School Theme Cupcakes

En Español

A few days ago I shared a photo of mini fondant apples toppers I was making for a custom order of cupcakes.  Many of you liked it on facebook and I couldn't wait until September to share these! This made me think about how we tend to centralize our activities based on seasons,  influenced very much by the commercial calendar, and it should not be like that. Do not wait until September or end of the school year to thank an exemplary teacher or a dedicated student. I celebrate each day as a special one without waiting for a specific day.

As I have said before, working with fondant can be addictive because it like playing with clay, and that makes work fun. To me there is no better job in the world then to make sweet creations.

This time I was asked to make these cupcakes for a teacher. In many occasions I am sent a photo of what the customer wants, and I try to create what they want as much as can to me exactly and make to make them happy. I did not know who the photo belonged to until today when I started to search the web. I am happy I could share my version, and also tell you where the idea came from. Check out Tammy’s blog, Wonderful World of Cupcakes her the inspiration for these cupcakes I made. Although she does not have a step by step, I think I did a good job with the toppers.

What I like best about these cupcakes are the mini apples and notebooks. Today I will show you how I did the fondant apples toppers.

Form a rope /roll about ½” (1 cm) wide and cut it into ½” (1 cm) pieces.

Form balls that are slightly oval because when you press to make the hollow on the top which will push down on them.

Make the stem in the same manner as the mini red balls for apples except that for this the roll is thinner and in the color brown or black.

The mini leaves are made by taking the petals of a small fondant flower just as I did towards the end of this video: Mini Fondant Flowers. Paste the stem and leaf with a little corn syrup, and voila!

The mini apples toppers or “manzanitas” are ready to decorate your cupcakes or cakes.

Notes: 
a) All these figures are must be made in fondant. I recommend for you to make them one to two days prior to using them to allow time for them to dry and harden.
b) The recipes: chocolate cupcakes, the filling is dulce de leche, and the frosting is Italian meringue.

Have a blessed day! :)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

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No Icing Teddy Bear Cookies

En Español

These no icing teddy bear cookies were so easy to make! I wanted to create something cute for my daughters for Christmas and I came up with these. No icing is needed, and that means you can decorate these is a breeze.

Being a mom of three girls you know I had to make the teddies look pretty that is why when I was brain storming for the perfect cookies, I thought of making holes in the neck area before baking the cookies. These holes are needed to insert the satin ribbon through them for the pretty bow. I think I couldn't have done them cuter. These make the perfect treat for any gift giving occasions, great for valentine, baby shower or a baby's birthday party.

Musical Cupcakes and How-To Fondant Cover Cupcakes

En Español

After I posted the Kitty cupcakes I received several emails about fondant covered cupcakes. The process is very simple and I put together a quick video on how I fondant cover cupcakes. Also among the FAQs are the following:

Can I use Italian meringue under fondant? 
Yes, you can spread a thin layer of a Italian meringue on a cake or cupcake then cover with fondant.

How do I make the fondant look rounded and high on the center, when the cupcake recipe makes the cupcakes come out flat? 
If the recipe you used results in flat topped cupcakes, use a pastry bag or small spatula to place the frosting starting from the center out and make the frosting slightly higher in the center. Leave about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) edge without frosting. Place the fondant carefully and with your fingertips smooth out fondant circle towards the edge gently. The fondant will stick properly and will have a rounded center.

Can I use royal icing to decorated over fondant?
Yes, you can use royal icing and also buttercream to decorate over fondant. I think with the photos of these cupcakes this topic is more than covered :)

For how long does a fondant covered cupcake keeps, and how many days in advance ahead of time can I decorate cupcakes like these with fondant?
I always recommend delivering or consuming any baked good as fresh as possible. The days that a fondant covered cupcake  keeps well for, depends on many factors such as type of decoration used, the filling, the quality of the fondant and how you store it. You can decorate a day in advance and store in a cool, dry area covered with a cardboard box. In my opinion, decorated cupcakes should not be left out for more than two or three days if you want optimum taste.

For these musical cupcakes I used marshmallow fondant, and black royal icing for the musical notes. The cookie cutter you´ll need for this type of decoration is a 3 inch one. It is hard to find alone, that is why I bought this set of six round double sided cookie / biscuits cutters and I highly recommend them because they are so useful and very much needed for all type of cake, cupcake or cookie decor. Check out the set I am telling you about here: Ateco 6-Piece Double Sided Round Cutter Set.

Have a blessed week!

Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. 

- Ephesians 4:29