Kristen's Cupcakery

Valentine's Day Menu

2015-02-09T17:59:00.004-05:00

Cupcakes

Vanilla $1.50 each

Chocolate $1.75 each

Red Velvet $1.75 each

Strawberry $1.75 each

Carrot Cake $1.75 each

Reeses Peanut Butter $1.75 each
Cookie Dough $1.75 each

Cupcakes with heart toppers $2.00 each

*Minimum order of 1 dozen if not choosing a specialty packaging option

Specialty Packaging Options

Box of 4 cupcakes $10 per box

Individually packaged cupcakes $2.25 each

Cupcakes in a jar $3.50 each

Cookies

Decorated sugar cookies $1.75 each

*Minimum order of 1 dozen if not choosing a specialty packaging option

Specialty Packaging Options

Box of 1/2 dozen cookies $12 per box

Individually packaged cookies $2.00 per bag (1 cookie), $4.00 per bag (2 cookies)

Cakes

Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, Strawberry, Carrot Cake, Reeses Peanut Butter

6 inch $20

8 inch $35

9 inch $40

10 inch $45

*Visit www.kristens-cupcakery.com for additional photos, prices, size options, and information

CONTACT INFORMATION

kristenscupcakery1@gmail.com

678-687-6270

Place your Valentine's Day order today!

Ordering Options

2013-12-03T10:26:00.001-05:00

First of all, I'd like to ask, where did November go?

I probably say this at the end of every month, but honestly, I remember 2 or 3 days of November, and the rest are a blur. It's really a shame that has to happen. Fall is my FAVORITE time of year. Anyone who knows me at all knows that. I remember driving around in late October/early November just trying to take in the beauty of the colorful trees, and it was practically impossible. However, too much beauty to handle is not a bad thing at all, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, fall is nearing its end and winter is creeping in. I'm not a fan of winter, but I AM a fan of all things Christmas.

This post is pretty much purely for advertisement purposes. I want to inform you of most of the ordering options you have for the Christmas season. I know how busy this time of year can get with Christmas shopping, parties, cooking, family events, etc. It's not easy to find time to get creative for end of the year teacher gifts or special treats for the neighbors. That's what I'm here for! Here are some of the products I'm offering for this Christmas season.

4 pack of cupcakes ($6.00 each w/out fondant, $8.00 each with fondant)

Cupcakes in a Jar ($3.50 each, includes ribbon, fork, and tag)

Individually Packaged Cupcake ($2.00 each, includes ribbon and tag)

Cupcakes by the dozen WITHOUT fondant ($15 per dozen for vanilla, $21 per dozen for other flavor)

Cupcakes by the dozen WITH fondant ($18 per dozen for vanilla, $24 per dozen for other flavor)

Cookies ($18 per dozen)

Cakes (prices can be found at www.kristens-cupcakery.com)

To order, you can e-mail me at kristenmcg@bellsouth.net or text/call 678-687-6270.

Merry Christmas!

Kristen

Food for the Soul

2013-10-28T21:46:00.001-04:00

I am fully convinced Grandparents are one of God's greatest gifts. Especially mine. I was blessed with the most wonderful grandparents, and I got to spend time with 2 of them this past weekend. Gramps and Nanny are my Dad's parents. Gramps LOVES to fish, and his birthday is coming up, so obviously it was only acceptable to make him a fishing cake.

The McGuffins all got together last weekend at my Aunt and Uncle's cabin in Young Harris, GA. It is always such a joyous time with these people. We don't get to see each other too often, so the time we have together is cherished. Despite the 14 people, 1 baby, and 3 dogs crammed in the tiny house, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Y'all know I love fall, so the fact that my weekend was filled will all things fall related was just icing on the cake. We took TWO trips to Mercier's Orchard, ate pumpkin cupcakes, made smores, looked at the stars, and enjoyed the first cool, crisp air of the season. Also, some of us hiked (or should I say climbed) up a mountain to an incredible view of North Georgia on one side and the mountains of North Carolina on the other. The hike was absolutely killer, but the view was so so worth it. Funny story from the hike- at the beginning, a random dog decided to join us and lead us up the mountain. He stayed with us the entire way up and even led us back down. The only name on his tag was what we figured to be his owner's name, Dorothy, but we called him that anyway. Dorothy was a really nice addition to our day. This was the view from the top...

And this was the view from the house in the morning...

Sometimes, it is so refreshing to just get away. Whether it's across the country or just up the interstate, a weekend trip is good for the soul.

So about that cake. My Gramps is turning 86 this year, so we surprised him with a birthday "party" this weekend. Meet my grandparents. Are they not the sweetest looking people in the world?

So there you have it. Hope your weekend was as rejuvenating and restful as mine!

Sweet eats,
Kristen

The Dawgs and Shattered Dreams

2013-10-15T19:09:00.000-04:00

Saturdays in Athens have given me some of my best memories. Whether I was a student at the time or simply a visiting fan, the Classic City has never disappointed. Tailgating on Myer's Quad, taking a walk across North Campus, and pointing South at the trumpet soloist as the Battle Hymn plays in Sanford Stadium. These are a few of my favorite things. There is something magical about being in Athens on Saturdays in the fall. It is an experience like no other.

If you know me at all, you know I am a diehard Georgia fan. I've always loved sports in general, but Georgia football is one of my absolute favorite things in this world. And that's a scary thought. It's not easy being a Dawg.

The loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship last year made my heart hurt. It really did. I know that sounds ridiculous, and some of you still won't understand, but we were four yards shy of something I have waited my whole life to see. Much more, something Aaron Murray has played his whole life to achieve. And after the loss to Mizzou, that won't happen now.

This article is so beautifully written. It conveys my thoughts exactly on the loss last December, the loss last Saturday, and the rest of the season to come. In the words of the author, "We have the chance to enjoy the artistry of Aaron Murray for half a season before we all get a little dusty-eyed on Senior Day in Sanford Stadium, and cheer him on at a bowl game during a warm-weathered, post-Christmas vacation." I can't wait to be there that day to see Murray's final game in Sanford Stadium and cheer the Dawgs on to a victory over Kentucky.

So in honor of my Bulldog pride and passion for all things UGA, here are some decorated sugar cookies and cupcakes to express my love for this school in food form. Go Dawgs.

While we're on the topic of college football, I made this Arkansas Groom's Cake for a wedding a few weeks ago. The wedding was at a gorgeous outdoor venue in Rome, GA. The story of the wedding day is actually an incredibly perfect picture of God's faithfulness and ability to answer prayers. It had been beautiful all week before the wedding, but it rained ALL day long on this Saturday. Not only was the ceremony was supposed to take place outside at 6 that night, but the rain was just ruining lots of other plans. Miraculously, the sky completely cleared up a couple of hours before the ceremony began, and there could not have been a more perfect night for this precious couple.

And, though most of these are older and have already been featured on my blog, here are some other sports related desserts I've made...for your viewing pleasure :)

Sweet eats,
Kristen

Peaceful Pursuit

2013-10-14T19:53:00.001-04:00

Warning. This is going to be one of those posts where I go on a random tangent about life and school and the future and other nonsense that doesn't relate to baking. But hey, that's okay. You all want to read about my personal struggles, right? Thought so ;)

Growing up, no one told me how hard it would be to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. Well, maybe they did, but I didn't listen. I was too set on being a vet or a teacher or a journalist. It changed pretty often, but at the time, I was always so sure of what I wanted to spend years of my life invested in. Entering my freshman year at UGA, I was absolutely positive I would be a journalist. And still, my farthest reaching fantasy is to be Erin Andrews. I would love love love love to get paid (the big bucks, too) to go to sporting events and watch from the sidelines, interviewing players and coaches in the process. But, that being said, something didn't feel right about being a journalism major. It just didn't fit my personality, and getting all up in someone's business to write a juicy story wasn't something I felt comfortable doing. So I became a Marketing major, and that is where I stand today. What I want to do with that major, I still don't know. Obviously I would love to own my own storefront one day, but in my case, it's not realistic to do that right out of college. I sit in my Finance and Econ classes at school and wonder what in the heck I am doing as a business major, but then I'm reminded of the One who placed me where I am. The Great I Am has been orchestrating my life from the very beginning, so why start worrying now? I have no idea where life will lead me when I graduate. No. Idea. But I know Someone who does, and He provides peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Today, I am so grateful for that peace. I'm not entirely sure of my point in sharing this rambling, but it was something I wanted to get off my chest. Maybe someone else out there needed to hear about the Lord's provision today?

Now to awkwardly transition into baking...here is cake that I am quite proud of.

Baking and cake decorating is stressful. I'm producing a good for someone, and they expect it to be perfect. They have placed their trust in me, and I have to deliver. If you saw me in the kitchen while I was working on a big project, you would think I was crazy. I often have flour and icing all over me-- in my hair, on my face, ALL over my clothes. You do NOT want to try to talk to me while I'm working. My parents know that first hand. I'm not pleasant when I'm stressed. But despite all of that, I still love what I do. It is my passion and talent. Seeing a successfully finished cake makes all of the stress and worry worth it. That scenario was definitely the case with this 60th anniversary cake. Lots of things kept going wrong, but somehow, everything came together to create something I hope was thoroughly enjoyed. I would want want to spend my busy, often worrisome hours doing anything else.

Wedding Bliss

2013-09-19T21:50:00.000-04:00

I ab.so.lute.ly. LOVE weddings. I just think they are the greatest things to ever meet the weekend. Besides college football, maybe. I love the food, the dancing, the love, the joy, the friends and family...all of it.

I had the privilege of making my first wedding cake for my sweet friend last weekend, and let me tell you. That wedding was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I'm pretty sure 95% of my Pinterest wedding board came to fruition at that wedding. The venue was a gorgeous farm in Southside, Alabama called J&D Farms.

The ceremony was under some canopy trees so guests were in the shade, as it was an absolutely perfectly sunny day. We sat in old white church pews, and there were lights strung in the trees above us. Can you say "swoon"? The reception (here comes the cake) was in a barn just up the hill from where the ceremony took place. There were flowers and burlap and string lights and Coke and everything elegant and southern that you can think of.

Then there was the dessert table. I'm still in shock that I actually made this cake. I have never ever ever been more nervous about something. A girl dreams of her wedding day for years, and I did not want to be the one to mess it up. Praise the Lord that He guided my hands and helped everything go smoothly. The cake was vanilla, and the cupcakes were chocolate with cream cheese, chocolate with chocolate, pumpkin with cinnamon cream cheese, and vanilla.

I can't take any credit for the beautiful table set up or the adorable flags in the cupcakes. The bride made all of the flags, and I absolutely LOVED them. All I did was stick them in the cupcakes and set the cupcakes on the pre-arranged, super cute, super hipster dessert table.

And there you have it. A day in the life of a wedding cake baker. That's me! Despite the nerves, sweat, and tears (no blood) it took to accomplish this, I had so much fun and am so honored I was asked to help. What an experience!

Sunday Sweets and Sunshine

2013-08-25T21:47:00.002-04:00

If you haven't noticed, I like alliteration. 25% because I'm OCD and I like things to match. 75% because I'm not creative enough to come up with other witty titles.

In weather news, THE SUN SHONE IN THE SKY THIS WEEKEND. Seriously. If you live in the Atlanta area, before Friday, when was the last time you saw the sun? I'm a fan of rainy days, but there have been far too many of those this summer.

Continuing with the weather topic, I could not be more excited for fall. Pumpkin desserts are calling my name, and college football is SIX DAYS AWAY. I think this week may just be the slowest one I've had in a while. Can you say Go Dawgs?

Onto the cakes. My 21st birthday is coming up in October. I feel like I just turned 16 and got my driver's license. It is SO hard to believe that was almost 5 years ago. Speaking of which, here's a cake I did for a Sweet 16 this weekend. How fun is her masquerade theme?!

Apparently Minecraft is the game of choice for boys these days. I thought (um...think) Mario was (um...is) the jam, but apparently I am completely behind the times. I also didn't know what Yo Gabba Gabba was when I got an order for cupcakes. I need a child assistant to educate me on all the new fads. Anyway, here's the Minecraft cake...

The next cupcakes are some of my favorites from the past couple of weeks. I did baby shower cupcakes, and the theme of the baby's nursery was Noah's Ark. How kind do those animals look? I have a feeling the alligators on the ark probably had more teeth than my innocent little fondant alligators, but for nursery purposes, I like this kind better.

Where my chocoholics at?! THIS CAKE IS FOR YOU. I REPEAT. THIS CAKE IS FOR YOU. Chocolate cake. Chocolate chips in the chocolate cake. Chocolate icing. Chocolate shavings on top. I practically entered a chocolate coma just looking at the thing. Just kidding, I am chocolate's #1 fan. Picture a 13 year old girl at a One Direction concert. No. Picture a 13 year old girl at a One Direction meet and greet. THAT IS ME when it comes to chocolate.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Let's pray for more sunshine and cool weather!

Summer in Review

2013-08-07T20:26:00.000-04:00

Gosh, time just gets away from you, doesn't it?

I cannot believe how long it has been and how much has happened since I've last blogged.

For all four of you who care what I've been up to, here you go...

I wrote a little bit about my summer job as a counselor at Camp All American in my last post. If you didn't read it, go check it out. There's a link in that post to the CAA website. If you live anywhere near the Johns Creek area, I HIGHLY recommend you send your kids there during the summer. The kids have SO much fun, and the Gospel is so intricately interwoven into everything we do at camp. I think I can speak for every other counselor when I say that each and every one of us love Jesus, love our job, and love the kids. At the start of the summer, I did expect God to work through me in the lives of the kids, but I didn't realize how much God would change MY heart through camp. I am so thankful for the work He did this summer, and I know I will be seeing fruit because of it for months and even years to come. Not to mention, I met some seriously awesome sisters and lifelong friends. God is good!

Camp ended last week, and since then, I have been spending as much time as possible with friends before they all head back to their respective schools. Why does that day have to come?! Can't we just all stay together, not work, and have fun forever? We went to the lake together last weekend, and I can't even explain the joy that weekend brought me. Jesus has seriously blessed me with these friends!

School starts in a couple of weeks, and as much as I am dreading the studying, presentations, and sometimes painfully boring lectures, I am excited to get back into the swing of things.

As for the blog, I've probably said this before, but I REALLY want to get better about updating. Not only with pictures of cakes, but with recipes. STAY TUNED.

Now, let them eat cake.

Until next time...

New Seasons

2013-06-03T20:36:00.003-04:00

School has been out for me for a little less than a month, and I have had one heck of a month. I've spent LOTS of time with friends who are home from various colleges, baked numerous graduation cakes, and simply rested as much as possible. One of my favorite parts of the month of May was the camping trip I took to Cloudland Canyon with some of my absolute FAVORITE people.

However, seasons come and seasons go, and my season of rest and relaxation has unfortunately had to come to an end for a while.

I started my summer job as a camp counselor at Camp All American last week, and what an experience it has been so far. If you've never heard of CAA, I highly recommend looking into it! It is an outreach of Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, GA. The heartbeat of the camp is 100% Jesus. It's unreal how much The Lord has already been moving in the lives of the kids, parents, and even staff over the past two weeks. In my opinion, children's ministry is one of the most important areas a church can focus on. These kids just soak in almost everything you tell them- especially when it's paired with summer, friends, and lots of fun in the sun. Camp is the perfect environment for introducing children, many of whom don't attend church anywhere, to the love of Jesus, and I LOVE being a part of it!

For those of you who have asked, here's what a typical day looks like for me: I have a group of eight 3rd-5th grade girls that I am in charge of for the week. Camp takes place at the church. My group and I travel around the church campus to different activities including assembly, pool, tennis, human foosball, capture the flag, Bible time, etc. during the day. My goal each day is to love on the girls and show them Jesus with my words and actions.

SO, because camp is so time consuming, the amount of orders I'm able to take this summer is pretty limited. I do have a few weeks off here and there, so if you want to place an order, feel free to shoot me a message or give me a call and I will let you know if I'm free or not! Here's a recap of what the month of May has looked like for me in terms of cakes.

Rainy Days and Sunshine Blessings

2013-05-05T16:42:00.000-04:00

I originally wrote this post earlier in the day, and the three day rain streak was still going. However, I didn't post it right away, and since then, we've been blessed to see a bit of sunshine. My friend Mari and I are puppy sitting for one of our best friends this week, and we were joking about how we thought the Lord sent the sunshine for us personally. The puppy, Wimberley, is the cutest thing in the world, but she has SO MUCH ENERGY. The rain was keeping us cooped up inside, and we were all about to go crazy. It was so nice to get outside and run around a little with Wimbo. She's napping now for the first time all day, so we are both taking this chance to rest and fully enjoy the quiet.

Onto the cakes.

Both of these cakes were SUPER fun for me to make. I loved putting all of the detail into Barbie's dress, I love the little girl I made it for, and I loved the color choices of the birthday girl!

As for the Mario cake, I was so excited to get started on that one. Super Mario has and always will be my absolute favorite video game. My brother and I played (and do play...what?) it ALL the time growing up. So when I was asked to make this cake, I immediately starting drawing out what I would do. I tried to incorporate as many elements of the game as I could without it looking too busy. All of the decorations on the cake (including Mario and Luigi) were made out of fondant and gumpaste.

Super Mario Brothers Cake

Barbie Cake

Playing Catch-Up

2013-05-02T16:09:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting at my kitchen table right now waiting on a cake to come out of the oven, so I figured, what better time than now to update the blog I rarely keep up with?

I have had the BUSIEST week in terms of orders. I won't go into detail on each and every one of them, but let's talk numbers. By this coming Monday, I will have made, decorated, and delivered 451 cupcakes, 2 cakes, and 40 cupcakes in a jar in the preceding week. In one week! Not to mention I took two finals this morning and I have another one coming up on Tuesday.

Now, I don't say all of this to complain or brag about all of my orders. I say it because I'm explaining (or making an excuse for) how behind I am on my blog posts. But let's be honest, I'm always behind. Moving on.

Here are some of the projects I've been working on.

Peace sign and heart cookies as a party favor

Lingerie cake and cupcakes for a bachelorette party

Art themed cake for a birthday party

Nautical themed cupcakes for a birthday party

Gender reveal cupcakes for (you guessed it) a gender reveal party

It's a BOY!

Nutella Cinnamon Rolls

2013-04-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

I love breakfast.

It is by far my favorite meal of the day...if I have something delicious.

Pancakes, waffles, muffins, scones, donuts, bacon, grits, biscuits, CINNAMON ROLLS.

I love all of it. Especially cinnamon rolls. That's why I decided on cinnamon rolls for our Easter morning breakfast. I'll take any chance I can get to make them. But this time, I decided to put a little bit of a twist on them and turn them into NUTELLA cinnamon rolls.

How delicious does that sound?!?

I promise you...they taste equally as fantastic as they sound.

Please ignore the TERRIBLE quality of the pictures. It was still dark outside, so the only light I had was the one right above the table, and it caused an awful glare on the cinnamon rolls.

Also, I'm just really bad at photography.

But don't let my poor photography skills keep you from making these!

Nutella Cinnamon Rolls

Nutella Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:
For the Cinnamon Rolls
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground hazelnuts (optional)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Nutella Ganache
6 tablespoons Nutella
1/4 cup heavy cream (I used a lot more than this)

Directions:
For the Cinnamon Rolls
To make the filling, combine all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir with a fork until the mixture looks like wet sand. Set aside.
To make the dough, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush a 9-inch cake pan with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, hazelnuts, sugar, baking power, baking soda, and salt. Add the buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter, and stir until just combined. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth. If the mixture is too sticky or wet, place in a lightly floured bowl, cover, and chill for 20 minutes.
Flatten the dough into a rectangle about 12 X 8 inches. Pour 2 tablespoons of the melted butter on and spread around with your fingers. Pour the filling over the dough an spread it evenly over the top, leaving about a 1/2 inch or so border around the outside edge. Press the filling down to pack it on top of the dough.
Starting on the short side of the dough, roll the dough up, pressing as you go, to create a tightly rolled log. Pinch the seam closed and lay the log seam side down. Cut into 8 even pieces, and transfer each roll to the prepared cake pan. Brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack set over parchment paper.

For the Nutella Ganache
In a medium bowl, stir the Nutella with 2 tablespoons of cream. Mix until the mixture is smooth. If it is too thick, add more cream, a tablespoon at a time, to loosen it up. Pour the icing over the rolls and serve them warm.

Easter Sweets

2013-04-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

Happy day after Easter!

I'm sitting outside on this BEAUTIFUL day as I write this post. Spring is actually starting to make its appearance, and I couldn't be more thankful. If I have to endure another day of 35 degrees and rain (like last Monday), I might go crazy. Literally. And moving to Florida will be the only logical solution.

It would have been fortunate if we had this beautiful day yesterday, but we weren't so lucky here in the Atlanta area. It was pretty gloomy, but the rain only lasted a few minutes, and we got to get a couple of pictures on the deck in front of the pretty cherry trees!

Our Easter was wonderful! We had a delicious breakfast of Nutella Cinnamon Rolls (recipe coming soon), followed by church, a steak lunch, and an afternoon of games and an Easter egg hunt. Which brings me to my question...how old is too old to hunt Easter eggs? Answer: you're NEVER too old! I even got to finish off my Easter Sunday with a game of tennis with some of absolute FAVORITE people. I am so thankful for friends and fellowship.

Now onto the sweets. I have multiple recipes to post soon. I know it's been a while since I've done that. But in the mean time, here are some of the Easter treats I made this weekend!

And non-Easter related, here are some Minnie Mouse cookies.

I hope you all had a great weekend celebrating the death and resurrection of our Savior!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5

L-O-V-E

2013-02-19T09:46:00.001-05:00

Now that Valentines Day is behind us, I am officially ready for spring and all that comes with it. Warm weather, sunshine, flowers, colorful clothes, sundresses. It all sounds so perfect (yet so far away) as I'm sitting in my accounting class on this rainy Tuesday morning. Though the heart of spring is quite a few weeks away, my spring will begin during the first week of March when I start my Spring Break. I'm heading to Florida and praying for warm, beautiful weather. The beach, Aunt Catfish's, and Harry Potter world are calling my name. Just 10 short days. 10. Days. I can do it!

Before I get ahead of myself, let me show you a photo summary of my Valentine's Day.

And now for a little encouragement. Tuesday is definitely my least favorite day of the week. It just seems so blah. It's not Monday (which, might I say, is one of my favorite days of the week because of the time I spend with some of my favorite people watching The Bachelor), but it's not Hump Day, either. It's just uneventful and boring. Especially when it's raining. BUT, that being said, we have a reason to smile! Let this be your driving force today--

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

This is one of my favorite verses. It's also one of my most common prayers. However, it is so often misinterpreted. Many people take this verse to say "if I 'delight myself' in the Lord, he will give me everything my heart desires and my life will be perfect." This is far from the truth...kind of. No, God will not give us one million dollars just because we want it. God will not grant us every wish we have just because we read our Bible. He is not our Genie or Fairy Godmother. Instead, I believe God will begin to change our desires to align with His desires for us as we delight ourselves in Him. The more time we spend in His word, in prayer, and simply kneeling in His presence, the more we will want for us what God wants for us. Once this happens, the Lord WILL give us the desires of our heart because our desires will be for God's will to be done in our lives. This is a somewhat complicated concept to explain in writing, and I can only hope I'm getting my point across. The point is not that The Lord gives us anything and everything that we want. The point is that the more time we spend with Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we obey Him. 1 John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." The more we obey Him, the more we will see God work and move in our lives, and the more we will delight ourselves in His presence.

So this is my prayer for myself and for each of you today- delight yourselves in The Lord. Pray that He will change your desires to align with His. What better way could we live our lives than to desire what The Lord desires? Imagine what we could accomplish for the Kingdom!

Just a thought. Just a long, rambling, random thought. I hope that gave you something to think about today, and I hope it was an encouragement to you.

Have a wonderful day!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

2013-02-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

Phew. What a busy, busy, busy weekend I've had. BUT...I am so thankful for it! And for you all! I hardly had a moment free from baking this weekend, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank y'all for ordering from me and keeping me in business. I love what I do and I love who I am able to do it for.

Moving on. Here's a glimpse at what I've been baking over the past couple of weeks.

Again, y'all are the best and I couldn't thank you enough for considering me for your kids' parties, your baby showers, and your everyday cupcake needs :)

Contest Announcement

2013-01-15T09:32:00.002-05:00

It's time for a contest announcement!

If you order something from Kristen's Cupcakery anytime between now and March 1st, your name will be put in a drawing to win 2 dozen FREE cupcakes!

If you place an order, remember that there is a minimum order of ONE dozen cupcakes/cookies. Or, of course, one cake.

Also, if your name is chosen as the winner, I will be sure to notify you ASAP. You will be able to redeem your "coupon" for the free cupcakes ANYTIME in 2013! You could save it for a birthday party, Christmas party, or any other special event.

Don't miss out...contact me if you'd like to place an order anytime in the next two months!

New Year Catch-Up

2013-01-05T19:42:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year (5 days late)!

So far in 2013, I have rung in the new year with some of my favorite people, spent 4 days worshipping my sweet Jesus with 60,000 other college students at Passion, and rested. Though spending those 4 days at Passion was WONDERFUL for numerous reasons, it was far from relaxing. I think I got a total of 15 hours of sleep during the 3 nights I spent in Atlanta, so being able to sleep in this morning was a glorious feeling. Anyway, all that is to say that between Christmas festivities, post Christmas cleaning, and Passion, I haven't had much time to bake and/or update my blog. Don't get me wrong, there was lots and LOTS of Christmas baking involved in the week before Christmas, but there wasn't much time for fun new recipes or experimental decorating...hence the dry spell on the blog.

So here we go with the pictures. Here's a glimpse at what I've been up to over the past month-

Stay tuned for an announcement about a chance to win FREE desserts!

And, as always, don't forget to take a look at my website,

www.kristens-cupcakery.com

for prices, pictures, flavors, and more!

Christmas Ordering Options

2012-12-09T14:41:00.000-05:00

Goodness, it has been quite a while since I've updated. I honestly think I have baked something every single day since the blog was last updated, so I'm not sure why it has been such a long time!

Anyway, as promised a couple of posts ago, I have an update on Christmas ordering options for ya. Christmas is a short TWO WEEKS AND TWO DAYS away, so you better get to ordering!

First, for all you parents out there, you need gifts for your children's teachers, correct? You probably need something for your coworkers, too. And your next door neighbors. They brought you cookies, and you need to return the favor. Whatever will you do?

Well, I have the perfect solution-- Cupcakes in a jar.

They're cute, convenient, practical, AND they come in a mason jar. Who doesn't love mason jars? Especially when they're decorated with burlap and twine...which I can do if you're interested. Cupcakes in a jar are $3 a piece. This price includes the jar and cupcake, a personalized message (the words on these labels can be changed to whatever your heart desires), a plastic fork, and ribbon tied around the rim. There is a minimum order of SIX cupcakes in a jar. They come in any flavor you would like, but I do request that you order all six in the same flavor. If you order more than one dozen, you are welcome to get more than one flavor.

If you're not digging the Country Christmas theme, you can simply order cupcakes in boxes. They can be boxed individually, in groups of 4, or as a dozen. The prices for cupcakes ordered in this way are the same as the everyday cupcake prices PLUS 50 cents for each individual box and PLUS $1 for each 4-box. Prices for cupcakes can be found at www.kristens-cupcakery.com. Ribbon and a personalized message is included in the cost of these gifts. If ordering individually packaged cupcakes, there is a minimum order of SIX cupcakes. Also, unless you order more than one dozen, I do request that these six cupcakes be the same flavor. After one dozen, you are welcome to order an additional flavor.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me at kristenmcg@bellsouth.net.

Price Summary

WITHOUT Fondant Decorations

Individually packaged cupcakes:
$1.75 each for vanilla, $2.25 each for other flavors

Boxes of 4 cupcakes:
$6 for vanilla, $8 for other flavors

WITH Fondant Decorations

Individually packaged cupcakes:
$2 each for vanilla, $2.50 each for other flavors

Boxes of 4 cupcakes:
$7 for vanilla, $9 for other flavors

Cupcakes in a jar: $3 each

It's the season of giving (and eating), so don't forget to place your orders ASAP :)

Christmas Preview

2012-11-15T00:03:00.000-05:00

It really and truly is beginning to look at a lot like Christmas.

As much as I love fall, and as sad as I am to see the colorful leaves go, I am SO excited for the Christmas season. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because, though I love Christmas, it is right in the middle of the most joyful time of the year. The Christmas season is just getting started. Thanksgiving is like a kick-off party. Not to mention the fact that Thanksgiving is full of delicious food.

Now onto a controversial topic-- Black Friday. My mom, brother, and I have gone black Friday shopping together for the last five years or so. It has consistently been one of my FAVORITE memories. I just love everything it entails. Our Black Fridays begin around 4am when we wake up. We shop for a couple of hours, take a break to eat Chick Fil A for breakfast, and then continue to be the crazy people we are in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shoppers. Post Chick Fil A and about an hour of more shopping, a Starbucks break is usually incredibly necessary. Especially since the minute we get home from shopping, the Christmas decorating begins. The hilarious thing about Black Friday is that we feel like we've shopped our LIFE away, yet it's only somewhere around 10am when we get home. This leaves plenty of time to put up the decorations :) My mom usually tries to convince me to wait until Saturday to decorate, but she never wins that argument. Tradition is tradition, ya know? And as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the decorations are up, the better. Anyway, the reason why I called this a controversial topic is because ALL OF THE STORES ARE OPENING ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT THIS YEAR. And I don't mean 11:59 or even 11:00. I mean 8:00. PM. On Thanksgiving. Some families haven't even eaten dinner at that time. Not only does this mess up our Black Friday tradition, but I'm sure it really puts a damper on the evenings of the workers who have to come in to the store the second they wake up from their afternoon nap (because we ALL take naps on Thanksgiving afternoon. Don't lie). To summarize, I don't like the change and would really appreciate it if the stores would return to opening at 4am. Please and thank you.

Anyway, now that you've heard my Black Friday rant, I can move on to showing you pictures of Christmas goodies! These were all made for an Open House at church tonight. Keep in mind that any of them can be ordered if your heart desires :)

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to check out www.kristens-cupcakery.com for prices, flavors, pictures, and more. There's my plug. Now for Christmas.

Recent Creations

2012-10-17T14:36:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful Wednesday!

I'll be honest. My mind is blanking, and I really have nothing of any importance to say right now, so I'm just going to go ahead and get to the point. Here are some of my recent creations-

Fall Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Tennis Cupcakes

Dog Cupcakes (thank you gift for a vet)

Who doesn't love a good puppy cupcake?

In the next couple of weeks, be looking for a blog post about specials I'm offering for Christmas. From assortments of fudge, peanut clusters, and chocolate covered goodies to decorated cookies to delicious cupcakes, you will have a wide variety of choices!

Top 5 Fall Recipes

2012-10-08T17:22:00.002-04:00

How great is the weather today? It is 54 degrees right now. 54!! Although it would be nice if the sun would come out, the cooler temperatures are absolutely glorious. At least for now. I might get tired of it after a few days.

Anyway, with the weather being as fall-ish as it is, I thought it would be appropriate to post (in order) my favorite fall recipes. So, here's the countdown, from number 5 to the number 1 BEST fall recipe. Enjoy!

5. Apple Coffee Crumb Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

4. Pumpkin Doughnuts

3. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Glaze

2. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bars

1. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Though it was tough to put these in order, as they're all great, the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread ultimately wins my heart. This is a moist pumpkin bread with a cream cheese mixture in the middle. To top it all off, a cinnamon glaze is poured over the top of the loaf. SO GOOD.

My advice to you- get in the kitchen and get this bad boy in the oven right now.

Happy baking!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

2012-10-01T17:40:00.000-04:00

As the rain is falling outside, I'm sitting in a warm, cozy Daily Grind with friends drinking my Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte. I think this is what they call a great day.

Speaking of pumpkin, I have a pumpkin recipe today that you will NOT want to pass up. I made these last Friday morning, and they turned out exactly as I had hoped. Here. You. Go.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Glaze

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Glaze

Buns:

2 1/4 teaspoons of dry active yeast

1/4 cup warm water (not hot or boiling)

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup milk

1/4 c butter, melted

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cooking spray

3 tablespoon of granulated sugar

3 tablespoon of brown sugar

2 tablespoon of all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoon chilled butter

Glaze:

3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

1.5 tablespoon hot water

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

Preparation:

To prepare the buns, dissolve yeast in warm water in your stand mixer or large bowl. Let this proof for 5 minutes. If the yeast doesn't get foamy, throw out and start over. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Add 2 cups flour, pumpkin, and next 5 ingredients (pumpkin through nutmeg); beat with your mixer, paddle attached at medium speed until smooth. Then change the paddle for your dough hook and add the additional cup of flour. Knead until smooth and elastic. This dough will be sticky, be forewarned. (If you don't have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough on a flat surface adding the additional flour slowly.)

Place the dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, for 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes has passed, press a finger into the dough, if it bounces back, it's ready.

Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or use two knives to cut it in.

Punch dough down and roll it into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Sprinkle with brown sugar mixture to cover. Make sure you reach each end, not leaving any surface without the mixture. Roll up the rectangle tightly, starting with a long edge, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch seam and ends to seal. Cut roll into 1-inch slices. Place slices in a baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray. At this point you can refrigerate overnight or bake right away.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes in a pan on a wire rack.

To prepare the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon water, vanilla extract, and pumpkin spice mix in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over buns. Serve warm.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of this rainy Monday!

Mangio Italiano!

2012-09-04T18:52:00.000-04:00

Ciao!

Today, I have a couple of delicious Italian recipes for you. Well, technically, it's one Italian recipe and one bread recipe. But they're BOTH wonderful. Also, please excuse my Italian post title if it's incorrect. I took two semesters of it at Georgia last year, and I've already forgotten most of it. Isn't it so sad how that happens? If ya don't use it, ya lose it.

Now for the recipes. First up is a pasta recipe. Then, some of the TASTIEST bread you'll ever eat. For those of you who automatically run at the word "yeast", don't fear! It's not as hard as it sounds, and when you subtract the time it takes to rise, the prep time is super short. So I challenge you...try it out with your next Italian dish! Maybe some Tuscan Pasta with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce? :)

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

1 (20 oz) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli

1 (16 oz) jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce

2 tablespoons white wine

2 medium-size fresh tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Garnish; fresh basil strips

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into medium saucepan. Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly, and shake well. Stir wine mixture into saucepan. Stir in chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil, and cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Toss with pasta, and top evenly with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Garnish, if desired.

Copycat Macaroni Grill Bread

Copycat Macaroni Grill Bread

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons rosemary

2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Place yeast, sugar, and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly.

2. Mix in 1 T butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour.

3. Add 1 tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary.

4. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

5. Add more flour if necessary.

6. Oil a bowl, put dough in it, and cover with a towel.

7. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled.

8. Punch down dough and divide in half.

9. Let dough rest about 5 minutes.

10. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface.

11. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.

12. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

13. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned.

14. Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter (and salt if desired).

Labor Day Lounging

2012-09-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

It has been yet another rainy, gloomy labor day. Doesn't it seem that way every year? It's supposed to be the last hoorah of summer, and we spend it sitting inside. Oh well. Though we didn't get to go to the pool as planned, we enjoyed an afternoon of yummy eating and movie watching. We rented Blue Like Jazz, a movie based on the Donald Miller book, and I really, really enjoyed it. The book is subtitled "Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality" if that gives you a little bit of an idea of what it's about. I think it paints a really accurate, eye-opening picture of the way some people see Christians. I would really encourage everyone to watch it. I can go ahead and tell you this- it's not at all how you're imagining it.

Anyway, this post is more about my thoughts on the movie than anything else, as I only have a few pictures to show you. First, here's the fish cake I promised you when I posted the farm animal cake a couple of weeks ago.

Next, here are some Atlanta Braves birthday cupcakes.

And lastly, some "just because" cupcakes with a glimmer.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Labor Day holiday!

The Legacy of a Grandma

2012-08-29T12:48:00.000-04:00

This past Friday, my sweet, sweet Grandma passed away.

So many of you were so gracious to us. You brought us food, prayed for us, and even came to the viewing and funeral. My family and I are SO thankful for everything y'all did. She was the BEST Grandma I could have asked for, and she will be so missed here. However, I'm absolutely positive she's with the Lord right now...and loving every minute of it!

One of Grandma's staple desserts was dirt cake. She made it every Easter, always being sure to top it off with some gummy worms and plastic eggs (filled with money, of course). So, what would have been more appropriate than making dirt cake for my family and I to eat at the funeral home?! Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact recipe she used. I had to turn to the internet. But, according to my cousins, it was just as good. Phew!

We have an old, old picture where all of the grandchildren have gummy worms sticking out of their mouths, so we decided to reenact it. I wish I had that picture, but it's scrapbooked away somewhere in someone's house. The odds of me finding it, scanning it in, and posting it before Christmas (let's be real, probably more like next summer) were slim to none, so I decided to go ahead and do without.

The best part of the story is the fact that we still have the bowl she used to put it in. It's a pretty crystal bowl with a handle that makes it look like an Easter basket. So, into Grandma's bowl the dirt cake went!

Also, since I love my readers, y'all get the recipe! Enjoy...it's a Smith family favorite :)

Dirt Cake

Dirt Cake

Ingredients:

2-3.4 oz packages vanilla instant pudding

3 1/2 cups milk

12 oz cool whip

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1-15.5 oz package Oreos

Gummy worms (if desired)

Directions:

1. Combine instant pudding and milk in a large bowl. Whisk for 5 minutes, or until pudding is soft set. Fold in cool whip then set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth. Add to pudding mixture and stir to combine.

3. Crush Oreos to fine crumbs.

4. Spoon 1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs into the bottom of a large bowl. Top with 1/2 the pudding mixture, then 1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs, the remaining pudding mixture, then the remaining cookie crumbs. Chill for at least 1 hour, then top with gummy worms before serving :)