This is a classic foolproof cake that is at once delicious and nutrition. If you are looking for a birthday cake that is different from those commercially available, try this cake would bring extra sparkle to the birthday child's eye!
For an 18cm cake and a smaller top tier, just make 1½ times this recipe.
Ingredients: 150g margarine
200g plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ teaspoon mixed spice
Pinch of salt
1 cup grated raw carrot
½ cut chopped canned pineapple
4 eggs
230g brown sugar
200g ground almonds
Method:
Melt margarine in a pan over gentle heat. Leave to cool.
Sieve flour, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and salt together twice.
One of the cutest cupcake ideas around is the amazing life like cupcake bouquets. These yummy cupcake bouquets are so deceiving they look just like flowers. Cupcake bouquets can be used for any gift giving occasion or a centerpiece for a wedding to display unique wedding cupcake ideas.
Use this step-by-step guide to create your own cupcake bouquet idea surprise:
Supplies
1. One Styrofoam Ball with a 5 inch diameter
2. 55 baked mini cupcakes in green cupcake liners
3. 55 toothpicks
4. One large decorative bowl
5. One large star tip
6. Icing in the color of your favorite flower
Step 1: Place Styrofoam ball into the bowl. The bowl should only cover 1/3 of the Styrofoam ball.
Step 2: Place a toothpick in the Styrofoam ball near the bottom above the rim of the bowl.
Step 3: Place a mini cupcake on the toothpick in the middle. Half of the mini cupcake should be above the rim of the decorative bowl and the other half below the rim of the decorative bowl.
Step 4: Using another toothpick, place the next cupcake to the left of the cupcake, from step 3, so they are touching.
Step 5: Continue adding cupcakes to the left around the entire rim of the decorative bowl.
Step 6: Start the next row by placing a toothpick in the Styrofoam above the first row then add a mini cupcake so they are touching. Continue adding mini cupcakes row by row to the left, until the entire Styrofoam ball is covered.
Step 7: Make sure all the cupcakes are touching, there should not any space between the rows. You may adjust the cupcakes if necessary.
Step 8: Using the large star tip start in the middle and swirl your way out to the edge of the cupcake creating a rose pattern.
Tip: When using butter or butter cream icing beware of displaying your cupcake bouquet in a warm climate. The warm temperature will cause the icing to slide off the cupcakes. As a substitute, solid vegetable shortening can be used however; you will sacrifice the rich buttery flavor.
Cupcakes and cakes are actually made from the same ingredients. If you have a favorite frosting recipe that tastes great on a cake, rest assured it will taste just as great on a cupcake.
Most frostings are Buttercream Frosting, unless it's on a cake from a bakery in one of the major grocery store chains. Buttercream Frosting is one of the easiest to make and as it's a base-type frosting it goes with almost any type of cupcake flavor.
Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening or lard
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
milk - added a tablespoon or two at a time until desired consistency is met
Makes: About 3 cups of icing
In large bowl, cream shortening/lard and butter with electric mixer, first on a low speed to blend then on a high speed to whip. Add vanilla while still blending. Add powdered sugar, slowly and one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. It is important to start on a lower speed and work your way up when using powdered or confectioner's sugar as it tends to go flying when immediately mixed on a high speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often with a spatula. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will seem dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed to blend, then at a high speed until fluffy. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. If using stored frosting, be certain to mix again before use, as the shortening and butter will separate.
As Buttercream Frosting is a base frosting, a variety of additions and variations of this recipe are acceptable on all levels. The most basic change you can make is the color, simply by adding a food coloring. Another suggestion is to add melted baker's chocolate or unsweetened cocoa for a delicious chocolate frosting, though additional sugar or milk may be necessary if the consistency changes due to the addition.
Another popular frosting recipe is Cream Cheese Frosting, well-liked on Carrot Cake, Chocolate and Red Velvet cupcakes and cakes. Chocolate can be added to this recipe as well, to alter the flavor a bit and folding in some walnut crumbles will make this delicious frosting seem almost German in flavor.
A small amount of imagination and a desire to create are the only skills you need to make some tasty and attractive cupcakes, whether it's for a party or the family.
Cup cakes are a favorite treat for kids of all ages. Cupcakes can be decorated for all seasons and reasons. These are quick, easy cup cake recipe that kids can prepare with the help of an adult.
These cupcakes could always be made starting with a boxed cake mix. But where is the fun in that? With these recipes, you and the kids start from scratch and create memories as well as some delicious mouth watering treats.
Lemon Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients:
3½ oz. softened butter
3½ oz. softened cream cheese
2 tsp. finely grated lemon rind
2/3-cup superfine sugar
2 eggs
½ cup all-purpose (plain) flour
1/3 cup self-raising flour
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325F
2. Line a 12-cup muffin pan, with cupcake papers
3. Beat the butter, cheese, lemon rind, sugar and eggs until smooth and creamy
4. Sift the flours together
5. Add the flour gradually to the cheese mixture
6. Beat on a low speed, until just combined
7. Divide the mixture evenly between the 12 muffin tins
8. Bake for 25 minutes until firm to touch
9. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack
Yields: 12 cupcakes
Frost with purchased lemon frosting. Enjoy
Basic Vanilla CupCake Recipe
Ingredients:
*5 oz. Butter - softened
*5 oz. superfine sugar
*6 oz. self-raising flour
*3 eggs
*1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F
2. Line a 12-cupcake pan, with cup cake papers
3. Crack the eggs into a cup and beat lightly with a fork
4. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl
5. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until light and creamy
6. Divide the mixture in the muffin pan
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes until risen and firm to touch
8. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack
9. Allow to cool fully before applying the frosting
The New Trend in Weddings - Cupcake Wedding Cakes By Pablo Adame
Remember when you were seven years old and your mom threw a birthday party for you? All your friends gathered around and everybody raved at how delicious those cupcakes were with the little sprinkles on top. That was fine when you're seven but now that you're getting married you may be a little nervous about the new trend in wedding cakes. Many couples are choosing to go with cupcake wedding cakes over the more traditional cake.
These cupcake wedding cakes are a long way away from what you had at your seven year old birthday party. Most of the time they won't have those little confetti sprinkles on top (unless you want them). Often they're going to take on shapes that you may have never thought were possible for cupcake such as stars, squares and even hearts.
Most cupcake wedding cake still take on the traditional form of wedding cake in the use of tiers and layers but, once you get past that the creativity put into these is endless. Because you're often working with over 100 individual cakes you have a lot of options available. Not only are you decorating each cake you're decorating around each cake as well.
One of the fun little additions to using cupcake wedding cakes is the ability to provide a keepsake topper for each guest. Whether you choose to go with a monogram topper or a miniature bride and room, your guests are going to love their little take-home item. You could even provide personalized outer cups for each cupcake with your names and the date embossed on them.
If the bride and groom can't agree on what flavor of cake, that's no longer a problem when you go this route. As a matter of fact, you can provide four, five, or six different flavors of cupcakes. You've got an equally as diverse selection for frostings.
When it comes to decorating around the cupcakes you have a lot of options as well. Some choose to have beautiful soft silk flowing in between each cupcake while others decorate around each cupcake with fresh fruit or flowers. I've even seen some with seashells to create a beach wedding theme.
Once you see a well decorated cupcake wedding cake you'll understand exactly why so many people are going this way. They can be fun, they can be elegant, and they can be as glamorous or casual as you want them to be. One thing is for sure, your guests will walk away remembering those cupcakes just as much as your friends did at your seven year birthday party. It just might be at a little different level.
Why Everyone Should Have an Easy Vanilla Cake Recipe By Vince Platania
An easy vanilla cake recipe is essential for any good cook (or even a not-so-good cook who still needs to bake sometimes!). Whether you need it for a birthday, a baby shower, a graduation, tailgating, or "just because," a basic white cake should be part of any baker's repertoire. It can be served simply with frosting, or baked into cupcakes; it can be made more special by stirring in mini chocolate chips or crushed Oreos; or you can even cut it up and turn it into entirely different desserts, like skewered cake cubes dipped in chocolate. Very little in life is as adaptable and cooperative as a white cake!
Now, I normally create my own recipes; my hobby is entering cooking contests, so I'm always trying to come up with new ideas and devising new concoctions. (And in all honesty, some of those concoctions have been pretty odd in my efforts to be "innovative!") But I have to give credit where it's due, and my favorite easy vanilla cake recipe is a slight adaptation of one from Taste of Home magazine:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (double-strength, if you've got it)
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar; stir in the eggs and vanilla. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add half the dry mixture, and combine well. Stir in the buttermilk until well mixed, then add the rest of the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Divide the batter between two greased and floured 9" baking pans and bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
Even if you don't have a specific occasion to bake for, but the craving for cake simply overtakes you, this easy vanilla cake recipe will calm your desires. Not only is it made very quickly, but it also requires no particular skill; so whether you're an expert or a novice, baking this cake will not be at all intimidating. And isn't that the best kind of recipe, one that is a sure thing? This easy vanilla cake recipe warmly invites anyone to enjoy it, even if they've never baked before.
Cupcakes have certainly progressed from the little tea treats that we used to bake and decorate with Mom. Today's cupcake designs are trendy and stylish, fun and humorous - just whatever takes your fancy. The secret here is to let your imagination run wild.
The following are some tips for:
Those occasions we find ourselves short of time.
• Buy ready made cupcakes from the bakery or supermarket and decorate them yourself.
• Use a ready mix packet to whip up your cupcakes.
• Use an edible writing pen for your designs instead of piping for a quick and easy solution.
• Petal paste (also known as sugar florist paste) is like ready to roll fondant and is a quick and convenient solution if time is an issue. This can be used to cut shapes.
• Pour a lot of sprinkles into a shallow dish and tip your cupcakes upside down into them.
• If you are making bright color designs and cakes make sure you always use natural food coloring as you will be using a lot of the color for brightness.
• Add a generous amount of Tia Maria or Kahlua to your frosting. • Instant coffee or cocoa can be mixed with water to add to your icing.
• Lavender makes a pretty and unique addition to your cupcakes. The flowers can be used for decoration and are edible.
• Rose essence will add a taste of romance. Use pastel colors for the frosting.
• Use different bright colored cupcake cases in three differing sizes and place the completed cupcakes on top of each other to form a pyramid.
Cupcake gifts to take away after the party.
• Use clear circles of cellophane to wrap your cupcake and tie the top with a ribbon.
• Pack your cupcake in a small box.
• Tie a ribbon around the case of the cupcake.
There are many more ideas to use to make your cupcake designs stand out but I hope that these tips have given you food for thought. Enjoy!
Pirate Girl Party Ideas and Accessories - Pretty in Pink! By Jillian Gallo
Plan a Pirate Girl Party using pink party accessories. With Pirate Parties being all the rage today, girls want to get in on the fun and why not, there were, after all female Privateers too. Some of them are just as popular as the dastardly guys we always hear about. Besides, why should boys be allowed to have all the fun? Pirate girl accessories look pretty in pink, but don't let that fool you...these lady buccaneers can be just as tough as the guys. Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two female privateers, would put on men's clothing and fight on the high seas along side of their shipmates.
Send out some pink invitations...with a Skull and Crossbones on them.
Party Plates and Decorations
Pink Pirate accessories are easy to find online. The plates, cups and napkins are pretty in pink with a white skull and crossbones on them. What a lovely table these will set. Finish of your decorations with some pink balloons and some pink and white streamers. Serve your "grog" in Skull Cup, it comes complete with a straw.
Pink Skull Party Favors
Pink Skull party accessories were designed with the lady privateer in mind. A unique party favor is the Grow Your Own Pink Skull! You put the little skull in water and it get bigger...and bigger. These grow your own things are pretty funny. I saw a Pink Skull Coin purse that would be another great favor idea. Your lady buccaneers will be able to put all their bounty in them. There is even a Pink Skull favor kit that includes tons of pirate treasures. The favor box is shaped like a purse and in it you will find lip gloss, cell phone shaped notepad, a gel pen, body crystals, some jewels obviously stolen from some looted ship and a pink skull sticker...any lady buccaneer would say that's a fine pile of loot for a day's work.
Take Party Pictures
Make sure to have your camera ready! You are going to get some great pictures at this party. Make sure to get a "crew" shot and send copies to each guest along with your Thank You cards! Photos are wonderful keepsakes to share.
Play Pirate Games
Find or make up a pirate name for each girl and give your ladies some lessons in pirate talk. Have them give walking the plank a try, fall off and you loose your turn. All you need for this game idea is a 2 X 4. Let each girl walk across it without falling off. It's easy to set up. Don't have a 2 X 4? Just draw lines on a driveway or sidewalk with chalk.
Pink Privateers like pinatas so get one in the shape of a ship. Hang it out in the yard and let the girls jump to pull the string if you got a pull string model, or let them hit it with a stick if you got the regular pinata we are used to. Watch everyone scramble to get the loot when it breaks!
Sing some old buccaneer songs and then let the crew set off on a Treasure Hunt. Print out the maps on pink paper and make the X that marks the spot dark pink or red. Put all the buried treasures in pink foil or paper.
Have a relay race...split the guests into two teams. Set a course they have to follow in the yard and the game is done when each member of one team completes the course. Put a twist on a plain old relay race by adding some Dress Up fun to the game. Get some old clothes and accessories that each team player must put on before running the course! Make it look like a girl pirate costume if you have the clothes to do it. You can always look in a consignment store for a girls costume or buy one on sale from a costume store online.
If you are going to plan a menu for the party give the food some funky names like: Pieces of Eight, Seaweed Salad, Shipwreck Soup and Buccaneer Buns...make labels so everyone can share the theme idea. For you final act of the day finish off the fun with some pink frosted cupcakescupcakes as usual, frost them with pink icing and draw a Skull and Crossbones on them with a tube of white decoratorcupcake. Cupcakes designs are easy to make and the mini cakes are so very easy to serve. Now send your tired crew home to their own ships...AARRGG.
This is a classic foolproof cake that is at once delicious and nutrition. If you are looking for a birthday cake that is different from those commercially available, try this cake would bring extra sparkle to the birthday child's eye!
230g brown sugar
