What’s better than a cupcake? A Sprinkles cupcake! Let’s just face it, if you don’t like cupcakes, there might be something wrong with you. This is the place that inspires Oprah’s oohs & aahs and the first bakery exclusively catering to the cupcake crowd. And today, you and everyone else in that crowd can get a $10 voucher to Sprinkles Cupcakes for just $5, courtesy of SocialBuy.

You probably know that Sprinkles is the Holy Grail of cupcakeries. Their handcrafted cupcakes contain only the finest ingredients including sweet cream butter, bittersweet Belgian chocolate and fresh fruits. They have been featured on Martha Stewart, Live with Regis & Kelly, the Today Show, and the Tyra Banks Show. If it’s good enough for daytime television royalty, then it must be good enough for the rest of us.

Obviously you don’t need an excuse to buy yourself a cupcake. But here are a few anyways:

• Your best friend’s having a bad day.
• You want to impress your girlfriend.
• You’re undecided on your wedding cake, in which case you can order a cupcake wedding tower (best to try a few samples first to make sure)
• It’s a Tuesday

Reviewers agree! Rachel on Yelp! said, “They don’t only look good, they are good.” Irma adds, “I seriously am addicted to these damn cupcakes. My boyfriend works in this neck of the woods and sometimes surprises me with a couple. They are just so delicious. Especially the chocolate ones…Yum!”

Don’t let these girls have all the tasty fun. Get in on this SocialBuy daily deal and head over to Sprinkles for what very well may be the best cupcakes on earth.

** This featured deal will expire 4 days from today. (posted 02/01/2010)

The 14th of February was probably chosen as Valentine’s Day because it was the ancient belief that birds, particularly lovebirds, began to mate on that date.  Make a batch of these delicious cupcakes for the one you love.  Alternatively, impress your family and friends with them.

Ingredients (makes 6 cupcakes)

• 6 tbsp butter, softened, or soft margarine
• generous 3/8 cup superfine sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder

Marzipan Hearts

• 1 1/4 oz/35 g marzipan
• red food coloring (liquid or paste)
• confectioners sugar, for dusting

Topping

• 4 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 oz semisweet chocolate, melted
• 6 chocolate flower decorations

Directions

1. To make the hearts, knead the marzipan until pliable, then add a few drops of red coloring and knead until evenly colored red.  Roll out the marzipan to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a counter dusted with confectioners sugar.  using a small heart-shaped cutter, cut out 6 hearts.  Put these on a tray lined with waxed paper and dusted with confectioners sugar.  Let dry for 3-4 hours.
2. To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Put 6 paper muffin cases in a muffin pan.
3. Put the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy.  Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition.  Sift in the flour, cocoa, and baking powder and, using a large spoon, fold into the mixture.  Spoon the batter into the paper cases.
4. Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until well risen and firm to the touch.  Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
5. To make the topping, put the butter in a large bowl and beat until fluffy.  Sift in the confectioners sugar and beat together until smooth.  Add the melted chocolate and beat together until well mixed.  When the cakes are cold, spread the frosting on top each cake and decorate with a chocolate flower.