Christmas Cupcakes

 

I was asked to make some more Christmas Cupcakes. So I did.............

 

I made Christmas puddings, some with candy canes, some with holly and some with holly and trees and lots of Father Christmases.

 

I brought this great Holly cutter, it prints the lines on the holly leaves. Saves me a job of drawing them in.

I had such fun making them while listening to Christmas Music. Nothing like "The Rat Pack" sing Christmas songs to get you in the Christmas mood.

 

Now all I have to do, is make some for me and the gang of three.... And I need to start making my mince pies too.

Happy baking ......
 
Thanks for stopping by, see you soon.........

CupCakes and Sugarcraft

I left the cabin for the day to go with my little sister for a  Cup Cake and Sugarcraft course.

The Gang of Three did not like this; probably because I had to leave at 7am and they had just been up for an hour. Daisy had her toast at 6.15 am; which was 45 minutes too early. She was not impressed, Betty and Dotty both thought I was putting them back to bed as it was still dark at 7am. And Daisy...... well she was not having any of it. Refusing to follow me down to her house and run, I tried to bribe her with Cheese, did not work but Betty loved it. Tried her with a whole corn on the cob, still refused to move; Dotty had that and loved pecking at it. Then I tried porridge with warm milk, Daisy loves this on a cold morning, still refused and hid under the Ivy. Well time was getting on so I had no choice but to go in and get her out and what a noise she made, for someone so small she can wake the dead. Anyone would have thought she was being attacked by a fox!
Once they were locked away nicely in their run, with enough food for a party, off I went. One last look round to make sure they were fine as I locked up the cabin.. Daisy was staring back at me, frowning!!!!!
( I'm in the dog house, tomorrow is not going to be a good day. Daisy payback)

I have always made cakes, ever since I was small. Cupcakes I have decorated with buttercream topping and cakes with icing and buttercream. But I have never attempted Sugarcraft.

Well when we arrived we saw the cakes and my they were good, then the nerves kicked in. Oh my what am I doing here, I looked at my little sis and asked her if she was sure this was the right class.

See my little sis does a Cake Decorating Course on Thursday night's and she thought it would be good to do this class, as her tutor would be taking the class. Well I thought this could be a disaster.

Our Tutor's name was Ann Wilson and she had been teaching for 20 years + So she must be good and used to people looking nervous. And she was.....

Ann took us through all the cakes one by one, broke every design down and it was great, I loved it. Now when I look at these beautiful cakes I know how they are done.

We used modelling icing, glitter, sugarpaste ( icing ready made in the shops), food dye and had hand outs with recipes for Golden Syrup Cupcakes, Tomato Soup Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting, White Chocolate Ganache and Bailey's Buttercream. We learnt or should I say I learnt to pipe my cupcakes with the correct size tube. I have to use a Wilton open star tube for swirls. This is used on my green cupcakes. ( This is so they look like trees for Christmas and not because they have gone off, just in case you were looking at them wondering why they were green.)

 

 

We also learnt how to pipe a rose. I came out of class knowing how to do so much more now there is no stopping me and all my cakes will be sugarcrafted or piped. Watch out world here I come!



So if anyone else is wondering should I do a Cupcake and Sugarcraft course the answer is YES, you will love it!!!

 I arrived home at 7pm, went straight down to lock the girls away in their house.  I knew they would be fast asleep, they go to bed at 4.30pm. I tried not to make a sound.  Just as I  lent in  to close the door, Daisy popped her head up at the window and made this little noise and the look on her face said it all. What time do you call this, where do you think you've been all day. Just as I was about to say something, she stuck her head under wing and fell to sleep.
Oh I am in big trouble and tomorrow I will have hell to pay.

Thank- you for stopping by,  see you again soon....

Cakes.......

As promised I am going to chat about cakes, well one.

Today I have made one large Victoria sponge and twelve mini Victoria sponges. The recipe I use is Mary Berry's from the book 100 Cakes and Bakes. For those who do not have this book or recipe for a Victoria Sponge here it is;

Cake tins
2 loose- based 20cm (8inch) sandwich tins 4cm (1 1/2inch) deep.

Ingredients

225g (8oz) butter softened.
225g (8oz) caster sugar.
4 large eggs.
225g (8oz) self-raising flour.
2 level teaspoons baking powder.

For the filling

Some jam (your choice, I have used strawberry and in the past raspberry)

If like mine you would like to add butter icing here is the recipe for that too.

Butter Icing

75g (3oz) unsalted butter softened.
250g (9oz) icing sugar sifted.
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Method

Step one.  Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/ Fan 160*C/gas 4. Lightly grease the tins or use non-stick baking paper for the bottoms.

Step Two. This is were you need to decide if you are going to use a electric mixer or an old fashioned wooden spoon!
I have used both  and they come out the same. This is an old favourite recipe and if I have time I use my wooden spoon, ( taught at school this way) but if time is a bit short I use my electric hand mixer. You choose..........

Electric mixer way; Measure the butter, sugar,eggs, flour and the baking powder into a large bowl and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until all blended together.

Wooden Spoon way; measure sugar and butter into a large mixing bowl, cream together until the mixer is pale and fluffy.
Then add the eggs one at a time be careful not to let the mixture curdle ( egg separates the mixture), if this happens add a little flour from your weigh flour.

Step Three; Divide the mixture between the prepared tins and level the surface with your spoon or spatula.

Step Four; Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Leave the cakes to cool for 5-10 minutes in their tins on a wire rack, then pop them out of the tins and leave to cool completely(about an hour if you need it quickly or longer if you have time)

Step Five; Choose the best looking cake for the top, then place the other cake face down onto a serving plate. Spread with buttercream first if you are using both then cover with jam or spread with jam, as much as you like.  Put the other cake on the top and sprinkle with either icing sugar or caster sugar. Your choice or no sugar.

Step Six; Make a cup of tea or coffee, cut yourself a slice and enjoy.Mmmmmmmm