Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #5)(6)

Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a sheet.



Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12-15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to rack until cool.



Yield: 10 to 12 dozen, depending on cookie size.



These freeze well if you roll them in foil and put them in a freezer bag.





Chapter Three





Hannah had just finished frosting the cupcakes when she heard someone approach in the hallway outside her classroom door. Perhaps it was Mike and he was early.

"Is my nose wrong, or do I smell chocolate?"

Hannah sighed as she recognized the voice. Then she put a friendly smile on her face and turned toward the doorway. Sheriff Grant had never been one of her favorite people, but he was a good customer at The Cookie Jar and it was wise to be friendly to the man who was Bill and Mike's boss. "Your nose is right. I'm trying out a recipe for the Lake Eden cookbook."

"It sure smells good." Sheriff Grant moved closer to the counter and Hannah noticed that he was listing toward the cupcakes at approximately a forty-five degree angle.

"Would you like to taste one?" Hannah offered. "I think they're cool enough."

"That'd be great! I haven't had anything to eat since lunch and I need to stick around until Kingston gets here. Got some paperwork for him to pass out."

Hannah packaged up four of the cupcakes. She knew Mike was teaching a self-defense class in the room next door. "Do you want to leave the paperwork with me? I can make sure he gets it."

"No, that's okay. I'll just wait in the parking lot and catch him when he drives in." Sheriff Grant accepted the package Hannah gave him with a smile. "Thanks, Hannah. This is really nice of you."

"Maybe not," Hannah replied with a grin.

"What do you mean?"

"These cupcakes are an experiment and I haven't even tasted them yet."

"Do you want a report on how I like them?"

"That would be great," Hannah said with a smile. "You're a brave man, Sheriff Grant."

"Why's that?"

"For all you know, they might be poisoned. After all, my brother-in-law is running against you in the election."



When Hannah's students arrived, she divided them into five groups, one group for each workstation in Jordan High's home economics room. Then she set them to work testing pastry recipes. One group had the cookie recipe she'd developed, another was baking a pie, the third group was in the process of making a cobbler, the fourth group had a tea bread recipe, and group five was baking a coffee cake.

"What is it, Hannah?" Beatrice came rushing over when Hannah motioned to her.

"I baked a batch of cupcakes before class. I need you to taste one and tell me what you think."

Beatrice took a cupcake from the plate Hannah offered. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment and then she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hannah. These aren't like the ones I remember."

"I know. I made them plain, without the secret ingredient. I thought you might be able to tell what's missing."

Beatrice took another bite and chewed slowly. Then she shook her head again. "I just can't tell. I know it's something. These are really good, but the ones Mother Koester made had a wonderful aftertaste and they weren't quite as dry. You got the frosting just right though. It's exactly the same as she used to make."

"Thanks, Beatrice. You've been a big help."

"I have? All I did was tell you that you don't have it right."

"I know, but you also gave me a clue. If these are drier cupcakes, the secret ingredient must be something that makes them moist. Now all I have to do is figure out what it is."

"I'm glad I helped. What makes cupcakes moist besides water, or milk?"

"Several different things. Pudding in the batter could do it. So could more eggs, more butter, more oil, or adding some kind of moist ingredient. Even baking them in a slower oven or for less time might do it."

Beatrice looked amused. "That doesn't narrow it down much."

"No, it doesn't. But we have more information than we did this afternoon and I'm going to jot down some things to try. If you think of anything else to tell me about the cupcakes, just give me a holler."

Hannah's class crowded seven students at each of the five workstations, in a classroom designed for less than thirty students. The only thing that saved the situation from becoming total chaos was the fact that these were women who were used to cooking together in community or family kitchens. Hannah gave each group seven tasks to be performed during the baking and the tasks were assigned by drawing names. First there was a leader, the person responsible for the group. Then there were two fetchers. They foraged in the pantry to gather the ingredients. One group member was the designated measurer. She measured the various ingredients and assembled them in appropriate bowls and cups. Another group member was in charge of mixing the ingredients, and the last two group members were in charge of preheating the oven and preparing the baking pans. Once the batter or the dough had been mixed, the leader was the one who put it into the baking pans and placed it in the oven.

"Hannah?" Edna Ferguson, the head cook at Jordan High and leader of one of Hannah's groups, waved frantically at her across the room.