Ice-cream Cupcakes

As summer leaves us and Autumn blows in I've started to hanker down.

Jumpers out...check!

Thick duvets on...check!

Autumnal spices and other seasonal goods drooled over...double-check!

Summer this year was great...we played in the garden, walked the dogs, picked berries, went to adventure parks and played played played. It was brilliant and as such this years Summer deserves it's very own cupcake creation.

And what better way to show your appreciation for long hot days in the garden with the family than Ice-cream cupcakes?

I've made these cupcakes for two reasons...

1. To celebrate the fab British summer we had this year!
2. My eldest baby is now officially at school and I don't know if I'm quite ready to let go of his toddler years...hence the cute cupcakes.

Here's how you make these beautiful little cakes for your favourite people...they deserve it :-) xx

1. Take your favourite vanilla sponge and butter-cream recipe 
2. Fill your cones to the line below the stars (see above pic)
3. Place the cones into a mini cupcake tin to steady them whilst baking.
4. Bake at 180/160 fan/GM4 for 20-25 minutes.
5. When baked leave to cool on a rack, so the base doesn't go soggy.
6. When cooled swirl your vanilla frosting onto the cupcake and decorate as you wish.

I used wafer curls and hundred & thousands. A flake and chocolate sauce would be awesome too!!

This recipe makes 12 cones.

I have linked this recipe up to the Calendar Cakes Challenge for September hosted by Laura Loves Cakes which this month is CUPCAKES.

Head on over the check it out!

Happy Thursday!

xx Kat xx 

Classic Valentines Cupcakes

I'm starting off this years Valentines bakes with the classic cupcake ~ I am the Cupcake Baker after all!

As it's Valentines day soon I thought I'd be really original ~ or not ~ and use Red Velvet. My last attempt to make my own Red Velvet didn't go very well as I couldn't get the bright red colour I was looking for, click here to check it out.

This time I decided to make it from a box (saves time) I used Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix - Red Velvet

That bad boy rises!!! Thought I was gonna make a mess in my oven!!!

Also...I made the roses atop the cakes with sweets, I came across the idea by reading one of my favourite blogs Confessions of a Cookbook Queen to check out how she does it click here.

These are the tools I used and what I did...

1. Roll the Winders up until you get the size of rose you want, the wobblier the better.
2. Roll small, equal sizes of green Chewits into balls.
3. Shape balls into teardrops.
4. Press Teardrop from the tip to the rounded edge with the wider end of the modelling tool, pulling down slightly.
5. Gently scrape the leaf off your surface and place under the rose on either side. 

This is what you'll get...

I also tinted some Lemon Frosting pink (to match the Valentines theme) and piped a nice swirl.

ET VOILA ~ say hello to this pretty lady...

Until next time.

xx Kat xx

I've linked this recipe to the Valentines hoosierhomemade link party.

Also.....

I'm entering this beautiful dessert to Calendar Cakes as hosted by Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes this months it's all about love. Head on over to this months host Dolly Bakes and check it out.

My Favourite Bakes So Far....

As most of you know I had another bambini 3 months ago so now I have 3 children and no time! Life is hectic...and I'm slightly disorganised/lazy.

I know you've been neglected over the last few months so I've decided to make it up to you by giving you a peek at my 10 bestest bakes since I started my blog. YOU'RE WELCOME :-) 

Click on the pictures to go to get the recipes........

I made these for my beloved hubby for Val Day, he loves tasting my bakes...good job as there are lots of them. 

Another Hubby special...yes his name is Brad.

These are sooo cute, I made these tiny flowers while watching TV one night. It takes a long time but is really relaxing.

A Christmas special for my team at work, they tasted just like a Terry's Chocolate Orange!

These cakes were commissioned by a friend for her grandson's birthday, it was only my second time modelling fondant...can you tell?!

My first cake ball/truffle attempt. I surprised myself with how great these were!

Another cake for my work colleagues and another big hit!!

My dad gave me this cupcake mould for Xmas and so I made some tea cupcakes...made sense to me.

Cute cute cute!! I could eat these all day every day.

For my friends niece and my first go at using a finger surround. Very effective!

I hope you've enjoyed my round-up.

Until next time...

xx Kat xx

Baking Mad Olympic Torch Cupcakes

Being a Brit, a blogger and missing the boat on the Jubilee is pretty shameful, but missing the Olympics too would just be completely pants of me, to be honest! 


So I went a'hunting for some Olympic cupcake fun, I wanted a kid friendly little something that isn't your typical cupcake. 

Guess what I found in the cupcake recipe section of Baking Mad.com!! 

Askeys Torch Cupcakes 

PERFECT!!! (I've been eyeing up the Askeys cones in my local supermarket for months) 

Instead of using plain vanilla sponge I coloured it red "Tres Flamey" and instead of red icing with white icing I used orange, red and yellow "Uber Flamey". I also really wanted to spray the cones gold, but as my kids were hanging off my legs I completely forgot this part!! :-/

I had no idea that you can actually bake the batter in the cone!! Thought you had to bake it in a case then remove case and plop cake in the cone....is it just me who's a complete idiot?!?! All you need to do is pop them in a mini cupcake tin (they fit perfectly!) and bake. For all you non-believers ~ as I was ~ here's a piccies..........












For the recipe please go HERE

The boys were most impressed with their Olympic Torches (even hubby munched one)

As the Olympics are all about "Inspiring the next generation" I decided to let the sprogs "help", there are no pics of this great event as I was far too stressed to take any!!

NOTE TO SELF ~ Don't let kids help when I care about the outcome!!

Anyhoo as I had some batter and icing left over I made some cute mini's to carry the boys through the rest of the week. Aren't I the best mummy ever :-)

Also on my Baking Mad travels I found the How To Make Pancakes Tutorial..... I know, it's not cupcakey, but me and the boys LOVE pancakes for brekkie, as hubby leaves at 6am and hates pancakes.....I KNOW!! I'm always on the hunt for the prefect pancake. The tutorial is fab and really easy to follow. Never thought of making a paste first but it makes total sense if you want a smooth batter. 

I love the kitchen they use in the tutorial too, it's just as I want my new kitchen to look!! I'll post a before and after kitchen make-over so you can see how I did :-) 

I hope you're all enjoying the Olympics as much as I am!!

xx Kat xx

Tea Anyone?

I've had my Tea Cupcakes moulds since Christmas. My dad and his girlfriend loaded me up with loads of cakey stuff, was fab!!!

I was thinking of doing a slightly different drink flavoured cupcake in the cup but I decided on green tea as I've never made a tea infused cake before. I've seen lots of them, but never done my own.

As you know I haven't baked for quite a few months so today has been a little tense for me, not sure exactly why ~ my kids aren't here and the OCD hubby is working. Returning to baking nerves methinks.

To make these YUMMY cakes is very simple!! All I did was use my Vanilla Cupcake recipe, but instead of using normal semi-skimmed milk I used green tea infused milk on both the sponge and icing :-)

I guess you want to know how I infused the milk.......

Well ok then!

Infusing milk, this is how I did it......

1. Pour 1/2 cup of semi-skimmed milk into a microwaveable jug, pop in 2 green teabags. Cook on full power in the microwave for 2 mins or until bubbling hot!
2. Leave to cool.
3. When cool enough to touch take out both teabags, cut the top off one of them and spoon out about 1/2 the tea leaves and stir into the milk. 
4. When completely cool use the milk as you would normally. 

Also I used a little bit of green colour paste, in both the sponge and icing, to enhance the green. Check it out....

I have to say I was a bit worried about the taste as I HATE GREEN TEA!!!! But.... these taste fantastic!! I was really surprised at how much I like them.

You must make them!

That's an order!

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

3 Tier Chocolate & Caramel Cupcakes

Sorry that I haven't posted for a long time guys. I've been ill over the last few weeks (more on that later).

I know I know, lots of my cakes recently have centred around chocolate.

I work with what I have....ok? Good :-) 

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes & this months "We Should Cocoa" entry

HAPPY DECEMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

I am so friggin' excited!! December my favourite month, winter is my favourite time of year. 

All the towns and cities have their Xmas lights up, it's cold (perfect for snuggling), I can go shopping without getting told off by the fella and the food is crazy good!!! :-) 

Dino Cupcakes

My friend asked me to make dinosaur cupcakes for her grandsons 3rd birthday party.

Never done dino before, so why not?!?

Me and the kids have been ill all week and I was supposed to have the cakes done and delivered by Saturday ~ que Friday night......

Chocolate Cupcakes for Grandad's 70th

Last week was my first back to work *crys* it was also the week of major birthdays (manic doesn't quite cover it). Aunty P was 90 and my Grandad was 70 ~ It baffles my mind to think that Aunty P was 20 when my Grandad was born!! 

This is how my week went......

New baby Girl, Great Aunt's 90th & Halloween Weekend

So here I am, home alone on the scariest weekend of the year. Hubby has gone out to watch Paranormal Activity 3 with his brother. The kids are in bed, well, I say in bed but I can hear some thumping and chatting coming from Harvey's room so either......

• My boy is possessed!! eeeek!! (not such a stretch tonight)

or

• The little monster is playing when he should be sleeping. 

I am totally freaked out! Just before my hubby left me, all alone, our microwave blew up (No exaggeration!! The thing popped and there was smoke!!)

Then, about 10 minutes later all our lights went out!!

Luckily Bradders was on hand to save the day ~ Before he buggered off and left me to fight the ghosts, vampires and zombies by myself, Damon Salvatore excluded "swit-swoo, you naughty vampire!!"

Anyhoo, back to the cakies......

I was absolutely delighted when my friend text to say she had given birth to a beautiful baby girl on Tuesday, we are going to visit them tomorrow and I am keeping my, freaking out, mind busy by baking her some girly cakes. 

Also it's my Great Aunt-in-laws (a mouthful, I know) 90th birthday next Thursday so I am also taking her over a few cakes. 

Aunt and friend live in the same town, just so ya know.

I haven't got the time to do two different flavoured cakes so I've plumped for my Vanilla Cupcakes and decorated them differently. 

So here's my One Cake Two Ways

Aunty P's Vanilla Cake (she can't have too much icing)

Have a great Halloween guys.

xx Kat xx

My entry for this months WE SHOULD COCOA Challenge

Say hello to my entry for this months WE SHOULD COCOA challenge.

This month challenge is to come up with a recipe that includes both Chocolate and Chilli. It's not a cupcake challenge. The founders of the challenge are Choclette of Chocolate Log Blog and Chele of Chocolate Teapot as you can guess they are chocolate blogs. If you want to have a go to make absolutely ANYTHING that includes chocolate and chilli and enter it yourself, please visit Choclette for all the details and rules.

Impromptu Chococino Cupcakes

Picture this......

Me, in my lounge, lazily sipping at my coffee while Harvey plays and makes Preston laugh his cute baby chuckle. Hmmmm.... I could sit like that for hours.

The time ~ 1:15pm.

Blackberry Cupcakes ~ Seasonal Stuff :-)

It's well worth making the effort to use in season ingredients because...... 1) Superior taste 2) It's cheap/free 3) Doing your bit for the environment.

Banana Daiquiri Cupcakes ~ My entry for Augusts British Cupcake Challenge 2011

So I was searching the net for a fun cupcakey style something to give me an excuse to keep baking ~ this is due to my hubby getting fed up of me baking for no reason and, as he puts it, "crapping up the kitchen!!" Anyway I got a bit bored so checked out my flickr page (yes I am on flickr). I was looking at cupcakey groups and found the British Cupcake Challenge 2011. At the beginning of every month they give you some ingredients and you have to create yummy tasting/looking cupcakes, post the picture of the finished cupcakes to the group, then wait to be judged at the end of the month!!

Lemon Cupcakes

They called him Mellow Yellow!!

This is the second half of my nieces birthday cakes.

This is how this pretty little monkey is made...

Lemon Sponge ~ makes 12
150g butter
150g caster sugar
150g self raising flour
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp lemon juice

• Preheat oven to 180/gas mark 4.
• Line 12 hole muffin tin with 12 cases.
• Cream the butter.
• Add sugar and mix on low until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time making sure the first is fully incorperated before adding the next.
• Add the lemon juice.
• Add the flour and baking powder and mix until just incorperated.
• Fill cases 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 mins.
• When baked take out of tin and leave on cooling rack until completely cooled.

Lemon Frosting
100g butter
300g icing sugar
4-5 tbsp lemon juice

• Cream the butter.
• Add the icing 100g at a time, mixing in fully before each addition.
• Add the juice, mix.
• When juice is incorperated put the mixer on medium for 3 mins.

Frost as desired, I did a swirl and sprinkled with pink sugar.

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

p.s This is the finished cake stand :-)

Old Favourite - Coffee & Walnut :-)

It was my father-in-law's birthday on 10th so I made him his favourite cake, Coffee & Walnut - well actually I made two and had leftovers so made some cupcakes too :-)

These are the two cakes... I apologise for the poor icing technique!! This is my first attempt at frosting an entire cake (confectionery course is desperately needed methinks!!)

The sponge on these beauties is amazing!! Really Walnutty with a definite crunch to it....perfect in my book :-)

Here's how.....

Walnut Sponge makes 1 cake + 6 cupcakes or 24 cupcakes
250g butter
250g caster sugar
250g self raising flour
4 large eggs
200g walnut pieces
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup semi-skimmed milk

• Preheat oven to 180/gas mark 4.
• Grease and base-line 2x 20cm sandwich tins.
• Cream the butter on low.
• Keeping the mixer on low mix in the sugar.
• Put the walnuts in a hand-held elec chopper and chop until fine (almost powder) don't worry if there are larger pieces at the top - these add to the texture of the finished sponge - just make sure they're no bigger than a mini smartie.
• When butter and sugar mixture is light and fluffy add the eggs one at a time, making sure one is fully incorperated before adding the next.
• Add the vanilla.
• When the vanilla is fully incorperated sift in half the flour and baking powder, take the bowl off the mixer and fold this in gently by hand.
• Add half the milk and fold this in.
• Repeat with the rest of the flour and milk.
• Add the walnuts and fold in gently until evenly distributed.
• Fill both sandwich tin 2/3's full.
• Place in the over for 25-30mins - if you move them too early they will sink in the middle.
• When baked, place tins on cooling rack for 10mins, then take the cakes out of the tins and place on racks to cool completely.

If you have any batter left over throw some cupcake cases in a muffin tin and fill them 2/3's full until all the batter is used, I got 6 :-) - place these in the oven for 20 - 25 mins.

Coffee Frosting
200g butter
600g icing sugar
1 tbsp semi skimmed milk
4 tbsp very strong coffee (to make the coffee, pour 1/4 cup boiling water into jug, add 6 tsp coffee granules, mix and set aside to cool)

• Cream the butter on low.
• Add the icing sugar 100g at a time.
• Add the milk and the coffee and mix on medium speed for 3 mins until light and fluffy.

This makes enough to ice your cupcakes too :-)

Et Voila!!

Oldie but a goodie!! NOM NOM NOM

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

White Chocolate Cupcakes

Cake Recipe - makes 12
150g caster sugar
150g butter
150g self raising flour
1tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk

1st attempt Red Velvet Cupcakes, with Raspberry Buttercream & jelly lips :-)

It's tricky to know what to take to a lingerie party, most people take booze, which is fine, but there's always too much; or no-one takes anything as they want to take booze but think everyone else will be doing the same.

So I'm like... "I'm taking cupcakes" and there was booze a'plenty and cakes for everyone, plus sneaky seconds - perfect!!

Peanut-Butter Chocolate Cupcakes & Mr Froggy

This morning we had a visitor..........

Look how small he is next to Harvey!!!!

Coco Caramel Cupcakes

My cupcakes have become famous amoung my work colleagues, so when it was time for my first "keeping in touch" day (days I can go into work while I'm on maternity leave) I decided that I would try a new flavour and bribe the lot of them to be nice to me :-)