It's a Bird, It's a Plane, No it's - SuperCake!

Remember when you were five and your mom made character cakes for your birthday? The beaming cake is colorful and perfectly piped with a hundred little stars, and on it is your favorite super hero smiling and wishing you an amazing day! Well they make tins for that. Special baking tins. And I decided to go old school on my friend's birthday and make him one hell of a nostalgic cake.

My friend - lets call him Clark Kent - because he dresses up as Kent every Halloween, and can rattle off the top ten reasons why Superman is better than any other superhero out there without taking a breath, well it was his birthday last week. So what do you make the man who loves the man of steel? Super Cake of course!

Five Floolish April Fools Cupcakes

Time to make your April foolery sweet and tasty! Trick your friends with these fun foods that don't quite look like cake...

1) On Top of Spaghetti
For your pasta lovers bring out these savory spaghetti and meatball treats. This idea originates from the Hello, Cupcake book and has been riffed on by various pasta (aka: cake) lovers. (It's really made from raspberries and icing!) Make your own with Not Quite Nigella.

2) Corny Cupcakes
Who doesn't love corn on the cob? Particularly when the corn is really jelly bellies? Get out your corn holders and be sure to sprinkle sugar on this treat instead of salt! Get corny with Martha Stewart.


3) Burgers Baby
Fool your friends with these bite-size burgers! Nothing tastes quite like "mustard" and "ketchup" icing! Enjoy a little beef-cake with Smiley's Sweet Creations.


4) Eat your Peas and Carrots!
And your potatoes too! Another winner from the Hello, Cupcake book that is guaranteed to make your kids (and adults) eat their vegetables! Trick the eye with some starburst, caramel, and green m&ms! Be "healthy" with Eat 'n Vegan.


5) Fishy Sweets
Okay, so my last fooling food isn't actually a cupcake, but it's not quite sushi either! Make your own sweet sushi with rice crispy treats, chocolate, and papaya! Play sushi chef with Anastasia.


Have a sweet - and foolish - April Fools Day!

Pineapple Upsidedown Lemon Cake

What do you do when you have two friends, one birthday party, and two favorite flavors of cake? Do you make two cakes for the same party? Doesn't that seem a little excessive? Not to mention a whole bunch-o-work!

I say let the inventing begin! Find out their favorite flavors and play mad-cake-scientist! It's Alive! It's Alive! It's....

Okay...it's only pineapple upside down lemon cake, I didn't bring anything back from the dead. But that doesn't mean a sweet cake concoction doesn't deserve its own lightning bolts and dramatic music!

I also decorated my monsterous cake with some white chocolate bark and piped butter cream icing. But this type of cake can be served without any decoration or icing at all.

Time to electrify your own friends with your own crazy cakes! And if you dare go a head and try some:


Pineapple Upsidedown Lemon Cake

Ingredients:
1 pkg lemon cake mix
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup oil
1 can pineapple rings (drained)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
8-10 maraschino cherries

Directions:

1) Over medium heat, melt brown sugar and butter in a sauce pan until the sugar dissolves.
2) Pour mixture into a greased or stick-free cake pan.
3) Arrange pineapple rings and maraschino cherries in a single layer on top of the mixture. I like to put a cherry inside each ring.
4) Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
5) Combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and water and whisk.
6) Pour batter on top of the pineapple rings and sugar mixture.
7) Bake for until a toothpick comes out of the center of the cake clean (approx. 35-40 min or use time recommended on cake mix).
8) Let cake cool in the pan for another 10-20 minutes.
9) Flip cake out onto a serving platter. The cake will have some juices from the pineapple, so be careful.
10) Eat!

Special thanks to Russell Gearhart Photography

Dutch Babies for Breakfast!

You're eating babies for breakfast? You bet I am! And they are deeeeeelicious!

A dutch baby is a pancake made from eggs, flour, milk, and butter. They are a variation of the German Pancake which is baked in the oven. The term dutch baby is said to be named by the daughter of a Seattle restaurant owner (in the 1900's), after the cake creation became a staple of the restaurant's repertoire.

Bake your own baby with the following recipe:

Dutch Baby Recipe
(makes one dutch baby)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup flour

Directions:
1. Heat oven at 425 degrees.
2. Mix eggs, milk, and flour in a bowl.
3. Put butter in a 2 to 3 quart pan and let it melt in the oven. I suggest a glass pie dish. I've found this rises and distributes heat the best.
4. Add batter to pan once the butter is melted.
5. Let bake till puffy brown. Approximately 20 - 25 minutes.
6. Serve immediately as dutch baby will loose it's fluffy look as it cools.

Topping:
The traditional topping for a dutch baby is powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. I also like to add some maple syrup.

Rockin' Elvis Cupcakes

According to rock-legend-lore, it is said that the King had an appetite for peanut butter and banana sandwiches. In some circles, it is said the sandwich was fried, in other circles are tales of bacon bits sprinkled between bites of bread. But in the cupcake circle this tall tale or true bit of trivia has translated into the - always delicious - Elvis Cupcake.

Everyone's Elvis is different, but the basic requirement is to make a cupcake that includes banana and peanut butter. So I put on my blue suede shoes and went to town! In my version of the King's confection, we have banana cake, with a peanut butter frosting, and a chocolate Elvis signature topper! Thank you very much!

Make your own musical magic (in cake) with the following recipe:

Elvis Cupcakes
(makes approximately 18)

Banana Cake Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Banana Cake Directions:
1) Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2) In a large mixing bowl cream shortening and sugar. I suggest using a stand mixer.
3) Add eggs and vanilla and mix.
4) In a new bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5) Add to larger bowl (with contents from steps 1 and 2) the bananas, dry ingredients, and buttermilk. I suggest doing this in a rotating fashion (first bananas, then dry ingredients, then buttermilk). Do this in three installments each, mixing between each addition.
6) Line cupcake tray with paper liners and fill each 2/3 full.
7) Bake cupcakes at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Frosting:
You will need one recipe of butter cream frosting. Follow the directions in my post about how to make butter cream frosting and simply add 1/2 cup of peanut butter (or more if you want more flavor). You will also need an additional 1 or 2 tbsp of water to help make a smooth consistency of frosting.

To Make Elvis Decals:
1) Melt down some cooking chocolate in a double boiler.
2) When chocolate is liquid, pour into a parchment icing liner.
3) Snip a small hole in the tip of the parchment liner and squeeze out the chocolate. Write cursive Elvis signatures onto a clean sheet of parchment paper.
4) Let cool in the fridge for 5 minutes, then use to top your cupcakes!

Of course, if you aren't in a rock-n-roll mood, you can always just make banana cupcakes with the recipe above, which are super delicious as well!

Elvis himself once said - "Do what's right for you, as long as it don't hurt no one." And what I've gotta do...is bake!

Special thanks for the glamorous photos by Russell Gearhart Photography.

Guinness Cupcakes with Irish Cream Frosting

How will you celebrate this St. Patrick's Day?

"How green is your beer?" The Irish (and non-Irish alike) reply. Yes, many of us will be lining up at the pub for a pint or two of green gold. But to that I say:

"How drunk is your cupcake?"

Huh?

Yes, even the illusive leprechauns perked up their ears at that one. Sure, green beer is a St. Patrick's Day staple. Drink your green beer baby. But that doesn't mean your cake has to be the designated driver. In fact, I dare you to intoxicate your cake (and make new friends - lots of new friends) with the fantastic Guinness cupcake recipe below. Chocolate + beer = St. Patrick's Day Bliss! Not to mention the Bailey's Irish Cream frosting, which is worthy of a limerick or two!


Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
Makes approximately 20-24 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
4 oz (1/2 cup) unsalted softened butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 bottle (12 fl. oz) Guinness Stout (1 1/2 cups)

Cupcake Directions:
1) Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2) Line cupcake tins with paper liners
3) In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4) In a bowl or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter until light and fluffy.
5) Add sour cream and beat in.
6) With the mixer running slowly, pour in the Guinness.
7) Sift the dry ingredients into the batter and slowly stir until it is evenly mixed. Be sure to scrape down the sides so everything is mixed in.
8) Divide the batter up into cupcake liners.
9) Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.


Bailey's Cream Cheese Frosting
(It takes aprox. 1 and 1/2 batches of the following recipe to cover 24 cupcakes generously.)

Frosting Ingredients:
1 8 oz. bar of cream cheese, softened
1 4 oz. stick of unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioner's sugar
4-6 tablespoons of Bailey's Irish Cream

Frosting Directions:
1) Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, put cream cheese, butter, and sugar into the bowl and beat until fully. Slowly drizzle in the Bailey's. More Bailey's will add more flavor but will also make the frosting more watery. Beat until the Bailey's is completely incorporated into the frosting.

Feel free to decorate your cupcakes with some chocolate coins or use an idea from my previous post: Ten Cleverly Clover Cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Special thanks to the leprechauns at Russell Gearhart Photography.

Ten Cleverly Clover Cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day

Kiss Me I make cupcakes (and I'm not Irish)!

That's right, we don't have to be Irish to green-up some cake for St. Patrick’s day do we? Not if we’re lucky, (and a little cake-crafty). I’m betting if we use some of the ideas below no one will care if we’re I-rish when we can provide the De-lish.

So get ready to chase the rainbow with cupcakes in hand, because before you know it all the leprechauns in your life will be after yee lucky cupcakes!

1) Keepin’ it Classic with Clovers
Start simple and class up a vanilla cupcake with some found clovers. Make sure you wash off the clovers before decorating! Made by Martha: Martha Stewart


2) Shamrock-Wow!
Pinch and decorate your cupcake tops with three leafs. Throw in a little licorice stick (green of course) for a stem and Wow! Sham-rock-tabulous! You could also use three mini cupcakes for a similar effect. This creative concept comes from: Fun Family Stuff



3) Gummy and Green
Make your own sugar shamrocks with some green gumdrops and a little luck. All you need is a small heart shaped cookie-cutter and you’ll be sculpting your own St. Paddy’s day sweets. Gummy-licous guidelines come from: Disney’s Family Fun Magazine



4) Find a Pot of Gold
Plant a pot of gold on top of your cupcake with chocolate foil-wrapped coins and rainbow hard-sugars. Super easy with winning results! Chase the rainbow with Zen Cupcake.


5) I’m Green on the Inside
Sometimes it's not about what’s on top of the cake, but what’s on the inside! It’s time to Green-up your cake with this Green Velvet Recipe from the Party Blueprints Blog.


6) Taste the Rainbow
If green is too bland, you can dazzle up your inner cupcake-self with stunning rainbow cake. Mix food coloring into your batter and layer it into each liner. Make cupcakes with Baking Bites or a whole cake with Ingrid!


7) Leprechaun Cupcakes
If you’re feeling fondant fabulous sculpt your own little leprechaun lads to decorate your cakes! This one was made by The Cupcake Gallery.


8) The Irish Love Tea
Looking for a little Zen in your St. Patrick’s celebration? Go eclectic with green tea bubble cream-filled cupcakes and a green tea frosting! Yum! Find Cupcake-n'-lightenment with this recipe from Chockylit and the Cupcake Blog.


9) Me Cake's A'hrr Minty and Deeeeelicious!
Celebrate with green frosting, piped clovers, and the perfect pairing of mint and chocolate! Minty and scrumptious! Recipe from Bon Appetit.


10) Kiss me I’m Irish (or make cupcakes)
Put on some green food coloring, pucker up and kiss away…or use a stamp and a food coloring marker like Two Parts Sugar did!


What about the Booze?
Of course we all know that St. Patrick's day is really an excuse to drink. So don’t let your cake be the designated driver. Intoxicate your cake with a little beer flavor. Look for my next post (coming this weekend) when I make Guinness Cupcakes!