Caramel Mud Cake (and cupcakes)

Oh my...Yummmmm

I have been wanting to try baking a caramel mud cake for so long and this is the end result. I baked a cake for an upcoming project and some extra cupcakes, however I'm a klutz and the cake was almost cooked when I decided it would be fun to drop the oven tray and watch the cake flip over and splat on the floor. Oh yes I'm talented at this I now believe as it's the second time this has happened. And No I didn't take a photo of the mess - but don't worry there's always next time. It was however a blessing in disguise as the first time round I forgot to substitute brown for castor sugar and I think this would really make for a stronger caramel flavour.

Crème Brûlée Cupcakes

These cupcakes are inspired by the caramel and custard flavour of crème brûlée. They are delicious cakes, however a little too mild in flavour for my liking. I would like more of a custard flavour, and I might do a little bit of experimenting with the recipe next time - such as adding some custard powder to the cake batter, and some nestlé caramel top and fill to the frosting.

Blue Ice Cake

Cake decorating is a hobby in which I am constantly learning new things. I enjoy trying new techniques for the first time, and even if it doesn't work out perfect, I know I'll get better at it with practice. I made this cake for my Mum's birthday late last year and it involved lots of firsts as it was my first tiered cake and my first time making wired and beaded decorations. The cake design is from the book Cakes to Inspire and Desire by Lindy Smith which I am able to borrow from my local library (very handy!). It gives great detail on how to make the decorations and even a beginner like me was able to pull it off.

Dragonfly Cupcakes

Yummy! Dragonfly cupcakes - they are such a pretty design and I had to put my own stamp on them by using a blue and purple colour scheme. You can get purple dragonfly's can't you?
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These delicious morsels were made up of devils food cupcakes, topped with chocolate ganache, then covered with fondant discs and decorations. The cute little antennae are made out of bean vermicelli noodles so they're edible. They're just sooo cute. And I suppose the bows are cute too.

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

I have never been much of a biscuit lover. I mean, they're OK, but just a little bit too dry for my liking. But I started to realise today that this may be changing. In the last couple of months I have found myself scoffing down delicious shortbread, a friend's choc chunk cookies and only last night I got into some Oreos. They're delicious, and what better to use when baking some cookies and cream cupcakes than Oreos.

Baby cupcakes dressed in animal suits

So for my first post I'm showing some cupcakes that I made to take to work for a baby shower morning tea, hence the theme I chose. Now I received as a present late last year the fantastic new Planet Cake Cupcakes book by Paris Cutler which this design comes from. I so wanted to make the santa's crew cupcakes in December, but did not have the time to spare...I'm hoping that with lots of time to plan I will achieve it this year :-)