Let me tell you what happens when you agree to do a review for POM.

You will be sitting in your room one day.  Innocent.  Unsuspecting.  Naive.

You are probably twiddling your thumbs.

You are probably not studying.

You probably should be studying.  You definitely should not be twiddling your thumbs.

Twiddle.  Twiddle.  Twiddle.

You will get a call from your doorman.  (Yes!  You have a doorman!  Aren’t you so very Real Housewives of New York!)

Your doorman will demand your presence at the front desk immediately.  He will yell things into the phone such as, “I can’t be held responsible for this!” and “Oh, the humanity!”  (You know what they say…like lessee like doorman.  Especially when it comes to having a proclivity for hyperbole.)

You will.  Calmly.  Slowly.  Make your way to the lobby.  If you are not like me, then you will take the elevator.  To expedite the inevitable.  If you are like me.  You take the stairs.  Down 12 flights.  To prolong the inevitable.  The inevitable potentially being a package that has the word Anthrax written all over it.  The inevitable also potentially being a surprise visit from Johnny Depp, who has secretly fallen in love with you while reading your blog and has hired a private detective to hunt you down so that he can proclaim his love for you.  But like I said.  You go slowly down to the first floor.  Guess which option you think is more likely.

And there in the lobby.  What do you see.  But a package the size of a small elephant (i.e. not very small at all).

The label on which reads.  Merry Christmas.  Love, POM.

Oh. The. Humanity.

At first you are slightly panicked.  Because, well.  You don’t really drink juice.  And now you are sitting here.  With 6 thousand bottles of juice.  All of which need to be refrigerated.

Stay cool, Jo.  Stay cool.

You lug the package upstairs.  Sit at your computer.  And consider your options.

You could (a) abandon ship.  Become a fugitive.  Run away from your problems rather than try to solve them.  Leave Sophie to clean up the mess that you leave in your wake.  But you have a feeling that doesn’t bode well for your karma.  (b) Convince your guy friends that POM has alcohol in it.  And that they should use it in their next case race.  Also.  Maybe not so good for your karma.  (c) Google around for a while.  Stumble across a recipe for POM velvet cupcakes.  And make them.  Eat one.  Eat two.  If you are Adam, eat three.  Bemoan the fact that you don’t have an unlimited supply of pomegranate juice.  Because now you won’t be able to eat these every day for the rest of your life.

Oh, the humanity.

While you can’t necessarily discern the pomegranate flavor in the cupcakes themselves, you can definitely tell that there is something fruity going on.  And that frosting?  Well, that frosting is a dream. If there is one word of advice that you take from this post?  It is that you should make that frosting.  Pronto.

POM Velvet Cupcakes with POM Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes 2 dozen plus one 8×8 inch cake, adapted from POM’s website.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 cups pomegranate juice
4 oz unsalted butter, softened
16 oz cream cheese
confectioner’s sugar, to taste

Reduce the pomegranate juice, over low heat, down to 2/3 cup.  Allow to cool.  Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and the cream cheese.  Turn the speed down to low.  Add in the reduced pomegranate juice (now pomegranate molasses!).  Add in confectioner’s sugar until the desired taste and consistency is reached.

Cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
1 lb sugar
14 oz soft unsalted butter
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
15 oz flour
1 1/2 oz cocoa powder
3/4 oz baking soda
pinch of salt
1/4 cup heavy cream

1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Reduce the pomegranate juice over low heat until it is half a cup.

2. Cream together the sugar and butter until fluffy.  Turn the speed on your mixer down to low and add in the eggs one at a time.  In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, white vinegar, vanilla, and pomegranate reduction.  In yet another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.  Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter/sugar/eggs.  Add half the liquids.  Repeat until everything has been mixed in.  Then add in 1/4 cup heavy cream, mixing until just combined.

3. Pour into cupcake liners until they are 3/4 full. Pour the remaining batter into an 8×8-inch square pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Let cool, then frost.

I am submitting these to Weekend Herb Blogging which is being hosted this week by Simona from Briciole.

6 bottles down.  A seemingly infinite number to go.

Next stop.  Bagels and twists.

Take the Healthy Bread in Five Minutes A Day recipe for Cinnamon Raisin Bagels.  Substitute pomegranate juice in for water.  Form into bagels and twists.  Bemoan the fact that your bagels and twists are not so nicely shaped because of the fact that this dough is so damn wet.  Bake anyway.  Relish the breathtaking smell that is coming from your oven.  Be unable to restrain yourself from waiting until the bagels and twists cool before cutting into them.  Burn your fingers multiple times from trying to cut into piping hot bagels.  Think about how this had better be worth the multiple blisters you are starting to develop.  Forge ahead.  Cover with Naturally Nutty’s chocolate sunflower butter.  Fall in love.

These babies will be featured in the HBinFive round-up, hosted by Michelle at Big Black Dog.  They have been yeastspotted.  And they are going to Natashya at Living in the Kitchen With Puppies for Bread Baking Day!  And to Apu for Healing Foods: Pomegranate, an event created by Siri’s Corner!

Thanks POM for sending me all of this juice!

Disclaimer – Although I received these products for free, I did not receive any monetary compensation for doing this review. My thoughts and feelings on them are entirely my own.

Also, today is the last day to send in your Regional Recipes: Vietnam submissions!  Email them to me at [email protected]!

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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101 Responses to POM Velvet Cupcakes with Pomegranate Cream Cheese Frosting and Pomegranate Bagels and Twists

  1. I’ve never considered making bagel dough with fruit juice. I’m not a pomegranate fan, but I see some double-blueberry bagels in my future 😀

  2. Pomegranate cupcakes sound beyond fantastic.

  3. Never made cupcakes and frosting with a fruit juice…this one is a must fry-bookmarked!

  4. girlichef says:

    I love POM and what a great way to use it…I’m definitely going to try it in my baking in the future…yum!

  5. Katerina says:

    I am sure that with so much juice you see pomegranates even in your sleep. Nevertheless,this gives you the opportunity to make goodies like the ones you posted today.

  6. Chef Dennis says:

    love the cupcakes….I too recieved pom a few weeks ago, with the end of the school year I haven’t thought about it, but now its time to come up with something!!
    glad to have found your blog!

  7. I have been in love with POM juice ever since i’ve been on blogosphere!!!
    Just imagine as u tug along d stairs, somewhere on the 7th floor, i catch a whiff of ur perfumes , and i decide to tag along too, knowing that this musb another Huge parcel for Joanne, and yeppy , i get a few bottles too , and plus this delicious cuppy with frosting and bagels too!!!
    And all thru the Expert at work ,i take a 100+pics along…..
    Now i dont live on the 7th floor , or anywhere close, but didn i say jus imagine!!!
    Its so excitn aint it , i am awaiting my BIP parcel and boy am super excited!!!

  8. i said 7th floor and got the 7th comment, how cool is that………..
    Ok ok…i had to say this, was still here drooling at ur lovely frosting gurl!!!

  9. A GREAT use for the goodies!!!

  10. Pomegranate cupcakes sounds interesting and I loved the cream cheese frosting 🙂

  11. Making dreamy cupcakes was a good choice Joanne. How could anyone resist. But could I stop at just one?

  12. sra says:

    What a lovely colour that frosting is!

  13. ROTFL! I confess. I have three bottles of POM still to become something. But, what? POM tastes nasty all by itself (hope they aren’t reading), but it’s great in a cocktail of vodka, something bubbly and a lemon twist. Who knew that cupcakes would do it? Great job!

  14. I’ve been hearing about POM and while it’s been recommended not to drink it by itself, apparently it is wonderful to cook with. The cupcakes sound awesome, I so want the frosting!

  15. Shannon says:

    yeah, i loved that frosting, too! i still have a bottle left… i tried a pom caramel sauce, epic fail. maybe i’ll have to try that again when i get back?

  16. Lori says:

    These are beautiful! Love all the creative decorating. I really like how fruit juices work in frostings. Great for color and flavor.

  17. Kelsey says:

    awe, pom package! fantastic!!!

    love the icing decoration! mmmm u always have me drooling.. why do i find myself reading ur posts in the morning.. i just end up craving sugar all day lol! <3

  18. Pom cheese frosting looks beautiful dear nice colour cream on top of cupcake..

  19. Martha (MM) says:

    Yummy, yummy and more yummy going on here! The POM makes a great summer sangria by the way 🙂

  20. Cristie says:

    Love the cupcakes and frosting– and the POM you made it from! I have a variety of products awaiting uses, this gave me some ideas. Enjoy your day!

  21. so interesting and beautiful colour frosting too…looks so yum joanne

  22. Chris says:

    Those look almost like the sweet potato cupcakes Alexis was up until midnight making last night. Very nice! Great photo too.

    PS: Johnny Depp called and asked if you were single. I told him you needed to be studying and didn’t have time for his advances. You’re welcome. 😉

  23. Faith says:

    I actually have some POM in my fridge right now! I want to make both these recipes but I think I’ll start with the Velvet Cake. 🙂 It sounds amazing!

  24. Kristen says:

    They named their juice well when they added the “wonderful”….what a treat for you to receive some!! Those cupcakes. WOW.

  25. Pomegranate Cupcakes! That’s something I could definitely support. The cake looks incredibly moist.

    I’ve heard that using pomegranate juice for marinating meat is quite good as well.

  26. knk says:

    wow delicious cupcakes , after such a long time back i saw a full details of cupcakes recipe nice i love this post

  27. I love velvet cupcakes and this pomegranate twist sounds amazing!

  28. Kristin says:

    I love POM. I used to buy it as a treat since when it first came out it was ridiculously expensive for a juice drink. The frosting looks amazingly delicious!

  29. Wow! POM cupcakes – how fabulous!

  30. Amy says:

    I used the POM in a sauce for pork a few months ago. It was wonderful. However, I think I would much prefer these cupcakes. Sweets will be the death of me, you know. Why do the bad foods have to taste so damn good? Oh, the humanity!!

  31. Yenta Mary says:

    Thanks so much for visiting Food Floozie so I could find your blog as well! What fun — fabulous recipes as well as great stories! (Not too keen on the ones where you just get ingredients and a photo, rather than a sense of who’s behind it all.) I just took up running last week, late in life, but I’m determined to keep going and build up my endurance … 🙂

  32. Suman says:

    I love POM…and pomegranate cupcakes sounds interesting n delicious…yum!

  33. Biren says:

    These are beautiful. Love the color on the frosting. I’ve never done anything with POM. Maybe it’s time to venture out 🙂

  34. i think these cupcakes would be the CURE. but yes, i’m O’ding on sweet potatoes right now!

    and re: b.

    he never called wednesday.

  35. Juliana says:

    Joanne, what a great idea to use POM juice for the cupcakes and frosting…would love to try. By the way, the twisted bagels look yummie as well 🙂

  36. Julia says:

    Those cupcakes look awesome and I am addicted to Pomegranates, wish they were in season more, we go thru about 4-5 a week when they are, DD and I just eat them plain – yum.

  37. Raina says:

    You are so funny. But when do you sleep?

    Your cupcakes look sinful, amazing, yum!! I must have one soon!

    The bagel twists sound great. I have to buy that book because the breads you have made sound so darn good!

  38. teresa says:

    i don’t really drink juice either, and yet i feel oddly drawn to the POM craze! this looks like a fabulous way to use it. the humanity! lol!

  39. Sook says:

    Love the way you decorated your cupcakes!

  40. Elina says:

    Hehe. Great use of pom juice. Cream cheese frosting is my favorite! 🙂

  41. tigerfish says:

    Your cupcakes and bagels get POMpus :)…in a league of their own.

  42. what a fabulous recipe!!! i have so much POM juice and i can’t decided what to make with it all…this sounds like a winner to me though 🙂

  43. polwig.com says:

    I bet you did not take the stairs back up 🙂 I used to live on the 12th floor in Chicago and would love to go down and sometime up them, just for the exercise. Thank you POM for giving you the juice because these cupcakes look amazing. You should be almost done with this semester I think it is time for some POM MARTINIS 🙂

  44. shankari says:

    What a great way to use POM juice..would have never thought of using it this way!

  45. Lucky you! I love POM! I like the idea of POM frosting, very creative!

  46. Marisa says:

    Freebies are the bomb! Been reading about this magical POM all over the internet – it really sounds delish.

  47. Sanem says:

    This is a great post. I need to get some of that juice. I need to look if I can find it here. 🙂 Thanks Joanne.

  48. MaryMoh says:

    Love your post…very entertaining 😀 The frosting looks delicious.

  49. Nicole, RD says:

    I dream about Brad Pitt falling in love with me through my blog (not a Depp fan)! …But I would’ve taken the elevator. The thought of 12 flights makes me dizzy!

    These look AWESOME, Joanne! I am definitely saving this recipe. Sad that my POM shipment is already gone. I did make some AMAZING pomegranate syrup though!!

  50. Femalechef says:

    Great job…………..

  51. Simply Life says:

    I LOVE your writing style! Oh and I love the look of those cupcakes!

  52. Shirley says:

    Well done Joanne, wish they’d ship some Pom to my side of the world.

  53. Lea Ann says:

    Can you please send Johnny Depp my URL?

  54. Luigi says:

    You are very clever Joanne! Can’t imagine what they would take taste like, pomegranate icing, wow. Can you post me one? lol.

  55. I love pomegranates!

    I wish I had seen how you boil your bagels, mine always fall apart. 🙁

  56. Fantastic creative idea for a cupcake. You’ve taken it to another level.

    Cheers!

  57. theUngourmet says:

    Darn! Too bad it wasn’t Johnny! ;D I love POM and that frosting…just delightful!

  58. Pam says:

    You are so good! I got a package from Pom but all I made was POM Margaritas (they were oh so good) but I have a feeling your cupcakes were better.

  59. Momgateway says:

    you just made cupcakes so pom-healthy …the frosting looks delicious!

  60. Toni says:

    Small elephant really is an odd phrase. Hm.
    And I can’t just make frosting, Jo, because then I’ll eat it. I’ll eat plain frosting. And then I will be on an eternal sugar high.

  61. i think i am salivating! please send me some!

  62. Ameena says:

    Pom sent me some juice and all I could think of to do with it was drink it. 🙂 I’m not nearly as creative as you. These look fantastic! I can’t believe how creative you are.

  63. M D says:

    U r tempting me with this great looking cupcakes!

  64. Gosh, you got so creative with that elephant sized package of POM juice. I love your creativity. Gosh, these cupcakes sound like one big PARTY!! xxoo

  65. Great bagels and twists, love the POM element!
    Thanks so much for doing the twist with me this month on Bread Baking Day!

  66. Deborah says:

    oooh, I have some POM juice in my fridge and I was trying to decide what to do with it!

  67. RamblingTart says:

    I love your life, Joanne. 🙂 You make me smile every day with your stories and your crazy, random thoughts. 🙂 Just love it!

  68. Mari says:

    I love the way your brain works! I have been using my pom to make marinade, salad dressing, green monsters, etc but never thought of using it in my baking!

  69. Catherine says:

    The cupcakes and frosting looks amazing Joanne! Cheers~

  70. Kathleen says:

    Those cupcakes look way yummy!

  71. Barbara says:

    I wondered when I saw the frosting on the cupcakes! Cocoa? Or Pom? Think I like the Pom flavor better…I make quite a few things with it.
    Clever of you to use it in the bagel recipe! Bet they are delicious. The color is amazing.

  72. Kim says:

    Johnny Depp – LOL! We were just talking about him the other day. Sounds like you received quite the load of POM juice, which is a fun problem to have. I do believe that I could really dominate some of those tasty cupcakes.

    Very clever to use the Pom in the bagels. I probably would’ve never thought of that.

  73. Debinhawaii says:

    Great use of pomegranate juice. Love those cupcakes especially–that frosting looks amazing!

  74. The cupcakes look heavenly! Especially with that irresistible frosting! Just send over a bowl of that. Please? Good idea to use it in the bagels too.

  75. msmeanie says:

    Great way to use the juice. The frosting does sound really good. Curious, did you lug that huge box UP 12 flights of stairs? 😉

  76. Mo Diva says:

    i sense a theme here… is it bananas?? ah, wait… its peas! I know! i am so smart

    i love the idea of the POM in the red velvets! i adore red velvet and if you tell me it has antioxidants i would feel it were healthier. MORE RED VELVET FOR US ALL!

  77. I love POM, and that’s not a paid endorsement! Too bad it wasn’t Johnny Depp, though.

    Your bagels turned out about as shapely as mine 🙂 I do think I need to find that chocolate sunflower butter!

  78. Anna says:

    I love Pom, and make this cup cakes will be almost mission impossible. Because my hubby drinks all my Pom in the fridge. It looks delicious and your anthrax story is great.

  79. Wow, POM frosting and pom bagels! Awesome!

  80. Julie says:

    hahaha cupcake making and doormen are SO housewives of new yawk. except the baking part would commence via the nanny..

  81. Stella says:

    Hey Joanne, you definitely don’t have time to twiddle thumbs, girl! Your’e a med student. I’ve said before that I don’t know how you do it with all of these posts and school???
    These cupcakes with Pom juice in the frosting look absolutely delicious. The color of the frosting is particularly pretty!

  82. Velva says:

    I love POM juice. They make great cocktails too.

    Love what you did with your package of POM. Cucpcakes-delicious.

  83. Erica says:

    This looks absolutely fabulous!!! They look like they turned out perfect 🙂 Yummy treat.

  84. I almost had a heart attack when reading this post’s title. Then you could resucitate me! Anyways. Pomegranate. Bagels. Cupcakes. Frosting. Throw some pb and chocolate in there and I’m set for life. Must. Go. Shopping. For. Baking. Supplies. This. Weekend. And then bake every recipe you’ve ever posted…I’ll get back to you on that…

  85. Perhaps I just really need the pick-me-up but I was quite entertained with this post for some reason. I WISH POM would just show up at my doorstep! Along with Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds HOLDING the POM. Oh sweet mother of all things yummy. These cupcakes look delicious!

    [[ This is a pledge to participate in Regional Recipes next month. I’ve been meaning to do it for awhile now but without any real obligation or ultimatum I’ve allowed my laziness to take over. I present this as my own personal ultimatum to be like Nike and Just Do It. ]]

    I am, in fact, a cornball.

  86. elra says:

    Joanne, I am drooling here, especially after looking at how delicious the icing look. And, I must add, I’m not even an icing type of person.

  87. Carolyn Jung says:

    I hope you didn’t run back up 12 flights of stairs with your huge stash of pomegranate juice. If so, you’d probably have to drink half of it for renewed sustenance before you made it back to your place. LOL

  88. Kristen says:

    Great recipe and that icing looks fabulous!

  89. knk says:

    hi joanne
    how are you
    hey thanks for the cupcakes and
    thanks for lovely comment

  90. What an interesting idea! Never thought of using fruit juice in bagels. May have to try that.

  91. Esi says:

    yeah, I’m pretty much obsessed with POM juice. Sounds great

  92. sweetlife says:

    pom cupcakes, I love you sending you kisses throught the screen..i’m So making these

    sweetlife

  93. Elwood says:

    I love POM juice and I’m jealous that you got a big package of it. Very creative uses I might add. The bagels were hard to work with, but they were mighty tasty.

  94. Petra says:

    So what will become of the Pom survivors? If it’s hot a slushy might do or how about some other frozen treat? Great bread by the way, love that frosting too.

  95. Kevin says:

    Those muffins look great! Cream cheese frosting is so addictive! 🙂

  96. Jen says:

    wow, very interesting! yum on the cc frosting with pom, would love to try those!

  97. I love this idea!! POM cupcakes, delicious!!

  98. Bonnie says:

    I wish someone would send me a case of Pom!!! Your bagels don’t look so bad and taste is everything.

  99. I love the different ways you iced the cupcakes mmm. And pomegranate bagels! Impressive.

  100. dessert girl says:

    Oh, I never thought of using Pom in cupcakes! Yum! I usually mix my Pom with oj. I love it that way. Make the Pom and the oj taste better!

  101. This is the most delicious looking meal I have seen in a LONG time.

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