22 Minutes to Cupcakes

When I was a young and impressionable little lady (about 4 or 5 years old), I spent a lot of time hanging out with my cousins Brian and Chris Norred.
They had a friend from the neighborhood named Steve. Steve's room was absolutely plastered from ceiling to floor with every Iron Maiden poster in existence.
I spent many hours staring at these masterpieces. My particular favorite was Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. This sparked my ever enduring love for Maiden.
I am now the proud owner of a Troopers Pillowcase, and Killers Vans (that my cat Zombie is a fan of too).

I'm sure he was having metal-rific dreams when this picture was taken...

Last I heard, Steve became a cop.

To honor the always-awesome Iron Maiden, I present to you:

Iron Maiden: 22 Minutes to Cupcakes







Metal Constituents:

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup English Toffee (or Heath Bar) pieces

For the Frosting:

• 1 stick of butter, at room temperature
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 3 to 5 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Merciless Instructions:

1. Preheat oven on to 375 degrees F. Prepare a cupcake tin with papers, and set aside.
2. Put butter in mixer and beat at medium speed until somewhat smooth.
3. Pour in sugar and beat well.
4. Add 2 eggs, mix well.
5. Add: vanilla, baking powder, salt, flour, and milk, beat until combined.
6. Stir in Heath Bar pieces.
7. Pour into baking cups, until they are about 2/3 full.
8. Bake for 22 minutes (...to kill the unborn in the wooooommmmbb!!!!!!) or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to cool completely.
10. To make the Frosting: Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combined, about 30 seconds.
11. Stop the machine and add the confectioners’ sugar, 3 tablespoons of the milk, and the vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more.
12. Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons more milk if the frosting is too stiff.
13. Pipe on completely cooled cupcakes, and sprinkle with extra toffee pieces if you so desire.
14. For the love of living death, bake them already!!

Here is the video for "2 Minutes to Midnight." Enjoy!