Do you love creating you own cupcake recipes? Well, get out your mixers and muffin cups and enter the Scharffen Berger Cupcake Adventure Contest!  Cupcake recipes must include their chocolate and one or more of these selected “Adventure Ingredients”:

Stout beer
(including oatmeal, chocolate, imperial or any other stout)

Yes, some of these ingredients are a bit more unusual but who doesn’t love a good challenge?   I say go for the ricotta and fresh beet!   Contest prizes include money (woo, hoo!), books, chocolate, a trip to New York and the chance to have your recipe published on Food Networks magazine!   How amazing would it be to have one of our wonderful fans win this contest?   Click here for all the contest rules and details.  Good luck!

 You should also check out the new interactive cupcake builder on the Scharffen Berger website.  You can select a base cupcake batter and virtually build a cupcake using adventure ingredients, get tips on how to use the ingredients and more.

Martha Stewart is holding her annual cupcake contest again this year.  To enter for a chance to win a copy of Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes all you have to do is agree to the contest rules and upload a photo of your cutest cupcake creation to the contest website!

There is a frenzy that is unsettling cupcake businesses around America, causing bakers to reach for the video camera instead of the whisk.  What, may you ask is upsetting the frosting on these cupcakes?

Well, a little over a week ago, the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars got busy on the phone encouraging selected bakers to consider submitting a video audition for the next round of Cupcake Wars. Lily and Erin from A Cupcake Wonderland were one such recipient and they decided to share their highly entertaining and funny video on You Tube, and of course with you!  Good luck Cupcake Wonderland.  Check it out by clicking here.

If selected, they will compete against three other bakers / bakeries in a chance for cupcake glory!

Cupcake bakers interested in a new monthly challenge can try Sweetest Kitchen’s Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge.  Think of Iron Chef only you’re always making cupcakes.  Each month a new ingredient will be chosen and cupcake bakers (you!) submit your cupcake creation using the ingredient.  This month is the first ever challenge and the ingredient is TEA! And there are great prizes including an electric gift card from one of my favorite sites, Bake It Pretty! Any cupcake bakers interested can enter by visiting the competition information page.

The Cake Boss (image from TLC)

Do you fill your spare time baking cakes, cooking up pastries or elaborately decorating cupcakes?  If so, you could be just what the Producers of ‘Cake Boss’ are looking for.

They want up-and-coming bakers who want to kick it into the big time.  The media release says:

“TLC and Buddy Valastro (The Cake Boss) are looking to launch the career of a promising cake decorator and baker on a new baking competition series.”

“This new baking competition series, hosted by Buddy and team will feature weekly lessons, challenges,and eliminations. 10 hopeful contenders will vie for cash and prizes. No culinary experience required!”

So if you believe you may have what it takes to out bake the competition apply now! Email jjenkins@highnoontv.com with your story and recent photos.

PS:  If you do get chosen, don’t forget to let us know so that we can all cheer you on!

Edited to say: Mia, they are looking for you, so you need to send them your story about why and how you bake, and photos of your cake creations.  If chosen you will then compete against others for cake design supremacy! :)  And thanks for your comments! Good luck!

Oh My Cupcakes! of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sponsored a cupcake eating contest on June 5th.  Oh My Cupcakes! is Sioux Falls’ first and only gourmet cupcakery.

Contestants were challenged to eat as many cupcakes as they could in 30 seconds.  The five winners each received a sugar buzz and a pair of tickets to see Sugarland in an upcoming concert.

Carolina Cupcakery wants to test your foodie skills in helping them create their record-breaking 150th cupcake flavor!

Carolina Cupcakery currently has 144 flavors and counting.  I couldn’t really contemplate 150 flavors of cupcake, until I visited their full menu.  It was a mouth-watering experience.  Each cupcake is sorted under a heading of chocolate, coconut, coffee, fruit/veggie, misc, nut, spice, vanilla/butter and special needs.  I have a special need for a cupcake now!

This isn’t the first time Carolina Cupcake has called on the public to be part of their cupcake design team.  Jaina’s ‘Raspberry’ cupcake was the winner of cupcake flavor 100, – a chocolate cake stuffed with raspberry mousse, drizzled with dark chocolate ganache. The photo below shows Jaina tucking into her creation and holding aloft her icing filled trophy.

Contest entries should be emailed to flavors@carolinacupcakery.com and must be received before 9pm on June 9, 2010.  The contest winner will be announced on June 10, 2010, at the store’s second anniversary celebration. Click here for more information.

Hmm, I have a real craving now for the Apple Martini cupcake, it sounds divine!  Rather fitting huh?