National Cupcake Day Countdown: 26 Days

Only two days left in January and 26 days until National Cupcake Day!  I have a team signed up...do you?  My team, M&M Sprinkles, had their kick-off meeting this past Friday, where we enjoyed some Watermelon Cupcakes (courtesy of me) and planned some fun fundraising activities to help support our local SPCA.  I think the Watermelon cupcakes really got the ideas flowing, so to help you get excited about National Cupcake Day too, I'll be posting the recipe later this week.

The team is pretty excited to get rolling with our first big activity planned for February 8.  Not only will we get casual day proceeds from our organization's Friday Jeans Day, but we'll be having some fun with ticket draws and a silent auction to raise a few extra dollars.  Pictures and fund tallies to follow after the event, but feel free to help us out by donating directly to our team online - just click HERE.

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Tiger Cupcake

With National Cupcake Day and the SPCA's fundraiser just over a month away, I thought it would be fitting to post an animal inspired cupcake! I know that Tiger flavour is usually orange and black licorice, but  most people don't seem to enjoy the flavour of black licorice, so I used chocolate...besides, who's going to complain about getting a cupcake? For this yummy tiger inspired treat you'll need...

• Marble Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Orange Juice (enough to replace the Water your mix calls for)
• 2 tbs Orange Zest
• Orange Gel Food Colouring (optional)
• Store Bought Chocolate Icing 
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup or one full cup if you decide to make chocolate icing....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Orange Coloured Icing, Orange Candy

And now for the recipe...

Step 1: Kind of follow the direction of your Marble Cake Mix.  Go ahead and preheat your oven and add the eggs and oil to the cake mix, but replace the water with Orange Juice. Mix the batter well until smooth.

Step 2: Now, that the batter is mixed you can start following your cake mix directions again.  Portion off 1 cup of the batter into a separate bowl and mix in the cocoa package until smooth. In the remaining batter, mix in some Orange Gel Food Colouring (optional) and the 2 tbs of Orange Zest until fully incorporated.

Step 3: Alright, it's time to get the batter in the cupcake pan liners. Start by spooning in some of your orange batter.  Then add a spoonful of the chocolate batter and top with more orange batter.  To make it swirl together simply take a chopstick and stir it slowly to create a marble/tiger effect.  Place them in the oven and bake as directed on package. Once they are done baking, let them cool completely before icing.

Step 4: While the cupcakes are baking and cooling, why not move onto your icing.  Mix together the store bought Chocolate Icing and around 1/2 a cup of butter on high until smooth.  Mix well and add some icing sugar if it's not sweet enough for you or too buttery. Spoon or pipe the chocolate icing onto your cupcake and garnish with either some Orange Icing Zigzags or an Orange Candy.

Happy Faking!

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Calling All Cupcake & Animal Lovers!!

I have never needed an excuse to bake, but if I ever did need a compelling reason I've certainly found one!  As if National Cupcake Day (February 25) wasn't enough of a reason to preheat the oven...the day has now become a fundraiser for our furry friends!  That's right, the SPCAs and Humane Societies across Canada are using it to raise some much needed funds for all fuzzy friends, big and small, that have been abused, abandoned or are in need of help.

I'll be turning out some new Faking Fancy Cupcake recipes for this fundraiser and may even start a vote on what cupcakes to create.  I'll also be dragging some co-workers into a team and registering within the next few days! Check out their site at www.nationalcupcakeday.ca and get a team together for your workplace or friend group.  It's sure to be fun and delicious - plus it's for a great cause.

Stay tuned as we begin our countdown to National Cupcake Day!

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Sex on the Beach Cupake

After all that snow that my homeland received over the last couple of days, I couldn't help but think that my next post should be a cupcake with a sunny disposition.  So here it is, my Sex on the Beach Cupcake that tastes like a splash of sunshine!  To make this summer-sunshine inspired treat you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Orange Juice (you'll be replacing two-thirds of the water your recipe calls for)
• Cranberry Juice (you'll be replacing one-third of the water your recipe calls for)
• Orange Gel food colouring (optional) 
• Red Gel food colouring (optional)
• Store bought White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Peach Schnapps (just a splash
• Garnish Ideas:Drink Umbrella

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 wait to add the OJ and Cranberry Juice (the liquids to replace the water). The batter gets pretty stiff before you add the liquids, so don't panic, it's normal.  Mix it together and remove one-third of the batter and place in another bowl. 


Step 2: Add one-third of the called for amount of water with Cranberry juice to the one-third of the batter.  Mix well.  If you'd like it to be red like a Cranberry, add a little Red Gel food colouring and mix well. 


Step 3: Now add two-thirds of the called for amount of water with Orange Juice to the two-thirds of the batter.  Mix well.  If you'd like it to be more orange , add a little Orange Gel food colouring and mix well.

Step 4: With all that measuring, dividing and mixing out of the way, it's time to get the batter in the cupcake liners.  Add some of the orange batter into your cupcake liners.  Using a teaspoon add a spoonful of the pink batter.  Add a little more orange batter and then add a teaspoon on pink batter.  Once you've filled all your cupcake liners, take a toothpick and swirl the batter to make a marbling effect.

Step 5: Put your cupcakes in the oven and bake as directed.


Step 6: Using your mixer, toss in the vanilla icing, butter, and a splash of Peach Schnapps and mix on high until smooth.  Give your icing a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking or too runny, add in some icing sugar.  Also, if you want to add more Peach Schnapps, go for it!  You can always add more icing sugar to thicken it back up if it gets too runny.

Step 6: It's finally time to top your cupcakes with icing!  Feel free to ice them how you want - using a piping bag, spoon or a knife.  Garnish your cupcake with whatever makes you smile:)  I used a drink umbrella.

Happy Faking!

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Hello 2013...you snuck up on me!

Well, it's 2013 and I have been a complete blogger-delinquent.  I apologize for the blackout and infrequent posts and will try to make 2013 a more consistent year of posts.

Even though my cupcakes didn't get officially written down and shared, I never stopped baking so I have several new recipes, gadgets and other fun things to share.

Happy New Year and cheers to many new Faking Fancy Cupcake recipes for you to make and enjoy!

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Baby's First Fancy Cupcake #9

Near the end of August, NC and MM welcomed MKM to the world.  This delinquent Aunt only recently got this cute Baby's First Fancy Cupcake panda bear to his parents, but better late than never:)  Can't wait to make you some yummy treats when you're a little older and throw a disc around a few years later - right MM!

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Candy Apple Cupcake

It was a close call and it was really hard to say for sure who won, but these certainly got their share of rave reviews - especially from MM.  I guess it all depends on if you're a Candy Apple lover.  Either way, it was fun to make and funny to watch people eat this candy coated cupcake. To make this trick or treat favourite you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water...but we're replacing the water for this one)
• Apple Juice Concentrate (to replace the water your recipe calls for)
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• Candy Apple Kit (most kits require you to add lots of sugar and some water)
• Store bought White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Candy Coated Apple Slice or Red Cinnamon Candy

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 Apple Juice Concentrate and mix in a teaspoon of Cinnamon. Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely. 

Step 2: Time to make your Candy Coating!  Follow the directions of your Candy Apple Kit.  Mine required the addition of sugar and water followed by almost 30 minutes of boiling!  I also bought a candy thermometer which was quite helpful and cost less than $5.  But there is a trick to know if it's done without one...just spoon a small amount of the sugar syrup into some cold water and if it forms a crack-hard string it's good to go.

Step 3: Now that your cupcakes are cool and the Candy Apple Coating is just finished, take a silicone brush and brush the HOT Candy Coating over the tops of your cupcakes.  You'll want to move fast but be careful because it is crazy hot. If you're planning on topping your cupcakes with Candy Apple Slices you'll want to dip them in right after.

Step 4: Don't ice your cupcakes yet! The candy needs to harden and cool.  The sugar takes a surprising amount of time to cool down and will be hard quickly but not cool enough to ice on top.  If you ice them too soon your icing will melt and slide off.  I waited 30 minutes to be safe.

Step 5: Mix together your White Icing and Butter on high until smooth. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste, add some icing sugar. Pipe your icing on top of your cooled cupcake and Candy Coating.  If you're garnishing it with an Apple Slice, be sure to wait until you're ready to serve your cupcake before placing it on top.

Happy Faking

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Caramel Apple Cupcake

Well, it's hard to say who won overall, but the first ones gone in both test groups were the Caramel Apple.  Plus, that one was my favourite so it's getting posted first!  The best part of this cupcake, other than the caramel apple slice on top, was the surprise caramel filling.  To make this sweet and caramely delight you'll need...

For the Cake: 

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water...but we're replacing the water for this one)
• Apple Juice Concentrate (to replace the water your recipe calls for)
• Store bought White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish: Caramel Square or Caramel Apple Slice

For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons Milk
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar

Alright, here's 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 Apple Juice Concentrate. Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely.

Step 2: On to the Caramel Filling!  Melt down the butter in a saucepan on the stove.  Add in the Brown Sugar and boil for around 2 minutes stirring constantly - be careful cuz this gets hot!  Next you'll need to remove it from the burner and mix in the milk.  Place it back on the burner and get it back to a boil.  Once it reached a good boil remove it and let it cool to lukewarm and stir in your icing sugar.

Step 3: Using a cupcake corer or small spoon, make a small hole in the centre of your cooled cupcakes.  If you're using a spoon, you may want to use a knife first to create a small circle and use a spoon to scoop it out.  Make sure you don't go too far down into the centre of your cupcake or your filling will fall out from the bottom when you unwrap it.

Step 4: Spoon in your Caramel Filling.  It's easier to do this when it's still a little warm.  Your filling will be plyable and have a consistency of a fudge.

Step 5: Mix together your White Icing and Butter on high until smooth. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste, add some icing sugar. Pipe your icing on top of your cupcake to cover the filling.  If you're garnishing it with an Apple Slice, be sure to wait until you're ready to serve your cupcake before placing it on top.

Happy Faking!

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Candy Apple vs Caramel Apple

It's getting close to one of my most favourite holidays - HALLOWEEN! I can't decide what I like more about this holiday...making my costume or getting candy! Now that I'm too old to trick or treat (note: I did not say too small, those who know me would understand why) I feel like I put more effort into this holiday than ever.  So naturally I will be making Halloween themed cupcakes for some upcoming fun.

This year, I will be hosting a cupcake off between two natural Halloween competitors...well... natural in my mind.  First up is the Candy Apple - a hot cinnamon treat with a tough exterior.  It's competitor, and biasedly my favourite, the Caramel Apple - a sweet caramel treat with a chewy-gooey exterior that makes parents and dentists cringe.

Both the Candy Apple and Caramel Apple will be cupcake-ified for this round.  A select group of friends and colleagues who get try them also get to vote for their favourite.  Who will win?  Everyone who gets to try them of course:)  But the cupcake with the most votes will get bragging rights in their feature recipe post.  And so my Saturday baking begins! 

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Bring on the Bacon Cupcake

What more do you need than the name...Bring on the Bacon!  But if you really need to be persuaded, I made these as part of my IWK debts some time ago and one of the recipients said "the Bring on the Bacon Cupcakes are like an awesome breakfast pastry and dessert in one."  So there you have it....yum! To make this bacon delight you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water - but we're replacing the water with Milk)
• Milk (to replace the water)
• 2 cups grated Cheddar Cheese (or whatever cheese you want really)
• 1 cup Bacon Bits (plus more for the top if you want) 
• Store Bought White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish Ideas: Bacon Bits, 1/4 slice of bacon

Here's the recipe...

Step 1: Follow the directions on your White Cake Mix from preheating your oven through to adding the oil, eggs, but don't add the water. Instead, replace the water your recipe calls for with Milk.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth. Stir in 2 cups of grated Cheddar Cheese and then stir in 1 cup of Bacon Bits.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: For the icing, mix together your White Icing and butter on high until smooth.  Taste your icing and if it's it's not sweet enough for you or too buttery add in some icing sugar. Top your cupcake with the icing using a piping bag, knife, or spoon it on - whatever you prefer.  To garnish, I sprinkled a few Bacon Bits on top, but you could go big and add 1/4 slice of fried bacon....just make sure you blot the grease off and let it cool!

Happy Faking!

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Baby's First Fancy Cupcake #8

What a surprise for JS and TC, ARC arrived a whole month early!  I hope you, Mom and Dad get to visit the Rock soon and maybe get a chance to pop over my way on your way up or back.  This Baby's First Fancy Cupcake is extra special because my two cats help me make it - or should I say deconstructed it twice.  I guess they wanted to make sure it was extra loved and extra perfect before you got it.  And as your mom pointed out, it has little blueberries just like the theme of their wedding.  I can't wait to meet you!   

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Lil' Deb Cupcake

Here's a treat inspired by a blast from the past - a classic looking old school Little Debbie Cupcake. These cupcakes are not only fun on the outside, but on the inside too with a hidden icing filling.  For this cupcake you'll need...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Chocolate Milk  (replace the amount water it calls for) 
• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (melted)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing 
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)

And now, on to the recipe...

Step 1: Sort of follow the directions on your Chocolate Cake Mix. Start by preheating your oven and add the oil and eggs...but DO NOT add the water.Replace all of the water your cake mix calls for with Chocolate Milk.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: On to the icing! Mix together your store bought Vanilla Icing and Butter on high until smooth.  Add some icing sugar if it's not sweet enough for you or just too buttery for your taste.

Step 4: Take your cooled cupcakes and, using a cupcake corer or small spoon, make a small hole in the centre.  If you're using a spoon, you may want to use a knife first to create a small circle and use a spoon to scoop it out.  Make sure you don't go too far down into the centre of your cupcake or your filling will fall out from the bottom when you unwrap it.
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Step 5: Using a spoon or piping bag, fill the centre of your cupcake with your icing.  Fill it all the way up to the top of the hole then, using a knife or spatula, spread a thin layer of icing over the top of your cupcake.  Place the cupcakes in the fridge to firm up the icing.

Step 6: While you cupcakes are chilling out, melt down your Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Using a pasty brush, brush the chocolate over the top of your cupcakes and put them aside to set.  To top off the look of your Lil' Deb Cupcake, pipe the signature Little Debbie Swirl on top of your cupcake.

Happy Faking!  

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Faking Fancy Cupcake Wedding Centrepieces #4

If you're looking for a more real looking flower centrepiece that can double as dessert, this is the perfect arrangement for you.  You can make this as fancy and elaborate as you like with leaves, butterflies and other accents, but here's the basic gist of how you create a cupcake bouquet centrepiece.

For the cupcakes, if you want to have a real looking bouquet of flowers, you'll need to have them iced to look like flowers.  Feel free to mix up the sizes of your cupcake for visual interest.

To create the bouquet you'll need:

• low rise glass cylinder vase
• half ball Styrofoam circle (that fits snug in the base of your vase)
• wooden dowels (cut down so that when you stick it in the Styrofoam an inch or so is sticking out)
• tissue paper (you can use any colour, but white is the most subtle)

Step 1: Bake, cool and ice your cupcakes.

Step 2: Cover your Styrofoam half ball with the tissue paper and place in the vase flat side down.

Step 3: Push a wooden dowel in the tissue paper wrapped half ball of Styrofoam.  Push in one dowel at a time and push a cupcake on top of the piece of dowel sticking out.  Continue sticking in dowels and cupcakes until you have covered the entire surface to your satisfaction. I start at the edge of the vase and work my way around.

Step 4: Next, add in your accents to dress it up like the leaves and butterflies in the bouquet shown above.

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Chocolate Sundae Cupcake

This is a fun cupcake you can breakout in the summer and not be afraid it will melt into a puddle.  It's also a great cupcake for those who LOVE icing.  For this recipe you'll need a few ice cream sundae fixins and...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water...but you won't need the water for this one!)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing (you may want to double your icing depending how big you want your ice cream scoop to be)
• Room Temperature Whipping Cream (enough to replace the water your cake mix calls for plus another 1/2 of a cup for your chocolate sauce)
• 1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (1/4 of a cup for your chocolate sauce and more for your icing if you'd like)
• Garnish Ides: chopped peanuts, maraschino or fresh cherries, mini coloured spoon

And here's the recipe...

Step 1: Preheat your oven as directed on the cake mix package.  Add all the ingredients your Chocolate Cake Mix calls for EXCEPT for the water.  Instead of the water, replace the called for amount with Whipping Cream - feel free to whip your cream a little before you add it. Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: While your cupcakes are cooling, start mixing your icing.  Using you mixer, throw in the Store Bought Vanilla Icing and butter on high until smooth. Give your icing a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking or too runny, add in some icing sugar. Place your icing in the fridge so that it's easy to scoop!

Step 4: Now it's time to make your chocolate sauce. You'll want to make this around 10-20 minutes before you  ice your cupcakes because you want it to be warm enough to go on easily and look like chocolate sauce.  Melt one cup of Milk Chocolate Chips in a saucepan on low.  Slowly whisk in your room temperature cream. Turn off heat and whisk in 1/4 of a cup of icing sugar (you can sift if you want, I'm lazy and didn't) and mix until smooth. Stir for a few minutes off the burner and let stand until warm (so no longer HOT).

Step 5: It's assembling time. To get the full effect of the ice cream, you'll want to use an ice cream scoop.  Using your ice cream scoop, top your cupcake with a scoop of icing.  It will be a lot of icing, so feel free to spoon some of the icing out of the centre of the scoop before adding to the top of the cupcake. For the chocolate sauce, take your lukewarm chocolate sauce and put in a piping bag with a small-medium sized tip opening or a Ziploc bag with the end cut off will work too. Drizzle the chocolate sauce on top - this sauce should be thick enough to stay where you drizzle it and firm up more once it cools. To garnish sprinkle chopped peanuts and top with a cherry.  If you wanted to get really creative you could track down little mini coloured spoons and stick them in the icing.

Happy Faking!

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Faking Fancy Cupcake Wedding Centrepieces #3

Here's a cute cupcake centrepiece that can incorporate your wedding colours, act as dessert and be used for an unconventional toast that is kid and adult approved.  For this piece you could buy or rent the glassware or simply buy some plastic glasses instead.

To create this centrepiece simply fill a Pilsner beer glass approximately half way with your favourite candy that is conveniently in the colours of your wedding.  Take your cupcake and place it in the glass on top of the candy.  To add more pizazz you could easily add a fun themed cupcake pick and  a personalized tag for each of your guests.

To bring the centrepeice together, you could place the candy and cupcake filled glassware on top of a square or circle shaped mirror, loosely wind some ribbon around the base of the glasses, add tea light candles and/or create a single flower arrangement in a larger Pilsner glass and put it in the centre of the cupcake toast glasses arrangement.

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