If I had a pregnancy superpower, it would be inappropriate crying.
My whining has increased ten fold, but I was already pretty good at that, so crying wins.
A reasonably sad commercial? Tears.
Watching the auditions on So You Think You Can Dance? Crying.
There is no way I could handle Sarah McLachlan’s humane society commercial right now – I might hyperventilate and pass out.
But, the story I’m about to tell you? This one takes the cake.
So, my husband and I visited Asheville, NC this week – you can expect a post about all of the amazing food we had (you have already seen some of it if you follow me on Instagram or like me on Facebook). We wanted to do part of the Blue Ridge Parkway drive while we were there, which is a lovely scenic highway. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and not only could we not enjoy the views because of the clouds/fog, but it was also raining. So, we started to head back to our hotel.
Suddenly, I see a huge turkey on the side of the road. I’m positively hawk-like when it comes to spotting animals on the side of the road because of my horrible fear of hitting one, so I see said turkey before my husband does. I immediately start chanting, “Stop, stop, babe, stop!”
He slows down, but doesn’t stop. It seems he had decided to play a game of chicken with this turkey (hehe) and both of them were too stubborn to stop. My husband kept driving and the turkey kept meandering towards the road.
This leads to a close call, with my husband slamming on the brakes (FINALLY) and the turkey fleeing back into the woods.
Now, I am LIVID with my husband. I’m so upset that he didn’t just stop when no one was behind us and risked hitting the turkey.
This leads to me considering that, because we weren’t going very fast due to my husband’s braking, if we had hit the turkey, we may not have killed it on impact, but we would have mortally wounded it. It would have fled and died a slow and painful death hours or even days later. Maybe it had little baby turkeys too.
I start crying. Real crying. Tears streaming down my face.
For a turkey that doesn’t exist. The one we hit in an alternate universe. The one who had little turkey babies.
I think my husband is a little afraid of me now… Can you commit a pregnant lady? I’m hoping not.
He wouldn’t do that though – he would miss out on my yummy treats! He positively loved these cupcakes, they are like the pastry of the same name but better! Start with an easy, but yummy chocolate cake base, add a sweet and delicious marshmallow buttercream, and top with some colored coconut. Simple and scrumptious!
- Cake
- One box of Devil’s Food Cake mix
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup of milk
- 3 eggs
- ½ teaspoon butter/vanilla emulsion
- Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 7 ounces marshmallow fluff
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Topping
- 14 ounces coconut
- Pink food coloring
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, butter, milk, eggs, and butter/vanilla emulsion with a hand mixer on low until ingredients are just combined. Beat on medium speed for 1½ minutes.
- Fill liners about ⅔ full (do not overfill!). Bake for 18-20 minutes. Frost when cooled. Place colored coconut in a small bowl and dip cupcakes upside down into coconut so it adheres to the frosting.
- To make the frosting, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until fluffy. Mix in the marshmallow fluff and vanilla extract on low until combined.
- To make colored coconut: Place coconut in a large plastic bag. Add a couple drops of pink food coloring (I used gel). Shake and knead the bag until color is evenly distributed. Add more color, if desired.
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re too funny, Jennifer! I probably shouldn’t tell you this… I’ll wait while you grab a box of tissues… I ran over a poor little turtle trying to cross the road this week. I swear it was an accident! The car in front of me swirved and before I could finish saying “what was that all about?” it was already too late.
Anyway… a batch of these snowball cupcakes would certainly make me feel better!
Oh no! One of my ex-boyfriends hit a turtle by accident while I was in the car – I was no good! I’m such a softie
I know it is going to happen to me one day…I’m dreading that day, for real!
Haha! Thanks for brightening my morning with a funny story! These sno-ball cupcakes look perfect for comforting you after that traumatizing event!
Thanks, Georgia!
Oh man.. those poor turkey babies!
I probably wouldn’t have cried like that for an almost hit, but DEFINITELY for a real hit! I hit a squirrel last weekend. First time. I’ve always been so good at avoiding them before. I almost starting crying. I was just so intent on where I was going and what I had to do that I was distracted enough to not break down. But that poor squirrel.
Awww, I feel you. We have SO many squirrels in our area, I KNOW that I’m going to hit one one day
I’m kind of hoping it doesn’t happen when I’m pregnant though…I don’t know if I can handle it! The crying is out of control!
Love these cupcakes (pink!) and your turkey story. I serve a little to avoid hitting birds and chipmunks and yes, wild turkeys. The deer around here I just slow down and give them the right of way and turtles here are a protected species so we wait.
We lived in the country when I was little and we had to avoid animals all of the time. My mom and I even had to stop and wait several minutes for a family of skunks to cross the road!
Oh, I cried like crazy while pregnant. You are definitely not alone! Those darn hormones are serious business.
)
These cupcakes would be sure to smooth things over though, love the pink (is that a hint
Haha – they’re pink just to match the snack cake, but I had an ultrasound at 16 weeks and the tech did give us an early guess…but just a guess! We’ll get it confirmed at 20 weeks
These are so fun and cheery, really pretty recipe! Pinning – thanks!
Thanks, Pamela!
I never got over that pregnancy crying thing…when we are at the airport my hubby will say “Don’t look!!!” And of course I look, and someone will be hugging good bye or hello and the waterworks begin…I can’t help it. I’m a sap. You have a legit excuse. I love pink snowballs….my mom always bought them and hid them!
Oh, me too, Susie! Lots of happy crying too – I can’t help it!
Those are so cute and fluffy looking!!!
I’ve had many close calls in the car with animals (mostly squirrels)…
Oh yes, so many squirrels around here!
When I got pregnant with my first the water works began. It seemed if the wind blew in the wrong direction it made me cry. I can totally relate. I think if I had this recipe way back then, I would have been so busy eating snowballs that I would never have shed a tear!
Haha, thanks, Lisa! I was an easy crier before – now, it is just ridiculous
These look fabulous! =)
Thanks, Melissa!
Hallmark and telephone commercials have always reduced me to tears. When pregnant they reduced me to sobs. I have never been sure if that makes me tender hearted or emotionally unstable.
Dads- in- training need practice dealing with crying so that they will be better prepared when the baby arrives. These cupcakes look delicious. I love marshmallow frosting!
I’m bad with commercials too. I’m voting for tender hearted!
How fun are these?! I SO love em’.
Thanks, Ashley!
I’ve led a sheltered life – I’ve never had a snowball cupcake. Now I know I need one! I can’t wait to hear more of your stories!
I’ve only had the snack cake a couple times, but it has such a fun flavor profile, I had to make them for myself
I’m crying too…because you made me laugh. Poor turkey babies. I have an extremely vivid imagination…sometime so vivid that I just imagine something and I will tear up and then I’m like ..wait a second..that didn’t really happen and I start laughing. Fyi. I’m not pregnant.
These cupcakes look delicious, I love the coconut on the top.
Haha – we’re two peas in a pod, Hani
Great story! Haha! Your little one will have a good laugh someday hearing of all the funny pregnancy moments you had! And, I LOVE these cupcakes! I mean, pink cocnut…Yes please!!
You can’t go wrong with pink coconut
YUM! These look so delicious.
Thanks so much, Natalie
Oh my lord that story! I bet I’ll be the same when I’m pregnant hahahaa, so cute (although I despise turkeys so I doubt that would upset me
)
These cupcakes are SUPER cute and look delicious
Thanks, Kayle! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who despises turkeys
They have scared the bejeesus out of me while driving – you don’t realize how huge those suckers are until they are flying right in front of your car!
I was attacked by a flock of em when I was little-they’re mean birds! lol
OH NO! Well, that is understandable then
I was chased by a grumpy rooster when I was a kid, but thankfully, I don’t see them on a regular basis 
These look absolutely perfect! Love that bright pop of pink color and all that coconut!
Thanks so much, Kelly! My husband scarfed more of them than he would care to admit…
Wow! These look so good. I absolutely love anything with coconut.
I’ve never been pregnant but I do have a very vivid imagination. I can play out a whole scenario in my head and cry about it. My friend’s always tell me that I should write books because of this. LOL!
Love the story! I was a queen at crying over stuff like that when I was pregnant. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one! These cupcakes are beautiful and I gasped when I saw them because I thought I was the only one in the world that loved sno balls!
Thanks so much, Courtney! I hardly even see Sno Balls in the store anymore, but the flavor combo is so fun, I just had to make them into cupcakes
These look delicious – the pink colour is really extravagant!
Oh, and great write-up!
Thanks, Monique!
I also sit a turtle one day while out driving to the mall to shop with my daughter.
She was about the worst tragedy that every occurred in her life. She named the turtle
‘Toby’ told me how he as on hie way back to his mama’s hone and now they would be waiting for Toby and worried sick over their little baby. It took her several weeks to calm down about this turtle….I know some of it was just drama for her mama, but c’mon. Also, I hardly cry at all anymore. I’m 64 years old and have the usual quota of family and personal problems. I used to cry a lot….i don’t know if I used up all my tears when I was younger, so if I’m just able to express myself without all the waterworksl W
ho can figure us allout?
Hi I love your sno ball cupcake recipe. I just have one question. What is the butter/vanilla emulsion?
It is a flavoring, like vanilla extract. This is the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/LorAnn-Oils-Butter-Vanilla-Emulsion/dp/B0039KMKQ0.
If you don’t have it on hand, you can just substitute vanilla!
These look SO yummy!
Thanks, Noreen!
I want to make the marshmallow frosting. I’m going to put it on cake pops, would it hold up for a day or two on the cake pops? I read that some marshmallow frostings turned grainy after a day. Also, is it easy to spread or is it sticky?
Lovely pictures
Hi Ashleigh! I’m not sure what you mean – this frosting probably wouldn’t hold up well on cake pops, if they are the cake pops I’m thinking of! It is easy to spread though (I used a piping bag!)
Thank you for your reply Jennifer.
I put the frosting on the outside, not in the pops, just to be clear.
I used a similar recipe and put them in the fridge to set up a little bit, it worked better than I expected.
I’m so glad it worked out!
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