Happy Lady Eats is a blog by a woman who works for one of my favorite stores, Anthorpologie. When my sister sent me the link to these amazing cupcake images photographed by Happy Lady Eats I had to share them! The cupcakes came from Babycakes and she says the frosting could not be salvaged but she did eat the cupcakes!
Last August Cake Journal had a series of posts on Cupcake Decorating as part of a “How To” section. I thought these tips might be helpful for anyone struggling with their cupcakes. In part one, her favorite tool of the trade are discussed. Part two moves on to the author’s personal favorite cupcake recipes. For step three, you learn how to create buttercream domes and fondant circles. Finally part four teaches you how to swirl! If you have additional tips or advice, please share!
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
NPR recently featured an article titled: Move Over, Cupcake: Make Way For The Macaroon. The article claims that each decade tends to have a definitive sweet and that the cupcake’s time is up. According to the article, our beloved cupcakes will soon be replaced by macaroons. Do you agree, are macaroons the new cupcake?
This Friday, March 5, the newest Alice in Wonderland comes to theaters. In honor of the movie, Disney offers ideas for Cheshire Cat Cupcakes and fun cupcake toppers. Candy and creativity turns a basic chocolate cupcake into the wacky cat Alice encounters. For simple decorations the cupcake toppers only require a printer, glue and toothpicks.
This weekend, why not get crafty and make these DIY Cupcake Stands from Once Wed. The necessary items and instructions are listed on the website. The project is affordable at an estimated cost of $18 for 2 stands. This is the perfect way to put your own personal touch on your cupcake display. If you attempt this project be sure to share the finished product displaying your favorite cupcakes with us!
On February 19, 2010 Kim Kardashian launched a line of vanilla cupcake mix through Famous Cupcakes. The mix costs $13 and makes 18 cupcakes. Included in the kit are cupcake liners, a frosting recipe, pink sugar crystal and Kim’s favorite vanilla cupcake mix. The mix is available for purchase at Famous Cupcake stores or online.
I know I have blogged about cupcakes baked in actual cups before but this is a little different. Instead of using your own heat proof mugs, Fred has created this set of four Teacupacakes made out of silicone. The set cost $17.99.
Kitschy Digital has a few cute cupcake items on their website; including an Printable PDF Embroidery Pattern. The pattern is $4.00 and includes sample ideas. There’s also a cupcake cut-out sheet of stickers for $1.25.
Cupcake Printable embroidery Pattern
Cupcake Cut-Out Sheet
Musician and more recently artist, Pharrell Williams was recently on the cover of Modern Painters. Inside, the article discussed some of Pharrell’s latest works of art including a line of chairs. More importantly to all cupcake fans is the cupcake he created. The cupcake is part of a series which features items that Williams views as underrated essentials. The cupcake is made out of 18k white gold and 5,218 stones, including 32.61 ct. cognac diamonds, 15.39 ct. brown diamonds, and 44.5 ct. white diamond. The piece of art stands 2¼ inches high and is 3 inches in diameter. The best part is in a vernissage interview Williams is claims “the irony and the twist of it, the poetry of the project is that no matter how good that looks to people, for me, the taste of cupcakes is worth far more than diamonds could ever be.”
Since as we recently told you how popular red velvet cupcakes are right now, here is a recipe for “Shortcut” Red Velvet Cupcakes. These cupcakes were posted on Alice Q. Foodie’s blog last year for Valentine’s Day but is sure to please any Valentine this year!
Ever wonder what type of cupcake you would be? Here is your chance to find out with the Teen Nick What Kind of Cupcake are You Quiz. Answer a few questions, click “get evaluated” and you’ll be told the type of cupcake you are!
My best friend emailed to inform me that she had a cupcake from Cinnabon! At first it sounded a little strange, Cinnabon if famous for cinnamon rolls, not cupcakes but the company’s website says “After 25 years of making our world famous cinnamon roll, we’re kicking off the next 25 years by introducing the world’s best cupcake!” There are four flavors to choose from including, Cinnacake Classic, Chocolate Passion, Vanilla Bliss, and 24-Carrot Cake.
My best friend tried the Chocolate Passion (pictured above) and said that “it was really good but messy!” She also noted that “they warm them up so the frosting melts a bit.” These cupcakes sound like they would be worth trying and are available in 4-count, half dozen, and dozen packages.
If you’re looking for something to decorate your valentine with Martha Stewart has cute Candy and Cupcake stickers. You get one sheet of 17 stickers for $3.99.
Martha Stewart also has a cupcake tote for $17.99. The tote reads “It’s a good thing” and would make a fun Valentine’s Day gift or great packaging for any present.
If you are ever looking for some amazing cupcake pictures, two great groups on flickr are sugary sweetness and Cupcake Obsessions!
Sugary Sweetness’s contributed pictures all consist of mouth watering photographs of cookies, cakes, donuts, pies, candy and of course, cupcakes! There are so many delicious looking pictures you’ll have to look for yourself but her are a few of my favorites that are great for Valentine’s Day:
I Heart Cupcakes "Love Cupcake"
Tutu Cupcake By Jennifer Squires Ross
Cupcake by Lulu's Cupcakes
Similarly, Cupcake Obsessions has tons of pictures that look good enough to eat. In addition to actual food pictures, the group contains any image that is related to cupcakes. This means that there are cute cupcake rain boots, dishtowels, earrings, tattoos and more.
Happy World Nutella Day! In honor of the worldwide celebration various blogs submit Nutella inspired recipes. Here are just a few awesome cupcake ideas from years past. If you have a Nutella cupcake recipe you love be sure to share it with us!
Carrot Squash Nutella Cupcakes
Self Frosting Nutella Cupcakes
Nutella Filled Cupcakes
Double Choclate Chunk Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting
Cannelle et Vanille is one of my favorite blogs, the food and pictures combine to make amazing recipes. Recently she made Chocolate, Banana, and Teff Cupcakes. According to her these cupcakes are not only delicious but also packed full of nutrients provided by the Teff and bananas. Additionaly, the cupcakes are gluten free because Teff is used.
Teff is a grass that is cultivated in Northeast Africa. The grass contains various nutrients including fiber, iron, protein, and calcium.
Chocolate, Banana and Teff Cupcakes
Makes 1 loaf and 12 cupcakes
3 eggs
200 grams natural cane sugar
300 grams ripe bananas, mashed
175 grams light olive oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
100 grams teff flour
50 grams sweet rice flour
50 grams hazelnut meal
15 grams cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
100 grams chocolate chips
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, banana puree, oil and vanilla.
In a large bowl, whisk together the teff, sweet rice flour, hazelnut meal, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until all combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Divide the batter between the loaf pan and cupcake molds. Bake at 350F for about 45 minutes for the loaf pan and 20 minutes for the cupcakes.
For the icing, I used my basic buttercream recipe and added cocoa powder to it.
While looking around on Google I came across The Great L.A. Cupcake Map. The map is comprised of cupcake shops with storefront locations in and around the Los Angeles area. As more cupcake shops open up, the map evolves. Makes finding a new shop to try very easy!
On February 20, 2010 Nesquik will hold their Cupcake Challenge at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, CA. The challenge will aim to find Los Angeles’s best traditional and nontraditional mini cupcakes. There are over 20 cupcake cupcake bakeries participating in the challenge including Jus Minis, Baby Cakes, and Two Parts Sugar. Judges include the general public and a panel of celebrities. If you are interested in attending tickets are available for $40.00.
Last year we shared with you Deep Fried Cupcakes from the Orange County Fair. Kick Ass Cupcakes in Somerville, MA tweeted Friday that they have deep fried cupcakes on their menu! These cream filled vanilla cupcakes are available Fridays through Sundays at the shop.
If you are not in the Boston area, you could always try making your own deep fried cupcakes. Cupcake Project offers four step directions on how to create your own deep fried cupcakes. Step one: make mini cupcakes. Step two: prepare cupcakes for frying by coating in batter. Step three: FRY! Step four, eat while hot!!!
It has been snowing here in central North Carolina since last night so the roads are covered and kids are enjoying the snow which is rare for the area. This got me thinking, someone has to have made a cupcake sculpture out of the snow! I was right, I came across these two awesome images that cupcake loves created out of snow. Be sure to let us know if you attempted a snow cupcake.
I thought I would share some of the some of the cupcake images I have come across lately. This photograph of a tray of unfrosted mini cupcakes is captured by Laurie Frankel, whose clients have included companies such as William Sonoma, Nestle, and Martha Stewart Living. (Image courtesy of lushee)
Cupcake Heaven Print
Cupcakes of Happiness Print
Cupcake Postcard Set
Second is photography by Susannah Conway who is also a writer. From her shop the 8×8 inch prints can be ordered for $30.00 each or the postcard set which includes 6 postcards, 2 of each image for $10.00. Below are additional cupcake photographs by Conway which are from her website.
Finally there is my favorite, Elodie Rambaud. I was first drawn to the cupcake photographs because they are simple and look delicious. Then as I saved the images I realized they were unique flavors including Sesame Tahini, Apricot Ginger, and my personal favorite, Pumpkin Maple. It’s my opinion a good photograph of food not only looks good but makes you wish you could eat it. There are more cupcake images as well as other sweet treats so take a look at her site.
Sesame Tahini
Apricot Ginger
Pumpkin Maple
I noticed a reader’s comment on a past post and when I checked out the link I realized I should share it with everyone. I know Halloween is months away but just in case you need a cupcake costume for another occasion, here is a fun option: Cupcake Ohh!Veralls! You have over a dozen cupcake styles to choose from and prices range from $90-225, depending on the style.
Today my local news paper, The News and Observer had an article titled Cupcakes for Grown-up Tastes. For the article the author taste tested 9 cupcake proprietors in the triangle, the name given to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Out of the 9 cupcake stores and online shops, I am pleased to say I have tried 5 including The Cupcake Shoppe, Bliss, Kelly G’s Cupcakes, Sugar Land, and The Cupcake Bar. The ones that I have not had a chance to try are the online order sites and I have to admit I have never ordered cupcakes online.
Out of the 5 which I have tried I would have to say that The Cupcake Bar is my favorite. On Single’s Night they ways have fun flavors like apple cider or Mexican chocolate. I have had The Cupcake Shoppe’s cupcakes on several occasions and found sometimes they can be a bit dry and have a little too much frosting for my preferences. I still like them and would never pass up the chance to have one of their cupcakes. Kelly G’s cupcakes are also really good and I enjoy going to Open Eye Cafe to do homework and have a cupcake! The article goes into detail with Valentine’s Day options and Tasting Notes for each cupcake company.
If you’ve had the opportunity to try one of the cupcake bakeries from the article be sure to leave a comment to let us know what you thought!
I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend in San Luis Obispo, CA and while shopping in the Cal Poly Tech University bookstore I came across some great cupcake finds. Some of which I could not resist buying one for myself and one to save as a gift!
Ganz Cupcake Luggage Tag
Bad Cupcake Shopping Bag
Cupcake Flour Sack Towel
In wake of the recent earthquake in Haiti there are tons of worthy charities to donate to. As mentioned with a post last week about Bleeding Heart Bakery, cupcakes are helping raise donations. In case you missed this past weekends event, another cupcake charity event is being held this Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 9am-1pm. Cupcakes for Haiti in will be hosting a cupcake stand in Toronto, ON where sales from the bake sale will go to MSF/Doctors without Borders.
Additional events that have already occurred but are still worth mentioning include the Bake Sale held in Ashburn, Virginai where the proceeds went to Food For the Poor. Additionally Foiled Cupcakes which delivers to Chicago and surrounding cities created a sweet deal: 2 dozen cupcakes were given to the first 5 people who donated $100 to the Haitian relief via the Red Cross.