Candy Corn Cupcakes

These pretty candy corn cupcakes can be made for any fall occasion.  If you are making them at home, just use white cake mix and color 1/3 of the batter orange, 1/3 yellow and leave the rest white or you can just use 1/2 orange and 1/2 yellow like I did.

I make my cupcakes from scratch so this is a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.  I only used orange and yellow.  See how pretty the inside looks.

Then swirl buttercream frosting with yellow, orange and white and top with a candy corn.  I love how pretty these look.  And let's not forget how delicious!  You can order some of these anytime by going to my Swirly Sweet Cupcakes fb page and send a message or call me at 281-804-3032.

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

Easy Halloween Kit Kat Cake

I saw this super easy Halloween kit kat cake on pinterest.  I don't know who had the original idea or I would give them credit but several people have pinned or made their own version.

This is probably the easiest cake I have ever made.  It requires no decorating skills of any kind and it only took about an hour.

Just use any cake mix flavor you like using 2 round 8 inch pans.  Once cool, frost with whatever kind of frosting you like.  I used Pillsbury today because it was on sale. Leave enough room for candy on top.  If I were making this for someone I would use my own cake recipe and my own frosting but this is helpful information to make your own without so much fuss.

Buy 3 packages of Kit Kats that look like this:

Just line each 2 pack all the way around the cake.

Top with your favorite Halloween candy and tie a pretty bow all around the cake.

The first one I used M&M's. 

I had to pick all the green, brown and orange out of a multi colored bag since the Halloween candy is not out yet.

Here is another one using some candy corn mixture I had left from last year.

Then I added some more candy corn around the cake plate for decoration.

Now didn't I tell you that anyone could make this!  Give it a try and send me some pics.

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

Owl Cake

I saw this owl cake tutorial on you tube and decided to attempt my own.  My search for the correct piping tip took up too much time so I just used the same piping tip for the white and brown this time.

She made a girl with a cute bow but I didn't add that.  Sometimes you have to work with what you already have and skill level.  2 attempts later and this is my cute owl cake.

The inside is just a white cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.  The outside is vanilla buttercream frosting also with brown food gel coloring.  He's sitting on my counter looking so darn cute! 

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

Star Trek Cupcakes for Father's Day

Who doesn't love Star Trek?  This is the perfect Father's Day Cupcake.  You can learn how to make them by watching Jen from Cookies, Cupcakes and Cardio on youtube.com.  Or can order some by going to my Swirly Sweet Cupcakes facebook page and sending me a pm.  6 for $15 or 12 for $30.  Or call 281-804-3032 and leave a message. 

These are chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting topped with colored fondant circles and cutouts to make the collar and Star Trek symbol. 

If you keep scrolling you can see the Father's Day Cupcakes I made last year in honor of my Father.

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

Margarita Cupcakes

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  What better way to celebrate than with Margarita Cupcakes!  Oh yes please!

I found this recipe from Brown Eyed Baker after searching for the perfect one. 
This one is from scratch which is my specialty and oh so good!   I don't always eat the cupcakes I make other than to taste test for the perfect recipe, but this is one I didn't mind taste testing.  This is one recipe you are going to want to keep just in case you want to make some for your "rita" friends!  I did make some changes to the original recipe.

1/2 cups cake flour (I always use King Arthur)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp cake enhancer (King Arthur) optional
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter room temp
1 cup sugar
2 eggs room temp
zest and juice from 1 1/2 limes
2 Tbsp. tequila
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
To Brush the Cupcakes
1 to 2 Tbsp tequila
green gel color

Tequila Lime Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup butter flavored crisco shortening
16 oz  bag powdered sugar
2  to 4 Tbsp. Lime juice
2 Tbsp. Tequila
pinch of salt
green gel color

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.  Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.  I used some green and white dots from kingarthurflour.com. 
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cake enhancer, and salt.  Set aside.
In an electric mixer on med high speed, beat butter and sugar about 5 minutes.
Add eggs one a time mixing thoroughly after each addition.
Add lime zest, juice, vanilla and tequila.  Mix until combined
Add dry ingredients in 3 batches.  alternating with buttermilk only until incorporated.  Do not overmix.  Add just a little green gel color to make the batter a slight green color.
Divide batter evenly in muffin cups.  Bake for approx. 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Allow cupcakes to cool for 10 minutes then remove to wire rack.  Brush the tops of cupcakes with tequila. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
Mix butter and shortening together, gradually add powdered sugar.  Add juice, tequila and salt until desired consistency.  Just a touch of green gel color to make a light green colored frosting.

 

I rimmed the bottom of the cupcake with sugar sprinkles to represent the salt.

Then sprinkled with a little lime zest and a lime topping.

Just a little different with a different decorating tip. 

Go to my Swirly Sweet Cupcake facebook page to order some anytime.  You don't have to have a holiday to enjoy these cupcakes. 

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

Pink Champagne Cake and Cupcakes

What a great Mother's Day gift if I do say so myself!  Pink Champagne Ombre cake or cupcakes.  First I started with the cake.  I had been wanting to make an ombre cake so I used a box cake mix to practice with.  I used Pillsbury but you can use any one.  Instead of the water called for on the box just use pink champagne.  Now how easy is that!

I used Andre.  You can find it at your local store and it's really cheap.  As you can see it is almost all gone.  This is one drunkily cake as my friend Susana said.  (hehe)

I made a three layer cake and then made cupcakes with the rest of the batter.  I colored each layer with different shades of pink using Wilton gel color. 

Then frosted each layer and crumb coated which is just adding a thin layer of frosting on the outside. 

Starting at the bottom with the darkest pink, I used a 1m Wilton tip to make roses and end with the lightest color on top. 

Now isn't that a pretty cake and so easy!  I ran out of frosting at the very top but you didn't see that right?  :)

 

Look how pretty the inside looks with the three different color ombre layers. 

 

 

 

 

Let's get to the cupcakes.  I had enough batter left over to make about 8 cupcakes.

I found a recipe for a filling I wanted to try.  I wish I could remember where I found it so I could give them credit but hopefully they will forgive me.  Yes I know I should write these things down or save the website. 

I box vanilla pudding
1/4 cup pink champagne
1/2 cup milk
Whisk together one minute.  Set in refrigerator for 5 minutes.

Using my neat little gadget from King Arthur Flour I made a hole in the center of the cupcake and filled it with pudding, then place the top back on.

Now they are ready for frosting.  3 different tips.  2D Wilton tip for rose.  Wilton 22 for rosettes and Wilton 1m for bigger swirl.  Topped with edible dragon flies and butterflies from Sugar Robot Inc. on Amazon.com.

Any buttercream frosting will work just add 1/4 cup pink champagne and 1/4 cup milk along with butter and a pinch of salt, confectioners sugar.

You could have a glass of pink champagne with your cake or cupcakes but I literally used the whole bottle.  Happy "drunkily" Mother's Day! 

If you'd like to order a cake or cupcakes, I would make them from scratch but they would still contain pink champagne. Of course you could have a pink cake with no liquor but what fun would that be?   $35 for a cake.  Cupcakes 6 for $15 or 12 for $30.  281-804-3032. 

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Happy Mother's Day to everyone!   Deana :)

Gluten Free Coconut Lime Cupcakes

I have a favorite coconut cupcake recipe that I have used before that I got from simplyrecipes.com so I decided to use Bob's Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour to make this cupcake gluten free.

It's easy to find at your local Kroger store in the healthy food section.  Most recipes suggest adding xanthan gum to any gluten free flour so I also bought Bob's Red Mill at Kroger.  This is quite expensive but you only need a little so it will last a long time.

The batter seemed really thick but I thought I'd bake them and see what happens.  They came out crumbly more like a biscuit.  This recipe didn't have much sugar either which might be great for a biscuit, not so much for a cupcake.

As you can see they didn't look that good.  I didn't even bother tasting them.  Into the trash for that batch.  In all fairness I will give Bob's Red Mill flour another chance but maybe in another recipe.  I'll let you know next time I try it. 

So next I tried another recipe from Barefoot Contessa.  Her recipe was for 24 but I only wanted to experiment with 12 just in case so I cut the recipe in half and used King Arthur gluten free flour this time.

Here is the recipe I used.  I made some changes of course.  The original recipe called for buttermilk but I already had coconut milk from the other recipe so I just used that instead. 

Gluten Free Coconut Lime Cupcakes
1 1/2 sticks butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, room temp
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 cups gluten free King Arthur all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup shredded coconut
3/4 tsp. xanthan gum (this was Bob's Red Mill)
2 Tbsp. King Arthur cake enhancer (optional)

Preheat to 350.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy about 5 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time just until incorporated.
Combine sifted flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, xantham gum, and cake enhancer in one bowl.
In another bowl, combine well stirred coconut milk, vanilla and almond.
Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients then 1/2 of the coconut milk mixture alternating with wet and dry ending with dry.
Just until incorporated.  Do not overbeat.
Fold in shredded coconut. 
Fill cupcake liners 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake 18 to 22 minutes.
Done when toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool for a couple of minutes then transfer to wire rack for cooling.

Ahhhh, much better!  They smelled divine too!

I decided to frost them with a lime cream cheese frosting and then sprinkled with toasted coconut and a lime slice on top. 

Making toasted coconut is so easy.  Just sprinkle a thin layer of coconut on a baking sheet at 300 in the oven for about 10 to 20 minutes.  I didn't want mine too dark so I just toasted for about 12 minutes. 

Recipe for Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter (room temp)
2 8 oz. cream cheese (not room temp)
16 oz. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 limes zest and juice
lime slices for decorating

Combine all ingredients and start frosting.  I used Ateco 867 tip for this one. 

Now you're probably wondering how these taste!  Well you will have to order some for yourself or come by and help me eat these before they are all gone. 

Thanks for sharing in my adventures! 

Until next time, Deana :)

Bridal Dress Cupcakes

I found this adorable Bridal Dress Cupcakes on pinterest from mrsjsteed.blogspot.com.  So of course you know I had to make it.  I found the cheap pearls and brooch at Walmart.

Next I decided to just cut an old box and wrap with it white tissue paper just so I didn't have to make a trip to Michaels since this is just a practice cake. 

I made white almond cupcakes with almond buttercream frosting just because I love the smell of almond flavoring!

Arrange the cupcakes like a dress and glue down with a little edible glue.

Then put frosting on with a 1M Wilton tip starting in the center so it looks like a rose and then fill in any spaces with the same tip making a star. 

Add the pearls and brooch and you have a darling bridal shower cake.  You could also add edible white pearls for decoration which is what I would do if I was making it for someone.  This would also be adorable for a girls birthday or girl baby shower in any color theme.

 

It's fun trying new things even though the pearls didn't sit the way I wanted them to.  That's why this is a practice cake!  It's a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon. 

 

Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Until next time, Deana :)

How To Make Your Own Cupcake Bouquet

Since several people have asked how to make your own cupcake bouquet, I'm going to tell you how I did it so you can make one for your loved ones for Valentine's Day.  If you live near me and don't want to make one for yourself, I'm selling mine for $50.  It has approximately 14 cupcakes on this size.  281-804-3032.

So let's get started.  Use any size terra cotta flower pot.  I bought mine at Lowes.  I painted this one with Rustoleum Heirloom White which I had left over from my Halloween pumpkin project

Next I bought a styrofoam ball at Walmart, but you could use any floral foam.  The ribbon I found at Walmart also.

I left the plastic wrap on the ball because I didn't want foam to break off on my cupcakes.  Place the ball into the pot and insert toothpick to hold the cupcakes.

Starting at the bottom, insert cupcakes unfrosted.

Next add any green tissue paper cut into strips and insert in any open spaces.  I used this green and white paper I had.  I cut the top into little v's and just scrunched it up and inserted so that your foam doesn't show through.

Frost your cupcakes using a 1M Wilton tip starting in the center all the way around.  I used red and white frosting but it would be just as pretty only using red or pink.  

Tie your bow on pot and glue with a dab of hot glue.

Now you have a pretty Valentine Cupcake bouquet.  This would obviously be great for Mother's Day or a birthday in any color combination.  

If you try this, let me know how it turns out!  Thanks for sharing in my adventures!  Deana :)

Valentine Cupcakes

Valentine Cupcakes

I've been looking for the perfect red velvet cupcake recipe for quite a while.  I've tried so many only to be disappointed in the taste or texture.  This latest one tasted like a chocolate cupcake which is still heavenly.  I mean honestly red velvet is nothing more than a chocolate cupcake with a lot of red dye but I still want to find the best one. 

So let's have a little contest.  Whoever can come up with the "Best" red velvet cupcake recipe will win something homemade from me.  It could be cupcakes, turtles...the possibilities are endless!  Because I do make other things besides cupcakes.  :)

Submit your recipes by Feb. 1.  The winner will be announced a week later!  You can send it in a pm or just post on my Swirly Sweet Cupcakes page or my personal facebook page.  Good luck.  I'm really looking forward to this!