Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Mini Cupcake Disaster

My last blog post told the story of my husband's sister and her Blue Cake Debacle and here I am again with another story of baking gone wrong.  This time, it was my cupcakes that went awry.

I had wanted to share with you all a delicious recipe on a mini chocolate cake that could be made in the microwave; it would be easy to make, yummy to eat, and fun to share.  At least, that's what I thought.

For those of you unfamiliar with the new trend of microwavable desserts, they are intended to be single-serve sweets that are a breeze to make---you throw all the ingredients into a mug, stir it around, zap it in the microwave, and it's done.

The recipe for the batter consisted of two ingredients so I mixed those together then scraped it into my microwave safe bowl lined with a baking cup.  After I cooked it in the microwave, I let my cupcake cool and went to eat my lunch.  Some thirty minutes later I returned, chocolate sauce and whipped cream in hand and decorated it to hide the uneven top.  As you can see, it looked adorable and delicious.

The challenge came when I attempted to get my cupcake out of its lining.  I had to peel the baking cup away from my treat.  Then, I tried to stick my fork in to take a bite---the operative word being tried.   

I had let my cupcake cool too long.   The result was a dry, hard mass of chocolate.  Even a Cupcake Stylist like myself can mess up a two-ingredient cupcake, it seemed.

I threw it away and decided to try again.  This time I made it with equal parts of both ingredients, hoping it would be more moist and---let's face it---edible than my last try.

Again, I baked the cupcake (foregoing the baking cup that had proved to be a bigger hassle than it was worth), let it cool---this time, I carefully watched to make sure it did not sit too long---then added the necessary chocolate syrup and whipped cream. 

This time, the cake was softer---somewhere between bread pudding and a sponge.  It was good, but not great.  In my mind, it was not worth all the hassle.  But I wanted to give you all the recipe and see if you had better luck than I did.  Here it is:

Hungry Girl's Mini Microwave Triple Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
2 T Devil's Food Cake Mix (but I found that it works with any flavor of mix)
2 T Cool Whip Free, thawed
1 T vanilla yogurt (though plain works just fine)
1 T Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, divided

Instructions:
  1. In a small dish, stir together Cool Whip and half of the chocolate syrup.  Place chocolatey whipped topping in the freezer to firm up while you prep the rest of your dessert.
  2. In a very small microwave-safe dish (like a ramekin or a mug), combine cake mix and yogurt.  Stir until smooth and blended.  Don't worry it if seems like a small amount.  Your cake will puff up as it cooks---I promise!
  3. Microwave for 1 minute.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes (and ONLY 5 minutes).
  4. Remove chocolatey whipped topping from the freezer and spoon it over your cake.  Drizzle the remaining chocolate syrup on top.  Enjoy!
If you tried out this recipe, let me know how it worked for you!  I gave this recipe a rating of 4 out of 10 overall, but what did you think?  Email me your thoughts.

Do you have a favorite cake, cupcake, or frosting recipe that you would like featured on our blog?  If so, please send to CupcakeStylist@aol.com. 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

How To Turn Your Cake Into An Edible Safari



Several years ago I took a cake decorating class.  It was a wonderful experience where I learned many tricks---tips that I now use on creating your toppers!---but one of the most important things I was taught was how to frost a cake...

My instructor placed the cake on a turntable and showed us two methods for frosting a cake: 1 using a bent spatula, and the other using a special cake icing tip...
I have to confess, I like to take the easy route and when I saw that you could fill a bag with frosting and essentially squeeze out the frosting in three easy steps

 I knew this was the method for me!  I had watched my instructor get her cakes beautifully frosted in a matter of minutes and it looked easy enough.  I was confident I could do the same.  So I went out and bought tip #789, baked my cake, let it cool, leveled it, placed it on a cake board, and put it on my turntable for a "quick" frosting -- HA!  Instead of smooth, straight lines of frosting that covered the sides of the cake evenly, my lines spiked and dipped like a electrocardiograph monitor in an emergency room. 

What I forgot is that the instructor has YEARS of experience and what took her just a couple of minutes to do BEAUTIFULLY, took me too many minutes to confess here. 

A similar experience has happened to many of you, as well---you have a beautiful idea in mind, you assemble the right tools, but before you know it you have a full-scale disaster on your hands! 

Here is a quick and easy guide to turn your humdrum cake into a spectacular safari---no disaster necessary!

To create the cake (as pictured at the top of the post), you will need several items:


A delicious cake



The Classic Safari set*


A palm tree (or two, depending on the size of your cake)*




A set of rocks*
Some leaves*

Once you have frosted your cake (usually with green or brown frosting), place the animals and accessories on top of the cake (as pictured below).

When complete, you will have a safari cake that nobody can resist!

Happy styling!

*All fondant items are available for purchase at my website: www.CupcakeStylist.com or at my Etsy: www.CupcakeStylist.Etsy.com

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Jungle Jill Cake topper set

Like the Pink Mod Monkey and Monkey Girl toppers shown yesterday, the "Jungle Jill" fondant toppers by Cupcake Stylist are made to complement "Jungle Jill" party and nursery decorations.  Perfect for the girlie-girl safari themed party...







 
Happy Styling!
Cupcake Stylist
 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Mod Monkey Girl Cake and Cupcake Toppers

This set of is made to complement "Mod Monkey" and "Monkey Girl" baby shower and birthday decorations...




These toppers are available in my Etsy shop (www.CupcakeStylist.Etsy.com)

Thanks for stopping by!

Cupcake Stylist
www.CupcakeStylist.com

Friday, November 16, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Helicopter and Airplanes

This was a fun little set of fondant airplanes, helicopter and name sign made to celebrate Waylon's birthday...

 


 

3" long helicopter pictured on 6" diameter cake tier
 
Thanks for stopping by = )
Deborah
Cupcake Stylist
 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the day - day 27: Farm life

The following fondant farm set was made to celebrate Michael's 2nd birthday.  The set included a fondant barn, horse, cow, balloons, flowers, and "soft" fondant name sign and fence (to wrap around the perimiter of a round cake tier) -- Happy Birthday Michael!

by Cupcake Stylist (www.CupcakeStylist.Etsy.com)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant topper of the day: Day 17 - Sweet Safari Pink

The Sweet Safari Pink and Sweet at One 1st Birthday decorations are a favorite for celebrating those precious first birthdays!

I have "revamped" the Sweet Safari Pink fondant toppers on my site, to complement the decorations even more.  Now, instead of a lion with a mane, I am offering a sweet tiger with a tiara...







and instead of the zebra with brown accents, I now offer a zebra with gray accents...


the remaining animals have no changes = )

So here they are...the decorations



and the Sweet Safari Pink fondant toppers by Cupcake Stylist!

Happy Styling!


Monday, May 21, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Day 16: Safari train

This was a fun little project to celebrate a first birthday for twin boys.



The invitation was the inspiration (sorry, I don't know who created the invite so I am unable to give proper credit)...

and here are the Cupcake Stylist fondant safari train cake toppers to coordinate...




What is your vision?  Visit the CupcakeStylist shop on Etsy or email me to discuss!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Days 13 & 14: Giraffe, Elephant & Monkey

Fondant Safari Animal cake toppers to celebrate a 1st Birthday, complete with 4" tall giraffe, 4" tall elephant with party hat, and 3" tall monkey...


Happy 1st Birthday from Cupcake Stylist

Friday, May 18, 2012

Cupcake Stylist Fondant Topper of the Day - Day 12: Pirate Octupus and sea creatures

Cupcake Stylist fondant toppers of the day are....Pirate themed "down by the sea" toppers, complete with a Pirate Octupus. blue whale, crab, seahorse, and not pictured is a jellyfish.

Here are the cake toppers....



and the inspiration...(Sorry, I wasn't provided with the name of the person who made these decorations, so I am unable to give you credit here.  IF these cute little decorations are your creation, please let me know and I will be happy to add a link to your shop for anyone interested!)


 

 




Happy Styling!

Cupcake Stylist
www.CupcakeStylist.Etsy.com