I Bake Cupcakes

Not just Cupcakes, Oh My!

2012-02-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the wonderful privilege of receiving an advanced copy of Karen Tack’s latest book, Cupcakes, Cookies and Pie, Oh My! Similar to her earlier books – HelloCupcake! & What's New, Cupcake? – The latest one certainly does not fail to please. The creativity and innovative food decorating ideas will tantalize and surprise you at every turn. Going beyond just cupcakes, Tack extends her creative talents to include cookies, pie, rice krispie, and cake projects, and not excluding any combination thereof.

The great thing about most of the designs in this book is that they are pretty straightforward and simple to recreate. It might however, take a steady hand and lots of patience to get through many of the projects, especially if you’re not an experienced decorating. Regardless of that this book provides a lot of easy to follow instructions and short ‘how-to’ guides, from everything to working with chocolate to learning how to utilize a variety of candy and even how to make your candy or toppings. If you’re a visual learner, this book is for you, as it is filled with vibrant fun photos of every project and step-by-step diagrams.

One of my favourite things about this book is simply, flipping through the pages. The fun, creative designs are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. My only issue, when actually doing a project from any of her books really, is that it can sometimes be difficult to find the right ingredients. Yes, that can be frustrating but the beauty of her designs is that they don’t have to be replicated perfectly. There’s lots of room to feel inspired, to take an idea and add a new spin to it. A good example would be my Chinese New Year’sDragon. Whereas her dragon design looks much more fierce, mine looks, well, kind of goofy.

Either way, I had fun with it and I look forward to having more fun trying out other projects including some of my favourites, the sock monkey cupcakes, the high heel shoe cupcakes and the ‘Night of the Living Dead’ cupcakes …okay, so I’m still focusing too much on cupcakes. That will change, soon enough.

Cupcakes, Cookies and Pie, OhMy! – Available January 31, 2012 – includes dozens of new original and highly imaginative decorating ideas that will surely blow your mind away. It did mine! So if you’re an amateur or an expert, or just anyone who loves to combine a love for baking with artistic talent this book is for you.

Happy Year of the Dragon!

2012-01-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

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!

2012-01-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

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!

2012-01-06T22:25:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-12-23T19:30:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-16T19:21:00.000-05:00

"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

2011-12-09T15:57:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-02T21:59:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-11T22:30:00.000-05:00

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.

Cupcake Cabaret Enchanté

2011-10-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

Les Coquettes' second, fantastic Halloween show is just around the corner. Last weekend I baked these cupcakes for their show and will be attending, selling and partying at their next show this coming Sunday October 30th.

Blue cupcakes with blue flowers, inspired from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Vegan vanilla cupcakes with vegan vanilla icing, also inspired from Alice in Wonderland.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired vegan chocolate cupcakes with what else, mini chocolate bars.

Hot lips, not sure where the inspiration came for these ones other then, they're hot.

Pumpkins!

2011-10-14T17:50:00.016-04:00

It's never too early to start your Halloween planning. I am pretty sure I started mine September :) And Thanksgiving, a time to celebrate the harvest, was a perfect occasion to try out my pumpkin cupcake design.

The flavour: pumpkin carob chip with vanilla icing, orange sugar with jube jube stems and green licorice laces for an added touch.

Next up ... Les Coquettes Halloween Show: Cabaret Enchanté

If you haven't bought tickets or have yet to see one of their fantastic shows, I urge you to do so, quickly now!

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

2011-10-07T21:02:00.000-04:00

A turkey cupcake! The only "turkey" I would actually enjoy eating!

Welcome Autumn, My most Favourite Season

2011-09-30T23:50:00.001-04:00

Autumn has always been one of my favourite times of year and for all the right cliche reasons - the changing leaves and colours, the crisp cool air, the excuse to stay indoors with loved ones on cold rainy nights and of course, the food and harvest, which is when I believe cooking and baking truly come alive.

Unfortunately for me, so far this Fall (what are we one week in?), my baking and cooking has failed to come alive. But it's still very early and with the first weekend of October approaching I anticipate much baking, cooking, crafting and creative juices flowing ahead!

That is the goal at least and in the meantime, I share with you one of my past favourite Fall cupcakes (before my vegan days - see picture left) - Angel Food Autumn Baby cake with a caramel candy fashioned as an acorn on top.

This year I hope to make take some of my favourite Fall inspired cupcake recipes (many of which are not vegan) and make them deliciously vegan and gluten-free.

My first recipe, a mishmash of two different cupcake recipes from two different books brought together, is ...

Apple Cinnamon and Spice Cupcakes

1 cup organic soy milk ( I used almond milk but soy works better)

1.5 tsp organic apple cider vinegar

1 1/4 cup organic flour

2 tbsp of cornstarch

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp organic baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp organic sea salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp all-spice

3/4 cup organic cane sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

1 tsp organic vanilla extract

1/2 cup organic apple butter

1. In a mixing cup add the apple cider vinegar to the soy milk and set aside.

2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake paper liners and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350F.

3. In a large bowl mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, sea salt, nutmeg, and allspice until well combined.

4. In another large bowl mix the sugar and oil together until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, mixing it in before you add the apple butter.

5. Add the milk mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing well.

6. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing together until just combined (don't over mix).

7. Fill each muffin cup to about 3/4 full and bake for about 20-21 minutes. Let cool at least 20 minutes before icing or eating.

Have an awesome Autumn recipe idea you'd like to share?

I'd love to hear it! Please send me a message here or email me at sarahlyn (dot) amaral (at) gmail (dot) com.

It's a Giant ... Cupcake?

2011-09-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

A large birthday cake for a wonderful birthday girl. My first actual cupcake cake or at least it is shaped like a cupcake - chocolate "liner," purple swirled icing "top" and pink flowers to accent.

It was delicious and fun to decorate but not fun to make. I do still struggle with making cakes, especially with measuring the amount of batter and cooking time I need but at least now with my fun cupcake pan I can practice and have more fun with it.

Sweet September Cupcakes

2011-09-16T23:30:00.000-04:00

Vegan vanilla cupcakes and vanilla icing with sugar flowers I made with my new baking toys that I got for my birthday. Yes, I am in baking/cake decorating heaven now ... but taking baby steps.

Speaking of baby, made these vanilla cupcakes for a baby shower so I decided to keep it simple, pretty and sweet with some yellow mini blossoms.

And for a superstar birthday girl, vanilla star studded cupcakes with just a touch of sparkle.

Gluten-free, vegan chocolate strawberry cupcakes and possible the most divine flavour combination and best recipe ever. This combination was to die for and made gluten-free, even better!

White strawberry blossoms, made out of fondant and silver candy, on top of the strawberry flavoured vegan icing made with freshly pureed strawberry.

Chocolate vegan cupcakes

1 cup soy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup gluten-free flour mix
1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp chocolate extract

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a regular size muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a measuring cup, measure out the soy milk and add the apple cider vinegar to it. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt, just until combined.

4. In another large bowl mix the oil and sugar together until fluffy. Add the vanilla and chocolate extract.

5. Add the milk to the sugar/oil mixture. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixing well.

6. Fill the each liner about 3/4 full or just over half full.

7. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

8. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for at least 20-25 minutes before icing.

Vegan Strawberry 'Butter cream'

1/2 cup vegan butter
1/2 cup all-vegetable shortening
3 - 3.5 cups icing sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp strawberry oil
1/4 cup fresh strawberry puree

1. Cream the butter and shortening together until well blended.

2. Add the icing sugar about one cup at a time, mixing it well into the creamed butter and shortening mixture.

3. After adding about 3 cups of icing sugar to the butter use a hand blender to mix everything together very well, until creamy and a bit stiff.

4. Add the vanilla extract, strawberry oil and strawberry puree to the mixture, blending everything together well.

5. Depending on what consistency you want you may need to add more icing sugar here, a few tablespoons at a time until you reach the consistency you want.

Enjoy!

White Chocolate and Raspberry ... Delightful!

2011-09-09T22:00:00.000-04:00

Sharing is nice, so here is a lovely recipe for you to try if you like. I made these recently for an office event which got excellent reviews! Happiness is eating cupcakes! :)

Raspberry White Chocolate Cupcakes

1 cup soy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups organic flour
2 tbsp corn starch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp raspberry flavour oil
1/2 - 2/3 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a regular size muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a small bowl add the apple cider vinegar to the soy milk and set aside for now to allow to curdle.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients - flour, cornstarch baking powder, baking soda and salt - just until combined.

4. In another large bowl mix the oil and sugar together until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and raspberry oil.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixing together until just well mixed.

6. Fold in the white chocolate chips until just combined.

7. Fill the each liner about 3/4 full or just over half full.

8. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden in colour or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for at least 20-25 minutes before icing.

The icing is vegan raspberry flavoured icing, so I didn't actually use any raspberry in the baking of the cupcakes but pureed raspberries would be marvelous in the icing, next time!

For something more, add fresh organic raspberries on top!

Enjoy!

A Rainbow of Cupcakes for a Golden Birthday

2011-09-02T13:07:00.001-04:00

For my golden birthday this year I wanted a rainbow! Well, I really just wanted to make a set of rainbow cupcakes and had wanted to ever since I saw them done by Karen Tack in her book Hello Cupcake! So, I baked one of my favourite cupcake flavours - strawberry, made with fresh organic strawberries - and topped each one off with vegan vanilla icing and each one a colour of the rainbow.

These cupcakes, which I happily baked for myself, were special in a couple of ways. For one, their design when displayed like an artist's palette represents my love for art and painting (which I did quite often once upon a time). And two, being that this year is my golden birthday year (I turned 31 on August 31st) it seemed appropriate to make them this way because at the end of these rainbow cupcakes is a golden birthday girl baker!

And now ... I just want to start painting again!

Cupcake Comic: I ♥ Garfield

2011-08-31T08:00:00.003-04:00

image source

Cupcake Comic: The Cherry on Top

2011-08-24T08:00:00.005-04:00

image source

Happy Birthday Cupcakes ... Yes, More Flowers

2011-08-19T23:03:00.000-04:00

It's a cupcake photo gallery day today!

And tonight's gallery features cupcakes baked and decorated by me and my niece for one of my best friends birthday tomorrow, as a gift from us.

The results - some fun, very creative, sugar-filled, candy-covered angel food cake cupcakes (yes, unfortunately they are not 100% vegan). However, angel food cake is her favourite cupcake flavour, so it was the obvious choice for the birthday girl.

In the gallery we have ...

My sunflower cupcake.

My wild arms flower cupcake.

A few simple but pretty little flowers on top of these cupcakes covered in raspberry vegan icing.

My nieces fire flower cupcake.

Both of our favourites, decorated by my niece, her swirl and twirl flower.

And finally, some very festive and cute cupcakes made by my niece - adorned with my best-friend's first name initial.

Happy Birthday Ronna!

Cupcake Comic: Tragedy

2011-08-17T08:43:00.000-04:00

image source

Happy, Lovely Cupcakes for the Birthday Girl

2011-08-12T16:00:00.001-04:00

Lovely flower cupcakes for an even lovelier friend for her birthday. Her favourite flavour, mint chocolate (also made vegan) and decorated with flowers and colours she loves.

Chocolate mint cupcake, mint icing, fondant flower with green apple sour candy leaves and silver candy balls.

To give the flower center more texture I first coloured it in with a brown food colour marker and then sprinkled yellow sugar on top. The flowers were just a bit too small to add chocolate wafers.

I tinted the icing here with neon green dye and added a white fondant flower, coloured in with a yellow food colour pen, trying my best to make it look as tropical as possible. I still have some work ahead of me, with no formal training, I still have a hard time making flowers especially with fondant. Perhaps it's time to invest in some gum paste?

My favourite flower cupcake! I got the idea online one day but never really tried it until now. Using fondant again, I made mini roses to create a bouquet with stems made from green apple shoe string licorice.

Happy Birthday Simone!

Cupcake Comic: Cupcake vs. Muffin

2011-08-10T17:28:00.006-04:00

Photo Source

Cupcake Comic: Meets Mr. Broccoli

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

From: Mr. Nice Guy

Freah, Cool slices of Watermelon Cupcakes

2011-07-29T17:35:00.000-04:00

Photo Source: The VT Hotel

It is hot outside today and there is nothing I like more then a cool, refreshing slice of watermelon on a hot Summer day. It can really hit the spot when you're outside enjoying the Summer sun, it's delightful! Now granted, when I think watermelon or eating watermelon never do I associate it with cupcake or even cake for that matter, well, until now!

My latest, greatest and perhaps sweetest Summer cupcake creation yet: vegan watermelon cupcakes. I followed my vanilla cake recipe and substituted some watermelon flavouring for extract, added some pink colour to the batter and mini chocolate chips for the "watermelon seeds."

The icing, also watermelon flavour and vegan, I dyed green to simulate the "watermelon skin" and added some green gel to some of the cupcakes for some added texture.

They worked out very well and were greatly enjoyed by all who tried one. When I peeled back the pink wrapper it did kind of did remind me of a watermelon slice. *Insert big smile* I was very pleased with the overall result.

Watermelon cupcake slices anyone?

Cupcake Comic: Cupcake on the Mind

2011-07-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

They Bake: Strawberry Pot Cupcakes

2011-07-25T08:00:00.003-04:00

One of my all-time favorite creative and sweet food blogs is the decorated cookie, so I just had to blog about her work cause I love it! Here we have some very sweet strawberry pot cupcakes, yep, there are cupcakes in those mini pots.

What I really love most about her blog and work are the cookies and the cookie designs are definitely one of the things that makes the decorated cookie rock!

Summer Soccer Cupcakes

2011-07-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Made some sweet vegan chocolate and vanilla soccer themed cupcakes for a friend. The soccer ball is made of fondant and I frustratingly tried drawing on it, not my best soccer ball but at least I think it looks like one, hopefully?

The grass is always fun to make, using the grass piping tip makes it easy. The soccer jersey is also made out of fondant and food coloring pens with a Happy Birthday message.

Cupcake Comic: Meets a Cute Kitty

2011-07-20T08:00:00.005-04:00

From: Mr Nice Guy

They Bake: ... And it's Gluten-Free!

2011-07-18T08:00:00.003-04:00

Found these delicious gluten-free cupcakes on The Cupcake Project website. They especially caught my eye because of the chickpeas, which is what the flour used here is made from. To see the full recipe and post check out: Gluten-free Chocolate Cupcakes made with Garbanzo Bean Flour.

Wedding Cupcakes for Every Season

2011-07-15T08:49:00.109-04:00

Wedding season is upon us but really, any season is a great reason for a wedding! Nowadays, cupcake towers as wedding cakes are a popular way to go and a trend that seems to be growing quickly. So, I thought I would share with you some of the wedding cupcakes I have done over the last couple of years and suggest that if: a- you like cupcakes, b - are getting married, c - have allergies or are vegan then contact me!

- SL

Spring Wedding: Lemon cupcakes and lemon icing (non-vegan) and organic edible flowers. Spring or Summer wedding cakes are a great time of year to utilize the many growing and available edible flowers.

This cupcake, though made for a Summer wedding would also be lovely for a late Spring wedding.

Summer Wedding: Pictured below are some Summer wedding cupcakes I did, three varieties: chocolate, angel food cake and toasted coconut (all non-vegan). The deep red colour I think could also work well for Fall or Winter weddings.

Brightly coloured icing or accents would be a lovely contrast to silver or white in the Summer wedding cakes.

Fall Wedding: These red velvet, fondant covered cupcakes (pictured above - non-vegan) were perfect for an Autumn wedding. Simple and elegant with a single fondant flower.

Fall Wedding: Though the cupcakes above were made for this Summer with edible flowers the colours and flavour combination, I think, would be fantastic for Fall.

Winter Wedding: My first wedding cupcakes ever and made for a winter wedding; the deep purple colour was a lovely choice for January. I added pearl and silver candies for some added elegance.

If you have a wedding, engagement or party coming up why not sweeten the food table with some yummy cupcakes!

Cupcake Comic: Cupcakes are Jerks!

2011-07-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

SOURCE

Awwww ... muffin!

They Bake: A Beautiful Painted Cake

2011-07-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

I knew I just had to share this cake, done by Amelie's House, when I saw it! This stunning, painted cake is definitely one of my next-to-do items. She even has a cupcake version on her blog, check it out!

Pretty Summer Flowers on Cupcakes

2011-07-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

pretty summer cupcake, in colour and flavour, it's vegan, gluten-free and delicious! These chocolate (v/gf) cupcakes were made for a friend's birthday. I got the fresh flowers at the Evergreen Farmer's Market, pretty and edible, they add the perfect touch I think.

I unfortunately failed to get the name of these edible flowers but I think they are calendula or pot marigold flowers. The icing is vegan and freshly made with organic strawberries for flavour (also form the farmers market).

Vanilla vegan/gluten-free cupcakes with edible flowers and vanilla vegan icing.

Cupcake Comic: Super Breakfast!

2011-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

SOURCE

They Bake: Lemon Raspberry for Summer

2011-07-04T09:55:00.000-04:00

Bakergirl Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes (made by Bakergirl) are lovely and sweet, the perfect flavour combination for summer - lemon raspberry. To see the recipe (non-vegan) check out Bakergirl's page.

Happy Canada Day, eh!

2011-07-01T12:15:00.011-04:00

Red velvet gluten-free vegan cupcakes

Cupcake Comic: Cupcake v. Cake

2011-06-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

SOURCE

They Bake: How to Get to Sesame Street

2011-06-27T12:13:00.000-04:00

If I had kids I would definitely be planning to make these! These cute Sesame Street cupcakes come from Bake Happy.

All you friends with children, any cookie monster and big bird requests?

Demystifying Red Velvet the Cupcake

2011-06-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

It's loved by many but can only be described by a few, that is, what red velvet cake actually is - What does it taste like, is it chocolate flavour? Why is it red? What makes it so delicious?

Perhaps it's the mystery or the combination of moist, fluffy cake and cream cheese icing, either way, it's a delight!

I recently made some vegan red velvet cupcakes with vegan cream cheeze icing and they were loved by all.

Why does this little cake make everyone so happy is my question?

According to Wikipedia, red velvet cake by definition is ... a cake with a dark red, bright red or red-brown color, usually prepared as a layer cake with either a vanilla or chocolate flavour, topped with a creamy white icing.

Though traditionally (based on it's history) it is made with buttermilk and loaded with butter I believe making the vegan version you really can not detect the difference. It's just as fluffy, moist and delicious.

For the recipe check out: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

Cupcake Comic: The System

2011-06-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

SOURCE

They Bake: A Giant Cupcake from 'Baked by Jen'

2011-06-20T09:04:00.000-04:00

A Giant Cupcake Cake by BAKED BY JEN

New, starting this week, I will include a weekly feature, featuring other baker's amazing, deliciously stunning and wonderfully colourful baked creations. So, to get this weekly blog roll started I found this hilariously awesome giant cupcake cake created by Baked By Jen.

Check out her blog for the 'how to' in coming up with this cake and for many more of her clever creations.

80's Revival + Les Coquettes = Sexy Fun Cupcakes!

2011-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

I promised you more 80's revival cupcakes and here they are, from the June 12th Les Coquettes show, complete with more fun prints, stars and cute bustiers. Top photo: Vegan chocolate cupcakes with vegan vanilla icing and fondant stars (background, vanilla cupcakes with vanilla icing and bubble gum topper).

Chocolate cupcakes, lime green vanilla icing, pink/yellow and pink/blue fondant stars - delicious!

Jem inspired 80's cupcakes (from left to right): Jem herself inspired by her wicked flashy belt, made with fondant. Next we have a star because let's face it Jem was a HUGE 80's star in the eyes of little girls everywhere. Finally, a cupcake inspired by one of the Misfits funky outfits, also made with fondant.

You can't have an 80's burlesque show without some sexy bustier cupcakes! Here's a green-blue bustier made with fondant, marshmallows and icing.

With my food colouring pens I was able to draw some funky animal prints on the fondant bustiers.

A leopard print for La Minouche, the Mistress of ceremonies and one hot mama!

Cute bustiers and cute boobie pasties for the ladies.

For some reason when I think of the 80's (perhaps because I was a child) I think of bright colours and big stars so here are a few more!

Prince inspired cupcakes

When we think of singers of the 80's a few good ones come to mind like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper, Paula Abdul and of course, Prince! Who can forget Purple Rain ... plus the Les Coquettes' own Dew Lily put on a hilariously sexy Prince performance.

For more info on their next upcoming October 2011 show

please visit their website.

Cupcake Comic: Chomp

2011-06-15T10:52:00.000-04:00

SOURCE

Where's the Beef? Not in these Cupcakes

2011-06-10T09:18:00.000-04:00

Some 80's inspired cupcakes for Les Coquettes' Where's the Beef? June 5th show. The inspiration I got came from the gloriously tacky bright neon colours and stars (think Jem & the Holograms) of the 1980's era.

Vegan chocolate cupcakes with yellow vanilla icing, pink gumball and blue star candies.

Vegan vanilla cupcakes with pink (what should have been bright pink) icing, yellow gumball and blue and pink star candies.

Vegan chocolate cupcakes with yellow vanilla icing, blue fondant star and mini pink star candies.

Vegan vanilla cupcakes with pink vanilla icing, blue fondant star and a purple gumball.

Can't go to a Les Coquettes show without having at least a few bustier cupcakes - these were made with fondant - hot pink and white.

If you missed all the fun from the first show join us this Sunday June 12th for their second 80's Revival show!

I'll be there with more cupcakes and big 80's hair!

Insane Blueberry Cardamon Mini Cakes Indeed

2011-06-03T09:31:00.032-04:00

I never would have thought I could make RAW cupcakes, okay, well I guess technically these are not cupcakes but I did use cupcake liners and a muffin tin and they kind of look like them, no?

Either way these completely raw, completely vegan and completely delicious mini blueberry cheesecakes are a perfect summer treat on a hot day. I found the recipe on G Living and have been waiting for a good excuse to finally make these.

These blueberry cardamon mini cakes also include real edible flowers as garnish from my urban balcony garden, which I was happy to finally get to use.

Summer, I love you!

A Grand Piano for a Grand Birthday

2011-05-27T08:00:00.012-04:00

Last weekend I am a grand piano cupcake cake made for a grand birthday out of chocolate vegan cupcakes plus a few vegan lemon cupcakes as the white keys. Most of the "cake" was vegan (except the icing and licorice), nonetheless, it was a huge hit at the party!

What makes this Grand piano? Dark chocolate vegan cupcakes covered in chocolate ganache (vegan and dyed black), the white keys are vegan lemon cupcakes with white icing, and the black keys are black licorice.

Encore!

A New Twist on an Ice Cream Dessert

2011-05-21T21:42:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay, some technical difficulties here on my end but I got it sorted out and just in time to share these sweet cakes: Vegan Banana split cupcakes with vanilla icing, chocolate drizzle and sprinkles! These were such a hit with the office and Mike - who has basically warned me that I have to now bake these every time now for him lol - yeah, right.

Banana Split with Vanilla

Original recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (I modified it)

1 cup very ripe, pureed banana

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp fine sea salt

3/4 cup cane sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

2/3 cup almond milk

1.5 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp banana extract

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cupcake/muffin tin with your paper liners of choice.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, almond milk, vanilla and banana extract until well combined.

Add the pureed banana to the wet ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients mixing just well enough and being sure not to over mix.

Fill cupcake liners to about 3/4 full. Bake for about 20-22 minutes.

Allow to cool in pan for about 5-8 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

To Decorate:

I piped vanilla icing onto each cupcake then drizzled melted chocolate on top. Add coloured sprinkles and a candy topping and your done!

(Note: Toppings and chocolate are not vegan)

I can already hear fire crackers outside ...

Happy Long Weekend Canada!

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over my Blog!

2011-05-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

I started baking vegan a few months bake, maybe around September because since then I have slowly but surely become vegan myself taking the full plunge this new year. Since then, when I tell people I bake vegan I often get the same questions, besides the obvious, 'how can you bake vegan?' I most often get How can you bake without eggs? or better yet How can vegan cupcakes taste good without butter?


Visit their website

Believe me when I say that vegan baking is so easy and delicious and that in fact, I would argue, vegan cupcakes are better tasting then any dairy or egg-filled cupcake I have ever tried. As long as you have the right ingredients and the right book it's easy to get started.

So how did I get started? Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World was a great little book given to me by my best-friend after many frustrating occasions trying to veganize my cupcake recipes. Now that I have the experience with this book I have found it much easier to adapt almost any recipe to be vegan.

The very first cupcakes I made vegan from this book were Toasted Coconut in 2009 while visiting my friend in California. It took me nearly a year to get back into vegan baking but I did it, love it and will never look back!

My advice to any beginner vegan baker - find a recipe book that suits you, it could be this one or any others you find and start baking! Start experimenting and testing out what "milk" you like using or different types of sugar like agave or maple.

If you know of and can suggest any great vegan baking recipe books please let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Mother's Day Cupcake Gift Ideas

2011-05-06T09:49:00.000-04:00

This weekend is all about mom and this blog entry is for you, for those of you who are stuck thinking up a gift idea for mom this weekend, hopefully these cupcake designs will give you some inspired baking ideas.

For the simply elegant mother: Try a fondant covered cupcake, in case I use red, topped with a simple white flower.

For the mother who loves flowers (maybe all mothers in this case?): Try a rose bouquet or a mixed flower bouquet of cupcakes made with icing and various candy toppings.

For the mother who loves gardening: I got this idea from Karen Tacks book, Hello Cupcake! Using Oreo cookie crumbs, some candy and chocolate toppings you can make some cute and simple vegetable garden cupcakes for mom.

Tomatoes: Boston beam chocolate candies (runts work well also) and icing.
Carrots: Orange Starburst candy and icing.
Lettuce: Green chocolate covered Bran Flakes cereal and green runts candy.

For the mother who loves music: Another pretty and simple design, white fondant covered cupcake with black icing music notes and bar. Topped with blue icing and a white fondant flower.

For the mother with a flower garden: This idea came from the book Martha Stewart Cupcakes. Cupcakes topped with icing and pineapple after it's been baked for a few minutes at a low temperature. The pineapple look like giant flowers!

For mom, cupcakes with her tea: Chai cupcakes with chocolate pair off nicely with coffee or tea!

For the mother who wants to let loose: For something a little more fun, try turning mom's favourite drink into cupcakes! In this case we have strawberry daiquiri cupcakes with strawberry icing, candy lime and a fresh cut strawberry. (For added effect I served these in bar glasses stuffed with pink tissue paper).

Happy Mother's Day

to all the amazing mothers out there!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-04-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

At least here's hoping it brings May flowers especially after five days straight of rain here in Toronto. The grass is looking very green and lush however, and on my daily walks with Scarlet I do see many flower buds peeking through the mulch. Just in case I did make some early May Gerber daisy cupcakes for a wedding shower tomorrow.

Vegan Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes with white vegan icing and white chocolate fondant daisy (non-vegan).

The same but pink!

The Gerber daisy bouquet - more fondant and green chocolate leaves, green licorice stems (all non-vegan, at least not 100%) on top of a mix of mini and regular vegan chocolate cupcakes.

A perfect Mother's Day gift idea too!

Do I really Have to Work Tomorrow?

2011-04-24T18:41:00.000-04:00

An Easter Garden and pond cupcakes - chocolate, icing, jelly beans, and candy to end off my Easter weekend.

Happy Easter to those who Celebrate it!

Hoppy Easter Cupakes

2011-04-23T18:43:00.000-04:00

Loaded Easter cupcakes! Vegan cake, icing, chocolate eggs, and candy.

Rubber Duckie, You're the One...

2011-04-22T09:51:00.000-04:00

...You make eating cupcakes, so much fun!

Made some cute mini vegan chocolate cupcakes with vegan icing topped with candy ducks and pearl candy balls for a baby boy shower.

These cute cupcakes could also work for Easter. Simple but effective, the kids (and the adults) loved them!

When the Moon Hits Your Eye ...

2011-04-15T08:00:00.026-04:00

Like a big pizza pie, that's, amour!

Actually, that's cupcakes! Vegan vanilla cupcakes turned into a pizza pie, all made with cupcakes, icing, fondant, white chocolate, and green licorice.

Eh, badda boom badda yum!

Mini Vegan Birthday Cakes

2011-04-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

Another birthday, another cupcake, another flower - all vegan! I've been meaning to buy some dairy-free chocolate for my baking endeavours but never seem to get around to it, so what else does the trick? Carob!

I used carob "chocolate" to make the vegan flowers for these cupcakes.

The cupcake flavour was none other then my ever famous capuchino cupcakes that always seem to win the hearts of cupcake lovers every time they try one.

I know it seems lately that all I have been making are basic cupcakes with icing and flowers but I promise to mix it up soon. Alas, work and school keep this gal super busy with little time to bake or get creative in the kitchen :(

Well ... at least it's FRIDAY!!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Egg-cellent April Fool's Day!

2011-04-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

Ever since I saw this design in Karen Tack's book, What's New Cupcake? I have been wanting to make them and what perfect timing - April Fool's day! These eggs-cellent cupcakes almost look like the real thing but much sweeter.

The cupcakes are vegan vanilla cake with vegan icing but the egg shelled cupcakes are made with solid white chocolate (non-vegan). The opened egg cupcakes are made with white chocolate bits, icing and canned peaches I cut out as the 'yolk' part of the egg,

These mini treat may look eggs-cellent but they were not so eggs-cellent to make! I tried three times making the 'egg shells' - first time too thin, second time combination of too thin but thick top - either way they kept shattering when I removed them from the plastic egg shells.

The third time I finally gave in and just made them solid white, filled the plastic egg shell and was done with it. Besides who doesn't love solid white chocolate! I don't know how Karen does it, she truly is the cupcake whisperer and I am merely the grasshopper.

For Something Completely Different ...

2011-03-25T16:33:00.001-04:00

I know, this is a blog about cupcakes and I do love making them but sometimes a girl's just gotta venture out and try something totally different.

Green Sushi Dessert

This is totally different and not necessarily a good dessert but it was different and it's for a contest. Dessert Wars contest theme for March was green - using two or more green food ingredients, one traditional and one non-traditional.

The green ingredients I used:

cucumber
green grapes
avocado
kiwi fruited
crushed pistachio
yaki sushi nori sheet

Other ingredients:

sweet sushi rice
agave nectar

The idea was to make sushi in a non-traditional way, to make it as a dessert using fruit. The idea was good, the plan was good, heck, even the photos turned out pretty good but the rolling part was quite tough and I can't say that I would try it again lol ... however it did taste pretty good.

My lesson: Stick to making cupcakes!

I think for next month I'll have to make a cupcake for this one but it's always fun to exercise my culinary creativity.

March prize package includes:

Whisk and cupcake necklace from Moon & Star Designs
The Smartshopper Electronic Grocery List Organizer
Beanilla Sampler Pack of Vanilla Beans
Lenox Personalized Musical Cupcake
1,000 ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes
Endless Vanilla and Cinnamon Extract
Unlimited Layers: A Recipe for Turning Your Passion into Profits
Organic Valley $50 Gift Certificate
Organic Prairie $50 Gift Certificate
Theme Kitchen $50 Gift Certificate
BEKA Cookware Crepe Pan

Blue Birthday Lovelies

2011-03-18T14:22:00.001-04:00

March birthday cupcakes: Vegan chocolate cake, vegan vanilla icing tinted blue with white chocolate fondant flowers (non-vegan).

Chocolate and Blue, always a gorgeous combination.

And the cutest dog ever ...

Miss Scarlet on St. Patty's day!

Note: She hated doing this and it was only done after my boyfriend and I thought it would be a cute and funny idea, and it was, for us lol ...she was so not impressed.

Roses, Tango, Love Hearts ... Cupcakes.

2011-03-11T15:18:00.001-05:00

Lovely rose and chocolate vegan cupcakes, designed and made for my sister's studio party. The theme: Love, Tango and Hearts. I made vegan dark chocolate cupcakes with vegan icing (rose coloured) topped off with licorice hearts and silver candy balls. Olé!

The Galleria ...

The Three amingos

Mom's Birthday: More Flowers, New Twist

2011-03-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

My mother loves flowers, just loves them, all kinds! So, every year I do my best to come up with a new flower designed cake/cupcakes for her birthday, This year I kept it sweet, simple and small.

The heart shaped cake and mini cupcakes are made of vegan red velvet cake and coloured vegan icing.

The Design: I wanted to create a rose garden, using mini pink cupcakes as the roses and the heart-shaped cake as the base or green "grass" which was created with piping tip #133 - grass tip.

The size was just right, enough for all of us (about 6 of us) to enjoy but not overload on and my mother loved the design. She was happy!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Many Lessons in Baking: Traveling

2011-02-25T11:08:00.042-05:00

A couple of years ago I made this pretty cake for my mom for her birthday, it was pretty and despite my little experience I was pleased with the end result. Doesn't it look pretty here!? Um, yeah ... that was before, before I knew to never, never, never, ever take a flower pot shaped cake topped with flower fondant cupcakes on a train with me to travel about 1.5 hours to the destination.

Did I ever learn the hard way what would happen ...

Needless to say it did NOT end well! It actually looks as though someone took the "flower pot" cake and smashed it on the ground, haha!

So the very important lesson I learned - stick to cupcakes, just cupcakes! lol ... actually I also learned a thing or two about traveling with my baked goods and have drastically improved the safe arrival of all my baked good deliveries.

In the end it didn't look so pretty anymore but it still tasted delicious and my mom was still happy - the thought really counted, plus have the foresight to take the photos before the destruction helped a lot.

It's my mom's birthday this weekend ... stay tuned next Friday to see her birthday treat for this year.

Candy Hearts, Cupcakes and Les Coquettes

2011-02-18T14:52:00.052-05:00

Candy heart cupcakes and sexy naked people on stage, that's what you'll find at a Les Coquettes burlesque show, at least for their Valentine Show

Vegan Chocolate cupcakes covered in white icing and random candy hearts ... these days they say things like "email me" or "fax me." I'm sorry if you fax or email me for a date, you failed! So not romantic.

One of my favourite ones to make and I think one of the most popular to sell out - vegan vanilla cupcakes with buttercream and cherry red heart lollipop!

The ever popular and sexy bodice cupcake - vanilla with buttercream, fondant, marshmallows and icing. These babies sold out before the first intermission of the first show!

Vegan chocolate cupcakes with sweet sugar hearts and icing - my favourite :)

It was a fantastic show, as always, so if you missed out be sure to visit their website or Facebook page to learn more for the next one, in June 2011. The theme: the 80's! ... can't wait to make cupcakes for that one.

Lovely Lemony Cupcakes with ♥

2011-02-11T16:19:00.001-05:00

Inspired by the soon-to-be Valentine's day I made these sweet mini lemon cupcakes last weekend for the girls for the swap party, each one topped off with vegan icing and a candy sugar heart!

Here's the recipe ...

Lemon Cupcakes

Original recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, p. 95

1/3 cup canola oil

3/4 cup organic cane sugar

1/4 cup soy yogurt

1/3 cup almond milk

1/4 fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp fine sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 24 mini muffin tin with cupcake liners or spray with non-stick spray if no using liners

2. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt - until just combined.

3. In another large bowl mix the oil and sugar together until fluffy. Add the soy yogurt and almond milk, mixing well.

4. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract to the wet ingredients and mix well.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixing together until just well mixed.

6. Optional: add macadamia nuts or chocolate chips.

7. Fill mini liners just about over half full - I like to use a piping bag to fill them because it's easier and faster.

8. Bake at 350F for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden in colour or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9. Allow to cool for at least 25-30 minutes before icing.

For the decoration ...

I tinted white vegan icing yellow and using a large star-point tip and piping bag I topped off each cupcake with a swirl and one white or read sugar candy heart.

Happy Valentine's Day !

29 on the 29th

2011-02-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

That's right - 29 cupcakes for a guy who turned 29 on the 29th of January - it's a champagne birthday! Each cupcake was unique in that each one represented an element of him - what he loved, hobbies, status, interests, etc.

All cupcakes and icing were vegan but some of the extras probably were not - difficult to find truly vegan candy really - either way they were all delicious or so I was told.

Here are some close up examples ...

Love for golf - watching and playing.

A Sailor in the summer.

Love for music and my guitar strummin' fella.

He (and I) love pizza! He couldn't actually figure this one out because he never puts anything green on his pizza, that's my thing.

Football! Just in time for Superbowl on Sunday (February 6th) - loves to watch and play.

Nicknamed Mr. Brightside - always smiling, always positive and looking on the bright side of things.

Now who doesn't love The Family Guy!? Heeeeeerrrrrre's Peter!

Cute doggy cupcake to represent my (and now his other love of his life) Scarlet.

Birthday balloons for the birthday boy!

The birthday Boy! Although there were some debate on whether it was him or his best friend.

Happy Champagne Birthday Mikey!

How Time Flies ... January.

2011-01-28T08:00:00.010-05:00

A year ago life was very different from today.

A year ago I was entering the an online cupcake competition and won with my tropical cupcakes.

A year ago I baked for my first wedding, Celana and Shaun's and since then having baked for four more weddings.

A year ago I felt like a completely different person, viewed things a little differently but I think today I am a different person, hopefully an even better person then I was.

A year ago I didn't know three people who may have equally had a hand in changing the course of my life - I met them six months later.

A year ago I was frustrated with a broken heart but today I have been fortunate to be in love again with a wonderful guy and my best friend who I couldn't imagine my life without.

A year ago it's was bloody ass cold in Toronto, Ontario ... oh wait, yep, it still is.

A year ago I was still living a white-meat and fish eating, cheese-loving, eggs-devouring lifestyle. Today I live a vegan lifestyle and have never felt better, healthier and yes, stronger. So please stop asking me where I get my protein, trust me, I get it.

A year ago I was getting obsessed with my next boxing match and over-worried about when it would be. Today, still boxing, I am not worried about my next fight, if it comes or if it doesn't, either way I'm good.

A year ago I had only been to 4 continents and was thinking about where my next trip would be. Today I am planning the trip to my 6th continent.

Did I forget to mention that this is just the surface? This is just a reflection on the month of January - where I was and what I was feeling in 2010 versus how I feel today. A lot can happen in a year!

Don't ever take any moment for grated or discount the things you've done or learned through your life because when you really sit down and reflect on all those things you will realize, wow, I'm awesome. Life is awesome.

Pretty Little Cupcakes

2011-01-21T08:11:00.000-05:00

Pretty yummy that is ... I made these minis for our monthly office Town Hall this week.

The usual suspects: chocolate cupcakes with orange flavour icing, chocolate butterscotch cupcakes with marshmallow flavour icing and peanut butter cupcakes with butterscotch flavour icing - all vegan, all very

delicious!

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

3/4 cup almond milk

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup natural smooth (or chunky) peanut butter

1/3 cup canola oil

2/3 cup organic cane sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp flaxseed meal

1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 salt

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a measuring cup mix the almond milk and apple cider vinegar together and set aside to allow to curdle.

3. large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, canola oil, sugar, vanilla, and flaxseed meal, mixing well to blend.

3. Sift in the flour, baking power, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternating with the milk. Mix well.

4. Fill liners about 2/3 of the way and bake for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

5. Cool on racks before topping with frosting.

If you don't like frosting a nice topping would be any fruit jam - cut a cupcake in half and you have a peanut butter and jam cupcake!

Upward Facing Cupcakes

2011-01-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

I was never a huge fan of green tea but like many things I've tried in the last ten years - sushi, dark chocolate, almond milk, rice cheese - I've just grown to like it. I never imagined that green tea cupcake however, could taste so good!

Surprisingly, they were sweet (well, not too surprising really, I did add sugar after all) and just the perfect hint of green tea flavour, these vegan cupcakes were a hit at the yoga class I attended at Art in Motion Dance Studio.

Vegan Green Tea Cupcakes

Recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

1/2 cup soy yogurt

2/3 cup rice milk

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup canola oil

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 to 4 tsp matcha tea powder (found in specialty tea shops)

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup organic cane sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, rice milk, vanilla, oil and almond extract, beating well to blend in yogurt.

3. Sift in the flour, baking power, baking soda, matcha powder, salt, and sugar.

4. Fill liners about 2/3 of the way and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

5. Cool on racks before topping with glaze.

Green Tea Glaze

2 tbsp vegan butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/8 to 1/4 tsp matcha tea powder
1 to 2 tbsp rice milk
1/4 tsp almond extract
Drop of vanilla extract

1. With a fork, beat the butter to fluff, then mix in the sugar and matcha powder to form a crumbly mixture.

2. Slowly beat in 1 tbsp rice milk, almond extract, and vanilla.

3. If icing is too thick to spread, add rice milk 1 tbsp at a time; if too thin add sugar, 1 tbsp at a time until you find the right consistency.

I also made vegan Chai latte cupcakes for the night ...

The goal was to make the icing look swirly and frothy just like a coffee cup and topped off with cinnamon and cocoa powder ... mmm, good.

Namaste

UP inspired New Year's Cupcakes

2011-01-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

I love the animated movie UP and have wanted to make UP inspired cupcakes for a while now. New Years seemed like a great time to do them because the movie has such a wonderful inspiring message I think, perfect for the new year. Simply, live life with no regrets and appreciate the journey you've taken because every journey is grand in it's own way.

I made about 48 mini vegan carob (like chocolate but not cocoa and without the caffeine) cupcakes for the balloons and mixed 7 different vegan icing colours: green, yellow, blue, red, pink, purple and orange.

A close up shot of the balloons. I used blue raspberry flavoured shoe-string licorice as the balloon strings. White would have been ideal but I think the blue worked nicely.

A close up of the house. Made from a regular sized cupcake, covered in white chocolate fondant (not vegan) and then coloured in the house with food colouring pens - I love those freakin' pens!

Up, up and away ... they didn't last long at the New years party. I think my boyfriend Mike ate 12 of them alone!

Happy New Year All!

2010-12-31T14:41:00.000-05:00

photo source: Neil Slorance Comics

Hope it's a good one! ... Cupcakes back next week!

1 Day 'til Christmas: Cupcakes for the Family

2010-12-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

I guess I have a thing for trees! I made these last night to take home for the family. About 48 mini vegan cupcakes made up to create a Christmas tree, covered in green vanilla vegan frosting, jelly beans (which I recently discovered at not vegan) and silver candy balls.

Can't wait to go home, visit family and catch up on some dearly needed sleep as I fight off this illness - thanks Santa, I reeeeeeally wanted to be sick for the holidays :(

2 Days 'til Christmas: Cupcakes for the Coworkers

2010-12-23T08:00:00.027-05:00

Vegan cappuccino cupcakes with chocolate chips, whipped icing and peppermint sprinkles.

Please visit Besides Cupcakes blog today for a How-to Guide to making Eco-friendly and yummy, last minute Christmas gifts!

3 Days 'til Christmas: SnowFamily

2010-12-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

A snow family made of chocolate cupcakes, which should have been vanilla cupcakes, back from my early days in baking - you live and learn. Vanilla, next time, vanilla ... they still turned out pretty cute!

It was also shortly after making these I discovered real buttercream, which would have helped when piping the trees. In this case the icing was too running, the trees look sad, lol.

Each snow person was made with regular and mini cupcakes, a variety of candy and icing. The idea inspired by Karen Tack's Hello Cupcake! book.

4 Days 'til Christmas: Gingerbread Land

2010-12-21T08:00:00.015-05:00

A gingerbread land made up of mini cupcakes, covered in white icing, sugar with a graham cracker house, pretzel fences and candy trees. I made this for my family last year ... what to make this year?

5 Days 'til Christmas: Cupcakes for Friends

2010-12-20T08:00:00.030-05:00

Made some vegan chocolate cupcakes with vegan vanilla icing for friends this weekend for our holiday gathering. I love this photo, it's actually a photograph but looks like a painting of them, no?

Sasa, about to devour a second cupcake? - love the tie!

Even hot girls eat cupcakes ... because it's sexy! ;)

Love my Friends!

6 Days 'til Christmas: Now that's a Wreath

2010-12-19T08:00:00.018-05:00

My Christmas gift to the Les Coquettes - A War on Christmas Wreath.

7 Days 'til Christmas: Oh Christmas Tree

2010-12-18T08:00:00.023-05:00

Here's a sweet little Christmas tree cupcake (vegan cake, peppermint buttercream with colored sprinkles and an almond paste star). These trees went quickly at the Les Coquettes Holiday show on Sunday. If you missed their show but want to see them next year, season's tickets are now on sale!

They are an amazing crew, you won't be disappointed!

P.S. like this blog? Please check out my other blogs: Besides Cupcakes, a Food Day, Everyday and my latest, Cards to Cupcakes ...

8 Days 'til Christmas: I Wish I Were Melting ...

2010-12-17T08:00:00.043-05:00

... in the hot Summer sun that is! Sadly, I can not be for I am Canadian and am stuck in another cold Canadian Winter.

It's not all bad, the weather gives us the perfect excuse to stay indoors and snuggle with our loved ones. This melting character was inspired by The Decorated Cookie.

Oh yeah, and these cupcakes, made them for a friend's friend - vegan chocolate cupcake and vegan vanilla buttercream. However, did you know that marshmallows are not vegan? Sad but true. Cross that off the list for next year!

I drew on the marshmallows using food colouring pens ... it's fun! The inspiration to draw on my food came from this wonderful cookie site: The Decorated Cookie (yes I plugged them twice, love her site).

9 Days 'til Christmas: Holly-day Work Party

2010-12-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Last year's holiday office cupcakes - Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes - they were a huge hit! This year I made a similar vegan version which I think were an even bigger hit. Stay tuned to what I make this year!

10 Days 'til Christmas: Caught in the Snow?

2010-12-15T08:00:00.005-05:00

I know, not very Christmas-like? Well they worked for the Toronto's Les Coquettes, for their Holiday Spectacular themed show: The War on Christmas.

So what's the deal with these so-called Christmas themed cupcakes? I found gummy army guys, yes, they actually have gummy army guy candies, used them for the theme and planted them on top of vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream to simulate snow and ice.

And really, let's face it, with all that holiday "cheer," crazy Christmas shopping, busy stores, long lineups, wrapping, baking, cooking, cleaning, and between family visits and snow storm car rides don't you just feel like you've survived a war?

11 Days 'til Christmas: Decorating Time

2010-12-14T08:00:00.003-05:00

If you haven't already, now is as good a time as any to get those trees, bells, mistletoe, and Christmas wreaths u ... or you can bake and decorate instead. I made these cute cupcake Christmas wreaths last year as gifts for close friends.

12 Days 'til Christmas: Winter is Here!!

2010-12-13T09:20:00.001-05:00

In honour of the 12 days before Christmas I've decided to post 12 Winter/Holiday/Christmas cupcakes before the big day. Some will be old, some will be new and hey, some will be blue ... like these I made earlier this year. My 'Snow and Ice' themed cupcakes which were gluten-free, lemon-cranberry flavour and delicious.

Birthday Cupcake Tower of Chocolate

2010-12-10T14:42:00.000-05:00

For my sister's birthday I went with the simple theme of "what's her favourite cupcake flavour: Chocolate" Bam! Done. Made vegan Chocolate Brownie cupcakes from my Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World book and they were a major hit with everyone.

Each one was decorated with simple white icing and coloured sugar to create a rainbow cupcake tower of chocolaty goodness.

It made for a really cool cake tower especially when lit up with the candles. I had to walk into the room with that baby, thought we were gonna start a fire with all the candles. ;)

Post-candle blowout ... I was fairly certain I ate some wax. Is wax vegan!?

Happy Birthday Sis!

Some Cupcake Fans and Friends

2010-12-03T12:19:00.000-05:00

Can't believe another year is almost over but what a wonderful year it's been!

Celana, on her wedding day, hers was the first wedding I did this year. They loved the cupcake tower and I love this picture of her - classic!

My childhood best friend and probably the person I have know the longest (22 years and counting), Ronna, holding up her Christmas cupcake wreaths I gave her last year.

My other amazing best friend Kathryn, on her 30th birthday. I designed for her 30 cupcakes each one representing an element of her. This one represented California, where she was just about to move to at the time.

Sweet little Autumn enjoying her even sweeter vanilla cupcake on her 2nd birthday. Who can forget the cupcake tower of TV cartoon characters like Dora, Elmo and more.

Alana's wedding, one of my favourite wedding cupcake towers I've made to date. I had the opportunity to use live edible flowers, bright purple, blue and green colours, it was gorgeous - just like the couple on their happy day! (photo by Zaiden)

Sneaking an early taste of the lemon cupcakes at Alana's wedding. (photo by Zaiden)

Autumn's 3rd birthday, a friend enjoying the gluten-free white butterscotch Care bear cupcakes I made. Good strategy - get low to the table, leave nothing behind!

To my family, friends and fans ... Love you all!

Warm up with Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

2010-11-26T08:00:00.007-05:00

I've made these cupcakes a couple of times now and I have to say, they are by far one of the best ever made and definitely on my top 10 list for most favourite vegan cupcakes, especially since they are chocolate too! Plus they have been the most popular with every one who has tried them - rave reviews all around and a few recipe requests from friends, so I share it here with you now.

The original recipe is from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

1 cup coconut milk
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
¾ cup unbleached, all-purpose flour + 2 Tbsp
¼ cup flaxseed meal
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ - ¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 cup organic cane sugar sugar
⅓ cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Whisk together coconut milk and flaxseed and allow to sit for 10 minutes, then whisk in sugar, oil, vanilla, and almond extract.

3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, flaxseed meal, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne.

4. Gently mix in wet ingredients.

5. Fill cupcake liners approximately ⅔ full.

6. Bake for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.

Although the cake part of these were vegan, I had some left over cream cheese icing from another project that was not vegan so I topped them off with that and some cinnamon. A vegan cream cheese icing would be perfect for these.

Enjoy!

Where have all the Flowers Gone ...

2010-11-19T08:00:00.054-05:00

From the outdoors they may all be gone as the cold weather hits but indoors there are plenty of flowers to go around - on cupcakes! These vegan chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing are decorated with blue fondant hand-made flowers with silver candy balls; made them for my cousin's birthday.

The vegan cake was super moist and rich, can't go wrong with chocolate on chocolate! ;)

These red velvet cupcakes with buttercream and off-white fondant on top were made for a wedding. Each one was topped off with a white fondant, hand-made flower with a gold candy ball.

Can you tell I am a big fan of these cute little flowers? They're so perfect and too cute for decorating, I can't resist, they always add the perfect touch. These dark beauties were made for Les Coquettes' October shows; devil's chocolate cake with coloured vanilla buttercream and black dark chocolate fondant hand-made flowers with silver candy balls.

Devilishly delicious!

Cute Care Bear Cake for a Cute Kid

2010-11-12T09:36:00.000-05:00

Care Bear birthday cake for a sweet 3 year old girl. All made up with gluten-free butterscotch caramel cupcakes and white buttercream. The goal was to make a cake that resembled Care Bear land, a.k.a. Care-a-lot.

Adorned with rainbow candy stripes, yellow/red candy hearts, red hard candy hearts, purple fondant flowers and candy cane poles. The care bears were the only non-edible item - each about 2 inch high toy that she could keep and play with afterward.

Love-a-lot bear. I also used cupcake stackers to create layers and for the rainbow slides.

Friend bear and behind her, Share bear.

Cheer bear and Wish bear.

Funshine bear and Bedtime bear ... there were eight care bears in total on the cake.

It's a care bear army!

Happy Birthday Autumn

Celebrate Life with Sweet Flowers

2010-11-05T22:41:00.000-04:00

Before it gets too cold out (Canadian winter is coming, we can feel it already) enjoy some gorgeous flower cupcakes - a bouquet made for a friend's friend to celebrate life! The red roses were made with sour jube jube candies.

Flowers made with various sized marshmallows, coloured sugar, icing, white fondant, yellow jelly beans and the leaves made with green chocolate.

Sunflower cupcakes made with yellow icing and chocolate covered raisins.

Most of the flower designs were inspired by Karen Tack's book What's New Cupcake?

My flower bouquet design and the final product. Always a great feeling when my ideas come together.

Cupcake bouquet of Spring flowers.

When diligently working away on these cupcakes, and like some projects in my past, accidents occasionally happen - like spilling nearly an entire bag of candies on the floor.

Oops!

Hallowe'en Monster Line up ...

2010-10-31T08:00:00.014-04:00

Funky blue monster with crazy teeth and big eyes.

Green monster with many crazy eyes.

Cute little monster with one big eye.

Funny orange monster with big brows.

Purple monster with weird yellow teeth.

Red yellow-eyed monster with no teeth.

Please visit Besides Cupcakes this Thursday November 4th for more Hallow e'en fun ideas!

Until next year!

More Monsters ... Coming soon.

2010-10-30T08:00:00.014-04:00

1 more day until Halloween

Sweetest Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

Red velvet cupcakes with orange buttercream, orange sugar sprinkled on top and a green apple licorice "stem." Only a few tickets left for Les Coquettes' sexy Halloween show, First Bite, October 31st in Toronto.

Join me for a cupcake and a hot Halloween night!

2 Days until Halloween

Spider Webber

2010-10-28T08:00:00.005-04:00

Red velvet cupcake with white buttercream, a chocolate spider web and a chocolate spider to delight the taste buds. If you're in Toronto, definitely check out Les Coquettes' show October 31st at the Revival Bar on College street. I'll be there with cupcakes and a cute costume to suit the occasion.

3 Days until Halloween

Cutest Ghostie Cupcake

2010-10-27T09:02:00.001-04:00

A cute ghostie chocolate cupcake with white buttercream and chocolate covered raisin eyes for Les Coquettes show: First Bite ... spooooky deliciousness!

4 Days until Halloween

That's Hot ... Lips.

2010-10-26T08:00:00.013-04:00

Red Velvet cupcakes with white buttercream and a hot lip. Made for Les Coquettes Show: First Bite ... more to come this week. Want to see their show October 31st? Buy tickets here.

5 Days until Halloween

Creepy Crawlers

2010-10-25T09:55:00.000-04:00

Enjoy a dish of these critters ... ewww!

White icing, white sugar sprinkle, bakers chocolate and chocolate mm's of various sizes.

6 Days until Halloween

Cootie Pie Sally

2010-10-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Green tinted icing, red hot lip mouth (cut), marshmallow tooth, blue jelly bean nose, licorice candy eyes, and black icing.

7 Days until Halloween

Bumbly Bee

2010-10-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Yellow tinted icing, chocolate covered almonds, red chocolate peanut mm nose, red licorice lace, and a red chocolate covered sunflower seed mouth.

8 Days until Halloween

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost!

2010-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

White icing and black jelly beans.

9 Days until Halloween

10, 10 days until Hallo-we-he-he-heen

2010-10-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Blue-purple tinted icing, black icing, red icing, black jelly bean eyes, purple jelly bean nose, and marshmallow cut teeth.

10 Days until Halloween

Pumpkin Head

2010-10-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Orange tinted icing, black icing, yellow smartie, green icing, green licorice, green and yellow chocolate sunflowers, and a chocolate chip eye.

11 Days until Halloween