Flavour of the Month - March 2012

With spring springing and reminding us that there is life beyond random bouts of snow and thermal underwear, it is time to celebrate not just Mother Nature but mums everywhere.  This Mothers Day, why not give your mum the opportunity to have her flowers and eat them?

Rose

A classic symbol of all types of love, these are probably the most popular flowers make for cupcakes.  For a video demonstrating how to make fondant roses, there is a link on the post for Erin’s Birthday Cake.

The aptly named Violet here shows how to ice a butter cream rose, including leaves, straight onto a cupcake.

Another example of a butter cream rose minus the leaves, this video is slower and shows the method more clearly.

Daisy

Reminiscent of carefree childhood days in which a chain of these was an acceptable present, these are perhaps one of the most appropriate flowers for a Mother’s Day cupcake.  While they look more fiddly than the roses, they are very effective and not too tricky.

Chrysanthemum

For those green-fingered mothers who are simply not satisfied with a traditional rose, the exceptionally happy Tengsern here shows how to ice a chrysanthemum onto a cupcake.

Sunflower

The perfect flower for a playful cupcake, this video shows how to ice a sunflower using a fairly simple method which will please fans of Oreos and butter cream icing.  No ladybirds were injured in the making of this video.

Bow

If your mum is not a flower fan, or suffers from severe hay fever brought on by iced imitations, this pretty fondant bow is a lovely alternative cupcake topper.

Still struggling for inspiration? Here are some of my favourite mother's day cakes to give you some ideas.  Click each image to visit the original website and discover more cake creations.

Gardener's World

Returning to the floral garden theme, this pastel-coloured garden cake is feminine without being, childish.  Particularly delightful are the little details, such as the flower on the cuff of the glove and the ladybirds.

I love you sew much

This careful construction is a spectacular tribute to those mothers who prefer sewing fabric over seeds.  Another example of the beauty in fine details, this has a tape measure, cotton reels and buttons to complete the picture.

Mum's the word

Finally, for those who like to court controversy, this is a tongue-in-cheek reminder of the reason mothers deserve a break; just make sure she is feeling suitably well-treated when you bring it out. 

Happy Mothers Day to all mums reading, and particularly my own mum, Julie.

Need to remind someone of this important fact?
Buy the handy magnet here. 

Flavour of the Month - February 2012

The wind may be chilly but things in the kitchen are hotting up: Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and as bakers well know, the way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach.  So whether you need inspiration for your baker or your baking, here a few suggestions.

Heart-shaped measuring spoons

Help the baker in your life put some love into their food with these heart-shaped measuring spoons.  While these hold amounts from a quarter of a teaspoon to a tablespoon, there is a larger version which holds 60ml to 250ml.

Click here to spread the love.

Jigsaw Heart Cookie Cutter

This clever two-part cutter offers a fun variation on heart-shaped cookies; perfect for creating Valentine’s Day cookies for sharing.

Click here for a piece of the action.

Bake Me I'm Yours... Cupcake Love by Zoe Clark

Are you in need of some inspiration for those perfect Valentine’s Day cupcakes?  Fear not; this book offers original recipes and decorative suggestions, which also makes it the perfect gift for a beloved baker.

Click here for some lovely cupcake ideas.

Red Heart Cupcake Wrapper

These cupcake wrappers are a stylish way to inject a bit of romance into some Valentine’s Day cupcakes.  Planet Bake offers a wide variety of cupcake decorations, including pretty boxes and toppers.

Click here to see what's on offer.

You're My Cupcake Kit

If you are looking to create a uniform look for your Valentine’s Day cupcakes, this kit contains twenty four cases in two designs and twenty four toppers in three designs.

Click here and you're all set.

How to pipe a rose

Once the cases are sorted it is time to think about the tastiest decoration: the icing!  This quick video shows you a simple method for piping a rose design onto your cupcakes.

Click here to see how it's done.

Have a lovely Valentine's Day!

Flavour of the Month - December 2011

As the sound of advent calendars being opened for the first time could be heard across the country, everyone braced themselves for the official start of Christmas.  Although seasonal offerings have been sneakily popping into shops, radios and cinemas since about mid-October, we could now start enjoying the build up to the most wonderful time of the year.  Tree up, presents wrapped and cards written, the next job is what to make for dessert.  To help you with this important process, here are some of my favourite festive accessories to help you create your Christmas masterpieces.

Festive Cupcake Cases

Cheerful Christmas-themed cases are a necessity for any seasonal cupcake.  While cheerful snowmen may not be the most traditional aspect of Christmas, the light blue background and tumbling snowflakes go well with snowy white icing and add a touch of brightness to the red, green and gold of Christmas.

Buy the snowmen cases here.

Edible glitter

Vital in the creation of any mini Winter Wonderland, this edible glitter will add a touch of sparkle to your cupcakes and give the impression of snow.  It is also widely available in other colours, including red, gold and silver.

Buy the Snow White Magic Sparkles here and search the site for other colours.

Christmas cupcake toppers

Aside from all the fun, mince pies and general merriment, Christmas is one of the busiest times of year.  If you are just too busy searching for that perfect Christmas jumper for grandad and the ideal bubble bath for mum, invest in some ready-made cupcake toppers to polish off your Christmas treats.  These adorable penguins would go well with the snowman cases and snowy icing, but there are lots of different choices to go with.

Buy the penguins and search for others here.

Kenwood mixer

As much as I love snow, it is not a white Christmas I will be dreaming of this year.  If you have been a very good baker in 2011, you might be hoping Santa will slip one of these into your socking.  Looking hot in raspberry red, it even co-ordinates with the festive season.  Say goodbye to arm ache and showers of icing sugar and hello to elegantly waiting for your gorgeous gadget to do the hard work for you.

Check out this and other colours here.

Cupcake t shirt

If you want to share your love of cupcakes with the wider world you can be a proud ambassador in this colourful t shirt.  A must-have on any baker’s Christmas list, it won’t make your cakes taste better but you will look cool.

Buy it here.

Amazing Christmas cupcakes

Finally, for a real treat have a look at these beautiful Christmas-themed cupcakes.  Although I don’t think I could bear to eat the little cat or the slightly gormless but adorable penguin, let alone make them, they definitely inject some festive joy and provide some truly seasonal inspiration.  

View them in all their glory here.

Have a very Merry cake-filled Christmas!

Flavour of the Month - November 2011

November traditionally sees the leaves fall off the trees, the temperature outside drop a further ten degrees and a flood of premature Christmas merchandise flood the shops.  On the nineteenth, it also sees my brother, sister and I jump excitedly out of our beds, plough through our presents and blow out the candles on our birthday cake.  This year will be our twenty first birthday, and to celebrate I chose to honour my University course in English and American Literature by being English and having an American-themed party.  In order to get into to the spirit, I have donned my cowgirl hat, dug out my flaming torch of progress and found four American dream cakes:

1.      Surprise Stars and Stripes Cake

Besides the cheerfully patriotic banner, from the outside this cake looks fairly modest.  Cut into it and we discover the hidden secret – a beautiful stars and stripes cake!  The picture is from an incredibly creative event planner’s website, which you can access by clicking on the image below.  For details on how to make the cake, visit this website which has written instructions and a link to a very helpful video.  Hands over your hearts, everyone.

2.      Two Tiered Flag Cake

A second appearance for the famous flag, this cake is a little more over the top than the previous one.  Although the, er, stars and stripes should have made it obvious, the highly informative stars bursting out of the top leave us in no doubt as to the nationality of this cake.  Follow the link on the picture for this and a host of other very creative Independence Day-themed cakes, although be prepared; if you have an aversion to red, white and blue, give it a miss.

3.      Barack Obama Cake

Can we find a cake in the shape of Barack Obama?  Yes, we can.  In an original but slightly terrifying take on dessert, here is the President presented in cake form.  Although one can only hope that Obama spends his time as deep in thought as this cake’s pensive expression suggests, he might be slightly bemused by this caricature.  Grab some red, white and blue balloons, add a few candles and you have a potential present for the man who has everything: Happy birthday, Mr President!

4.      New York City Three Tiered Cake

Last but by no means least is my personal favourite.  While I generally believe in keeping fruit and cake firmly apart, this representation of the Big Apple is stunning.  From the skyline to the Statue of Liberty, the details make you want to look and look, and I love the cute yellow taxis.  The apple on top even looks good enough to pick up, shine and take a bit out of – assuming it is chocolate, of course.

Flavour of the Month - October 2011

Everyone knows that the most important part of October is at the end, and that it is just an excuse to dress up, eat treats and generally have a great time.  Halloween will soon be upon us, and there are a couple of goodies I've got my eye on.

Halloween Cupcake Cases

Accessorize, £2.50 for 20

They contain cake, are apparently encased in a bat and are covered in frightfully cheerful-looking skulls: what's not to love about these lovely Halloween cupcake cases? With these in your kitchen, everyone will be wanting a treat.
Buy them here.

Haunted House Cupcake Stand

Accessorize, £10

It's no trick, this clever and kitsch novelty cake stand will set your cupcakes off in fiendishly fun style.  An almost scarily cool centrepiece for any Halloween party.
Buy it here.