Royal Wedding Cupcakes

Was anyone else disappointed with this super quick smooch?

From what I have read on all the blogs over the past few weeks, the Royal Wedding has been the biggest thing to happen in the cupcake world since, well, the cupcake world began! Well at least since cupcake blogs began.

Check out American Cupcake in London's Guest Blog on Cupcake's Take the Cake for the full low down:
http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2011/04/royal-wedding-cupcakes-in-uk.html

Since I am a true Monarchist and LOVE the Royal Family, especially the pretty ones, I did attempt to make my own Royal Wedding cupcakes a couple of weeks back.

I am a frosting girl at heart I find covering the frost with fondant icing a challenge. These are simple Vanilla Cupcakes made from a vegan recipe during my short stint on a dairy free diet, covered in red and blue fondant icing (pre-made from Dr Oetker) and some piped white Royal Icing - how fitting.

The Rosette and napkin are from Asda. 

1) I began by covering the cakes in a thick layer of dairy free frosting.

2) I started the Union Jack design by cutting out thin circles of the blue icing slightly larger than the circumference of the cupcake. I then smoothed them over the surface of the frosting and cut round any overlapping edge with a sharp knife.

3) I cut strips of red icing, rolled to the same thickness. For each cake I had 2 strips about 1cm thick and 2 strips 75mm thick, as the diagonal strips on the Union Jack are a little thinner.

4) I layered these on and piped white icing around the edges of the red.

5) Then I added the Love element - I cut some hearts from the red icing by hand using the point of a sharp knife, wet with a little water and then dipped in red edible glitter, plonked it on the top and iced round it.

... and Voila. 

Don't they look awesome in the Red Box available from Cupcakeboxesuk.com

Disappointingly, I have not seen many Royal Wedding Cupcakes in my local shops, but here are a few I they were serving at the Leonard Street Royal Wedding Street Party where I celebrated the glorious occasion.

These cookie towers looked great, but were a little dry. 

Loved the red, white and blue sprinkles. 

The only Rice Crispy Wedding Cake I've ever seen! 

Burlesque Betty would like to offer these 2 a lesson in  Burlesque Baking! Where are the smiles and Va Va Voom ladies?

 

 

Cupcake Wrappers - The Fur Coats of the Cupcake World

Cupcake wrappers are the fur coats of the cupcake world. They transform your cupcake from 'Sandra Dee' to 'Tell me about it Stud'! 

Please don't confuse these with cupcake cases, which like a sexy dress can also transform your cupcakes. Cupcake cases are more everyday, like stopping your cupcake going out naked, not dressing it up for a movie premier. 

Here are my favourite places to buy cupcake wrappers. Be warned, they are expensive where ever you buy them from! Bare in mind 3 things when contemplating whether or not to invest: 

1. They are super cute! 

2. They are re-usable and recyclable 

3. If your a little challenged in the baking department, they will hide a multitude of sins. 

• http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/acatalog/Cupcake-Wrappers.html - have by far the biggest selection.

CakesCookiesandCraftsShop.co.uk has the widest range of cupcake wrappers. 

• http://www.cupcakewrappers.com/ - have more bold coloured designs than other sites I've found.



CupcakeWrappers.com have some really bright and funky designs. 

• 
  

http://www.funkymuffin.co.uk/Cupcakes/Cupcake-Wrappers/c-1-208-226/ - has a nice selection with a few wrappers that can't be found on other sites, like the balloon ones below. 

FunkyMuffin.com

• http://www.cupcakestyle.co.uk/reusable-cupcake-wrappers.html - 155 different styles. 

CupcakeStyle.co.uk have some lovely feminine styles, perfect for a tea party.  http://www.craftycakewrappers.com/ - can customise wrappers on request, also checkout the picket fence wrapper in particular!

Picket Fence cupcake wrapper from CraftyCakeWrappers.com

• http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Crafty-Twit/_i.html?_nkw=cupcake+wrappers&submit=Search&_sid=58101537 - have the most unique cupcake wrappers on the net. My favourites are these teacup shaped cupcake wrappers. They are expensive at nearly £10 for 12 but so unique it's worth it. 

A selection available from Crafty Twit's shop on Ebay. 

• http://www.morrisons.co.uk - the cheapest wrappers I have been able to find. Available in 3 colours and £1.99 a pack.  

Picture courtesy of Sweetsassycake's Blog - http://sweetsassycakes.wordpress.com

I am, at some point, going to attempt to make my own so any tips or suggestions welcome! 

Jammy Dodger Cupcakes

Who doesn't love a good Jammy Dodger!

I saw these cute mini ones in the supermarket and couldn't think of a more fitting use but as a super cute mini cupcake topping.

I made these cupcakes before starting the blog, but I will be sure to share the full recipe and method next time I make them.

I used my tried and tested Vanilla Cupcake recipe from the Love Bakery Cookbook::

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Bakery-Cupcakes-Heart-Blears/dp/1907332472

I scooped out the middle with an apple corer and filled it with strawberry jam, before squidging the cake back in. My favourite jams to use for cooking are the St Dalfour branded Jams. These have no added sugar and the strawberry one is bursting with Juicy Jammy Strawberries. It's a bit more expensive than other jams at £1.65, but totally worth it and the fruit helps me convince myself that its better for me.



I then topped it with my own tweaked recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting, which I promise to share soon. My not so secret ingredients are two heaped teaspoons of Vanilla Bean Paste and a tablespoon of milk.