Cocktail creations

I have to admit, I have been dreaming of cocktails all winter, and finally summer has arrived and my inspiration station has launched. It is cocktail mania…and what could be better then a cocktail cupcake! And we all have to thank the Tipsy Ladies for starting this all!

So I’m happy to introduce to you Pina Colada Cupcakes and Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes. These were so fun to make, I absolutely loved thinking and tinkering with my current recipes. The colours are also a slam-dunk! They just came along and brightened up my Monday. I am already two down in the eating department…and looking at the third one, should I or should I not? I just think one should let your imagination flow. Don’t ever be scared to experiment. If it’s a bit way off, try and try again. The possibilities could be endless!

Tomorrow the recipes will follow, and you can also have awesome sundowner cupcake cocktails!

Cupcakeipsum - WOW!!!

http://cupcakeipsum.com/#

OMG!!! this has just made my day. If you are tired of boring old lorem impsum generators, go check this cupcake ipsum generator out. I LOVE IT!!!

Cupcake heaven lunch...

So usually my 1 hours lunch is either non-existent (too busy working) or mindless dwelling in the mall. But today I wondered into the Wordsworth Books. I started to slowly move towards the food section…

It was absolutely divine...I found myself looking at an awesome book. Cupcake Heaven edited by Jennie Milsom. All I can say is OMG!!! I felt like I was in heaven. I simply have to get this book and start baking. Thank you Jennie, you just made my lunch the best treat I could of asked for.

(Hint hint this would make a could Christmas present!)

Tipsy ladies – as promised!!!

So these delicious ladies are a combination of recipes I have found all over. I am still looking for the prefect chocolate cupcake (I think this one gets close). I want one that peaks…I love cupcakes that peak! This is an adult cupcake (over 18’s please) but I’m sure if you like them so much, you can take away all that sherry and just do it without! Just remember to keep your ingredients fresh, at room temperature (unless otherwise stipulated) and to have fun. If you want to add a little bit of this or that, don’t be afraid, follow the basics and then let your creative baking juices flow! 

Cupcakes (12-15 medium sized)

Ingredients:

1 cup                water

½ cup               cocoa

1 ½ cup             flour

1tsp                  baking soda

¼ tsp                baking powder

125 g                butter

1 cup                white sugar

2                      eggs

½ tsp                vanilla extract

1 cup                 dark chocolate (chopped)

½ cup                sherry

pinch of salt

Pre heat oven to 180 °C.

Boil water. Mix in the cocoa, whisk until smooth and leave to cool.

Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a separate bowl.

Add vanilla extract and eggs (one at a time) mixing well after each addition.

Add the flour mixture alternatively with the cocoa mixture.

Beat on medium until the batter appears light and fluffy.

Fold in pieces of dark chocolate.

Scoop into cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Check with a toothpick/stick at 18 minutes. If it comes out clean, remove cupcakes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Poke a few holes with a toothpick, not all the way down. Pour a little sherry over cupcakes (this can get messy) Paint the cupcakes with brush drenched in sherry every 5 minutes, for about half an hour.

Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

¼ cup                        frozen strawberries

250 g                        white butter

3 cups                       icing sugar (sifted)

½ tsp                        vanilla extract

1/8 tsp                      strawberry oil

Pink gel food colouring

Pinch of salt

In a food processor, puree strawberries.

Beat the salt and butter until light and fluffy.

Slowly add icing sugar, mix until the icing sugar becomes a light and fluffy texture.

Add vanilla extract, strawberry oil and the puréed strawberries. (My hand tends to slip a bit with the strawberry oil, I like an extreme strawberry taste)

Beat until well combined.

Add a few drops of pink gel food colouring. (Add as much as you like to get your desired pink colour)

Decorations:

Cocktail umbrellas

Blocks of dark chocolate

Drunken strawberries:

Castor sugar

Strawberries cored

Sherry

Place the strawberries in a container that will be able to seal.

Submerge them with sherry and add a lot of castor sugar.

Leave overnight in the fridge.

Tipsy Ladies

WOW! these are definitely for the girls.

They are delectable dark chocolate cupcakes, infused with a sherry twist. And to top it off strawberry flavoured frosting, a block of dark chocolate and a drunken strawberry! These were truly my first creation, in collaboration with a dear friend (I love her creative juices). I enjoyed making them and couldn’t resist eaten two.  I think they would be ideal for girlie weekends away, bachelorettes or even just if you need some light-hearted fun!

Recipe will follow tomorrow.

Cupcake quote by Emily, use (clipped to polyvore.com)

Hello blog world!!!

so...this is my first post! So excited, what to say, what to show, what to do? Well I have seriously been thinking about this, since I had lunch, which was sort of healthy, Tuna salad! (don't fret will give you that recipe soon).

So I think we will kick it off with Christmas.

So it's the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la! Every year, I have been doing Christmas cookies. Tins/boxes, any type of container filled with scrumptious cookies for all to enjoy. A lovely design on it, with ribbons to hearts content, and message of Christmas loving cheer! I will be updating with recipes of each cookie, and how my design and sanity is going over the next couple of weeks...so be prepared for flour, fun and oh so sweetness of home baked goodness!