As much as I love all the crazy and unique cupcake flavors my favorite cupcake is usually a simple vanilla cupcake.  I noticed She Makes and Bakes blog post for the perfect vanilla cupcake and it peaked my interest.  My favorite vanilla cupcakes usually have real vanilla beans in them in addition to vanilla extract so we will see how these, which only call for extract, turn out.   I haven’t tried these cupcakes yet as I decided to give up desserts for lent but as soon as Easter arrives I’m going to test these out.  Click “continue reading” for She Makes and Bakes’s recipe. Continue reading »

I recently paid my first visit to East End Cupcakes, which is, I believe, the only cupcakery in Portland, Maine. (If there’s another one, let me know, because I couldn’t find it!)

East End Cupcakes is ideally located right in the Old Port. Somehow, eating a cupcake while walking down cobblestone streets just feels right. On the day I visited, they had an offering of classic hits, including chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet. I chose the “chocolate salted caramel,” a chocolate cupcake topped with lightly flavored caramel frosting and sprinkled with sea salt.

We cupcake reviewers have noticed a trend toward creamier frostings, and away from sweeter frostings. East End Cupcakes seems to be on that bandwagon. Their frosting was airy and smooth. (Granted, had I tried the red velvet, I may have found a more substantial frosting there).

The store itself is adorable and seemed like a cool place to hang out. There was more seating than I’ve seen in a lot of similar sized bakeries.

I love using a little clipart to brighten up my computer projects and what could be more perfect than cupcake clipart?  These totally sweet sets are available from Etsy seller, Dream Like Magic. Their shop is filled with over 200 graphic designs sets to be used for cards, invitations, Facebook covers, scrapbooking, stickers and Etsy banners.    I bought a banner from them a few years ago for my own Etsy shop (Stay Home Cupcake) and I could not be happier with it.  The only problem now is that Dream Like Magic has so many new choices, I may have to buy an update!

Just spotted these girls’ undies at Old Navy.

When I saw that Monday was a cupcake, of course I had to pick them up! (Plus, they were 40% off!)

Still not sure what the point of labeling your undies with days of the week is exactly, but hey–the Mondays are cute!

I love cupcakes. I love popcorn. But cupcake-flavored popcorn?

This interesting concoction is made by Popcornopolis. Has anyone tried it?

I’m tempted to order some, but do I really need yet another guilty pleasure?

Over the years I have seen lots of different cupcake liner flower tutorials.  The instructions for these DIY cupcake liner flowers, which involve spray painting the liners, come from The Sweetest Occasion.  I’m not sure about the messy look of these flowers on the cake, I think instead I would use liners with a pattern on them.   What do you think?  Does the crinkled gold flower work for you?

I found these handmade cupcake toppers featuring a watercolor bird painting on Poppytalk Handmade.  The toppers were created by artist Renee Anne. Renee Anne sells the toppers on her Etsy site for $10.00 for a set of 12.  There are also bee and rabbit cupcake toppers; each topper has a matching garland available for sale on Renee Anne’s Etsy.