Polymer clay food jewelry "cookbook" to be published in October

The Polymer Clay Cookbook: Tiny Food Jewelry to Whip Up and Wear

This is one of the discoveries I made in a catalog at Book Expo. It's by Jessica and Susan Partain and of Inedible Jewelry on Etsy who also have a blog and a Flickr account. It won't be out until October, but was too cute not to share.

The only thing I see of theirs right now on Etsy that's cupcake-related is this cupcake necklace, but I'm sure there'll be more. See lots of fun cupcake jewelry on Flickr.


cupcake earring photo by Inedible Jewelry on Flickr

Adult Swim birthday cupcakes

Happy Birthday to Flickr user death by cupcake! These are her self-made Adult Swim cupcakes: "Vanilla honey poundcake with vanilla and lemon cream cheese icing and fondant decorations."

Carnival Cupcakes

These are from House of Sweets Bakery via Flickr. So fun and summery!

BBQ cupcakes

by Flickr user Cakes By Destini (Oh, Sugar!) for her nephew's 6th birthday.

Johnny Cupcakes fans share why they're so excited about his brand

From last weekend's 3-year anniversary of the Johnny Cupcakes store on Newbury Street in Boston. There was a huge line and when someone asked what they were waiting for, they were telilng people that the president was coming, which I thought was funny because some people believed them.

Johnny Cupcakes talk about the brand at Newbury Street 3-year anniversary from Cupcakes Take the Cake on Vimeo.

Periodic table of cupcakes

by Flickr user melpenguin - click here to see enlarged version

see a previous period table of cupcakes (though this one is more tricked out)

"The Cupcake Lover" cupcake cake

These award-winning cupcake cakes are by CAKE by Distinctive Details in Lubbock, Texas.

Maker Faire Cupcakes on Wheels

I never, ever get tired of this! I present to you, cupcakes in the 2009 San Mateo, California, Maker Faire:




Shot by jurvetson.




More Maker Faire cupcakes on wheels (and their inner workings) by SusieFoodie.





and









Some more images, these by mportuesi:





and









This shot by Wendyness:








This great shot is by whosadog:




Cool, right?





And, wrapping up coverage so far, here's a couple from pat o rama, who has a great set of Maker Faire images here:






and






The Faire is still going on today, so I'll publish more if I see 'em, or perhaps Rachel or Nichelle will. Yay!

Gluten-free cupcakes at Whole Foods

The blog Living Gluten-Free in South Florida reports on the Whole Foods gluten-free cupcakes:

The Gluten-Free Bakehouse from Whole Foods has a huge selection of tasty baked goods. Their products (breads, muffins, cookies, scones, and more) are made at a dedicated gluten-free facility and are sold at Whole Foods Markets in the US and Canada.

The cupcakes (they come in vanilla and chocolate) are the latest Gluten-Free Bakehouse products to hit the shelves at my local Whole Foods. I can't even tell you the last time I had a cupcake, so you can only imagine how excited I was when I found these. I haven't tried the vanilla ones yet, but the chocolate cupcakes are out of this world! Make sure you have a large glass of milk ready because they are big and rich!

Ahh, lovely!

Looks to be a bright and sunshine-y day in NYC, but I'll be indoors teaching all day so, so I leave you all with the following lovely sunflower cupcake photos:






Based on one of my favorite cupcake cookbooks ever, "Hello, Cupcake!" by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson (blog here). I seriously continue to drool over this book and cannot wait to get my grubby mitts on their new book. I maintain that their directions in the back of the book on dealing with semi-homemade cupcakes and frostings has served me quite well.










and





All photos (and, presumably, cupcakes) by Lumi the Valiant. Super-nice work here. Thanks for the Saturday am pick-me-up!


:)

Mr. and Mrs. wedding cupcake tower

Cupcakes by Retro Bakery Las Vegas via Flickr

Closeup:



They also had a dice cake, a fun Las Vegas theme and yet another example of having your cake and eating your cupcakes too!

Sushi cupcakes for sale?

Via the Tee & Cakes blog, I think they're selling them, but am not sure. Crazy!

Burgers & Cupcakes: Mint chocolate chip, peanut butter and more

I didn't mean to blog that photo of my lunch from Burgers & Cupcakes, but sometimes that happens when I'm strictly iPhone-based. I do think it's interesting and a good lunch spot, because a girl cannot live by cupcakes alone (well, maybe for a little while, but...). They have various types of burgers, including veggie burgers, and salads, and pizza, plus what I believe is a greater assortment of cupcakes than they used to (but I haven't been there in about 2 years, maybe since our joint cupcake meetup there with burger blog A Hamburger Today, so I'm not sure if that's totally accurate).



I will probably be going back there for lunch today, since it's convenient and I want to try some more cupcakes, but here's a report from yesterday.

First off, I love that the iPhone sometimes takes these wacky photos - it's random, not sure why it happens, but my mint chocolate chip cupcake photo came out like this:



The two cupcakes I tried after lunch were the jumbo peanut butter chocolate cupcake (the only size they had it) and the mini (which is really more of a regular size, not mini mini) mint chocolate chip. The mini cupcakes are $2.50, will have to check on price of large one. I cannot resist peanut butter.



The peanut butter chocolate one was simple in a way, even though it was big. The peanut butter was just peanut butter, not peanut butter frosting, which in a way worked better. The chocolate frosting was very thick but not overly sweet, but still, a little went a long way.

What I especially liked was the marble cake, which was moist and delicious, and a little different to look at.







The mint chocolate chip was very minty, very sweet. I liked it, but couldn't eat the whole thing. The chocolate chip part was a little weak - there were a few on top of it and a few baked into the bottom of the cake, which, unlike the peanut butter chocolate cake, was on the dry and very bland side.

Sadly, the six I got to go must have gotten jostled because when I got back to the Javits Center they looked like this:



However, of the 6, I really liked 4 of them. I am not usually a carrot cake person, but that one I enjoyed (it had coconut frosting). I also liked their red velvet and the chocolate/chocolate (again, for those who want something rich). One of them, I think the vanilla frosting/chocolate cake, was way too sweet. Blueberry was okay, and strawberry I give a thumbs up. If I get back there today, I'll do more tasting/take more photos. Overall, though, it's a relatively fast lunch spot (my service was on the slow side, but I also wasn't in a particular hurry) and I like that quality cupcakes come alongside cheap and decent food. I'd love to see cupcakes in more restaurants and think people would be into having them as a dessert.

Burgers & Cupcakes
453 9th Avenue (between 35th and 36th)
New York, NY 10018
212-643-1200

No bun salmon, potatoes, green beans at Burgers and Cupcakes

No bun salmon, potatoes, green beans at Burgers and Cupcakes
Originally uploaded by Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake

Cupcakes at Burgers and Cupcakes

Cupcakes at Burgers and Cupcakes
Originally uploaded by Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake

They now serve pizza at Burgers and Cupcakes (with Mitchel London
Pizza next door). I plan to try the mint chocolate chip cupcake and
several others. Haven't been here in a very long time. Will report
soon on their offerings.

CakeWalk: Chic cupcakes for any budget – take that recession!

Simple chocolate glazed cupcakes are the belle of the ball for recession chic dinners (Photo courtesy of Honey Bee Baking)

CakeWalk is a weekly column by Mary Ann Porch dedicated to every baker who has ever struggled to achieve the right consistency with their icing, unsuccessfully searched for the perfect cupcake topper or just wants to learn something new. Because with a few helpful tips, cupcakes are a cakewalk.


For me, the recession of the past year has been a blessing in disguise. My foodie career path was actually took shape because I was laid off from a job that I didn’t particularly care for, and I don’t think I can say enough about following your passion in a time of hardship. CupcakeCamp NYC was formed because I had a lot of spare time and wanted to stay productive in a creative way (we all know that applying for jobs can be mind numbingly boring, so I needed something to keep me happy).

Another aspect of the recession that I see as a positive outcome is that my friends and I spend more quality time together. Dinner parties and pot-lucks have become common and we find ourselves spending more time at each others homes. Obviously, I always volunteer to bring dessert, and I’ve found with a few helpful and crafty ideas, I can indulge the sweet tooth (or teeth, in this case) of quite a few people. And guess what? The cupcake is the perfect recession chic dessert.

Even if you want to jazz up these simple treats, the possibilities are endless (Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.com)

First off, you don’t need any fancy kitchen equipment to create a dinner-party appropriate cupcake. Simplicity can be just as beautiful and when budgets are tight, one can’t exactly go out and spring for an expensive new kitchen gadget. With just the basic baking accessories, such as mixing bowls and measuring cups, you can make some delicious treats, including the recipe in this article.

One of my favorite recession-friendly recipes is a chocolate cupcake with a simple chocolate glaze “icing.” Chances are, almost everyone at your party is going to like chocolate (and if not, you can always spring for a tub of inexpensive vanilla ice cream to bring along as well). This recipe is an adaptation of two recipes from two of my favorite writers – Nicole Rees, author of Baking Unplugged, and Molly Wizenberg, the writer behind the blog Orangette and author of A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table. I love both these authors because the majority of their recipes call for things you’ll find in any well-stocked pantry or fridge, but even if you don’t regularly keep one of the ingredients these recipes call for on hand, they are inexpensive and easily found in any grocery store (full recipe below).

Another way to save some change is by cutting out items like fancy cupcake wrappers. One easy-to-make alternative is to craft your own wrappers using parchment paper. Not only does this design element work well with the simplicity of the chocolate cupcake recipe, you’ll be sure to impress your fellow dinner guests with your craftiness. The June issue of Martha Stewart Living has a wonderful idea on how to fashion your own pretty and practical cupcake wrappers (they also work for muffins) using nothing but a basic kitchen staple – parchment paper (directions below).

Parchment paper cupcake wrappers are a chic and cheap alternative to the pricier store-bought options - they work for muffins too! (Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.com)

To a certain extent, I think most of us miss the frills of the pre-recession days, but as many people (including myself) have learned, cutting back and spending less doesn’t mean any less of a fun, food-filled life. I hope this recipe and craft project sees you at your next dinner party with friends and leaves you with the realization that with a few helpful tips, creating a chic, budget conscious cupcake is nothing but a cakewalk.


Parchment Paper Cupcake Wrappers
From the June issue of Martha Stewart Living

Step #1: Cut 5-inch square pieces of parchment paper.

Step #2: Spray a muffin/cupcake tin with vegetable oil cooking spray to hold parchment in place.

Step #3: Place 1 piece of parchment into 1 cup of the tin, pressing along folds to crease. Repeat with other cups and parchment pieces.

Step #4: Scoop batter into cups, and bake.


Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Glaze “Icing” (makes 1 dozen cupcakes)
Cupcake recipe from Baking Unplugged by Nicole Rees
Glaze recipe from A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg


Chocolate Cupcakes
1/2 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
3/4 C. warm (not hot) brewed coffee or water
10 Tbs. unsalted butter, soft
3/4 C. sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (Farenheit). Line 12 standards cupcake (or muffin) cups with parchment paper liners. Place the cocoa and baking soda in a small bowl; slowly whisk in the coffee or warm water until smooth. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Whisk in the egg, vanilla, and salt until the batter is smooth, about 30 seconds. Sift the flour with the baking powder; stir half the flour mixture into the batter. Stire in all of the chocolate liquid, then finish by stirring in the remaining flour mixture. The batter should be smooth, but do not overbeat. Divide the batter evening among the cupcake liners. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until a skewer inserted near the center of a cupcake comes out with very moist crumbs clinging. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a cooling rack.


Chocolate Glaze
8 oz. Bakers’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate, finely chopped

*Molly’s recipe calls for bittersweet chocolate, but I’m more of a fan of semi-sweet. Feel free to choose whichever one you like best!

After the cupcakes have cooled completely, melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a metal or glass bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Stir frequently to prevent scorching. When the chocolate is completely smooth, it’s ready. Working with one cupcake at a time, spoon a heaping teaspoonful of melted chocolate on top. Tilt and rotate the cupcake to spread the chocolate over the top. You can also use a knife to spread the chocolate over the entire top of the cupcake.




Previous CakeWalk Columns:

Top me off bartender…err, baker in this case (May 22, 2009)
The importance of a moist cake (May 15, 2009)
The Savory Cupcake Dilemma of 2009 (May 8, 2009)
Will the real buttercream icing please stand up? (May 1, 2009)


Mary Ann is the founder of the New York City chapter of CupcakeCamp NYC, an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and eat cupcakes in an open environment. She is also the founder of Puff and Choux, a blog dedicated to the pastry and dessert arts. You can contact her at mary_ann_porch@hotmail.com with any questions, ideas or just to chit chat. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MaryAPorch.

Cupcakes on Katie Lee Joel book cover

Cupcakes on Katie Lee Joel book cover
Originally uploaded by Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake

I'm at Book Expo America at the Javits Center in NYC. Haven't seen
actual cupcakes yet this year, but will be on the lookout.

Google's Cupcakes, take 1 million

More and more we see cupcakes at corporate events, and Google is no different.





and





Shot at Google I/O by niallkennedy.





This gorgeous birthday set by Montreal's CleverCupcakes.








This shot (also taken at the Google I/O event) by Bekathwia:






Another I/O event shot by cvander:

Seattle's Cupcake Royale to expand in late July

On top of their recent flavor improvement, here are some details about the new location of Seattle bakery Cupcake Royale, courtesy of CHS Capitol Hill Seattle Blog:

With a bakery nearly three times the size of Cupcake Royale’s current World Headquarters in Ballard, the company’s baking capacity will get a much-needed boost. This is Hall’s first design-build bakery endeavor, and she’s enlisted a dream team of artisans and architects. The new location is designed by Domestic Architecture, led by Roy McMakin (artist and longtime neighbor/customer of Cupcake Royale in Madrona), and artisans handling the build-out include Dovetail Construction (which recently completed Molly Moon’s and Oddfellows), Sterling Voss, Big Leaf Manufacturing, and glass artist Greg Lundgren (owner of Hideout, and Stranger Genius award winner for Vital 5). The space is housed within the first commercial building by internationally acclaimed architect Tom Kundig.

The conceptually designed cupcake café will feature a semi-private party area, a community table for gatherings, and a bakery peep show with a picture window exposing back-of-the-house operations to the cupcake-obsessed customers. Cupcakes baked daily at Capitol Hill will find homes in the pastry cases of the Madrona and West Seattle cafés, along with neighborhood grocery partners such as Metropolitan Market. The Ballard bakery will continue to bake cupcakes to serve its own café.


Salted caramel cupcake from Cupcake Royale; photo by Flickr user d0ug&r0byn

Google's Adroid Cupcakes

Aren't these great?





Shot by compbrain.

Cupcake street art

I'm always happy to see cupcakes pop up:





This shot captured by xcorex.