors! If you look at her blog post, you can also see badger cupcakes and they are just adorable!

Hufflepuff Blackberry Vanilla Harry Potter Cupcakes

Hufflepuff Harry Potter cupcakes are simple and full of sweetness, much like the most underrated Hogwarts House. Celebrate your Hufflepuff pride with these tasty blackberry vanilla cupcakes! Author: adespres Recipe Type: American Total Time: 32 mins

Prep time:
Cook time:
Yield: 15 cupcakes
Serving size: 15
Calories per serving: 376

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk room temperature
1 1/2 cups flour spooned and leveled
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup blackberry jam
1/3 cup sour cream
3/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
4 drops black food coloring
4 drops yellow food coloring


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line your muffin tin with reusable cupcake liners.

Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together your butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes). Then on medium-high speed mix in your vanilla and one egg at a time.

Beat until combined and add your sour cream. Scrape the sides of your bowl as needed. Reduce your mixer speed to low and slowly add your dry ingredients (except your sprinkles)!! Mix until just incorporated and then pour in your milk.

Mix in the milk until just BARELY combined then turn off your mixer. Now by HAND mix the rest of any lumps.

With a cookie/ice cream scoop fill your cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full and bake for 20-22 minutes. (a toothpick will come out clean when done).

Allow your cupcakes to cool and using a piping tip, punch out a hole in the middle of your cupcakes. Fill will your blackberry jam (this is easiest and cleanest when the jam is in a reusable piping bag).

Top with your Hufflepuff Swirled buttercream. (See Next Steps)

Make Buttercream

Beat your butter until smooth. Slowly add your powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue to beat until smooth. Divide your buttercream in half into 2 bowls and add your yellow food coloring to one half and the black to the other half. Mix until combined.

Transfer to a piping bag (for a swirl look alternate between black and yellow as your fill your bag). Pipe onto your cupcakes.

Source: shandheldeats.com


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As you can see, there are quite a few ways to tie in the yellow and black of Hufflepuffs! What else would you add? Share with us below!

Sources:
  •   https://handheldeats.com/hufflepuff-blackberry-vanilla-harry-potter-cupcakes/
  •   https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/black-bean-and-corn-guacamole/
  •   https://www.flickr.com/photos/byzantiumbooks/14956560268

    Camille Hoffmann
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com


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