Black and White Cupcake

Throwing a New Year's Eve party?  Or maybe you're heading to a party where you need to make the kids and adults happy. This cupcake is the perfect combo of classy look and classic taste.  Besides, who doesn't love a little chocolate and vanilla in one tasty treat?  For this cupcake I used some cute white snowmen sprinkles, but you could use a daintier sprinkle depending on the event you're attending.  For this cupcake you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• 4 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate (melted)
• Store bought Chocolate Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: White Sprinkles

And now the recipe...

Step 1: Follow the directions of your White Cake Mix - preheat your oven and add in your eggs, oil, and water.  I usually just throw all three whole eggs in and don't bother separating as directed on the package. Mix all the ingredients together until the batter is smooth.  Reserve one cup and a half of the batter and spoon the rest of the batter into your cupcake liners.

Step 2: Melt the Semi-Sweet Chocolate in a double boiler. Once fully melted, add the remaining one cup and a half of batter and mix until fully incorporated and smooth. Spoon around a tablespoon or so of the chocolate batter in the centre of the white batter and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely before icing.

Step 3: The icing is super simple.  If you'd like, you can make vanilla icing instead of chocolate or do a combo of both! I made Chocolate Icing by simply mixing together your store bought chocolate icing and butter on high until smooth. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste or needs to be thickened, add some icing sugar.  Once you're happy with the taste and consistency it's time to ice your cupcakes! .

Step 4: Layer on as much or as little of your icing as you'd like.  If you're going for a classy look you'll want to use a piping bag. To garnish your cupcake use a simple sprinkle or if you decide to use a vanilla icing, try adding some chocolate curls.

Happy Faking!

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Thanks Again Duncan Hines!

What a way to end 2011! I just found out that I won a second prize in the Spooky Recipe Search Contest with my Pumpkin Patch-Pie Cupcake recipe. Not only do I get bragging rights, but I also get a small cash prize to keep funding my baking obsession. Yippee!

Big thanks, again, to Duncan Hines for putting off these contests. Perhaps you'd like to sponsor me full time? I'd love a baking allowance and endless supply of cake mixes and icing! But in the mean time, I'll continue funding my Faking Fancy Cupcakes and create new flavours to let you wow your friends all with a simple cake mix.  My next post for the upcoming New Year's celebrations is my classy Black and White Cupcake.

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Grinch Cupcake

Christmas isn't complete without the Grinch!  So of course I had to make this novelty cupcake that was more for the hilarity of watching people eat them than having people actually enjoy them.  If you make these, you may want to whip up one of my REAL recipes.  I would say I had a 50/50 mix of people who liked them and, I have to admit, I couldn't bring myself to try them.  They probably could have been more palatable if I had used a different flavour chip, but it was the perfect Grinch flavour, so it had to be done!  Here's what you'll need if you date to make the Grinch Cupcake...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought White Icing
• 1 cup of crushed (but not too fine) Rippled Dill Pickle Sour Cream Flavoured Chips plus 24 more chips to put on top
• Green Gel Food Colouring
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Halawa with Pistachios, Chips or Crushed Pistachios

 And here's the recipe if you're feeling adventurous...

Step 1: Follow the direction of your Chocolate Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  Mix together until the batter is smooth. Fold in 1 cup of Crushed Rippled Dill Pickle Sour Cream Flavoured Chips.

Step 2:  Spoon the batter into your cupcake pan liners and top batter with a chip.   Place in the oven and bake as directed on package.

Step 3: On to the icing. For my icing all you need to do is mix together the white icing and butter on high until smooth.  Add some icing sugar if you like it super sweet or find it too buttery.  Of course, for this cupcake the icing needs to be green.  Simply add a few drops of green food colouring and mix until it's fully incorporated.  If you want it to be greener, just add more green food colouring!

Step 4: To assemble you cupcake, spoon on your green icing.  Top with the garnish of your choice, I used Halawa with Pistachios, and serve. If you're brave enough to make these, expect mixed reviews, but it's pretty hilarious to watch people try them! 

Happy Holidays and Happy Faking!

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Cute Cupcake Gift Ideas #4

It's hard to believe that Christmas is this weekend!  Are you doing some last minute shopping for the cupcake lover on your list?  Here are some easy to find cupcake gifts that are sure to be a hit!  You can find these at Chapters, Walmart, and Micheal's to name a few retailers.

Cupcake Ornament
There are so many different styles, sizes and colours of cupcake ornaments in shops big and small.  From glass to wool, you're sure to find a unique cupcake ornament that will fit the personality of any cupcake lover on your list.  This is also a great gift that can become a gifting tradition.  Just think of the fun collection of cupcake ornaments you can give someone over the next few years.

Cupcake Calendar

There are lots of different cupcake calendars out  there with delicious cupcakes featured and some will even share the recipe!  Last year I was given a cupcake calendar that had a new recipe for each day.  It was great for inspiring new flavour combination and faking fancy cupcake creations.  You can never go wrong with a cupcake calendar and, the best part is, they will need a new one next year no matter what!

Cupcake Recipe Book
Giving a baker a cupcake recipe book is always a good idea, provided that they don't already have the book you're looking at giving!  There are lots of different types of cupcake books you can choose from and many of them show you how to make really cute designs.  If you're not sure if they have the recipe book already, try to be sneaky and ask a family member or close friend to investigate if you don't have easy access to their bookshelf.

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Gingerbread Cupcake

There's nothing more comforting than the smell of gingerbread.  From gingerbread cookies to gingerbread houses, it's a Christmas classic that needs to be represented as a faking fancy cupcake!  It's a heart-warming smell that takes you back to your childhood and Christmases past.  For this Christmas classic flavour you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water, but no water required for this one)
• 1 Cup of Molasses (this will replace some of the water your cake mix calls for)
• Milk (to replace the rest of the water called for) 
• 1 tablespoon of Ginger
• 1 teaspoon of Cinnamon (plus a little to sprinkle over the top of the cupcake as garnish)
• 1 teaspoon of Cloves (you can go a little less on this if you like less spicy gingerbread)
• Store bought Vanilla or White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Cinnamon Stick, Small Gingerbread Person, Shaved Cinnamon 

And here's the festive fun recipe...

Step 1: Preheat your oven as directed on the cake mix package.  Add all the ingredients your White Cake Mix calls for EXCEPT for the water.  Instead of the water, replace one cup of the called for amount with Molasses and top the rest off with Milk.  So, if your recipe calls for 1 1/3 cup of water, add one cup of Molasses and 1/3 of a cup of Milk.

Step 2: Now it's time to add in some classic Christmas spices to your batter - 1 tablespoon of Ginger, 1 teaspoon of Cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of Cloves.  If you like a less spicy gingerbread, use only 1/2 to 3/4 of a teaspoon of Cloves.  Mix the ingredients together until smooth, spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely before icing.

Step 3: Since the cupcake has a lot going on, I went for a very basic vanilla icing.  You could use whipped cream if you'd like.  For my vanilla icing all you need to do is mix together the vanilla icing and butter on high until smooth.  Mix well and add some icing sugar if it's not sweet enough for you or too buttery.

Step 4: It's assembly time.  Ice your cupcake with any method you prefer - piping bag, knife, spoon...whatever.  Top it with the garnish of your choice.  I shaved some cinnamon over top and topped it with a small piece of cinnamon stick.  I'm making them again this week and will probably use a gingerbread cookie for double the gingerbread fun.     

Happy Faking!

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Cute Cupcake Gift Ideas #3

Still hunting for a great gift for the cupcake lover on your list?  Well, you're in luck!  This year there seems to be more cupcake gifts out there than ever, so you won't need to look too hard.  What about getting them something for the kitchen?  After all, that's where all the delicious baked goods become reality!  Here are a few fun cupcake inspired kitchen accessories I've seen around my city...

Cupcake & Tea Lover
Got a cupcake and tea lover on your list?  Why not get them a cupcake tea set?  You don't need to find a perfectly matching set, just put together pieces that you find to create your own little ensemble.  Some things you could put together are a tea cozy, teapot, mug and side plate.   

Cupcake Baker and Entertainer
Here's the perfect gift for the person on your list who loves to bake and entertain.  On the left, a cupcake cookie jar, the perfect place to store yummy baked treats!  And on the right, why not give them something to put they're delicious baked goods on display.  And last, but not least, centred on the bottom, a cupcake plate and knife to enjoy delicious baked goods!


Cupcake Baking Essentials
And of course there is always the gift that you hope keeps on giving - the cupcake baking essentials gift.  This gift comes complete with a cupcake mixing bowl, measuring cups, spatula and kitchen timer.  After giving someone this gift, you can only hope that you not only inspire new cupcake creations, but also get to enjoy a few as well!  You could even include a recipe or two to get them going, like maybe my Gingerbread Cupcake that will be posted in only a few more days!

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Eggnog Cupcake

Here's the first of my festive cupcakes!  There's something about eggnog and nutmeg that just tastes like Christmas. So putting the two in a cupcake was a no brainer.  This is a classic that I've been making for years now. If you have kids coming to the party, you can easily remove the rum from the icing or make a virgin and non-version variety.  Just make sure you mark which ones are which.  For this recipe all you need is...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Eggnog (replace the amount of water it calls for...you can use any eggnog you want... full fat or no fat!)
• 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• Store bought White Icing
• 2 Tablespoons of Spiced Rum (you can use more of less...it's up to you...or you can leave this out if you don't want alcohol in your icing)
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Grated Nutmeg or a Cut Down Straw

On to the recipe...

Step 1: For the most part, follow the direction of your White Cake Mix - preheat your oven and add in your eggs and oil, but replace the water with your choice of Eggnog and add 1/2 tsp of Ground Nutmeg.  On a side note, I usually just throw all three whole eggs in and don't bother separating as directed on the package.

Step 2: Mix all the ingredients together until the batter is smooth.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely before icing

Step 3: On to the festive holiday icing! Mix together your White Icing, butter and Spiced Rum on high until smooth. You could use any type of Rum that's in your cupboard or liquor cabinet, but I liked the Spiced Rum. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste or needs to be thickened, add some icing sugar.  Once you're happy with the taste and consistency it's time to ice your cupcakes! .

Step 4: Layer on as much or as little of your icing as you'd like.  To garnish your cupcake grate some Nutmeg over the top.  If your making virgin icing and Rum icing, you can cut down a straw as a garnish for the kid friendly cupcakes and only sprinkle Nutmeg on the adult ones!

Happy Faking!

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Cute Cupcake Gift Ideas #2

I know this may be a shocker, but I love cupcakes.  They are such cute little bundles of sweetness and versatility.  You can dress them up to be super fancy or dress them down to be simple but beautiful.  You can make the flavours  complex and sophisticated or playful and fun.  But no matter how you like to eat them, they are always delicious!  Long story short, I like them a lot.  And have gotten many fun cupcake themed gifts from some wonderful friends and family.  Here are a few items I've gotten over the years that I love and still enjoy today.  Maybe these will be the perfect gift for someone on your list... 

Cupcake Apron
No cupcake baker's outfit is complete without a cupcake apron.  You can get lots of different styles and colours of aprons...the trick is finding them.  Check out your local market, eccentric kitchen shop or, if you have time, online.  And if you're really crafty, you can make one yourself!  There's nothing better than a gift that's been homemade - even if it's not baked!

Cupcake Pajamas
Got someone on your list who dreaming of cupcakes? Get them some fun cupcake pajamas.  There are so many different styles out there that you can even make this one a gift tradition making the next few years a snap!  You can find cupcake pajamas at any pretty much any store that sells sleepwear.  I've seen them at Walmart, LaSenza, Winners, Sears, and The Bay to name a few.

Cupcake Serving Platter
Need a super simple gift that won't have you questioning the size or style?  What about a cupcake serving tray?  You can get lots of fun designs, sizes, and shapes that can not only be used to serve cupcakes, but lots of other sweet treats like chocolates, cookies, brownie..you get the idea.  You can even fill it with your own baked treats if you feel like the platter just isn't enough, like a dozen Eggnog Cupcakes...recipe to come in my next post!

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Piña Colada Cupcake

Do you need a tropical cupcake escape from the winter?  Or are you just looking for a summer fun cupcake with the fresh taste of down south?  Either way, this cupcake won't disappoint!  To make this cupcake cocktail you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Pineapple Juice (replace the amount water it calls for)
• Store bought White Icing
• 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Rum (you can use more or less...it's up to you)
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Mini Straw, Drink Umbrella or Green Lime Icing

On to the recipe...

Step 1: For the most part, follow the direction of your White Cake Mix - preheat your oven and add in your eggs and oil, but replace the water with Pineapple Juice.  I know the cake mix tells you to only use the egg white, but there really is no need to take the extra effort to separate the eggs.  Just throw all three eggs in; yolks and whites!

Step 2: Mix all the ingredients together until the batter is smooth.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely before icing 

Step 3: It's time to add some tropical kick to your icing. Mix together your vanilla icing, butter and Coconut Rum on high until smooth. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking or needs to be thickened, add some icing sugar.  Or, more importantly, if it's not coconutty enough for you, add more Coconut Rum!  Once you're happy with the taste and consistency it's time to ice your cupcakes! .

Step 4: Layer on as much or as little of your icing as you'd like using your preferred icing method.  To garnish your cupcake you can cut a straw down to size, top it with a drink umbrella OR, you can do what I did and top it with a little green coloured lime icing.  I happened to have some left over from my Cosmo Cupcake, but you could easily take a 1/2 a cup of your icing (before you add the Coconut Rum) and add some lime juice and zest plus some green gel food colouring. And you're done!

Happy Faking!

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