Cupcakes for Santa

My daughter, who is three, was given this Mickey & Minnie cupcake set from a good friend of mine. Really cute gift set huh? As soon as my daughter saw it she immediately said, "I want to bake cupcakes for Santa Mommy."  I have to admit, I said the same thing! :)

This morning we embarked on our mini cupcake journey. Even though I baked nearly 8 dozen cupcakes yesterday, I couldn't turn down my little girl's request to bake. Santa needed HER cupcakes, not mine. She was very excited and wanted to take part in every part of the process...except for cracking eggs.

She helped mix the batter

Helped fill the liners with batter

Helped me frost the mini cupcakes

Then she added sprinkles to each

All the cupcakes are ready for Santa...well not all of them

After she was done baking and decorating she ate one of her masterpieces. She said, "mmmmm" and was nodding her head yes. I might have just found a cupcake assistant! :)

Happy Baking,
AJ

Christmas Cupcakes Galore!

Two great girlfriends joined me in the kitchen today to whip up some Christmas cupcakes. We ended up making nearly 8 dozen cupcakes with wonderful flavors and cute trimmings! Here's our lineup:

• Devils food
• Vanilla
• Candy Cane (half red velvet and half vanilla)
• Chocolate Cherry Cordial

We all had a great time baking and trying out new decorations and recipes. Check out our Christmas cupcakes in all their yuletide glow:

The cast of Christmas Cupcakes

Left: Happy "Holly Days" - devils food with buttercream and holly sprinkles
Right: Merry and Bright - vanilla with buttercream and chocolate C4 bulb

Candy Cane Cupcakes - half red velvet and half vanilla with buttercream frosting and candy canes

Chocolate Cherry Cordial - white cake with chocolate and cherry bits
with chocolate buttercream and a chocolate dipped cherry

With so many cupcakes I just had to share. My friends, Katie and Jessica, took some to their families. I handed some out to my neighbors, and I am saving some for my family Christmas gathering. I might even leave some out for Santa with the cookies and milk. Santa likes cupcakes too right? :)

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Baking,
AJ

Party Cakes...

Ms. K came to me as a referral from a friend. **Applause for referrals** She needed cupcakes to help celebrate Little H's first birthday. The unique opportunity that came with these cupcakes is that she didn't have a theme, only a cupcake stand and banner that she created. She sent me the invitation, picture of the cupcake stand and banner to show me all of the patterns and colors she was using. Here is the adorable stand and banner she made:

So my challenge was unique...make cupcakes that were not so over the top that the took away from this awesome stand. They needed to be more like accents! I decided to narrow in on a few of the patterns and colors. For the design I stuck with polka dots and sprinkles with a variation in the frosting style. Here is the outcome:

Golden vanilla smash cake with polka dots, Devils food with baby blue frosting and brown polka dot topper, Golden vanilla with buttercream and multi-colored polka dots

Ms. K is going to send me a picture of them once they are on the stand. I am anxious to see how they look. I would decorate a cupcake and hold it up to the stand/banner picture that was taped to my cabinet door and envision it on there! :)

Happy 1st birthday Little H. Enjoy your cupcakes!

Happy Baking,

AJ