I haven’t posted any cakes or cupcakes for a while. So today I have to remedy that and share a yummy recipe for chocolate and banana cupcakes with peanut butter icing. Sounds like a fantastic trio of flavors doesn’t it?
The recipe is courtesy of Hungry Jack®, and is from their Hungry Jack ‘Use Up the Box’ Recipe and Essay Contest. You can submit your own favorite original or non-traditional recipe using Hungry Jack potatoes, pancake mix, or syrup between now and November 9th. Three grand prize winners each receiving a year’s worth of free groceries.
You can find more information about …read more

We did it! The 50th wedding anniversary I’ve been helping to plan was today. It was a perfect day, the temperature was in the mid 70’s (F), and it was partly sunny. It was a beautiful day, and overall everything for the party went very smooth.
The topper for their cake was their original wedding cake topper from their wedding 50 years ago. The only problem I had was getting the buttercream icing smooth on the small cake that held the topper. In the end I gave up, and the icing is a little rough.
The cupcakes turned out fabulous. I used …read more

These really cute Rice Krispy Treat cupcakes would be adorable  for a little girl’s tea party, or princess party. They’re also light and easy for a summer garden party. Decorate them with bright sprinkles to match the theme of your party.
If you want to create a swirl with the icing on top of the cupcakes (instead of just icing them) use a decorator bag and a Wilton #1M decorating tip (2B and 12-round also work well), then just squeeze the icing around and around from the outside of the cupcake to the center.

Lunch a Bunch Cupcakes
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: …read more

Martha Stewart is celebrating her 700th episode this week with cupcakes and party ideas. Martha’s partying all week, with different fun ideas every day. From kids parties to Memorial day she’s got a full week of celebrations planned.
Check out the scheduled episodes for this week:

Monday: Scrumptious triple-citrus cupcakes, how to make sweet-and-spicy chicken wings.
Tuesday: Pistachio-raspberry teacakes and perfect-for-spring ricotta gnocchi.
Wednesday: It’s The Birthday Show. Celebrate with lemon meringue cupcakes, personalized lollipops, and eco-friendly party ideas.
Thursday: Baker John Barricelli’s tarte tatin and pineapple-mango upside-down cake.
Friday: The Memorial Day Show with classic fried chicken, blueberry crumble pie, and patriotic memorabilia.

I think I’ll …read more

My co-blogger at Robust Cooking, Sandy, found a wonderful website loaded with watermelon goodness. There are several fun kids watermelon recipes that would make a great dessert, or snack for a summer birthday party, or barbecue.
Here’s one of the cutest recipes, they’re soooo simple, but so elegant:
Watermelon Cupcakes
What you’ll need~

8 cupcake liners
8 cupcake shaped pieces of seedless watermelon, (see below)
2 cups pineapple cream cheese frosting
Sprinkles for garnish

How to make them~
Place the liners in an 8-cup cupcake tin. Cut 3-inch thick slices of seedless watermelon. Cut round cupcake sized pieces from the slices. Put a watermelon ‘cupcake’ in …read more

If you’re looking for some really cute cupcake ideas, check out this quick video featuring the winners of the Martha Stewart Cupcake Contest. There are some really cute ideas.
My favorite is the tea cup cupcake, I could see this at a garden tea party. The golf ball cupcake is really cute too. It doesn’t look like it would be too hard to make for a golf theme birthday party.
Check them all out and let me know which one is your favorite in the comment section.

Check out more cute cupcake ideas in our cupcake category.
Technorati Tags: Martha …read more

Here’s a summer cupcake idea for Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, or any summer party. I used mini cupcakes to put this one together, but it would work just as well for regular sized cupcakes. It takes 48 cupcakes total to make the flag.
Ice twelve cupcakes with royal blue icing, use one of the star tips to make white stars on the blue cupcakes. Arrange the blue cupcakes in 3 rows of 4.
Ice the rest of the cupcakes with white icing. Arrange the white cupcakes 4 more cupcakes to finish off the blue rows. Add 3 …read more

Here’s a simple simple summer cupcake idea for your Mother’s Day, or Memorial Day celebration, candied flower cupcakes.
Simply candy some violets, lilacs, violas, or nasturtiums. You can do this ahead of time, while they’re in full bloom.  They’ll keep nicely in a sealed container once they’re candied.
On the day of your party bake your favorite cupcake recipe. Ice the cupcakes with your favorite color of icing and top them with the candied flowers. I used lilacs and violets here. The flowers add a delicate summer touch to your party. I used Wilton Decorating Tip 2D and gave …read more