Archive for July, 2010

Luau Cupcakes!

By on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Luau cupcakes!, originally uploaded by Lairy the Cupcake Fairy’s creations.

These sultry July days just make me want to hit the beach with a cold drink and one of those fancy paper umbrellas. Then, I saw this picture on Flickr and realized I also need to bring cupcakes with me. Isn’t this a cool idea? (The decorating I mean, not necessarily my trip to the beach.)

Baking in Bulk

By on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Anyone who has checked out Cupcake Bakeshop by Chockylit‘s website knows there’s a standard protocol she follows.  She creates cupcake recipes then blogs about the recipe and images that correlate.  Recenly she deviated from her standard formula with a post that I thought allthingscupcake readers would find helpful. She has five steps that she suggest cupcake bakers follow when baking in bulk.  These steps include finding inspiration and coming up with a high level plan, writing out all recipes, preparing a plan and the ingredients, preparing all the recipes and storing them for final assembly, and finally assembling, packing for delivery, unpacking, and presenting.   For details on these tips be sure to visit Chockylit’s website.

Ten Images of Inspiration: Birthday

By on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Today is my (hungry runner’s) birthday and I just received an email which included Ten Images of Inspiration, Birthday themed by Design is Mine. The first two images from the set of ten, shown below, are perfect for cupcake lovers.  The first image is by Paul Barbera and is from Book out now in Holland Cup Cakes. The second, a partially eaten cupcake from Danske’s Flikr. To view the other ten images be sure to check out Design is Mine!

Cupcake pan collecting

By on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

I’ve heard of some strange collections on my journeys, such as Graham Barker’s Navel Fluff Collection, or the Air Sickness Bag collection, both of which I would rather not have in my own home!  But what about cupcake pans?

Naturally I say I have a collection, from your standard cupcake pan to your mini, your loaf style and the mini Bundt style which is my latest addition, but they hardly feature on my walls.  The only time these are visible is stacked beside the sink covered in baked batter.  So I was surprised when I stumbled upon a question in the Sun News which asked, “when were the earliest muffin or cupcake pans made in the United States?”

The answer is that the origin of most pans date back to the 19th century and if you have a rare one it could be worth up to $500.

So it got me thinking and I wondered exactly how old the first cupcake is?  The answer, according to Crazy About Cupcakes, is that they were first mentioned in 1828 in E. Leslie’s ‘Receipts’.  Apparently according ‘The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America’ the ‘cup’ part of the “name had a double meaning because of the practice of baking in small containers – including tea cups”.

I’m now feeling educated, but I don’t think cupcake pan collecting is for me.  The image above comes from Go Antiques where you can pick up this cupcake pan for $85USD.

For more  strange collections check out Neatorama.

Race Car Cupcakes

By on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

photo courtesy of Clever Cupcakes

Clever Cupcakes yet again prove they are veritable demigods of fondant with this cupcake set for a two-year old’s birthday party. The tire cupcake is my personal favorite – I think it really shows the care they put into their decoration. The theme of the birthday party was the Disney movie Cars. Since Clever Cupcakes doesn’t make a practice of copying the likenesses of trademarked characters, even in fondant, they use opportunities to be more creatively true to their assigned theme.

Straw-Berried Treasure Cupcake

By on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Fifteen cupcakes in a live mans mouth— Yo-ho-ho, and a bowl of frosting! (I tried hah!)

Ahoy Matey! Check out these pirate inspired cupcakes from I Heart Cuppycakes.

Strawberries, chocolate and pirates – what more could you ask for!

Enjoy!

Yummy Caterpillar from Flickr

By on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

IMG_0075, originally uploaded by verdantmedians.

This is the yummiest caterpillar I’ve ever seen! 

Gosh, gotta love Flickr!  It’s an endless supply of cupcake ideas!

I’m off to buy some extra food coloring — going to give this one a try!