Brand Castle's Cake Pop Kits

Brand Castle makes Hello Kitty Cake Pops and Snow Cone Cupcake Kits which are a fun way for parents and children to get baking! The baking kits retail between $3.99 - $7.99 and come complete with all mixes, frosting and baking accessories.

 You can find the kits at grocery stores across the country. I plan to make some for the fourth of July weekend, and I will post a review here.

Father's Day Cupcakes: Beer and Dad

The day after Father's Day is still an occasion to celebrate. My Dad doesn't like beer, but he would love these chocolate cupcakes made by Chelsea Baker.

A visit to Cupcake Berlin & a giveaway!

Last week, my family and I took a mini vacation to Berlin, Germany!  While I was there, I stayed with the owner of the cupcake shop, Cupcake Berlin!  Not only did I sleep just two floors above the cupcake shop, but I got to sample some of the BEST cupcakes I've had in Europe!  And trust me... I've tried a lot of cupcakes since I've lived here!

For my complete review of Cupcake Berlin and a giveaway featuring a t-shirt and tote bag from the cupcake shop, visit http://javacupcake.com/2013/06/review-cupcake-berlin-germany!

Flour Power: Pull Apart Cupcakes

 A reader emailed with a question. She's make a special "cake" with pull-apart cupcakes for a bridal shower. I have never made them, but I know many bakers have so I ask our Facebook and Twitter friends to give us some advice.

Here's some tips:

• I've heard of people placing small cookies, like vanilla wafers, in the gap. I've never tried, but it seems like a good idea.
• Never tried it, but I've seen people put either chocolate wafers or 'Nilla wafers over the holes. But then you're stuck with frosted cookies after you pull apart the cupcakes...darn...what a shame! I've just used a stiffer frosting and a flat frosting tip to cover over them.
•  Try putting foil in between those holes and see if that works..that way you have a flat surface to put your frosting on but it wont be falling through..
•  I've used an edible "bridge". As others have said, either a small cookie, a strawberry if it's a fruit-type set up or a couple of thin pretzel sticks to float the frosting on.
• I guess if you're worried about slippage, you could use cut lengths of bamboo skewer or dry spaghetti to secure the bridge before laying the frosting down.
• Square cupcakes. You can make a mix of square and round and it should help.
• Harding Jumbo marshmallows. Just place them in the holes.

Cookies n Cream Mini Cupcakes

Oreos and Hershey bars in one cupcake. This is chocolate heaven!

Cookies n Cream Mini Cupcakes, originally uploaded by IrishMomLuvs2Bake.

Via Flickr:
Fudge Cakes with Crushed Oreo in Whipped Cream Frosting.

Root Beer Float Cupcakes with Cream Soda Frosting

These rootbeer float cupcakes are the perfect way to enjoy your favorite summer drink in dessert form! The rootbeer is in the cupcake and the cream soda is in the fluffy frosting, which is topped with a cream soda syrup. For the recipes and ingredients, check out the whole post on Will Cook for Smiles!

Strawberry Balsamic Cupcake From Angel Cakes

Two days ago, I "quick pickled" some strawberries with red wine vinegar and agave syrup and my Dad thought I was crazy. I ate them on a salad with blue cheese dressing. Strawberries are more versatile than you think. They are great with vinegar, sea salt and more.  I spotted on a Flickr a photo of Strawberry Balsamic Cupcake made by Jen Angel of Angel Cakes.

This cupcake is the June cupcake of the month from Angel Cakes. The strawberries are California strawberries from Swanton's Berry Farm near Santa Cruz. Angel Cakes offer their Cupcake of the Month subscriptions with dairy or vegan, and if someone asks really nicely they will make a gluten free version.

Dark Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

Recently I made these dark chocolate mocha cupcakes to celebrate the new season of one of my favorite TV shows, Falling Skies. I really wanted people to like these cupcakes, even if they haven't seen the show, so I focused a lot on the flavors and decorations. They're dark chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate mocha frosting and dark chocolate glaze. So if you like the dark-chocolate-mocha flavor combination, you should check out the whole post on The Collegiate Baker!

Disney princess, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Fireman Sam, superero and dad cupcakes

These cupcakes are all by UK custom cupcake company Stardust Cupcakes, via their Facebook page. They're based in Yateley, on the Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey border near Camberley and you can contact them at stardust.cupcakes at gmail.com and find out more at stardustcupcakes.co.uk

Dad Is A Superhero Or A Gardener

This Father's Day, Dad could be a superhero.

Dad my be a gardener.

Either way, Happy Father's Day!


Cupcakes by Flickr member Sam Kershaw.