Happy 1st Birthday Claire!

Today, I delivered cupcakes for a special little girl's first birthday! Her Grandmother, my friend/coworker Alaina, asked me if I could whip up a smash cake and 2 dozen cupcakes that resembled their theme, Hugs and Stitches.

Vanilla smash cake with all of the cupcakes

Up close of the cupcakes. They were topped with buttercream frosting and various handmade chocolate toppers.

These were so much fun to make, and I was able to try my hand at pretzel butterflies and daises! I normally only do numbers or small items, like hearts, so branching out like this was exciting.

Claire, I hope you have a blast smashing that huge cupcake. Thanks again for letting me be a part of your special day. (You too Alaina and Shelby!)

Happy Baking,
AJ

Woods Wedding

Tonight I attended the wedding of my awesome neighbors, Cary and Danielle. When they were engaged back in July I met Danielle in my driveway for a "ring inspection." :) During that visit she asked me if I would be willing to do the cake for their wedding. I was touched, excited, and scared all at one time. I hadn't ever baked for a wedding, and cakes are not my thing.

Over the last few months I walked over various samples to test before we agreed on flavors. We ended up with a variety: red velvet, chocolate, Italian cream, red velvet/vanilla, cherry cordial, and carrot cake. Here is how it turned out:

The wedding cake/cupcake bar

Up close of the topper cake. Red velvet with buttercream roses

The cupcake bar: red velvet/vanilla, Italian cream, cherry cordial, and carrot cake cupcakes.
All cupcakes had cream cheese frosting except for cherry cordial - they had chocolate buttercream.

The groom's cupcakes. "The 18th hole" with chocolate cupcakes and a personalized golf cart

The entire cake table

 The wedding was amazing, and I know that Cary and Danielle will have a wonderful life together. I was very honored to play a part in their big day! Congratulations again C & D!

Happy Baking,
AJ

Fall Festival Cupcakes and Treats

My daughter's school is hosting their annual fall festival tonight. They offer games in each of the classrooms and a silent auction. Most of the items are themed baskets that each class puts together. This year my daughter's class' theme was art, and they put together a great basket full of art supplies. In addition to class baskets other items get added to the auction from local businesses.

The front desk staff has always been a great supporter of my cupcakes and even promote my business for me. :) Ms. Marlen asked me to donate some cupcakes for this year's auction and I was thrilled. I whipped up a dozen Halloween themed cupcakes and packed a Frankenstein bucket full of treats.

Inside the Frankenstein bucket I packaged sugar cookies made to look like candy corn. I also packaged up some "spooky smores" by putting graham crackers, snack size Hershey bars, and a Halloween peep in a bag! I hope that these treats get a great bid and raise money to help support my daughter's school!

Happy Baking,
AJ

{Fun Idea}: Skeleton Gingies

I ran across a fun cookie idea in a Taste of Home magazine and most recently in a blog posting on Our Best Bites. I decided to give them a try since we were going to a dinner party and needed something to bring.

I was short on time so they didn't turn out as cute as I had hoped, but they are chocolate cookies so that may makeup for it. To transport them I put them in a Halloween 4-pack cupcake box (without the insert), and tied a coordinating ribbon on top. They were fun to make, and it gave my gingerbread cookie cutter a warm-up for Christmas.

Happy Baking,
AJ

"Boo Boxes" on sale now!

Halloween is right around the corner. In fact, it is less than 30 days away! To help you celebrate AJ's Cupcakes is offering "Boo Boxes." Each box will include a variety of cupcakes (flavors and decorations) that are sure to spook up any celebration.

Top 3 reasons you need a "Boo Box" this Halloween:

1. They are a new twist on "Boo Bags." I bet your friends/neighbors would love to have a box of cupcakes on their doorstep!
2. They can add a unique touch to any celebration at work, home, or a friend's house!
3. You can hand them out to some of your favorite trick-or-treaters instead of candy!

So what are you waiting for? Place your order today! 

Pricing:
4 pack: $8.00
1/2 dozen: $12.00
1 dozen: $24.00

All orders must be placed by October 21st!


Download this free Halloween subway art from That's What {Che} Said!


Happy Baking,
AJ

Are you ready for some football?

We are. I love football season. It is such a great sport to watch and it signifies that fall is on its way! This season I am trying to get my daughter more involved in watching the games. Mainly because if she is excited to watch the games she won't ask to watch SpongeBob in the living room while it is on! :P

Today I whipped up some football cupcakes to help us get into game-time spirit. My husband was really glad that I was baking these because we only have one chocolate cupcake left, and he prefers vanilla anyway. Since we live in Texas I focused on two of the games that we are most interested in:

To help me decorate them I ventured onto the homecoming aisle at my local Michael's store. I bought these little helmets in packs of three. I did my research on the match ups first to make sure I got the right colors. Then I printed mini logos, cut them out, and adhered them to the helmet. I also picked up the football themed liners at Michael's.

I had full intentions of getting these baked before the game, but it didn't work out. I was doing laundry and making lunch etc. However, I did learn that baking during the game takes longer. Why you ask? Oh well let me explain:

• I had to take breaks to yell at the TV. I am an assistant coach, and they needed my advice.
• When we scored I had to run out and grab my daughter and show her how to do a victory dance. After I left her she said, "Daddy, Mommy is loud."
• When your team was winning and then starts losing you get upset. Didn't they listen to my advice?
• When they get close to winning again you have to focus all of your attention on them. They only started doing bad because you weren't watching the TV the entire time.

Needless to say my team lost, but we did get to enjoy a yummy post game snack. Oh, and the helmets double as new toys for my daughter. SCORE!

She wore her helmet on her head, and she is now putting them on her superhero figures. She might just become a fan after all.

P.S. She chose the Redskin's cupcake. I guess we need to educate her on picking teams next. Don't go after the pretty color first honey... *shaking head*

Happy Baking,
AJ

Never let a good cupcake go to waste...

I had 6 cupcakes leftover from the bling order last night. I put them away in the fridge undecorated, and 4 survived the night. :) Today I decided to decorate them and try out a new filling - strawberries and cream. I enlisted the help of my 4 year old to work on the filling and frosting. She was glad to help pour and count scoops. She was even happier when I told her that she got to sample her work! I think I may have a permanent assistant now whether I want it or not. ;)

The end result was unbelievably amazing. I shared them with my neighbors so they could sample the new creation. The first taste tester, Kristine, loved them. I think she called me a taste bud whisperer or something like that. LOL This just goes to show that you should never let a good cupcake go to waste. It may have been an extra, but it became extraordinary!

Here is the recipe for the filling, just in case you have any spare cupcakes, angle food cake, or a spoon looking for something the do. :)

Strawberries & Cream Filling 

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 6-8 tablespoons of fresh strawberries diced

Put strawberries into a food processor/chopper and chop until they are thick and a little liquidity.
Put the whipping cream and vanilla in a mixer and blend until thick. Then add sugar and blend.
Fold in the chopped strawberries

To fill your cupcake, cut out the center with either a knife or the large opening of an icing tip. Spoon in filling, and cover with part of the cake you cut out. The flatter the surface the easier it is to frost.

Happy Baking,
AJ