For the Record, This One takes the Cake!

It’s been a year exactly to this date since I posted the Elephant Cupcake entry.  Who knew that post would become, up until the triple evil devil cake, my most viewed entry?  As of today, that post has had 2,008 visits. Amazing!  In 1 week, my triple evil devil cake had 3,410 visits.  Even more amazing!  But, I digress.  Some of you may remember those elephant cupcakes.  They were pretty dang cute.  I’ve linked that post for the rest of you, or those who have already enjoyed it, to refresh your memory.   But that’s not the point of this post. 

I was once again hired to create something fun and different for Celia’s 4th birthday.  Her third birthday party theme was “Zoo Animals,” hence the Elephant Cupcakes.  She’s growing up fast and more sophisticated.  This year I was handed the theme “Dance Party/DJ.”  Albeit the dancing we’re talking about here is the Hokey Pokey and Musical Chairs, I believe I came up with a real winner this time. 

That's right, I have my own record label!

Miss Celia wanted her own chocolate cake for herself and her friends.  The vanilla and red velvet cupcakes were for the grown-ups and babies at the party. 

So, I made a record cake.  Four layers of chocolate buttermilk cake, each with an alternating color of frosting in between to match the frosting on the cupcakes.  The label was made from Wilton’s Pink Candy Melts.  I melted the pieces down over a water bath, then poured it into a stainless steel ring mold and let it set.  Before it hardened all the way, I used a pastry tip to create the center hole.  The ring was placed on a Silpat, so the label had a nice texture to it.  I’m not giving away all of my secrets here, so I’m not telling how I got the printing on the label.  A girl’s gotta have some mystery, ya’ know. 

The whole spread

Katie and I had a lot of fun with this photo shoot.  It’s a good thing we have tons of vinyl in our massive music room and concert quality speakers, to boot! 

Hand made treble clefs visually imply music

I’m sure glad I paid over $19,000 for culinary school.  How ever would I learn to temper chocolate without that training?  But temper chocolate I did and made these treble clefs and a few musical notes to top each of the cupcakes. 

Here's a pretty pink one

When Celia saw the cupcakes, the first words out of her little mouth were “Music!”  What a sweetheart.  The next utterance was, “I want that pink one!” 

I don’t know if you noticed, but all of the cupcake papers are blue, pink and green to co-ordinate with the frosting colors.  I do like to pay attention to all of the details. 

A nice shot of the blue ones

A fun shot of the green ones

I couldn’t help but notice as I’m putting this piece together that the treble clefs on both center cupcakes are dyslexic!  Guess I’m not quite as detail oriented as I fancied myself to be.  Opps! 

I thought I got them all right but, no, there's a dyslexic one in there too. Oh, snap!

One last look, just for fun

This total project was pure joy for me.  Lots of work but totally worth it, even down to the photo shoot.  Katie and I had a blast picking out the different albums to use.  Check and see if you recognise any.  I’m sure you will.  And yeah, the music was blasting the whole time.

Fall Themed Cupcakes

Today is the final day of summer. With a touch of fall in the air this morning, I decided to start working on some cupcake ideas.   The chocolate cake recipe that I use domes really big.  These cupcakes work perfectly for little pumpkins.  What do you think?

Chocolate cupcakes dressed in pumpkin costumes

Tell me if you want a step by step tutorial.  Otherwise, I’ll just keep working on new ideas.  Fall forward!

Elephant Cupcakes

I had a lot of fun making cupcakes for a special 3 year old girl’s birthday party.  The party’s theme was “Zoo Animals” and all of the children were going to be wearing animal costumes.  The birthday girl’s costume was an elephant.  Her parents ordered 2 ½ dozen cupcakes for the party and left the decorating up to me.  I decided to make individual elephant head cupcakes.  The pictures I took do not do them justice – they looked better in person.  But I just had to share them with my blog fans because they were pretty cute.

Vanilla Frosting

 

1.5 # unsalted butter, softened

2# powdered sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp vanilla

2 oz water (approximately ¼ cup)

1 tsp lemon juice

I used Wilton Brand Icing Color Black to make the frosting elephant grey.  Using a toothpick, add small amounts to the frosting until it reaches the desired color.

Here are step by step instructions on how I made the cupcakes transform into elephants

Start with a blank cupcake, frosting, pastry bags and pastry tips #804 & #124

Using tip #804, starting on the outside edge pipe frosting in circular motion moving toward the center

Beginning in the center, using even pressure, squeeze bag and move your hand slightly up and down and pulling toward your self and down, swirling up to the right when you reach the edge of the cupcake, creating the trunk

Use chocolate chip for eyes. I used bittersweet chocolate chips that were flat. If you use the chips that come to a point, place the point side down into the frosting.

Using the #124 tip, start at the top of the head where you think the ear starts and pipe sideways using a ruffling motion. This is a bit tricky, you just have to practice it until you get a feel for it.

There it is, your first elephant cupcake!

Place your elephants on a baking tray and let them chill in the refrigerator until the icing is set before packing or placing on your serving platter

There they are, ready for the party!

 

I hope you enjoyed today’s lesson.  If you have any questions or need a good cake recipe, please leave me a comment and I will be happy to help.