How Charitable is Your Cupcake?

I can’t remember a school or church bake sale that didn’t include cupakes.  I fondly remember the ladies of my home church for their baking.  And who doesn’t have memories of counting all the shiny change after a bake sale – didn’t it seem like riches?

Publicly traded Crumbs Bake Shop has partnered with the non-profit “Success for Kids” to help at-risk children.  Their May 2011 Initial Public Stock Offering was a reported $66M, and it’s currently trading at $12.90/share.  (Look forward to a future post on just how much of that is going to be donated to the charity — I’m on it!)

The Cupcake Kids raises money through cupcake sales to help a ministry in Uganda, Africa.  It’s an international idea by kids for kids through cupcakes that has raised nearly $50k.

And, on an everyday basis, community groups, school groups, and individual people use the power of cupcakes to bring people closer together through events like a “Random Act of Cupcake.”

Looks like a little cupcake goes a long way.

Allergy Riders makes eating cupcakes easier for those with food allergies. Allergy Riders produce bright colored cupcake liners and flags that inform party goers what ingredient is not inside the labeled baked good. I think this is a great idea, instead of repeatedly having to inform guests that the baked goods are safe for them to consume they can simply see for themselves.

Teacup cupcake

I collect odd bits of china – the only real criteria being at least a touch of gold.  How about using the teacups to serve your cupcakes?  It’s one idea for creating an inviting scene to share cupcakes with your adult girlfriends, while evoking those wonderful scenes from our childhood of playing at tea time.

If you’re looking for china to set a table out of Victoria Magazine, you won’t want to miss the CNY Regional Market on Sunday mornings during the summer.  Syracuse was home to Syracuse China from 1871-2009, and I’ve purchased pieces of their bone china for as little as $1/plate.  And Rochester’s Public Market offers Sunday morning fleas with nice china too, if you’re there early.  I’ve left with Lenox and even Limoges for less than $10/each.

Though a little bit more than paper or plastic, if you’re serving a cupcake work of art, why not complete your artistic presentation?

I absolutely love these cupcake kits. They are a perfect way to quickly decorate any cupcakes.  The kit includes 24 cupcake liners (2 different design)s and 24 cupcake toppers. I found this Flowers In Bloom kit at Patina.

This kit goes perfect with the gorgeous flowers I see popping up everywhere around me!

Our winner is…

Carrie 
The cupcake one is so cute and I like the measuring tape one a lot as well. I would love to see a film strip one, I think that would be neat!

Congratulations!  Please email your mailing address to [email protected].  Thanks to all who entered and special thanks to Lafashionista for sponsoring this giveaway.

The Om of Cupcake

Who isn’t living a totally over-committed life these days?  If you can’t slow down, especially while you’re whipping up buttercream frosted cupcakes for end of school year parties, can I persuade you to steal a quiet moment with a cupcake?

Here’s my recipe for the Om of Cupcakes.  Take one part chocolate raspberry-infused buttercream cupcake and add one part local coffee shop with a window seat.  Omit cell phone; substitute “oops!” if you later see missed calls.  Variation includes reading a copy of “Hello, Cupcake!” or “What’s New Cupcake?”

This recipe for about twenty minutes of relaxation should be repeated daily to enjoy the full, long-term benefits.

Joy Cho, founder and editor of Oh Joy! seems to always be eating something delicious.  Most recently she shared her sweet treat, a cupcake in a cone from Milk.  Located in Los Angeles, California, Milk seems to have something for everyone with a bakeshop, ice cream parlor, food, and drinks.  If you live to far away to visit Milk yourself, you could always make your own cupcakes in ice cream cones using the recipe from Real Simple or this recipe we shared with you a while back.

What can you do with 3,000 hot pink frosted cupcakes? Well, make a pink Cadillac of course! That is just what the owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of hit TLC TV show DC Cupcakes, Sophie and Katherine did.

The colorful car was unveiled at the Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach, SC.

You may not want to travel outside the United States this summer if your menu plans include cupcakes. According to the Food Museum On-Line Exhibit, “No other language has a word that means exactly the same as the English ‘cake.’” And, allow me to refine that sugar one bit sweeter: no other language has a word that means exactly the same as the American ‘cupcake.’

Read the rest of this entry »

Is there anything better than a cupcake and a cappuccino? The combination of sweet and strong creates its own special mood.

Today, I was at the Baker Street Bakery on Park Avenue in Rochester, NY. Park Avenue is a trendy, long street, of multi-colored houses converted into individual shops. The smell of sugar, baking in the oven, was wafting out the open door. I was treated to a tour of cupcakes – these were the ones with an airy French buttercream – and the assurance that everying at Baker Street was made from scratch.

So I asked Mary Ellen Leonardo, one of the owners for the secret of the perfect cupcake.

“Love!” was the shout-out from one of the bakers.

From there, I knew exactly where to go for my cappuccino on the side.

 Are you planning a party this summer?   How perfect would these liners be for your next occasion? 

  A baby shower for a baby girl?

A jungle themed birthday party?

  Or maybe a black-tie only gala?

All of these liners are made by ATC sponsor Simply Caked and they come in perfect packs of 75 liners for only $7.25.

I have quite a collection of cookbooks, specifically cupcake ones but one that I do not have Fun Stuff Cupcakes.  The cookbook is available from amazon for only $9.98 and is the original source for this colorful cupcake caterpillar recipe.  The Two Savvy Sisters made this caterpillar and were kind enough to share the recipe.  Check out their original post to see the instructions.

Every need a recipe for a flirtatious, maybe naughty cupcake? Need to tease and tantalize someone with cupcakes? If you answered yes, then look no further — I have stumbled upon a great recipe book to fill your every desire.

Kinky Cupcakes by Joanna Farrow found at Amazon

The June 6, 2011 issue of People magazine features Kim Kardashian on the cover but it’s what’s inside that matters to cupcake fans.  The issue’s Food Trend section is all about Savory Cupcakes and celebrities that enjoy them.  According to the article Rachel Bilson is a fan of Tomato Soup Cupcakes from Yummy Cupcakes.  Rachel Ray also happens to be a fan of Yummy Cupcakes. Chicago’s More Cupcake’s Bacon Maple Cupcake has made Oprah’s O List.  Tom Pizzica of the Food Network likes Lox Cupcakes from It’s a Cupcake in Philadelphia.  Yes, you read that correctly, lox cupcake as in smoked salmon cupcake.  Candace Nelson, judge on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars has been spotted eating Sprinkle’s Cupcake’s salted caramel cupcake.  I would definitely try the salted caramel and am intrigued by the tomato soup cupcake which I’ve never heard of before but lox might be too extreme for me.  The magazine also shares a Smoked Mac-N-Cheese Lasagna Cupcake recipe from L.A.’s Heirloom L.A. catering company.

Have you tried any savory cupcakes from your favorite cupcake shop? Or have you attempted baking your own savory cupcakes?  Why not whip up a batch yourself with these savory cupcake recipes that we’ve shared with you in the past; like the Cheddar Chive and Bacon Cupfakes with avocado frosting or Beer, Cheese, Bacon and Cream Cheese Cupcakes.

Happy Memorial Day  giveaway fans!  This week our giveaway is sponsored by Etsy sewer, Lafashionista.  Her shop is namedMmmily (love that!) and she specializes in beautifully made pouches and wristlets.  It was very hard to choose, but these two creations are definitely two of my favorites.

I own one of her zipper pouches and here it is!  Cupcakes of course!  It is so well made and the perfect size to hold coins, business cards, or any little things that tend to get lost in your purse. 

This week Lafashionista is giving away another cupcake pouch to one luck ATC fan!  To enter this giveaway, click on the comment area below and tell us what was your favorite fabric AND what fabric you would like to see in her Mmmily shop.  One winner will be chosen on Monday, June 6th.

For those of you who’ve never tried blue moon ice cream, I can’t think of a better way to be introduced than via a red velvet cupcake. Visit Taste of Home for instructions to make these delicious all-American treats! Happy Memorial Day!

I just found this mouthwatering idea on the very cool blog, Three Different Directions. It’s french toast that tastes like, and looks like, a cupcake! Visit Three Different Directions for recipes and instructions on how to make this scrumptious breakfast!

There’s nothing I love more then trying a great, new-to-me cupcake shop.  The cupcake shop that I tried this past weekend is a little different since it is not an actual shop.  Instead it is a vintage 1978, 31 foot Airstream Sovereign cupcake mobile, named Sugar.  Daisy Cakes sets up shop, or rather Sugar, on Saturdays from 9am-12pm at the intersections of Foster and Geer Streets in downtown Durham, North Carolina.  Their Saturday location is about two blocks north of Durham’s farmer’s market location.

I have been wanting to try Daisy Cakes for some time now and was very pleased when I finally did.  Everything about the visit was great, especially the super friendly staff .  After having been to several cupcake shops where I have been disappointed by the unpleasant workers Daisy Cakes was an enjoyable visit. This husband and wife duo definitely know what their way around the kitchen!  Both are trained in the culinary arts as skilled chefs and more importantly for cupcake lovers, they are talented pastry chefs!   Read the rest of this entry »

Monday is Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, especially here in North Carolina where it’s been over 90^oF all week!  Our annual neighborhood party is this weekend which means I have been flipping through all my cupcake books, magazines, and bookmarked links, trying to find a cupcake that will top last years big hit, S’more cupcakes! Everyone loved Bakerella’s version of s’more cupcakes that I made and I loved how easy they were, the more messy, gooey chocolate the better with these cupcakes!

My challenge now is to come up with something to bring that will go over as well.  Right now I’m thinking about making lemonade cupcakes, the perfect summer drink turned cupcake! I have found two recipes that I’m debating between; The first option is Pink Lemonade Cupcakes which are a semi-homemade version by Real Mom Kitchen.  As always, the semi-homemade option is always great since it saves time. Read the rest of this entry »

Check out this great rocketship cake with star cupcakes from Keira’s Cakes.

I think NASA would be proud!

Hello again friends!  I made a mistake this week and only picked one winner for our cupcake liners giveaway from Simple Caked.  I am so sorry!  Here are our THREE winners!

Tara 

I love the purple solid cupcake liners. Simple I know, but the perfect shade of purple for my upcoming wedding in September….I have yet to find this exact shade!

Tristan 
I have to stick with the tride and true plain red, white, and blue ones. I am a Army wife living an an Army town. :o) Those three colors are the most beautiful colors to me!! Any cupcake would look amazing in them!!

Kelly 
I’m a real Pink Lady so I’m in love with the
Pink w/Brown Dots Cupcake Liners! And they’re greaseproof too!

Congratulations!  Please email your mailing address to [email protected].  Thanks to all who entered and special thanks to Simply Caked for sponsoring this giveaway.

Oh my gosh, these are so cool! Edible Butterflies! Turn a simple cupcake elegant!

I never thought hat I would utter the words zombie and cupcakes in the same sentence. They don’t usually seem like things that go together. When I think cupcakes I think colorful, fruity, flowers etc. And when I think about zombies I think about blood, guts, brains  etc. But I have found two books that combine all that is bright in this world and all that is gore.

I found A Zombie at My Cupcake: 25 Deliciously Weird Cupcake Recipes and Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses at Amazon.com.

This week’s cupcake liner winner is…

Tara 

I love the purple solid cupcake liners. Simple I know, but the perfect shade of purple for my upcoming wedding in September….I have yet to find this exact shade!

Congratulations Tara!  Please email your mailing address to [email protected].  Thanks to all who entered and special thanks to Simply Caked for sponsoring this giveaway.

Have you looked at Disney’s Family Fun website recently? They have some seriously awesome cupcake ideas!  Two of my favorites are the Night Owls, pictured above, which are perfect for the up coming graduation season.  I love the big owl sitting on a branch of pretzels and the little baby owls surrounding. My second favorite is the Sweet Shop cupcakes, which look like milk shakes, ice cream sundaes, and cupcakes topped with swirl lollipops! There are so many more great cupcake ideas on the website, take a look and I am sure you will find an idea for your next cupcake requiring event!