Hi, Kel here. I keep hearing that the day of the cupcake is over and I refuse to accept it! The cupcake is a classic. It is so easy to make them into something amazing for a special occasion. I was doing a practice run for a friend's birthday tea later this week and I came up with several quick and easy variations, with no special equipment.
Today's batch of chocolate cupcakes. I really like this recipe, properly chocolatey and still quite light. It's all mixed in one bowl too, so less washing up.
Such an easy way to add a little pizzazz to your cupcakes. Spread the frosting thick and flat and then roll the edges in your favourite sprinkles.
The classic cupcake swirl. I thought that this was impossible at home, but a little practice and finding the right nozzle did the trick. A large star nozzle is ideal, but a smaller one will work too. I don't like as much frosting as they put on in cafes, so this has a thin layer of chocolate and a smaller swirl.
This is just a mix of the top two really - a big swirl and some chocolate chips. It's a good solution if your swirls go a bit wrong!
Based on the same technique as stripy toothpaste, you can get a nice two-tone look by smearing one colour down the sides of the icing bag before filling it with your second colour.
This one is probably my favourite. It looks so grown up and again, isn't as sweet as a lot of cupcakes. It's a bit of a cheat to include in this, as the rose take a bit of skill, but you could do just as well with a bought sugar flower, a berry, or jelly decorations. That being said, these roses are pretty simple once you have the knack and you can make up a batch in advance.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I have to go wait for the sugar rush to pass!
Kxx
They look scrumptious Kel, I could just eat one of those now & it's not even 7.30am yet :D
C
xx
Posted by: Claireliz | March 24, 2011 at 07:25 AM
Yummy, they make me feel hungry.
I think I should practice some piping.
Posted by: Lynne V | March 24, 2011 at 08:05 AM
Who said the day of the cupcake is over? they are wrong i tell you!! :-P I've only just taken up baking and i'm having lots of fun with it....must try that two colour thing you had going on!!
Posted by: caz | March 24, 2011 at 10:06 AM
They look seriously yummy and so pretty :)
Mandy
Posted by: Mandy | March 24, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Thought ooooh yum and then yummier then yummier and the last one looks simply scrummy.... right stuff the calorie counting wheres my mixing bowl ???!!! :)
Posted by: jayne | March 24, 2011 at 04:59 PM
I love the one with the rose! Though obviously all the others look gorgeously yum too :)
Posted by: Sarah B | March 24, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Yummmmy - have just posted some over on my blog - am just beginning so I hope they are not over!
I did a 2 hour class and this was my first try on my own! Need a bigger icing nozzle!!!
Rx
Posted by: Ruthie | March 24, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Exciting!!
Posted by: Z | March 24, 2011 at 10:35 PM
The days of cupcakes are not over in my house. Cute cakes!
Posted by: Joy | March 25, 2011 at 08:22 PM