Easter Cuppies!

Created for our annual Egg Hunt. The easter egg idea is from the book 'Hello, Cupcake!'. The eggs were cut out graham crackers, that i frosted and rolled in sanding sugar. Then piped the "decoration" on at the last minute to lessen the soggy-ness.

The nests were made using edible easter grass that I saw at several stores including Target, Michael's and Rite Aid. It is similar in texture to a communion wafer, but the green is sour apple flavor, though it didn't have much flavor. It also comes in yellow, blue and pink - all which are different flavors. 

Berries & Mousse

Made these for Valentine's Day. The Mousse filling was so good we ate what was leftover out of the bowl with a spoon. Decadent. 

As usual, it's taken me a while to upload the pics here...

 

Iron Cupcake Voting underway!

The time has come to go vote for the cranberry cupcakes!
Please go to No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner
and cast your vote for my latest delicious Cupquake creation.
Voting closes at 12 noon, central, on Friday, December 5th.
There are 58 entries, so chances are relatively good this month :)

Thanks!
And Happy Tofurkey Day!
xoxo

The Cake

Finally, I have photos of the birthday cake i made for my little Em. I have decided not to do another one. I think cupcakes are less stressful. But if i do say so myself, it came out great!
See for yourselves...

Most of the fish and some of the seaweed are plastic. However, the flowers, and treasures are all edible - fondant, sugar pearls, rock candy and dragees.
It was a big hit, and I'm happy to say that there was none left over!

My Goodness. My Guinness Gingerbread Cranberry Cpcake.

Here's the latest installment of Iron Cupcake. Challenge ingredient: Cranberry.

This is a Guinness Gingerbread Cranberry Cupcake with cream cheese frosting and fresh cranberry sauce...


* Voting will begin no later than Sunday, November 30 at 8 p.m. at NO ONE PUTS CUPCAKE IN A CORNER and will be open through Friday, December 5 at 12 noon.
* Winner will be posted the night of December 5, before 11:59 p.m.

There are many cool prizes I can win (and maybe even share) if you VOTE for me!

Our November ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:
* LOLLIPOP WORKSHOP
* COOKIE SUNSHINE
* as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES.
* PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth is excited to welcome back CAKESPY, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!

As an added bonus for November only we have a delicious apron complements of SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY.

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, JESSIE STEELE APRONS; the CUPCAKE COURIER ; TASTE OF HOME books. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Cheers!
Nicole

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Guinness Gingerbread Cuppies with Cranberries and Cream Cheese Frosting
(Concept inspired by Dessert Lounge. I then modified a Gingerbread cupcake recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take over the World, and made up the rest.)

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup light molasses (I used blackstrap molasses plus 1 Tbsp brown sugar)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup soy milk (or silk creamer)
1/4 cup Guinness Stout (or other stout will work fine)
~1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cranberries


Cream Cheese Frosting:
½ cup vegan butter, softened
½ cup vegan cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cranberry Sauce:
1 cup fresh whole cranberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
zest of one orange
juice of one orange


FOR CUPCAKES:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir flour mixture into the wet ingredients just until smooth. Fold in crystallized ginger & cranberries. Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full. Bake for 19-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Transfer to a rack and let cool completely before frosting.

FOR FROSTING:
Cream together butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time. Mix until smooth and creamy, adding vanilla. Adjust texture with additional sugar and/or a little soy milk if needed. Keep tightly covered and refrigerated until ready to use.


FOR CRANBERRY SAUCE:
Add water and sugar to sauce pan over medium heat. Heat until boiling, stir. Add cranberries, 10 minutes or so.orange zest and orange juice. Stir occasionally until cranberries pop, and sauce thickens - about

Forever People

Ok, I admit it. I am not a good blogger.
I have not blogged in forever!
Please do note that I have in fact made fancy cupcakes since basil challenge.
They appear in the slideshow to the right - from Flickr.
There were many many spectacular Halloween appearances from Cupquake.
I just didn't blog about them. Sorry.

However, this evening, I have baked up the next Iron Cupcake treat.
Next post will certainly have all the expected info.
Just know, that it involved Beer. Cranberries. Ginger. and cream cheese.
Yum.

Deadline for entries is the 24th (monday).
Voting will begin no later than Sunday, November 30 at 8 p.m. at NO ONE PUTS CUPCAKE IN A CORNER, http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com and will be open through Friday, December 5 at 12 noon.

Also forthcoming, will be photos of my little girl's 5th Birthday cake supreme. Featuring a Mermaid Barbie perched upon a little sandy island floating in a vast blue ocean filled with treasures, and creatures. I hope. Assuming it comes out to be photo-worthy. I'm a little scared.
And I think i plan to stick with cupcakes.
Cakes are highly intimidating.

xoxo

Basil Iron Cupcake Voting now open

Don't forget to go vote for Iron Cupcake: Earth, Basil
before Thursday Oct. 2 at noon CST.

Go to No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner to vote & see all the entries for the Basil challenge.

Thanks!