Couture Cupcakes

Special Legal Counsel Cupcakes

2011-06-27T21:18:00.003+09:30

I felt really bad that Special Legal Counsel missed out on the cupcakes I baked for him specifically last week. So I dropped off two for him this morning.

Apple cupcakes with a drop or two of some pink lady apple juice. The tartness of the apple juice helped make the cupcakes so fluffy. I filled the cupcakes with caramelised apple pieces (granny smith apples). Of course apple and custard go well together. This custard buttercream was light, not doubt from the added attention to the butter and extra whipping of the buttercream as the custard was added.

The custard wasn't discernable to me in the buttercream. Not quite sure how I would make it stronger. Will have to think on this.

Bake for a mate - Macadamia Coconut cupcakes

2011-06-20T18:09:00.005+09:30

Last week the local radio station ran a "bake for Your Mate: event. Great idea I thought. So I baked these for one of the lawyers at work who has been really worked hard by our area the last couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, he set the cupcake down at morning tea and he blinked and missed them! So I will bake for him again. Obviously me being me, I never bake the same cupcake twice. Thinking thinking thinking what I can bake for him.

These cupcakes were macadamia and coconut cupcakes.

Filling is coconut and coffee ducle de leche.

Dressing is White Chocolate Coconut ganache with macadamia nut brittle as the accessory.

The dulce de leche and the brittle made from scratch. No recipe. Hoping I will be able to reproduce in the future if I feel the need.

The Couture Minx

2011-06-18T17:30:00.004+09:30

I must admit, my sideline from cupcakes recently has partly been to my new venture.

Shoes.

Custom made shoes. Over 150 leathers to choose from.

Blood. Rush. To. The. Head.

These are two shoes I ordered in the new leather - Gold Tiger. How HAWT is Gold Tiger? I do have some reservations with the ballet flats. What was I thinking? Beige trim?

I'm not beige.

Oh well. I guess I'll have have to order another pair of gold tiger ballet flats with ruby trim.

mwahahahahahahaha

Want to win this?

2011-06-18T17:14:00.001+09:30

I am getting back to creating cupcakes. There is a cupcake I want to bake, it's there whispering bake me bake me. I can't deny it any longer.

last week I had every intention of 'baking for a mate'. Sorry mates. Better late than never yeah?

I'll be giving people who don't live in Australia a chance to win this book. Itsa great booka. Yes, I meant to speak like that .

So stay tuned.

Lumberjack Cake - New Zealand Women's Weekly Way (with my twist)

2011-05-19T22:02:00.001+09:30

I really felt like lumberjack cake. Can't explain why. Especially when it's been over 3 years since I had lumberjack cake.

This was a bit of different recipe from most lumberjack recipe with the addition of the dried apricots, which add that little za za zoom to the cake. My little twist was using palm sugar instead. Hmmm I wonder what buttermilk would be like with the caramel?

The best part about this cake is that it is meant to be eaten a couple of days later.It's dense and moist. Perfect cake for the coming winter days.

Slice of this with double cream and a cup of tea. Thanks, I will.

New Zealand Women's Weekly Lumberjack Cake

2 Granny Smith apples, diced

1 cup dates, chopped

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

1 tsp bi carb soda

3/4 cup boiling water

1 cup sugar

125g butter

1 egg

1 1/2 cups self raising flour, sifted

1 tsp vanilla essence

TOPPING

60g butter

1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded coconut

Method:

1. Grease or line a 24cm cake tin.

2. Combine the apple, dates, apricots and bi carn soda in a pan and cover with the boiling water. Bring the pan to the boil. Turn off the heat and stand until cold.

3. Preheat oven to 180C.

4. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a large bowl until light and creamy. Add the egg and beat until well combined.

5. Fold the flour and the fruit mixture alternately into the creamed butter.

6. Pour the mixture into the cake tin. Bake in the oven at 180C for 40 minutes.

7. While the cake is baking, combine all the topping ingredients into a saucepan.Stir over a low heat until the butter and sugar have melted.

8. Remove the cake from the oven and spread the topping evenly on top of the cake.

9. Bake for a further 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

10. Cool the cake in the tin on a rack before serving.

Um, yeah I still alive

2011-04-25T21:02:00.007+09:30

Hullooooo

Gosh its been over a year since I've baked. Outrageous.

I had a hankering for cake. Remember this mess?

Here is my second attempt. Worked out much better.

Have you tried it yet?

I am thinking a white chocolate champagne cupcake with same same marshmallow frosting as my next baking project.

I NEED to get back into baking yeah?

Wedding Cupcake Tower

2010-03-13T23:31:00.001+10:30

And here is all put together. I was happy.

And loved the table settings and the flowers arrangements - green is not appreciated as a flower colour.

Great wedding - the bride sang to the groom. Tired feet. Sleep now.

Baking again soon.

Carrot Passion cutting cake

2010-03-13T23:26:00.002+10:30

I decided to do a cutting cake for the happy couple. I had no idea how I was going to decorate the cake as the florist had told me that green cymbidiums are not in season until June.

It was pure luck that these orchids were at the florist on my way home last night!!! (Side note - I have an exciting project in the works. Hopefuly it will come together!)

The cutting cake it also carrot passion cake.

Had to be.

Carrot Passion Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:22:00.000+10:30

I wanted to make a carrot cake befitting for a passionate couple.

This is soooooooooo good. I figured adding two p's - pomegranate and pistachio would up the passion in the carrot cake. I soaked the currants in orange juice.

The carrot cake itself is really really (it is not your 'healthy' carrot cake). But totally fitting to have on a special occassion - like a wedding.

I want to say it again. So good.

Love Chai Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:19:00.000+10:30

I played around with my Love Chai tea. This was a mud cake. Not sure chai works as a mud cake.

Filled with Dulce de leche.

Chocolate Cupcake

2010-03-13T23:18:00.000+10:30

Yes I made the obligatory chocolate cupcakes.

Custard Passionfruit Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:15:00.000+10:30

Flavour number two for the wedding - custard passionfruit cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream.

Custard.

Passionfruit.

Nuff said.

Gluten Free Lemon Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:06:00.001+10:30

Ay yai yai. A couple of burnt finger tips and numerous cans of spray paint later the day my girlfriend's wedding finally happened. The theme was lime green and silver. I think I managed to coordinate everything well.

The cupcake stand? Made (thanks dad!).
The organza flowers? Made!
Cupcake flavours? Decided! Five flavours.

I don't care what anyone else says, baking in these 'cupcake' cups is hard. Not a big fan. I mean, yes they look good. But it is so much easier and I think the cupcakes cook and look so much better in the traditional paper liners.

These are gluten free lemon cupcakes.

Chocolate Cupcake with Peanut Butter Dulce de Leche and Raspberry Ganache

2010-03-10T22:00:00.002+10:30

Fantastic cupcake. Not so great photo or presentation.

I made the peanut butter dulce de leche myself. So good.

All the flavours complimented each other. Need to make this again. Next time I will get rid of the raspberry seeds so the ganache is smooth. Having said that, no one complained about having raspberry seeds in the ganache.

Caramel filled apple cupcakes with not quite marshmallow and not quite swiss meringue buttercream

2010-03-08T22:48:00.002+10:30

I had every intention again of entering the Caramel Cupcake Hero event. But I wasn't too sure, well, that satisfied with the texture of the cupcake. Would have to work on it. Other than that I do like the addition of dried apple with the grated apple. And the dulce de leche, mmmmm.

The frosting was a big fail. I wanted to make a caramel marshmallow but it collapsed so I thought I would be able to salvage it by turning it into a swiss meringue buttercream which also didn't quite work.

Macadamia and Raspberry Cupcakes with Caramel Ganache

2010-03-08T22:38:00.002+10:30

I had every intention to enter the Cupcake Hero challenge last month. The theme was olive oil and I had the perfect olive oil - this lemon infused one. The two week deadline was just too tight for me to be able to make it.

Anyway, this is the cupcake that I wanted to make.

The ground macadamia was over powered by the lemon in the olive oil. So if I make these again I will cut back the lemon or use a unflavoured olive oil instead.

The raspberry is a nice surprise. The ganache was too runny, but this is what happens when you become impatient. I might frost with a caramel cream cheese frosting next time.

Choux this!

2010-02-27T19:28:00.000+10:30

Choux pastry has been one thing that I've always wanted to be able to make - love love love profiteroles and eclairs. I have never been able to make them though. They were never soft and airy.

After watching the episode on Masterchef last year where the contestants made a croquembouche, I decided to give choux pastry another try.

And this time it worked!! I made a mini croquembouche. Can I just say, that I love fresh pastry cream?? Slather it on me baby and - oh wait. I won't finish that sentence.

Next?? I am going to give macarons another try!

Raspberry Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

2010-02-18T23:35:00.000+10:30

I've made cupcakes using jelly crystals before (remember these or these?- using different recipes (from memory).

I've been meaning to make these ones for a while and I finally stopped making excuses and made them for a morning tea at work.

The recipes is from Taste. I added raspberries (as you can see) and added lemon rather than rosewater to the meringue, and I didn't do the crystallised rose petals as garnish. Meringue is great. I wasn't too bowled over by the cupcakes. But then perhaps I shouldn't have put them in the fridge ......

Raspberry Cupcakes Rose Cupcakes (from Taste)

125g butter
1 packet of raspberry flavour jelly crystals
2 tbs sugar
2 tbs milk
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour, sifted
1/4 cup plain flour, sifted

Preheat oven to 180. Line 12 (1/3 cup capacity) muffin tray with paper cases.
Use an electric beater to beat the butter, jelly crystals and sugar in a small bowl until pale and creamy. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in half the combine flour and milk. Stir in remaining flour and milk.
Divide the mixture among the lined pans. Bake in oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until the skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Set aside for two minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Rose Icing

1/2 cup water
2 tbs water
1 egg white
1/2 tsp rosewater essence

To make the rosewater icing, place sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium high. Simmer for 2 minutes or until syrup thickens and reaches 'soft ball stage'. Use an electric beater to beat the egg white in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Pour the syrup over the egg white. Beat for a further 3 minutes or until the mixture is cool. Beat in the rosewater essence.
Spread the rose icing evenly over the cupcakes.

Craft Project 1 - Organza flowers

2010-02-06T23:59:00.006+10:30

Really can't say too much about this project other than these contribute towards something bigger.

Theme - silver and lime green.

Green cymbidiums orchids not in season until June. Too late.

Solution? Make organza flowers.

What do you think?

Thank you Rose (and sisters)

2010-01-27T22:28:00.003+10:30

My sisters got me this book as an early birthday present.

Can not wait to make my way through the book, one cake at a time.

Trial Valentine's Day cupcakes

2010-01-27T22:13:00.004+10:30

One of my cupcake ideas for Valentine's Day this year ( and I am putting it out there that as per usual I will probably not get a Valentine this year - but I digress) was to feature raspberry.

I didn't want to go the standard route of chocolate or strawberry. Boring.

This is a pistachio cupcake with raspberries and raspberry marshmallow frosting. The photo is crap because it is night and I am about to drop these off to my chief cupcake tester.

I loved the look and feel of the batter of the pistachio cupcakes. This is also my first time baking with these cupcake liners that everyone seems to prefer baking their cupcakes in. I will be honest. I did not like. I will use the ones I have left up but for the wedding I will be going to in March, I will def use your old school paper cupcake liners.

Cupcake cases aside, once the cupcakes had cooked I wasn't at all happy with them. I need to fiddle with the recipe again if the cupcake tasters come back with favourable feedback for the cupcake texture. Allowances need to be made for the fat content in the sour cream and egg. The amount of butter will need to be adjusted. Otherwise I will revert back to my new go to cupcake recipe.

Having said that, the raspberry marshmallow frosting is divine. I love the random bit of raspberry in the marshmallow - it balances out the sweetness of the marshmallow.

I really liked this combination of flavours and perfect for a Valentine's Day cupcake. It will def be baked again on the weekend. Along with another cupcake idea for Valentine's Day.

What is your perfect Valentine's Day cupcake?

Jimmy Choo - my new boyfriend

2010-01-23T20:42:00.002+10:30

Boyfriend, schmoyfriend.

I love these shoes. Period.

Jelly Belly Baby Shower Cupcakes

2010-01-23T18:16:00.008+10:30

Here are the cupcakes for the baby shower. Again, I tinkered with the recipe and I really wasn't as happy with these as I was with the ones on Monday.

STICK TO THE RECIPE!

I was told purple and jelly beans for the cupcakes. So I got some gourmet Jelly Belly jelly beans. Hello - expensive.

It is so hot today - scorching, that while I thought the buttercream was 'stiff'', it really didn't matter because it just softened in the heat. And no we don't have air con.

I tried to pipe flowers - begonias actually but they didn't quite come off.

Just got to keep baking I guess.

And I am a working on valentine cupcakes. I am determined that chocolate will not be a flavour. So over chocolate with valentines day.

My sister and single girlfriends will be celebrating our fabulousness as singles by going to see Valentines Day on Valentines Day. Hello Bradley Cooper. Pity we got to also see the Jessica's in that movie as well.

Behave! Sunflower Cupcakes - not quite

2010-01-20T19:06:00.002+10:30

I made coconut cupcakes with lemon white chocolate cream cheese frosting for friend at work who is off to Darwin for 6 months (maybe longer). Lucky beyotch. Darwin. But that is another story.

I wasn't all that happy with the cupcakes. And as for the frosting. It just wouldn't behave. It wasn't 'stiff' enough and pretty much melted the moment I started trying to pipe sunflowers. Even though the lemon white chocolate cream cheese frosting didn't behave, it was magically delicious.

After 6 melted sunflowers, I decided to just pipe swirls. Not very patient.

Some of the cupcakes had a lemon cream surprise.

I really should stick to a 'recipe'. I am always altering what is either tried and tested. So really, I shouldn't wonder why no batch of cupcakes is ever the same.

To be a stickler for details.

First Cupcakes of 2010

2010-01-18T18:54:00.001+10:30

First batch of cupcakes for 2010! Purple cupcakes were vanilla and yellow ones were lemon.

How I've missed you cupcake.

I really enjoyed baking - why did I stop?

We didn't have any milk so I made do with other ingredients and wow - dare I say better than using milk? Just added that something something to the cupcakes.

These were practice for a baby shower next weekend.