{Parties} Spring Babyshower

Last year I had the pleasure of working on a dessert table for a girlfriend's girlfriend's babyshower.  No that wasn't a typo it was for my friend who was helping host another friends babyshower :-)

The colors were mint green and light blue.

The goodies included mini-chocolate mints, decorated sugar cookies....

..my signature brownie pops.

Can't have a dessert table without the cupcakes!  These were chocolate, vanilla and red velvet.

Most of all the decorations can be found at Joann's and the display dishes were found at HomeGoods.  The tags were from a babyshower scrapbooking kit.  I could have purchased them online or made them myself but because of the lack of time, this option was much easier and faster and it still turned out super cute.

{Recipe} Chocolate and Beer Cupcakes

Ingredients:
* 2 cups granulated sugar
* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup cocoa
* 2 tspn baking soda
* 1 tspn baking powder
* 1 tspn salt
* 2 large eggs (room temperature)
* 1 bottle beer (your preference)
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1 tspn vanilla extract

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees
- Place the cupcake liners in the cupcake pan
- In large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt
- Add eggs, beer, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer for about 2 minutes.
- Pour into prepared cupcake pans
- Bake for 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean
- Cool completely then frost with your favorite chocolate frosting

(Recipe makes approximately 34 cupcakes)

Snowflake Cupcakes

I just recently made these snowflake cupcakes for a client.  I tried so many different methods in trying to make the snowflakes that they left me wanting to run and not make anything at all.  I tried making them with royal icing which is great for those that have the steady hand technique.  But then there's me.  The snowflakes I aimed to make with the royal icing turned out to look like weary pretzel sticks stuck together with glue :-(     I had seriously underestimated how hard it would be to make these darn little things.  So as I went on my day, I headed out to my local cake shop supply store for some items that I had to get.  It was also an excuse to just walk away from the project and take a breather. 

Well, I walk in to the supply shop as I always do, and I start skimming the isles to check out all of the cool new items that may have arrived.  I take my leisurely walk, letting my creative bubble be filled with so many ideas that I pick up with all of the inspiration that is lended to you when you visit.  I finish my visual tour by taking the items I picked up along the way to the registar when I catch a glimpse of snowflakes, a picture of snowflakes on a package.  In the package was an interesting gadget, actually 3 of them.  I swear the entire store became dark and the package was being illuminated by some light derived from up above somewhere.  Oh my gosh!  It was a stamp and cutter snowflake maker!  Woo hoo!  My prayers had been answered.  What's the best way to get a product out in the prettiest way possible...having a cutout of course.  So as law would have it, I had to buy it and take the credit for having made some damn pretty snowflakes all by myself   :-D

FYI, the shop I visited was ABC Cake Shop in Orange, CA.  Visit if you're nearby but beware of the force that will have you making cupcakes and cakes after your visit.

Christmas Cheer

This past weekend I had the opportunity to create a dessert table for a mommy group christmas party in Irvine, CA.  It was a christmas party for the mommy's night in get-together.  It was also a small group of no more than 20 moms so not alot of desserts were requested, only enough to make a good impression.

The desserts on the menu were...

Snowflake Brownies....Chewy brownie bites dipped in milk chocolate and sprinkled with shredded coconut.

Gingerbread cookies....these were snowflake shaped but none the less, gingerbread.

Peppermint Candy....peppermint candy shaped into stars and round christmas tree ornaments.

Red Velvet Cupcakes.

The table was adorned with snowmen provided by the host, a couple candles and chocolate bars wrapped in christmas cheer.

I will post the recipe on how to make the Snowflake brownies in another post so check back soon!

Cupcake Tower - 350 Cupcakes!

So I was on hiatus for a while but I came back with a bang!  I whopped out 350 cupcakes for this cupcake tower.  The original stand I purchased was not going to arrive on time so I improvised and used 2 3-plate cake servers.  I was pleasantly pleased by the outcome and am ready to do it all over again ;-)

The tower was decorated with butterflies, flowers and purple silk ribbon.  The linen and doll were provided by the host and worked perfectly with the look I was trying to achieve. 

Cake - Maroon & Eggplant Colored Bridal Shower

The cake was iced in buttercream and beautiful, fresh maroon colored blooms were used.

Each of the boxes you see on the tables had a cupcake in them.  You can make these yourself, I've posted a tutorial on this blog, click on this link to view DIY-Cupcake Favor Boxes.  What you can't see is that each of the cupcakes had the bride-to-be's monogram on them in the coordinating color.  Pretty cute idea right?

Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! Cupcakes

These cupcakes were very easy to make.  I received this order a little last minute so I didn't have much time to really think about the concept on how to decorate them because I had other orders to take care of as well.  All in all I think they came out pretty cute.  I didn't have time to cut out the figures from fondant so I used these Wilton Icing Decorations for both the Dora and Diego cupcakes.

All decorations were made out of fondant.

Cupcakes - Gone Buggy!

These cuppies were definitely fun to make.  The bright colors and the cute bugs made me want to eat them while I was making them!  Vanilla cupcakes frosted with buttercream icing.  Simple and delicious taste, sometimes the most simplest things are the best.  They are decorated with buttercream fondant so the entire cupcake is edible.  You can have fun eating the worm, color by color :-)

Cupcakes - Tiffany Blue & Sugar

These were made for a boy babyshower. Now that I look at them, they look a little more Tiffany Blue than Baby Blue.  Uh oh, I hope it won't be a problem.  They are so pretty though.  I'm sure no one will notice (crossing fingers).  Cupcakes are chocolate with chocolate frosting, topped with marshmallow fondant.  The entire thing is edible and yummy, except for the cupcake sleeve but if you're like me, you fold the sleeve inside out and "rake" the cake that's stuck on it with your teeth :-)  hee hee.  I know it's  weird but I've done it since childhood and it doesn't seem to hurt anyone, right?