Frosting and Cupcake (Part I)

Last time we talked about our Top 10 cupcakes in America.  This time I am going to share some tips with you of how we choose the right frosting to go with your favorite cupcakes. 

• Vanilla cupcake is a very classic flavor.  And this flavor can almost pair up with any flavors of frosting.  If you like very light frosting, I suggest you to pair with our classic white chocolate frosting or home-made whipped cream.  If you like fresh fruit, our classic strawberry buttercream will be a great choice.  If you like chocolate (who doesn't?!), pair it with our classic chocolate buttercream or hazelnut buttercream. 

• Pumpin cupcake is a seasonal cupcake for Fall and Winter.  It's great pair with classic cream cheese frosting.

• Banana cupcake pair with banana frosting is always a great choice.  Banana flavor also goes well with fresh fruit icing, such as strawberry, raspberry or any other berry-flavored icing. Also, any type of chocolate frosting will be a great match with this cupcake also, but if you're in the mood for something really different and light, try adding a dollop of whipped cream. It's simple and delicious!

• Coffee is featured prominently in desserts because it goes well with just about anything that tastes sweet. Therefore, there are a myriad of possible frosting options for coffee cupcakes. Chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, almond, raspberry -- really, any flavor that might go with a cup of joe is a possible contender for the cake or icing part of your cupcake.

• Chocolate is another popular and classic flavor at our Cupcakery!  If you are choco-holic, top with a heavy dark chocolate frosting.  If you like chocolate, but would like something lighter on top, go with our classic white chocolate.  If you like fresh fruit, rasberry or strawberry frostings will be another great choice. 

• Lemon cupcakes typically pair up with sweet but slightly tangy yellow frosting. Last time I made a lemon flavored frosting with a candied orange on top and it was a great hit!  If the combination of lemon cake and lemon frosting is too tart for your taste, ask for an unfrosted cupcake with just a light dusting of powdered sugar for a subtle dose of extra sweetness.

Football Themed Birthday Cupcakes

Few days ago, I had a last minute order for a birthday.  I talked to our client and went through idea of the birthday theme.  The birthday boy plays in a football team, and the colors of the team is blue and yellow gold (kind of like the UCLA colors).  And my client said they don't like the fondant to be big, just something small, but still cute.

So I made some miniature footballs and the jersey to go with the theme:

I am glad that the birthday boy and football teammates enjoyed them.  My client told me they ever had the fondant on the top.



Alice in Wonderland Themed Cupcakes

There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger!

Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter.

---from the Mad Hatter in 2010 Alice in Wonderland's Movie.
Over the weekend, I made a set of Alice in Wonderland themed cupcakes.  They are just too cute to look at.  I recalled when I was a little kid, one of my uncles always called me Alice...I did seriously think about changing my name to Alice in the past, but well, I think my name suits me better though! 

Tell us what your favourite characters are and we might do a set of themed cupcakes and post it here just for you and your "eyes" to look at!

The Mad Hatter's hat

Solder of Queen of Heart

Drink Me!

The Cherish Cat

Aren't they cute?!

The clock is ticking...

Alice fell in the black hole.

“Odd Couples”

Donut + Coffee = Perfect Couple

PB (Peanut Butter) + J (Jelly) = Perfect Couple

Straw berry + Chocolate = Perfect Couple

In our baking world, not all the ingridents are made for each other; however, there are some chemistry has been created between two very odd ingridents.  There are few famous odd couples I am going to present on this post. 

Two very odd ingredients come together create some incredible and unforgettable favors.  Here are some strange combinations ideas for your cupcakes:

Sea Salt + Caramel

(Picture from:  http://www.recipestap.com/martha-stewarts-chocolate-salted-caramel-cupcakes-13)

Bacon + Chocolate

(Picture from:  www. ingridcakes.blogspot.com)

Bacon + Maple Syrup

(Picture from:  http://www.hotpinkapron.com/2011/03/bacon-and-maple-syrup-cupcake-with-maple-icing/)

Guinness + Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting

(Picture from:  http://dulcedoblog.blogspot.com/)

Grapefruit + Chai Icing

 (Picture from:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugardragon/)

Fried Chicken Topping + Waffle Favor Cupcake

(Picture from:  http://www.citysweettooth.com/?p=1190)

So do you have any odd combinations you would love to share with us? 

“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.”

Most bakers (including myself and Miss Little Cake [yes, she burns her cupcake again!]) have experienced countless failures to create one great recipe.  Whether a beginning baker, or Martha Stewart, occasionally a cake/cupcake will not meet our expectations. Often we blame it on a bad recipe or the ingredients, but in the end, we have to admit that it may have been caused by something done by us!

Below are some common mistakes that we often encounter in our baking.  Hopefully, the tips under each mistake can help in accessing and correcting problems in your kitchen and create a successful recipe that you and your beloved ones enjoy.

Cake burn on top

v     Oven temperature too hot.

v     Incorrect amount of water.

Cake falls during baking

v     Excessive jarring or moving of the cake during baking.

v     Oven temperature too low. Excessive mixing of the batter.

Top of cake peaks and cracks

v     Oven temperature was too hot. (the outside of the cake baked to form a crust too quickly. As mixture in center of the cake continued to cook and rise, it burst up through the top of the cake.)

v     Cake wasn't baked on the center rack of the oven.

Cake shrinks

v     Excessive liquid.

v     Batter too cold.

v     Oven too hot.

v     Improper mixing procedure.

v     Baked too long.

Cake stuck to the pan

v     Improper greasing/flouring of pan.

v     Layers were cooled too long before trying to remove them.

Cakes too tough

v     Excessive mixing.

v     Batter too stiff (insufficient water).

v     Batter too thin (excessive water).

Lacks body/structure

v     Excessive mixing

v     Insufficient liquid.

Dries out too soon

v     Excessive baking time.

v     Insufficient liquid.

v     Improper mixing procedures.

v     Cooled in a drafty location.

Just remember, don’t be afraid of failure in baking or in real life because…

“Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.” 

  Stay tuned for more "sweet" hints!

"When you share a cupcake, you share love."

Finally, we decided to launch a website to share some love, sweet and cupcakes with you!  Welcome to C for Cupcake Cupcakery official website!

We are located at the heart of Orange County, California.  We are here to take the bitterness away from your shoulders, and help you to add some sweetness to your event, party and...life.  We are also here to share our sweet tooth and recipes with you.

Most importantly, we are here to share our adventure and passion with you!

"Sweet" pictures will be uploaded soon, stay tuned!

Stay sweet,

C for Cupcake Cupcakery