Happy Year of the Dragon!

Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon!

I wish I could take credit for this incredible dragon design but the inspiration for this one comes from none other then the cupcake whisperer, Karen Tack.  This cupcake design, which I tried my very best to replicate, comes from her latest book, Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh My!, due out January 31st.  I was very fortunate and excited to receive an advanced copy. More about her new book coming soon!

My dragon is made up of vegan vanilla cupcakes and vegan vanilla icing but decorated with non-vegan toppings.  These toppings include, homemade candy clay, mm's, white chocolate, yellow sugar, and a wafer ice cream cone.

2012 is the year of the dragon, the water dragon to be exact! The water dragon is the only mystical creature in Chinese astrology.   Let's hope 2012 is a happy and prosperous year!

It's a Baby Boy!

Baby boy cupcakes for a coworker and just in time too because two days after enjoying these, she had her baby!  The blue icing create a swirly water effect with "rubber" ducky candies and white candy ball "bubbles" too.

The cupcakes are vegan vanilla chocolate chip with vanilla icing; the toppings are a variety of (non-vegan) candies.

Congratulations to the happy mommy!

Happy New Year Cupcakes!

New Year's Eve cupcakes for Les Coquettes final show of 2011.

Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla icing and purple fondant flowers.

Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing and silver candy balls.

 

You can't celebrate New Year's Eve without music.  A music note cupcake.

Hard at work, detailing.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy 2012!

Santa and his Reindeer, on Their Way!

Nine reindeer with Santa cupcakes for our first annual Christmas dinner party.  The cupcakes are vanilla chocolate chip with icing and a variety of toppings, including ground ginger snap cookie crumbs, chocolate and mm's.  The cake and icing part of the design is vegan but alas, most of the toppings are not.  At least the candy toppings.  I think in the new year, it's time to investigate.  There must be good vegan candy options out there?!

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

The idea came from Karen Tack's What's New Cupcake? book, a fantastic book.  However, her designs are definitely much better and more professionally done.  These were, well, they did the trick. :)

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful supporters, friends and family!

A Les Coquettes Christmas

"Christmas bells" adds a little chocolate to these vegan vanilla cupcakes.

A simple and sweet Christmas tree on a vegan chocolate cupcakes.

 A red rose and chocolate cupcake for Les Coquettes' old Hollywood Christmas show.

For info on their next show please visit Les Coquettes website or Facebook page.

A Cupcake Baker's Wish List

Christmas shopping for that special someone this weekend? Well, if that special someone you know makes your life just a little bit sweeter, here are some lovely gifts ideas to think about:

Bella Cupcake Couture

Bella Cupcake Couture will help you serve up your baked goods with style in this fancy shmancy cupcake liners.  Check out there website for more variety.

Flirty Aprons

Baking has never looked sexier! Surprise her with this flirty apron.

Okay, so it doesn't all have to be about baking but it most certainly is all about cupcakes here! Even when the cupcake comes in floss form.  Don't ask.  I am curious about this though.  I mean, what flavour could it be?

Worldwide Fred

Serve up your cupcakes with sophistication  in these simple tea cup liners. 

Notonthehighstreet.com

Such a pretty whisk!

Headchefs

When I have children and bake or cook with them I will buy these headchefs kitchen tools.  So fun!

When all else fails, you can never go wrong with candy.  Most bakers or cake decorators I know love and collect a variety of it because they make great toppings.

The Creative Orchard

 And if you're feeling really ambitious, here's a DIY sprinkles organizer project you can try making.  Again, a variety of sprinkles, can't go wrong here.

Happy Hunting, Shopping, Making and Baking!

It was a Sloooooow November for Cupcakes

Looking forward to the holidays, which are just around the corner.  So even though November was slow I do hope December will pick up, at the very least I'll have many parties, friendly gatherings and family events to bake for.

Thank you Ivan and Rita, if it weren't for you, I would have nothing to show for November! Above and below, the vegan, gluten free, chocolate and vanilla wedding cupcakes I made for them.

These would also make a pretty Christmas cupcake for a party.  Each one is topped with a fondant hand-made flower, fresh mint leave and a couple of candy balls to accent.

Muskoka and Cupcakes, and Absolute Bliss

Vegan Chocolate cupcake with Vanilla Icing

If you ever find yourself needing a little getaway or a relaxing weekend away from the big city, I recommend Rosseau's Northern Landing Muskoka Bed & Breakfast in Muskoka.  A place, that for me, was a little piece of heaven this last weekend.


So what do cupcakes have to do with it? Not much, other then I made these (above) for Sheila and Peter, our wonderful hosts.