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my bloody valentine cupcakes

10 February 2012 by Dominic Franks

… when i was a teenager at school… way back in the 1980’s… the teachers would place a special ‘Valentines’ post-box in the main entrance where all the love-struck girls (and some of the boys) could put their secret cards and notes… the cards would then be handed out at the end of the day and everyone would giggle and gossip about who fancied who…

… back then Valentines was all about giving an anonymous card to a secret love, not sure what it’s about these days but I remember it as being yet another bloody day in the year when the popular kids could brag about how popular they were, as if John Smith (I’ve changed his name to protect his identity… fuck knows why… he knows who he is…) needed an excuse…

bloody valentine cupcakes
these cupcakes go out to all of us who’ve had an unrequited teen love… it’s more than likely they’re fat and bald now… i’m entering these into this months Teatime Treats brought to us as always by Kate from What Kate Bakes and Karen from Lavender and Lovage… the theme this month is of course, Romance…

makes 6 large heart-shaped or 12 regular cupcakes
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tbsp milk
a few drops vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups self raising flour
a heck of a lot of red food colouring

– pre-heat the oven to 190C (170C fan)

– bung the whole lot in a bowl and mix it up to a smooth batter

– remove 3 tablespoons of batter into another bowl and stir in as much red food colouring as you dare… as you can see I didn’t use quite enough for a dark blood red but you get the idea…

– fill the cupcake cases with one third regular batter, then dollop a teaspoon of the red batter in the middle and cover it over with another third of the regular batter, don’t worry about being too precise here

– bake for 15-20 minutes until risen and firm

ice with your favourite icing… i’ve used my classic double cream-cheese icing… a heck of a lot of red food colouring… and a knife!

eat and of course, enjoy!

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Filed Under: Everything else Tagged With: cupcakes, valentines

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Comments

  1. manu says

    10 February 2012 at 10:08 am

    OMG Valentine's box…no comment!
    Great idea your bloody cupcake!!
    Have a nice

  2. Kavey says

    10 February 2012 at 10:20 am

    Our school had one of those too, the valentine box I mean… or at least, one teacher did it, one year.

    I don't think I ever got any… not that I can recall.

  3. Choclette says

    10 February 2012 at 10:52 am

    Oh the cringe inducing fear of Valentine's Day at school – I hated it! Looks like bad memories have emerged in your baking – cakes look more like a crime of passion than an act of love πŸ˜‰

  4. Lucy, Vanilla Frost says

    10 February 2012 at 12:02 pm

    I agree with Choclette – quite alarming! Brilliant though, I do love the knife shots.

  5. Neesie Natters says

    10 February 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Oh how sad…they're like bleeding hearts. I do hope you've found love since your school days.
    I used to send my children secret Valentine cards for years, so that in their delicate developing years they didn't feel left out or rejected…was I wrong?
    They are now 27yrs (tomorrow) and 19 and they still don't know all the cards came from me. Of course, I stopped sending them as soon as they started receiving others.
    Oops…the secrets out now :O
    i hope they don't read this!

  6. The Owl Wood says

    10 February 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Valentine's Days at my various schools taught me one valuable lesson that has come in so very useful in later life: You can't make somebody love you, but you can follow them to where there's no cctv.

  7. Suelle says

    10 February 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Quite understand the sentiment, Dom – at least the memories have resulted in some lovely 'romantic' treats!

  8. Marmaduke Scarlet says

    10 February 2012 at 2:12 pm

    You old romantic, you!

  9. newjustine says

    10 February 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Revenge through cake… perfect!!

  10. Mark Willis says

    10 February 2012 at 3:04 pm

    Well, that puts a whole new perspective on the Valentine's Day theme…!

  11. Karen S Booth says

    10 February 2012 at 3:40 pm

    LOL! One little edit that is needed though Dom, I am neither old or bald now!! BUT, I do remember a similar box being placed in the assembly hall and I do remember Susie Jenkins, don't care if she sees this, getting all the bloody cards! ON a brighter note, those cakes are quite simply drop dead gorgeous and thanks so much for entering them into our Tea Time Treats event!
    Karen
    XX

  12. Shu Han says

    10 February 2012 at 4:10 pm

    hehe it's not a 1980s thing. my teacher made us do it too.. “a heck of a lot of red food colouring” haha what a vicious response to valentine's day.

  13. Lynds says

    10 February 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Haha – as usual a fantastically funny post with a great recipe! Love it! Thanks for bringing back school day memories!

  14. Alida says

    10 February 2012 at 5:53 pm

    Beautiful little hearts. I love them! Well done.

  15. Susan's blog says

    10 February 2012 at 6:00 pm

    Ahhh but now you have The Viking and they do not! xxx

  16. Nina says

    10 February 2012 at 7:56 pm

    :(( sad, sad…

  17. Kirsten@My German Kitchen...in the Rockies says

    10 February 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Damn good bloody looking cupcakes!
    We didn't have a Valentine's box at our school. I think nobody was into Valentine's Day until a lot later. Don't really know why. And, no, I am not ancient!

  18. Kate@whatkatebaked says

    10 February 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Haha- that sure does bring back memories of school Dom- all the cool, pretty girls got Valentines Cards and the rest of us would spend the entire day hoping, just hoping there may be a card waiting at home for us…and not just the one from our Mums! Thank you ever so much for entering these fab-bloody-tastic cupcakes into TTT!

  19. Magnolia Verandah says

    11 February 2012 at 2:53 am

    Love the humour and the cupcakes. We didn't have a box at school thank goodness – but it was only the voluptuous girls that got Valentines Cards (and that wasn't me)! They are all fat now!

  20. MissCakeBaker says

    11 February 2012 at 11:02 am

    Ha ha ha – brilliant!

  21. Brownieville Girl says

    11 February 2012 at 3:35 pm

    What a cruel thing for a school to organise.

    I went to an all girls boarding school, and every year my mother used to post a Vanentines card to me – just for insurance!!

  22. GG says

    11 February 2012 at 4:32 pm

    The Valentine box sounds like an awful idea!! I remember one girl in particular who always got tons of post on Valentines Day (Boarding School) I was always envious, now I know it's quality and not quantity that counts. It's just such a shame the lesson comes with time. Love the cakes and the icing is fabulous! GG

  23. Baking Addict says

    11 February 2012 at 6:59 pm

    I think there was a Valentine box at school too. These cakes are just brilliant! LOVE it! x

  24. Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes says

    12 February 2012 at 2:54 pm

    OMG you made me burst out laughing! I distinctly remember getting Valentines from “yucky” boys and would be too embarrassed to tell my friends! And then there was the Valentine that made me blush, from the boy(s) I “liked” back then! Ahh, some sweet memories!

    I LOVE your “bloody Valentine” cupcakes!!!

  25. C says

    12 February 2012 at 6:14 pm

    So that was the hidden advantage of an all girls' school! No valentines box for us πŸ˜‰

  26. From Beyond My Kitchen Window says

    13 February 2012 at 2:19 am

    I went to an all girls school so our Valentines Day was pretty boring. There are 23 kids in our classroom this year and I'll be giving everyone of them a card. We can not celebrate with any type of food however because of our child wellness program. That stinks, because I probably would be bringing in cupcakes for the kids. Love the drops of blood!!

  27. Nics Nutrition says

    13 February 2012 at 7:17 pm

    They look amazing! Just discovered your blog.. V happy πŸ™‚ x

    http://nicsnutrition.com

  28. Cakes and Teacups says

    13 February 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Love it! Creative and brilliant!

  29. Katy Salter @ Pinch of Salt says

    13 February 2012 at 9:57 pm

    My inner dorky, brace-wearing, no-valentine's teen thanks you for these. Awesome! Happy V Day.

  30. Angela says

    15 February 2012 at 1:57 am

    Valentine's Day is still a competition. I had a student expelled today, and I am fairly sure that his unfortunate series of events would have gone quite differently had his day not started with a Valentine's Day rejection:(

  31. Vanessa Kimbell says

    15 February 2012 at 11:19 am

    I went tot an all girls school !

    I'm saying no more!

  32. Mike Rose says

    16 February 2012 at 8:19 pm

    love these!! my school didn't have a valentine box, but you could buy a heart shape lollipop with a message and they would deliver it secretly thru out the day. I never got one lol

  33. Shrey Patel says

    27 January 2014 at 6:54 am

    I adore this!
    I love your Decoration.
    Thank You.

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About Dom In The Kitchen

My name is Dominic, I am a cook, food writer and creative event producer. I write the food blog Dom In The Kitchen and also write a monthly recipe column for Lincolnshire Life Magazine and Good Taste Magazine. I also run creative event production company The Persuaders, producing global events for brands since 1997. I am based both in the small village of Belleau in Lincolnshire and the smaller village of London! Read More…

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