Baker's Delight

I have really been neglecting this blog lately, but I am really hoping to change that over the next year. I have had creative blocks in my mind for a while, and in my life … but now thanks to family life getting back to “normal” a little, and having fallen into more of a routine than was the case for the last 2 years…that has started to change for the better.

I wanted to share some cakes and cupcakes I’ve made over the last few months. I was really into cakes for a while, but I have gotten really frustrated with my lack of skills in that arena. I plan in the coming year to take some intensive decorating classes, but until then…I will probably stick more to cupcakes. They are fun, and I can play around with flavors and fillings, plus they are easy to pretty up without getting too frustrated! I am going to try to go through my files to find the recipes I used for these - but sometimes I end up just taking a basic recipe and tweaking it (or winging it, as i like to call it!).


This is one of the few cakes that I really think turned out pretty well. It was a "Minion" cake for my son who was having a Despicable Me birthday party. I can see the flaws of course, but being that it was my first ever 3-D cake, and my first ever fondant covered cake, I am pretty proud of this one. He's pretty cute! It's made up of 3 6" layers (White Almond Sour Cream, Root Beer, Chocolate) and one 1/2 ball (Root Beer again, his favorite). Covered in homemade marshmallow fondant.


Another cake I was pretty proud of. This one is just a basic lemon layer cake, but I made it to try out I am Baker's rose cake design. Beautiful. Even though I can see the flaws...for my first try I think it is a really pretty presentation and not difficult at all.

 Death By Chocolate cupcakes...Dark chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache filling, and white chocolate frosting. Topped with a chocolate-covered espresso bean. Here is the cupcake recipe (note, I did not use the frosting from this recipe for this cupcake). And here is the recipe for white chocolate buttercream.

For the Ganache Filling, here is the recipe I used:
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar

Place chocolate, cream, and confectioners' sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high power until mixture is warm to the touch, 20-30 seconds. Whisk until smooth and transfer to the refrigerator. Let stand until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.

 

 Strawberry Shortcake cupcake - shortcake based cupcake that was only faintly sweet, filled with fresh strawberry filling and topped with strawberry buttercream and milk crumbs. Here is the recipe for the cupcake & frosting. I used the filling recipe from here. And here is the recipe for the milk crumbs (might have been the best part!!).

 Lemon meringue cupcakes - lightly flavored lemon cake with homemade lemon curd filling, topped with meringue.Here is the recipe.

These were lemon cupcakes with fresh blueberry buttercream frosting, made for my daughter's butterfly-themed birthday party. Here is the recipe (I added more blueberry to my frosting...clearly. We love blueberries around here!)

Blue velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, made for my son's Indianapolis Colts themed birthday party. These were a big hit! Here is the recipe!

‘Tis the season, and this year I have really been in a creative kind of mood, so stay tuned - I have been working on a lot of non-baking projects I will be posting about soon!

Until then - let the peace and creativity flow!
Mariah ♥