In a past life, I am positive I was a vigilante.
My entire life as Hayley, I have been hell-bent on always helping the underdog, upholding justice, standing up for what is right and tearing down what’s wrong. Â While this sounds really Joan-of-Arc-y and admirable, it usually just means I stir up trouble in lame minor situations and don’t actually crusade for the mass population or save lives or anything. Â Sorry to get your hopes up.
More than likely, it most commonly occurs in my current workplace, wherever and whatever that may be. Â I have a knack for working with a handful of ridiculous people at every job I’ve been employed at and thus have a special honing skill to right the wrongs the workforce does.
Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m not one of those ninnies who tattles on people for unnecessary things.  And I’m not one to nitpick every. little. thing.  But if something SUPER irks me, or especially if it interferes with my productivity or efficiency, you bet your bottom dollah I am gonna say something to stand up for myself — and for who I like to believe are other shy people, too afraid to say anything for themselves.  Because I can’t be the only person bothered by a girl literally sing-moaning in the same workspace, can I?  (We’re talking Mariah-Carey oohh0h0h0hkooohhh yeeeaahheuahhhhadh ooooh baaaaaby kinda moan-singing.  Loudly.  Daily.)
My first job I worked for a call center at a portrait studio. Â They were locally owned and pathetically stingy, so they’d only hire a small handful of us at a time to manage the huge increase in calls for session scheduling. Â Anyway, I worked 8-hour days and thus had a 30-minute lunch, per State of California laws. Â I remember one day taking my lunch at my desk with my phone logged off, and I read a magazine and ate quietly. Â Suddenly, my rather rotund supervisor, semblant of a gluttonous sloth, wobbled in and informed me that I would need to continue answering phones on my lunch break.
However, I was somehow well-versed in the inner workings of the California Labor Board Laws (don’t ask — some things ya just know, ya know?) and I politely informed sloth-woman that lunch breaks are free time for the employee and employers are not able to ask us to work on our lunch; it’s against the law.  Sloth-woman did not like this and reminded me how busy we were and how I could “get into trouble” for not taking calls.
It was then — that little threat of trouble — that sent the wild vigilante woman inside of me raging, spear in hand, venom on the tongue, ready to fight back.  Oh no she didn’t. She deffffffinitely didn’t just tell me to interrupt my orange-chicken-eating to answer phone calls on MY law-mandated break!  Bitch please.
“Actually,” I quipped, “it’s against the law. Â So if you’re planning on getting me into trouble for not working on my state-mandated lunch period, I will be happy to let the Labor Board know.”
Oh shiiiiiiiit son. Â It hit the fan.
Sloth-woman did not like my sass and walked away saying, “we could really use your help” and warbled off to do a whole lot of nothing.  I continued not to answer calls because hello, it’s against the law, and when Sloth-woman came back to ask another employee to do the same, I repeated the same sentence over and over again, standing up for my shy, sweet coworker who wouldn’t know Labor Laws like few weird, vigilante 17-year old girls do.  And it felt good, y’know?  Sticking up to the man.  Doing a public service.  Serving the bad guys with some justice!
And FYI, if you ever want to piss off an employer, thoroughly read your state’s labor laws.  I guarantee 90% of the jobs out there — even your so-called professional grown-up job — is violating at least one law.  And if you hate your job enough, it’s surprisingly really friggin’ satisfying to let a supervisor know that they’re violating your rights as an employee.  It makes the wild vigilante woman inside of me yodel with delight and pound her chest, Tarzan-style.
Anyway, when I’m not upholding California’s labor laws, I am standing up for one of my favorite (and one of the most underrated) desserts ever: the blondie.  Blondies are a brownie’s brown sugar-y cousin.  Rich, sumptuous, buttery, with a hint of spice, blondies are my absolute favorite dessert.  I love their simplicity yet the complexity of flavors.  And the versatility!  Throw whatever you want in ’em and it instantly jazzes up the variety.
However, today’s blondies are transformed into cupcakes! Â Buttery, golden delicious cupcakes flavored just like blondies– and made with ICE CREAM(!!!!!)– Ben & Jerry’s exclusive new flavor:Â Rockin’ Blondies! Â I found this flavor at Target (I believe it’s only available there) and it is TODIEFOORRRRRRRR.
Take a bite. Â Your mouth will totally love you for it.
Â
- FOR CUPCAKES:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 pint Ben & Jerry's Rockin' Blondies ice cream, softened to room temperature
- ⅓ cup oil
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- FOR FROSTING:
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Milk (to thin icing, if necessary)
- Cooked blondies, cut into bite-sized cubes
- Caramel sundae syrup
- Butterscotch chips
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with about 18 paper liners; set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, softened ice cream, oil, eggs and brown sugar with an electric mixer until completely combined, about 2 minutes. Evenly distribute the batter among the muffin tins, filling about ¾ full.
- Bake for approx. 15-17 minutes or until tops are just about set and have a golden hue. Cool the cupcakes completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, until frosting is light, fluffy, and holds it shape well. Use the milk to thin the icing if it is too thick.
- Pipe the icing high onto the cooled cupcakes. Garnish with the crumbled/cubed blondie pieces, butterscotch chips and drizzle with caramel sundae syrup. If you want to get extra fancy, sprinkle with some coarse sea salt before serving. Store leftovers airtight in the fridge, about 4 days; however, best served the same day-next day.
My sister FLIPPPPPPED for these, and I know you will, too!
Have a delicious weekend!
xo, Hayley
Tieghan says
YES!! AMAZED!! Need these!! So AWESOME! You are a genius!
tanya says
Way to stick it to “the man” er, rather, large woman! I love it Hayley! I just knew I would love these cupcakes simply by the word “overload”. They do NOT disappoint!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
omg omg omg, my heart is beating fast just hearing about that exchange. I am pretty sure I have been denied a law-mandated break like…a bunch. But I’m a wimp. *sigh*
I’m so in awe of your awesome vigilante-ness, good for you (even lil 17 year old you)! Michael’s like that too.
OMG BLONDIE OVERLOAD INDEED! YUUUMMmehhhhh
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says
Holy wow these look incredible!
Karly says
I just had a brand threaten to not pay me for a “requirement” that was never actually shared with me (and I have the emails to prove it, buddy!). I really could have used you and your tarzan chest beating ways to fix that for me. Next time I’ll just forward the emails directly to you, k?
Ashton says
These cupcakes look INSANE! And I’m so glad the good people of California have you to uphold justice 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Good for you and your busty Tarzan chest, Hayley! You are a true friend. Blondie Overload? Yes, please! These look insanely good…and, I feel like indulging this weekend. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend, girl!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
WOW! Not for the faint of heart! This is soooo bad for you, yet soooooo good!
Emily {Pink Tiger in the Kitchen} says
I am DYING over these cupcakes!! They look AMAZING Hayley!!
And someone totally needs to tell moaning-singing girl what’s up. Ain’t nobody got time for hearing all that business!!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Saving this recipe for a day when I feel like being really really bad. LOL
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I am going to start memorizing labor laws so that next time my annoying boss hassles me, I’ll be prepared! And let’s just have a moment of silence for these cupcakes…
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
Omg I totally enjoyed reading this post. I am the manager of two restaurants and have to look at things through the employer side and let me tell you California has almost double the amount of employee friendly laws than any other state!! I have to be ever so careful with whatever I do!! I wouldn’t be careful stuffing my face with these cupcakes.. and blondies.. you kill me!!!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
You go girl! Gotta stick up for your rights!!
Also, can we make it a law that these cupcakes have to be consumed every day for the rest of time?
sheila @ Sweet Bake Life says
I adore Blondies and these cupcakes look incredible — I think I will have to stalk Target to buy some of that delightful ice cream!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I need to have little Hayley in my head whenever I need to stand up for myself. 🙂
And um, these cupcakes? ROCK.
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
Holy cupcakes! You go girl!
Amy says
1.) THANK YOU!! I would’ve been the super duper shy girl you stood up for (still am really shy!). And even if I did know that about the Labor Laws (which I didn’t), I would’ve been too worried about making someone mad that I would’ve answered the phones anyway. So for all of the shy people out there, thank you!
2.) I can’t believe I’ve forgotten about blondies for so long! I haven’t made any in 4 years. 4 years!! Crazy. That is going to change!
3.) I love love love Target! I always stop at their dollar aisle up front, and I have at least 14 different colors of their tank tops. Knowing they have amazing ice cream is dangerous — I’ll use any excuse I can to go!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
These cupcakes are perfect! My husband who doesn’t like chocolate (?!?!) will love them!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Blondies are so under-appreciated. Seriously, everyone’s always brownies brownies brownies but take a look at these blondie cupcakes. DUDE HOW COULD YOU PASS THESE UP?! I would like a million, whenever you get a chance. 😉
Megan {country cleaver} says
You’re a cupcake vigilante – and I love it!! Now, can we find a way to teleport one of these my way? that’d be uber cool. Sanx.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
I need someone like you to champion for me in all facets of my life. You feel like moving to Vancouver? I’ll pay you in cupcakes. Hopefully I can make them as delicious as your blondie overload version. Good Gawd these look incredible! And I laughed at the thought of the crazy woman warbling a la Mariah Carey. You were DEFINITELY not the only person bothered, guaranteed!
Joe Schmoe says
What in the world did that dumb story have to do with anything? Trust me, you are not in any shape or form, crusading for humanity or individual rights. But if you think your tiny little contribution amounts to the mountain you built them up to be, then keep living in your strange little fantasy world. You must really be a bored housewife to blather on and on about such meaningless crap.
thedomesticrebel says
You’re right, I am a bored housewife who happens to work two jobs and lives in a fun little fantasy world. I also earn money from people like you who don’t realize that every page you visit, link you click and comment you leave on this site earns me money. So in a way, thanks for buying me dinner! Maybe I can write another meaningless story about it 🙂
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
Well, quite frankly, I loved your story. 🙂 I needed you at my first job, where our boss refused to give us an adequate lunch break and wanted us to pay full price to eat the cold, soggy french fries he told us to throw away.
These cupcakes need to hop in my mouth asap.
Renee @ Awesome on $20 says
Oh man, that story is awesome! Did you take her into the bathroom and show her the poster? You know the one with the number to complain about mistreatment? I don’t know why it’s always in the bathroom, but at least you have time to actually read it. You should have held her hand and read it out loud to her! In other news, these cupcakes are ridiculous, and you’re my hero.
Alexandra says
You take amazing photos and I will definitely try this one out. Check out these desserts too if you want. Inspiration is always welcome. : )
http://celebritychef.tv/2013/09/25/hedy-goldsmith-the-doyenne-of-dessert/
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Alexandra!