Oscar Night! Festive Popcorn Cupcakes . . .

Every year the Oscars just sneak up on me!  I am contently going about my 'getting ready for Spring' business when POOF, out of the blue, here they are.  And just about every time I say, "The Oscars are THIS weekend?  Already?!"

Now living in Los Angeles, Academy Awards night is no small deal...and what better way to celebrate the most glamorous night of the year than with these adorable popcorn cupcakes?  And even more fantastic?  There is a free printable below for your cupcake wrappers from http://ewehooo.blogspot.com so you are nearly halfway there already!!!

Movie Popcorn Cupcakes

Ingredients:

~ baked cupcakes

~white icing

~ a bag of mini marshmallows (white or pastel yellow and white)

~ yellow food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1.) Frost the baked cupcakes with white icing. To create each piece of "popcorn," cut one mini marshmallow in half and squish the two pieces back together into a whole mini marshmallow, pinching firmly. Pile the finished popcorn onto the frosted cupcake.

2.) For a buttery look, either dilute a drop of yellow food coloring in water and brush it on with a clean paintbrush or mix pastel yellow marshmallows in with the white.

3.) Download the free template below & cut out your wrappers!

4.) Wrap the band around the cupcake and secure with tape.

Recipe via http://www.food.com/recipe/popcorn-cupcakes-so-cute-308253#ixzz1nL26ZNTo

And now for your FREE printable (from Ewe Hooo!)

d e s i g n s


Quick, easy, affordable, and so much fun!!!!  Hope you all have a wonderful & glamorous weekend!!!

Heavenly & Handwritten: Hostess~Inspired Valentine's Day Cupcakes . . .

Looks like you are getting two times the cupcakes this week, because I just love these retro-inspired Valentine's Day treats, from Martha Stewart! These little lovelies just bring back the memories, don't they?  Such a throwback to the carefree days of youth when your biggest worry was if you would get enough Valentine's in your little box at school that day:)  Here's how you make them . . .


'HOSTESS'~INSPIRED VALENTINE'S DAY CUPCAKES


Ingredients (cupcakes):
~ 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
~ 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
~ 1 1/2 cups sugar
~ 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
~ 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
~ 3/4 teaspoon salt
~ 2 large eggs
~ 3/4 cup warm water
~ 3/4 cup buttermilk
~ 3 tablespoons safflower oil
~ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:


1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

2.)Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:

~ 2/3 cup heavy cream
~ 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
~ 1 tablespoon corn syrup


Directions

~ Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Place chocolate and corn syrup in a small bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate mixture, and stir until smooth. Use immediately.

Decorating Directions:


~ Dip tops of each cupcake in chocolate glaze, letting excess drip off. Let stand until set, about 30 minutes. Fit a pastry bag with the smallest plain round tip. Fill bag with melted white chocolate, and use to write on cupcakes. Decorated cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 2 days.

These sweet treats rival just about any store-bought snack, don't you think?  Stay tuned tomorrow for a fun little DIY project that is sure to keep you nice and toasty for the SIX more weeks of winter you have ahead . . . darn Groundhogs!!

Tutorial Tuesday: Cherry Pie Cupcakes . . .

In honor of our deliciously themed Apple & Cherry Party from yesterday, I thought it would be fun to make some delightful cupcake treats to add to the fun.  Aren't these just the most adorable things ever?  Here's how it's done . . .

Cherry Pie Cupcakes

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Supplies You Will Need:

~ 35 standard sized baked vanilla cupcakes

~ 2 cans cherry pie filling, drained, but keep juice

~ 3 cups butter cream vanilla frosting-or 3 purchased 16oz containers

~ piping bag

~ Decorating tips: 

#103 

(for the ruffled edge of cupcakes)

#5 

(simple line to hold in filling)

#47 

(smooth side up to create "lattice")

1. Frost cupcake thinly.  Fill pastry bag with buttercream frosting.  Using tip #5, pipe a line around the outer edge of cupcakes (to hold filling).

2. Drain berries from juice, pat dry.  Place halfed cherries on center of cupcake.   Add 1-2 teaspoons cherry juice/filling covering tops of cherries.

3.  Using tip #47 (smooth side up) pipe 3 ribbons of frosting equally spaced on top of fruit (to create the 'lattice')

4. Rotate cupcake and repeat to continue to make lattice.

5. Using tip #103, wide end up, pipe ruffle,"crust" around edge of cupcake. (tip: hold cupcake in hand and rotate)

That's it!  So simple & sweet!!

Partial Tutorial Courtesy of Liz Bushong