Info, musings and the frequent personal creations of all things Cake.

Sunday 30 December 2012

Cupcake Nails!

                                                               Cupcake Nails




Okay so today I may not be posting the usual of a scrumptious baked good, but instead I've gone for something undeniably cake themed! These adorable cupcake nails are not of my work or edible but I was however lucky enough to receive nail pens for Christmas which I definitely now have an intention of using! I can only dream they'd look half this good...

Saturday 29 December 2012

Blueberry Muffins

                                                             Blueberry Muffins


Moist and sticky Blueberry Muffins-my favourite of the muffins! One of my first times baking muffins and I have to say-pretty tasty! One thing I learned was that the blueberries are not chopped up nor bashed about but added whole! Another handy tip-sprinkle some bread crumbs on top for a golden crispy topping!

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Banana Nutella Marbled Loaf with sock monkey!

                                                          Banana Nutella Marbled Loaf

Nutella Banana marbled loaf with nutella buttercream, yellow writer icing, nutella spread around the side to glue on the foam candy bananas, hundreds and thousands, an 18 candle, modelling chocolate and fondant sock monkey and chocolate sauce drizzled!

I made this for my brother's 18th Birthday; he is a lover of nutella and bananas on toast with hundreds and thousands! Perhaps not the average mid afternoon snack of a technical adult but it made a pretty tasty celebration cake!

And of course, the wonderful sock monkey:

 









Monday 24 December 2012

Mince Pies

                                                                      Mince Pies

What can I say? It's the 24th December!




Saturday 22 December 2012

OUR CHRISTMAS CAKE!

                                                                 Our Christmas Cake



Yes finally I have completed all 5 of my Christmas Cakes and the final one belongs to US!!! I used the left over gingerbread dough from the cat box cake to make a mini Christmas ginger-bread house perched on top of our classic Christmas fruit cake with a layer of marzipan and white fondant! Of course there's also our adorable little white fondant snowman, chocolate finger picket fence, marshmallow and buttercream path, jelly tot wall and m and m roof.
 I'm gonna call him Neville. It will be hard to eat him though...

Friday 21 December 2012

Top 10 Christmas Cupcake Designs (In my opinion...)

                                                           Top 10 Christmas Cupcake Designs

When I came up with the idea to bake all of my Christmas presents this year, choosing between the inspiration out there for all the cupcake designs was far harder than actually making them! So here are, in my opinion, the top 10 Christmas Cupcakes out there to inspire you! I've ordered them 1st best to my preferences but they are all so fab I'm sure you may not agree!





1. Rudolphe Cupcakes!

A personal favourite, these deliciously chocolatey cuties are just so cleverly constructed! Pretzels for antlers? Pure genius.


2.  Snowmen!

Not a personal favourite of my own batch but I do believe the variety of innovative and smart design ideas out there for our frosty friends is truly amazing!







3. Penguins!

Who doesn't like them? That's it. There's my argument for how these fluffy little cupcakes have nabbed a spot in the top 3. I don't think there is a soul on this planet who doesn't love penguins and better still-edible CHOCOLATE penguin cup CAKES. Of universal interest. Say no more.

 
 

 4. Turkeys!

Who could deny the true heart of Christmas being the Christmas Roast dinner-complete, of course, with turkey. As a vegetarian, I may not enjoy a succulent roast bird but I do however appreciate the whimsy and true fabulousness of these many adorable turkey cupcakes! (I particularly enjoy the expression on the faces of the first batch of turkeys!)



5.  Santas!

      Although I don't find them quite as adorable as many of our previous designs, it would be unfair to rank the King of all things Christmas any lower than the number 5 spot. There are some pretty nifty designs and although I went for something a little more classic I rather like the boots sticking out of the chimney! (But I'd quite like to pick the marshmallows off of that design..)


 

 


 6. Gingerbread men!

Now the only reason these adorably clever gingerbread treats have escaped up until the number 6 spot is cute and tasty though they may be, I feel they are not quite so classic characters as others such as the snowman, turkey, or Santa Clause himself.
 


7. Christmas Puddings!

Ah see I believe we are past the whimsical characters and cute cupcakes now, but we're definitely sustaining the theme of traditional Christmas  What better a way for those who are not fans of dates or raisins to celebrate than by engulfing a chocolate cupcake delight whole? (It is Christmas after all, and don't deny-they look rather tasty!)

 

8. Christmas Trees!

Although they've only made it to the number 8 spot, I do believe the number of different Christmas Tree Cupcakes I've seen assembled is pretty damn impressive, and just because they aren't number one does not mean I would not be willing to bake, ice, and eat more than several batches of these festive goodies. 

9. Santa Hats!

So we've had the classic Mr. Santa Clause but now it's time for his signature hat. I admit, not as whimsical, fancy or particularly cute, but still an incredibly edible festive treat which I think is a pretty clever yet simple design! (Particularly the strawberries!)

 


10. Baubles!

Last but not least, the classic hanger on of tree-the Christmas Bauble! Elegant, sophisticated and unfortunately requiring a high skill level to master-hence my absence of attempt to do so. I do therefore commend you-triumphant executors of the all powerful bauble cupcake!





















Thursday 20 December 2012

Red Velvet Cupcakes

                                                               Red Velvet Cupcakes

Going slightly off the Christmassy theme I've been executing for the run up for a while now, these cupcakes are at least festive in colour! Rich red velvet sponge cupcakes with a cream cheese buttercream frosting, fondant heart and red sparkly decorations!

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Christmas Cupcakes!

                                                           Christmas Cupcakes


Yes, can you believe it it is officially 6 days til Christmas people! And who could deny this tasty treat box of cupcakes I made for my sweet toothed friends as it's getting to that present-exchanging time! 3 chocolate cupcakes, one white and fluffy.

I have to admit it seemed a shame to bake it.
So first up: penguin cupcakes! Chocolate cupcake topped with black buttercream, a white buttercream belly and piped eyes, yellow writer icing beak (Shh I got lazy and cheated again) m and m eyes and oreo cookie wings!

Santa Cupcakes! Chocolate cupcake with a thin spread of nutella buttercream, layer of peachy fondant with piped red tube icing (Yep-cheated again.) piped buttercream (using the thin writer tip) and piped black tube icing for eyes and mouth (Oh yes, cheated yet again...)

Snowmen Cupcakes! White cupcakes with a generous helping of white buttercream, black tube icing, m and m eyes, a candy carrot nose, fruit pastel muffs and a cut piece of rainbow twizzler! (If you're from Britain you can buy these on Amazon Uk that's how I got mine!!!)

               And last but certainly not least, the rudolphe cupcake. A chocolate cupcake topped with Nutella buttercream and piped white fondant to glue down the m and m eyes. A giant chocolate button nuzzle with black tube icing smile, red jelly tot nose glued down with nutella buttercream, modelling chocolate ears and chocolate pretzel antlers! Too cute to eat! (Well my friends managed...)

Three of the boxes were hand collected, one hand eaten in a bowl in my kitchen (I'm not OCD she just likes eating cake in bowls.) and one hand delivered and received late at night in red spotty pajamas! (You know who you are!)


I have to admit I was more proud of the photography than the cake: