Hydrangea Cupcake Bouquet

En Español

Mother's Day is celebrated the last Sunday of May in Dominican Republic, so us bakers are still working on sweet creations inspired for mom with flowers, pastels, and all things pretty. I love flowers, and my husband always gives me an ornamental plant around this time. For several years I have gotten blue hydrangeas plants because they are my all-time favorite.

Hdrangea cupcake bouquets are beautiful! I could have one as a table centerpiece all year round, to bad the cupcakes at home do not last a long time. Whether it is in the form of single cupcake or as a cupcake bouquet, these are perfect for a birthday, baby shower, bridal shower, wedding, etc. This hydrangea bouquet will surely add a romantic and delicate touch to your party.

It is very simple to make this decoration technique. You will need tip # 2D, and also tip # 1M that is not open all the way. Most of the web post use buttercream, but this time I used butter-less Italian meringue (suspiro) which is an ideal frosting for hot weather as it does not melt like buttercream and fondant do.

If you want to learn to make suspiro and also have a great amount of information regarding this frosting at your fingertips, I recommend you the Suspiro eBook. For more information check here: Italian meringue how-to eBook.

About the tips:

Get tip # 2D: Extra Large Tip #2D
Get tip # 1M: Decorating Tip-#1M

Hydrangeas can be found in light pink, dark pink, white, blue and also in lilac, therefore, feel free to use the color of frosting you like best.

How I made these hydrangea cupcakes:

I used leaves from my elderberry tree. I have had this tree for thirteen years. I love the scent and simplicity of the elderberry flowers. I cherished this plant because in addition to it being a gift from my husband, its flowers are great to make a medicinal tea that is a fever and flu reliever. If you do have pesticide free leaves at your reach, you can make gum paste leaves or use green tissue paper.

Steps to make a bouquet of cupcakes Mari’s Cakes style check out: Cupcake Bouquet and Vanilla Buttercream.

Have a blessed day!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." - Proverbs 16:3

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High Heel Cupcakes

En español

Hola! Yesterday on Facebook I shared the photo above of the high heal cupcake shoes I made for a client. They were very nice! My daughters and family loved it!

I will leave the answers to the questions I have received regarding the following:

• The rosette: I made the rosette ​​with the Italian meringue. I used plenty of red food gel color to get it that dark. I explain how I get these colors here: How to Make Italian Meringue in Dark Colors.  

• The heel: Royal icing was used to glue the pirouettes to the fondant covered cookie. I baked the oval shaped cookies, but you cake buy any oval shaped cookies to use as the sole. The pirulettes I bought.

• What my husband did: I mentioned in the fb post that my husband had helped me make these, and many are curious to know what he did. My hubby was in charge of deciding the height of the heels... high, very high,  glue them to the cookie and decorate cupcake shoe with dragees. 

Hope you like this idea found in the web. Thanks to this client I got to make my version of edible heels sooner than I had planned for my daughter Ruby´s birthday. For a ladies theme, sweet sixteen, quinceañera or a women's event these will make a beautiful dessert!

"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Plantain and Salami Cupcake

Recently, I've been occupied with numerous custom cupcake orders, leaving me with little time to browse the web, which has been a refreshing change! I couldn't resist sharing my most recent order on the blog because it beautifully represents two essential Dominican foods. I believe no one has explored this idea before, and my search on the web didn't yield anything similar in fondant.

Este post en español: Aqui.

Behold, a plantain and salami (Dominican sausage) cupcake topper crafted in fondant! This creation truly underscores Dominicans' love for their plantains! At the moment, I don't have a tutorial available as I developed the concept while working. However, when I find the time, I'll resume posting recipes and tutorials as usual. If you have any questions or need information, feel free to contact me via the comments section below or through the contact tab above.

I did not get a chance to get photos of a machete cupcake before delivering it, but in the next photo you can see my husband putting the finishing touches on a fondant machete, a typical tool to work the fields in this country. I think it came out perfect, right?! It’s fun to be creative with the traditional things of any country. Flowers, bows, gum paste figures are beautiful, but this has awakened another type of interest and lots of ideas for baked sweets.

If you are looking for a plantain recipe you can find the following recipes here:

• Tostones (Fried Green Plantain)
• Mofongo
• Mangu with salami and fried cheese (eBook)
• Pasteles en hoja (Carribean Style Tamales)
• Ripe plantains canoes

Have a blessed day.

"Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”- Hebrews 13:5 

Teapot and Teacup Cupcakes

En Español

Every month and every day are special to celebrate our loved ones. Since May has its specialty to celebrate mothers around the world, I try to program myself to do something special for moms to share with the blog readers. This time I made these cupcakes beauties!

As a child I remember always seeing a teapot full of coffee on the top center of the stove at home. It always was full of fresh brewed coffee. My mom always brewed coffee in the mornings and afternoons and left the teapot on the stove so that my father would have it ready to serve as many times as he pleased. Coffee was one of the first things I learned to make for my mom and my dad, and is one of the recipes I cherish. For some it may seem as a simple recipe, but for Latinos, the café has to be colado to perfection.

Mothers are special and there is so much we have to thank them for and remember them. I wonder why so many times our memories of moms are of recipes and food. Could it be because moms cook with love?

Kitchens and recipes are intertwined with many fond memories of aromas, flavors and techniques of making different dishes from our grandmothers and mothers. My mom's delicious cuisine is my inspiration for cooking delicious meals, especially Dominican dishes. She is a very special person in my life and I am forever grateful for all the good teachings and virtues. I want to be like her, but I always wonder how my mom can do everything she does for my brothers and I, for my father when he was alive, and now for her grandchildren. I feel like it is impossible, the determination, dedication, and energy that we have today is not the same as our mothers have.

I would spend many whole afternoons to thank all the beautiful things mom has given me throughout the years. I will forever keep them in my mind, in my heart and in my way of being. We are miles away, but soon we’ll be drinking a cup of coffee together. May God continue to bless with many years of health and life.

I know that for many of us teacup and teapot fill us with fond memories of the kitchens of our mothers and our grandmothers. This is the reason why I wanted to share these teapot and teacup cupcakes this month. For me it's a blessing to be able to do this type of sweet creations for clients, friends, family, and especially for my daughters, who are my reason to celebrate every day as my mother's day!

Notes:

• Learn how to decorate a cupcake with fondant: Cupcakes and musical as cover cupcake with fondant. 
•  Use gold luster dust to paint golden rims on teacups and teapot. You can find this product in different colors and buy it online here: Luster Dust Petal Craft. 
• In the Cameo cupcakes post you will find information and a video on how to I make the edges on the mini tablecloth. 

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." -Proverbs 31:28-30

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Irresistible Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe: A Sweet Twist on Classic Fall Flavor

Irresistible Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe: A Sweet Twist on Classic Fall Flavor

Indulge your taste buds in a delightful journey with our easy-to-follow Pumpkin Cupcakes recipe. Elevate your fall baking game with these moist and flavorful treats that capture the essence of the season. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this recipe promises a mouthwatering experience that will leave everyone craving for more.  Since November is the month of the chrysanthemum, I chose to adorn these pumpkin cupcakes as mums in honor of Thanksgiving. The recipe I'm sharing today is a personal favorite, as it consistently produces tender cupcakes infused with the alluring aroma and taste of autumn spices.

Receta de Cupcakes de Calabaza (Pumpkin Cupcakes) en español. 

Typically, in food blogs and culinary platforms, buttercream or meringue buttercream is commonly used for embellishing cakes and cupcakes. However, I prefer to use Suspiro (Italian meringue without butter) - a flawless lactose and gluten-free frosting and I am pleased with the results achieved with the Dominican Frosting. follow this step-by-step guide on how to create these heavenly Pumpkin Cupcakes and make your autumn celebrations extra special!

For the chrysanthemum flowers I use 

tip # 68 for the leaves, and tip # 80 for the petals.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Easy-to-prepare Pumpkin Cupcakes or cake recipe. 

Ingredients:

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
½ cup brown sugar (muscovado)
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon soda
pinch of salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon freshly grated or ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
¼ cup buttermilk or its substitute
½ cup canned pumpkin puree


Preparation: 

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Prepare cupcakes pan with liners. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices, Reserve. If prefer you can prepare a cake pan to make a one-layer cake.

2. With the paddle attachment beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Clean the sides of the bowl as many times as needed with a spatula. Add egg, and beat until incorporated. Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and beat on low speed just until blended. Add pumpkin, beating just until combined.  

3. Pour into prepared cupcake pan. Bake at 350˚F (190 ˚C) for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely before decorating.

Yield: 12-14 cupcakes or one 8" layer cake. 

Notes: 

a) These cupcakes can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in an airtight container. I have personally stored mine unrefrigerated for several days and they have kept well, but if you prefer, you can also store them in the fridge.

b) My favorite way of serving these cupcakes is sprinkled with icing sugar, but they also pair well with cream cheese frosting or any other frosting of your preference. For more cupcake and frosting recipes, you can find them here: RECIPES.

c) You can use this same recipe to make a cake instead of cupcakes. The Adaptation of this recipe for a cake is to duplicate everything except the baking soda to make two 8" or 9" layers. If only making a small one-layer cake, then there is no need to duplicate the recipe. It yields ONE 8" or 9" cake layer.

d) Check out another version of these delicious cupcakes made with marshmallows HERE.

Wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving Day surrounded by loved ones, and may peace fill your home. I encourage you to take a moment to pray for those who are unable to enjoy a meal at their table, and for those who struggle to afford basic necessities such as bread or milk for their children. Let's also remember those who are separated from their families for various reasons. May this day be more than just about indulging in delicious feasts, but also about sharing abundance with those in need.

If you liked this recipe, you might be interested in:

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Pumpkin Cake - This same recipe in a cake form

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. ~ Deuteronomy 15:10-11

 God bless,
 
Text and Photos © Mari's Cakes