I love animals and ever since I was a child there has almost always been one in my house. I went from being a devoted dog lover to completely cat obsessed, but having a pet is just a way of life for me. And with very few exceptions, our pets were always adopted from the Regina Humane Society.
I am a huge believer in the work that SPCAs and Human Societies do to ensure that pets find loving homes and I honestly can’t understand why anyone would spend hundreds of dollars buying a certain breed of animal when there are so many amazing pets in need of loving homes already.
Raising awareness and funds to care for those animals is a cause I support, and that’s why I’m so excited about National Cupcake Day!
For the second year in a row, the SPCAs and Humane Societies of Canada are hosting a National Cupcake Day fundraiser on February 24, 2014. And this year, Anna Olson, celebrity chef and host of Food Network Canada’s Bake with Anna Olson, is joining the party as a Cupcake Crusader.
A long-time supporter of animals and the SPCA, Olson has created an original cupcake recipe for this year’s event. Her Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe can be found at www.nationalcupcakeday.ca!
To help me join in the fun, the sponsors of National Cupcake Day sent me a beautiful cupcake gift basket so I decided to show my support for the cause by whipping up a batch of cupcakes myself.
The basket included the Taste of Home Bakeshop Favourites cookbook and I created a variation of one of the recipes included in the book to make these tasty Chai Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!
If you’d like to show your support for this worthy cause, participating is easy! Register as a National Cupcake Day Host at www.nationalcupcakeday.ca and you’ll receive a free Cupcake Host Welcome Package in the mail which includes a poster, stickers, balloons, a fundraising guide and recipes to get you started.
Then plan a cupcake party at work, home or school, start fundraising by encouraging friends and family to donate online in advance, bake your favourite cupcakes, share them with family and friends and collect donations to prevent cruelty to animals!
The event is already raising so much money and I have no doubt it will raise much more by the time National Cupcake Day arrives on February 24. Get all the details on hosting a party and then “bake a difference” yourself this February; it’s a fun and delicious way to help animals in need!

Chai Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Perfectly spiced cupcakes with a creamy icing that are perfect for an afternoon treat!
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp. each ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2/3 cup milk
- 3 tbsp. butter, softened
- 3 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups icing sugar
- 3-4 tbsp. milk
- ground cinnamon to garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
- In a medium bowl. combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 1/2 tsp. of spice mixture until combined. Gradually add flour to creamed mixture, alternating with milk and blending well after each addition.
- Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, in large bowl, cream 3 tbsp. butter and cream cheese together. Beat in icing sugar and remaining spice mixture until smooth. Gradually add milk to reach desired consistency.
- Pipe frosting over cupcakes and garnish with cinnamon if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 12 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 238mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 1gSugar: 44gProtein: 4g
mrdisco says
Bacon Cupcakes are my favourite
su-ann firman says
I love cupcakes, I made the xmas tree ones for xmas it was fun
Crystal Englot says
I love making black bottom cupcakes with buttercream frosting!
Chandra Christine O'Connor says
Chocolate oatmeal cupcakes so moist and delish
stephen gordon says
Truity fruity cupcakes
Carol M (Lushka S) says
Red Velvet cupcakes
trish says
from a box? lol
Sandi DeGeer says
Plain vanilla with cream cheese frosting
Darlene Schuller says
I have to say Scor, my girls just love them.
Isabel Topps says
Chocolate
michelle tremblett says
I literally will eat any cupcake I can get my hands on lol but I love red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. yummyyyyy
Cassandra henninger says
Double chocolate cupcakes with Nutella frosting
jan says
I have never made red velvet cupcakes, but always hear about how good they are.
jennifer capin says
plain old vanilla
Gizele says
Peanut butter cupcakes with peanut butter icing.
Stephanie Dawe says
Red velvet cuppy cakes lol
Trina Goodwin says
My Favorite cupcakes are Snikerdoodle they are a big hit in this house !! delish 🙂
Trina Goodwin says
Snickerdoodle lol
Lisa Robertson says
Red Velvet hands down!!
Kristine Ewald says
Favorite is chocolate with cream cheese icing YUMMM
carol says
Chocolate
Margaret Fehr says
Any really
Deb Dorrington says
My favorite cupcakes are Spiced Pumpkin ones, but hey I’ll eat any flavor to be honest.
Francine says
My favourite is a mini-chocolate cupcake with Kahlua frosting
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing!
Karla Sceviour says
I like plain chocolate cupcakes with dream whip topping!
Lita Gallant says
Red velvet are my favorite!
Stephanie S. says
Hmmm… chocolate cake receipe with my own lil twist to keep cake moist as ever!! 🙂
Wendy hutton says
chocolate – chocolate chip
Anne Taylor says
I’m so boring lol I love vanilla cupcakes!
Gillian says
Red velvet
Melinda L. says
red velvet cupcakes
wanda aultman says
chocolate
Donna Allen says
Yummm Love cup cakes!
Shelley N says
My favourite cupcakes are vanilla with vanilla icing with sprinkles on top. It is the recipe that my sons love.
Judy Hunting says
My favourite is the classic Chocolate with Chocolate frosting.. I am a chocoholic
Shannon says
My kids love rainbow cupcakes ! I love any chocolate ones 🙂 found a new recipe I can’t wait to try- mini Oreo peanut butter surprise cupcakes!
Debbie F says
Chocolate with chocolate icing.
Brandee H says
I like plain white cupcakes with a butter cream frosting
Robyn L says
Carrot cupcakes with Cream Cheese icing
Nicky says
red velvet cupcakes!
Julie Bolduc says
Red Velvet cupcakes
sunshine says
I’m so boring…chocolate cupcake, but will take vanilla, or chocolate icing for sure, and this week I will be attempting coffee and mocha icing as they are two of my faves.
Keno Moore says
Black Forest Cupcakes
Glogirl says
I love Chocolate Fudge cupcakes!
charityk says
i love vanailla cupcakes but the chai recipe sounds sooo good
Jen L says
I love black bottom cupcakes!
Brenda Penton says
I like Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Adriana F says
I love lemon cupcakes…from a box
Kristina Ziegler says
Peanut butter cupcakes
Wayne Lecoy says
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great to win a National Cupcake Day gift basket.
My favourite cupcake recipe is this one
http://www.kraftcanada.com/recipes/chocolate-banana-cupcakes-peanut-butter-icing-127512.
Thank you for having this great giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristina Ziegler says
Great contest,thanks!