Afternoon Delight

My friend didn't want a big fuss over her birthday. So a nice afternoon of drinks & nibbles and then onto the Claremont for a Sunday Session was perfect for her!
She asked me to make cupcakes for the party, and wanted them colourful...

Happy 21st Jessie!!

Chilli Chocolate Cupcakes

I have a friend who likes really hot and spicy food. One day I told her I would make her a curry cupcake. After thinking this through and deciding curry in the cupcake might not be the BEST thing, I remembered that occasionally people add chilli to their chocolate, to bring out the flavour. I just wanted to make mine slightly spicier, and if it brought out the chocolate flavour, that would be an added bonus!
It's her birthday on Saturday, so when I saw her for lunch today, I thought it would be the best time to give them a try.

All chilli chocolate cupcakes, with a dark chocolate whipped ganache, with red sugar sprinkled on top.

Recipe of the Week - Marshmallow Pops

These marshmallow pops remind me of when we used to go camping as kids. We would roast our marshmallows, and then dip them in the chocolate. It was so much fun, and tasted so good.

Sadly this time, I made them without the camp fire, and didn't take my time in finding the perfect marshmallow roasting stick.

Chocolate and marshmallow is always a winning combination.

This is how you can make them.....

You Will Need

1) As many marshmallows as you want to make into marshmallow pops.
2) Lollipop sticks - one for each marshmallow. I found mine here.
3) Sprinkles, or m&ms, or choc chip bits. Any type of candy/lolly you want to decorate them with. Or you can just leave them "blank."
4) A piece of styrofoam to put the lollipops into, while the chocolate hardens.
5) Melted Chocolate - for dipping the marshmallows into.

First, put your lollipop stick into a marshmallow. Marshmallows are sticky on the inside, so you won't need to dip the sticks in the chocolate first. They should stay in the marshmallow quite fine. You then need to put your marshmallows into your piece of styrofoam, so when it comes time to drying, it will be alot easier.

Dip the marshmallow stick into the bowl of chocolate. You can either cover it completely, or just a bit.

Make sure you tap it quite a bit to get all the excess chocolate off, otherwise it will drip down the marshmallow..
Then dip it into your choice of decoration, and place it back into the piece of stryrofoam to dry.

Pretty Please, With a Cherry On Top

I've had a jar of cherries sitting in my cupboard, waiting for me to do something with them for a while now, so I thought it was time I used them. Being a big fan of cherry ripes, a cherry ripe cupcake sounded perfect!

all chocolate cupcakes, mixed with coconut and cherries, topped with a dark chocolate whipped ganache and a cherry on top.

50 is the new 40 - Part 1

Tomorrow is my mum's birthday. She asked me to make cupcakes so she could share them with everyone at her work.

Cupcakes waiting to be iced

L: Orange & poppy seed cupcakes with orange cream cheese & chocolate buttercream icing & orange flavoured M&Ms
M: Chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate buttercream and red sugar sprinkles

Choc-Orange Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes, with Orange Cream cheese & chocolate buttercream icing,
sprinkled with choc-orange flavoured M&Ms
Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream
orange, white & brownwildflower sprinkles

Orange & Poppy Seed Cupcakes, with orange cream cheese icing & a sprinkling of orange rind.

Blue Roses

Some vanilla & chocolate cupcakes ordered to give to someone on their birthday.

Vanilla Cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, blue & white fondant roses

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream and sprinkled flake.