Happy New Year!

To kick 2012 off right, I just purchased myself my first set of silicone baking cups at a nearby health food store. (You can get Casabella silicone muffin cups on Amazon too.)

I am quite impressed! A set of 6 reusable cups will run you about $8.99, but the way we go through cupcake wrappers around here, they’ll likely pay for themselves soon. I’ve already broken them in, and they worked beautifully. My cupcakes took a little bit longer to cook, so be prepared to be flexible, but the cupcakes were cooked evenly, and the silicone cups peeled away from them beautifully.

In the end, these baking cups are a great idea, and I look forward to trying to wear them out. They are also super easy to clean, especially if you have a dishwasher! And they come in jumbo size too!

My daughter got me this mini cupcake maker for Christmas. It was my first contraption of the sort. A tiny thing, it “bakes” seven mini cupcakes at a time.

It’s awesome in that it only takes a few minutes to warm up. At first, I was a little annoyed that, cooking 7 minis at a time, it would take me all night to get through a batch of batter, but then I read the manual–turns out, the mini cupcake maker came with a whole bunch of neat little recipes that make a perfect size batch of batter for 7 mini cupcakes. So, this cupcake maker would be ideal for a person or small family who just wanted to make a quick treat. As for me, I plugged my way through the whole first batch, and it took a while. Next time, I will be sure to start small!

In the end, it was a great gift to get from my junior baker, and I was grateful for an easy cleanup. And I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun with it in the future. (Oh, and you might want to toss the first batch–they tasted like freshly cooked metal.)

Move over “Life is good.” Make way for “Life is sweet.” I’m seeing this motto everywhere, and here it is again on this stamped cross stitch cupcake apron. This apron is available from Dimensions Crafts for $12.99.

The package contains a finished polyester/cotton apron printed in washaway ink, a shopping list for thread, and complete instructions. (Needle and thread not included.) 

Might make a great holidays gift for the cupcake lover in your life (which may very well be you!)?

Has anyone seen the move Up? If you haven’t, stop what you are doing immediately and go rent it! No, I really mean it! It is one of the best cartoon/movies I have ever seen.

When I saw these cupcakes that were made for this movie, my heart melted. They are so cute and such a fabulous representation.

Up Cupcakes from Freakgirls’s Flickr Photostream

You can also check out her blog – FREAKGIRL.COM

Since I saw this Wilton decorating bag holder on Oh Hello Friend, You Are Loved I have been thinking about buying it, especially because its under $12.00.  It would not only be helpful in the kitchen while decorating cupcakes but it’s also great for using at parties.  I love that Danni painted hers (pictured left)with chalkboard paint and wrote the frosting flavors directly on the stand.  At the same even Danni used a cupcake pan to display the sprinkles.  These are great creative ideas for taking the baking supplies out of the kitchen and into the party!

I love this polka dot cupcakes towel from Pier 1 Imports that I was given for my birthday.  It’s bright and cheery and looks great hanging on the handle of my stove.  If you want your own cupcake towel you can buy the red like I was given for $7.16.  There is also a blue sparkler cupcake towel for only $3.38.

How do you carry your cupcakes? I just found two great cupcake carriers/holders.

Wire Cupcake Caddy from Bake It Pretty

I absolutely love this carrier. I love the look of the it. It would be perfect in my apartment.

Inflate & Take Cupcake Carrier from Chef’s Resource

This is quite the comical cupcake carrier. It reminds me of a float you would use in the pool in the summer. Plus, its great if you live in a place with limited storage!