Winter Holiday Treats: Cupcakes!

Holly cupcakes: Red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, M&M berries and fondant leaves.

(I realize they are not exactly holly leaves, but whatever. It's still yummy. And pretty.) 

Christmas Tree cupcakes: Yellow cake, vanilla frosting, and a fondant star. 

(In this picture you get a glimpse of the tall trees I made in the back for a Christmas tree forest.) 

Snowflake cupcakes: White cake with whipped cream frosting, topped with a 

white chocolate snowflake and sweetened coconut.

Winter Holiday Treats: Gingerbread People!

My absolute favorite. 

Perfectly spiced crisp gingerbread cookie people and Marines. 

I just like having them around. The cookies and the Marines. 

Purse/handbag cupcake

Ekatrina purse cupcakes

Girly Girl Birthdays

Chocolate cake, whipped cream, and pink sprinkles. What else does a girly girl need? 

Pink and purple butterfly sugar cookies. A perfect party favor!

My first horse cake

I'm branching out! This was my birthday gift to a dear neighbor friend who really wanted a chocolate horse cake with this specific chocolate ganache frosting.

Crazy Caramel Apples

Golden delicious apples dipped in homemade caramel and then smothered with yummy extras: 

Flavors:

Toffee, drizzled with white and dark chocolate

Hawaiiian: Macadamia nuts, sweetened coconut, drizzled with white and dark chocolate

Praline: Pecans, praline sugar, drizzled with cinnamon and white chocolate

Smores: Graham cracker, semi-sweet chocolate chips, marshmallow, drizzled with white and dark chocolate

Butterfinger: Crushed butterfinger candy, drizzled with peanut butter and dark chocolate

Dipped in dark chocolate, pecans, white chocolate and peanut butter drizzle

Apple Cider Cupcakes

 Apple cider cake topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and apple compote

Tiramisu I love you

9- inch, 3 layer Tiramisu birthday cake- mascarpone cream sandwiched between crisp homemade ladyfingers (there's nothing like it) soaked with both amaretto and kahlua, and topped with dark chocolate shavings. 

(Did I make a gluten-free version for myself? You betcha. 

Was the lactose-induced stomachache worth it? You betcha.)

Chocolate Chip Cookie v.2

4 inches in diameter and loaded with dark chocolate chips, this cookie is crisp on the edges and ooey-gooey chewy in the middle. You know you want one. 

One person -who shall remain nameless- didn't like that it was "too big" and didn't fit into his milk glass for dunking. First world problems, buddy. Can't help but feel a little sorry for someone who can't figure a way around that issue.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red velvet cake topped with white chocolate cream cheese frosting

Halloween Cupcakes!

From top left corner, clockwise:

• Pumpkin patch cupcake: honey lemon buttercream, icing tendrils, candy corn pumpkins on pumpkin cake
• Mummy cupcake: vanilla buttercream on vanilla cake
• Spider and web cupcake: chocolate cake filled with orange-colored vanilla cream, topped with chocolate ganache, white chocolate spider web, and fondant spider
• Owl cupcake: fondant and candy features, maple cream cheese frosting on pumpkin cake

...and one Boo! cupcake (aka Hostess copycat cupcake)

Flower Cupcakes: Earl Grey Tea Cupcake and Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake

Simple elegance, perfect for an afternoon tea party...

Earl Grey tea cake with Honey Lemon Buttercream

Raspberry-curd filled chocolate cake with Raspberry Buttercream

Cheddar Bacon Chive Scones

Cream scones studded with salty bacon, sharp cheddar, and fresh chives,

these make a decadent breakfast or the perfect accompaniment to a simple soup.

Ballerina princess birthdays

For V's birthday party at school, ballerina tutu cupcakes, crown cookies, and chocolate covered pretzel favors. Cupcakes were homemade "confetti" cake with raspberry buttercream frosting and pink fondant bodice. It's hard to tell from my horrible photography job, but the pink fondant bodice was curved so it looks more like a dress.  Really. :\ 

  Q's ballerina birthday- - vanilla cake, filled with pink vanilla pudding, topped with vanilla frosting. 

I made the tulle "skirt" cupcakes, and Q's mom made the ballerina toppers. 

(I know. My photography skills are terrible!)

Birthday Cakes

We had a slew of birthdays recently! And they all requested chocolate...

Hockey Puck cake: chocolate cake filled with chocolate cream cheese frosting, topped with blackened chocolate ganache and fondant hockey sticks. My hand got a little shaky once I got to the lettering part. Hmm. Maybe not so much coffee next time I do lettering...

Ombre cake- chocolate cake, filled with raspberry curd and raspberry frosting, and topped with Italian meringue vanilla and raspberry-flavored frosting. 



Chocolate-chocolate cake: 4 layer milk chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting. 

Nostalgic Hostess Cupcakes

Dark chocolate cake, filled with vanilla cream, 

topped with chocolate ganache and the nostalgic white swirlies.

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

For M's birthday, a chocolate cupcake with a billowy marshmallow frosting 

and a chocolate M propped on top. Completely lactose-free!

Caramello Cupcakes

Chocolate cake with a caramel center, caramel cream cheese frosting, 
and for a final flourish, a chocolate-covered caramel candy and an indulgent drizzle of caramel.

Goodbye Summer Cupcakes, aka Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes v2

Raspberry curd-filled lemon buttermilk cake, 

topped with a luscious lemon raspberry cream cheese frosting.

Bananas Foster Cupcakes

Otherwise known as "Labor Day Cupcakes"... 'cause every holiday needs a cupcake!

Rum sauce-infused banana cake, 

topped with a creamy caramel cream cheese frosting, 

a candied pecan, and a drizzle of buttery rum sauce.

Cherry Apple Granola

Dried cherries, Granny Smith apple, almonds, flaxseed, and oats.

Loaded with anti-oxidants and omega-3s, it's perfect on it's own, 

drenched in milk, or as a crunchy topping for yogurt.

Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes, v.1

Lemon cake filled with raspberry curd, 

topped with lemon milk frosting and raspberry cookie sprinkles.

Basil Margarita Cupcakes

Light-as-air lime white cake topped with basil margarita buttercream.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not your average chocolate chip cookie.

Lemon Buttermilk Cupcakes

Lemon buttermilk cake topped with lemon frosting.

Blueberry Scones

Tender and blueberry-packed scone with a satisfying crunch from the raw sugar sprinkles.

Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache center, 

topped with chocolate milk frosting and chocolate cookie crumbles.

Sweet Potato Doughnuts

A more nutritious version of Korean "chapsal" (sweet rice flour) doughnuts.

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. And oh so delicious. 

Chocolate Chip Biscotti and Almond Biscotti

Ninjago cupcakes

Ninjago cupcakes!