10 Tasty Recipes from Huffington Post and OWN

By on August 23rd, 2013

slide_313706_2820236_freeIt looks like cupcakes may be on Oprah’s list of favorite things. The OWN section of Huffington Post has, well, posted a slideshow of fantastic cupcake recipes. Several are twists on old favorites. Adding a swirl of caramel to a simple vanilla cupcake is an easy way to shake up the classic. Or adding a dash of cinnamon to the cream cheese frosting that traditionally sits atop red velvet cupcakes. The candy pie cupcakes are more of a decorating idea with the linked recipe using a standard vanilla cupcake but substitutions should be easy. In fact, a blueberry cupcake or cherry cupcake that coordinate to the colored M&Ms could taste like chocolate dipped fruit. Other flavors featured, are a little more involved. Continue reading »

Make Your Nerdy Revenge Sweet with Nerdy Nummies

By on August 22nd, 2013

164953_682335441781061_1313238045_nI know that Comic Con was a few weeks ago now and the summer blockbusters are winding down, but with the new television season is creeping up on the horizon and the promotions beginning for several major franchises’ autumn and Thanksgiving/holiday releases, my inner nerd isn’t going into hibernation any time soon. In fact, it seems to be spreading. Lucky for me, I found Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies tutorials on YouTube and a new, tasty outlet has been opened for my nerdiness. Continue reading »

Do It Yourself Cupcake Toppers Add a Personal Touch

By on August 21st, 2013

circus elephant cupcake topper (1 of 3)There are many different kinds of cupcake toppers out there to choose from if you don’t want more than just icing to entice. Some are like little toys that can easily be stuck into delicately piped mounds of frosting (or they can be used to cover up the sloppier last minute jobs before a bake sale you forgot about). Others are personalized for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, weddings, etc. and allow you to slap dozens of copies of a loved one’s face onto treats that allow you to, literally, bite their head off. Then there are cupcake toppers like those produced by blogger Tikkido who has posted a number of cupcake topper tutorials. Continue reading »

New Boozy Cupcake to Celebrate Prohibition Bakery’s Anniversary

By on August 20th, 2013

champagnecupcakeProhibition Bakery in New York City is celebrating one year of mixing cupcakes and cocktails at their Lower East Side storefront with more than just a little bubbly. After all, when boozy cupcakesare your business, no ordinary celebratory champagne cupcake will suffice and nothing says one-year anniversary like a cupcake inspired by Ernest Hemingway and called Death in the Afternoon. The self-proclaimed original alcoholic cupcake company decided to add a champagne filling to their champagne cupcake before topping it with absinthe frosting and a champagne and lemon cube. This particular flavor looks like it will only be available for a limited time while they celebrate their anniversary with fans and customers.

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One Cupcake Bakery Fixes Violations, Another Avoids a Scam

By on August 19th, 2013

Little Miss Muffin Miss GivingsEvery once in a while there are some cupcake stories that aren’t as sweet as one would like. Unfortunately, these are of that less than savory kind. Unless you have a very open mind when it comes to the toppings you find acceptable for your cupcakes (though I’ve yet to meet anyone who would find deceased fruit flies or any rodent’s droppings acceptable anywhere near beloved frosted treats). When routine inspections from the Health Department visited the Little Miss Muffin facility in the Chicago area back in mid-July, the facility failed with rodent droppings and fruit flies only two of many citations they received. Continue reading »

Coffee Cake Cupcakes: Indulge in Cupcakes for Breakfast

By on August 18th, 2013

Coffee-Cake-Cupcakes

Coffee cake already borders the boundary between breakfast treat and decadent dessert. It doesn’t take much to turn your favorite weekend brunch or late morning snacks into an excuse to have cupcakes for breakfast. Many of the recipes I found for coffee cake cupcakes labeled themselves “coffee cake muffins” but if the word “cake” appears anywhere in the description, I think calling them “muffins” is misguided. You can use a muffin pan, but they’re still cupcakes. Especially when they’re glazed or have any kind of icing. These three recipes rightly asserted themselves as cupcakes.

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Batter Co. Offers Mini-Cupcakes and Big Plans

By on August 17th, 2013

mini-cupcakes halvedIt’s not the size of the cupcake but the size of the flavor that matters. At least, that’s the philosophy behind Batter Co.’s Sweet and Savory mini-cupcake bakery in Fort Lauderdale FL. While their cupcakes remain bite-sized, their business continues to grow. Beginning online, Shaun Hunte and Sarah Whalley will soon be opening a storefront in Pompano Beach. Purchasing a vending machine for their tiny treats and franchising are also in the bakery’s long-term plans.

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