How to make your cupcakes look like a super model (without fondant)?

Mrs. G has heard a lot of people expressed how much they dislike about gum paste and fondant decoration on their cupcakes.  Most of them agree that they make the cupcakes look like a "super model", but those decoration kill the flavor of a cupcake.  So if you don't like gum paste and fondant, what could you/C for Cupcake Cupcakery do to make your cupcakes look as amazing as their taste? 

There are quite a few alternatives -

Seasonal fresh fruits - such as strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. 



Home made candied orange

Dried fruits and nuts



Cashew Nut Brittle Cupcakes (Picture from Blog - Our Eyes Eat First)


Candies and other treats - or if you like a treat on the top of your cupcake, we could use candies, cookies, coconuts, etc.



Easter chocolate candies with toasted coconut

Belgium waffle

Powder sugar, powder chocolate or shredded chocolate 

Using powder sugar for decoration on cupcakes
(Picture from the Cupcake Blog)

Mixing fresh fruit and powder sugar for decoration
(Picture from 123RF)



Mrs. G home made vegan chocolate cupcake topped

with shredded chocolate

Fresh flower petals - some flower petals are edible, some not!

Mixing fresh fruit and fresh edible flowers for decoration
(Desert from Extraordinary Dessert; picture from Flickrfan Stan)

Cupcake topper - you could get the toppers from any craft store or baking supply store.  Or you could even make your own toppers. 

Picture from Epicute

There are so many ways to make your cupcakes look great without sacrificing the taste of them.  I hope that this post could help you to decide what you could do with your cupcakes the next time without those fancy gum paste and fondant decoration.  Mrs. G personally thinks that these non-gum paste or fondant toppings are classy and tasty!

Let's make some potica!

I had been following one of my friends' blog, Second Snack since they started.  They always share  good places to eat, some interesting and useful tips, or some yummy recipes.

I am honored and lucky enough to share their family recipe of potica (nut roll) with all of you here (thanks to Thomas and Sarah, who let me to share their family recipe on my blog).

First you will ask...What is Potica?

Potica ("po-teet-sah") is known to those of Slovenian ancestry.  An old world pastry, Potica is made from a dough rolled so thin and wide that a newspaper can be read through it. Then layered with walnuts, butter, cream and vanilla, is rolled into a spiral and baked to a crisp amber brown. Serve it with any meal or for a snack. Potica is delicious plain, by itself, heated or unheated. But you can enjoy it many different ways.

Serve with:
   -Ham - Bacon and eggs - Sausage - Fruit

Top with:
   -Ice cream or vanilla pudding
   -Lemon, chocolate or caramel sauce
   -Whipped cream and strawberries

Dough3/4 cup milk - scalded and cooled
1 1/2 packages dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour (approximately)
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, salt yeast and cooled milk.
Stir in flour. Turn out onto floured pastry cloth or board and knead until smooth (about 10 minutes). Place in greased bowl and let rise until double in bulk. Roll out onto floured cloth until very thin.

Filling4 cups (1 lb) ground walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs - beaten
bread crumbs
cinnamon
butter

Mix everything except the eggs and cook until thick. Remove from heat. Slowly add beaten eggs. Return to a boil and cook for 2-minutes. Cool. Spread over thinly rolled dough. Sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs, dot or grate frozen butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up like a jelly roll. Squeeze out from the middle. Place in greased 9X13 pan (2) and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Bake approximately 1 hour at 350 degrees.

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

You’ve had a bad day. You’re feeling cranky and lonely. What to do? Aside from finding ways to fix your problem, try some comfort foods to make you happy. The following confort foods do not only taste good alone, they are the great partners-in-crime of flour!

These foods are packed with omega-3 fats, folic acid, selenium, and vitamin B12.  These nutrients can lift your mood, so let's check them out:

(Source:  11 Foods that can Make You Happy by Willie T. Ong, MD)

Chocolate. Who needs an excuse to eat chocolate? Not me. Chocolate contains anadamine, a brain chemical that helps brighten our mood. Scientists believe that other chemicals in chocolate cause anadamide to stay longer in the brain, thus enhancing its positive effect. The sugar in chocolate also boosts our levels of endorphins, another hormone that makes us happy.

Bananas. Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. And we know that serotonin is a hormone that makes us cheerful. Bananas contain carbohydrates as well to boost our energy. Its high potassium content also prevents cramps and it’s good for exercising individuals. Experts believe that bananas are one of the world’s healthiest fruits. So take two bananas a day to keep the doctor away.

Blueberries. Blueberries are abundant in antioxidants and vitamin C, which are known stress-busters. Antioxidants help remove toxins (called free radicals) that circulate in our body. These free radicals damage our organs and cause us to age faster, that’s why we need to remove them. Blueberries are also loaded with fiber, which is good for digestion. Some studies show that blueberries and strawberries may prevent cancer by removing these destructive free radicals.

Nuts. Nuts are nutritional powerfoods, rich in protein, minerals (especially selenium), and omega-3 fats. Nuts also contain vitamin E, an antioxidant to fight stress. Studies show that Brazil nuts are the number one source of the mineral selenium. Seafood is another good source of selenium. Aside from lifting our mood, nuts are considered as “brain food” because of their high content of omega-3 fats. Omega-3 helps improve the blood flow in our brain. (Students, take note.) Take an ounce of nuts every day. Don’t eat too much of them though, because nuts are salty and high in uric acid, which can be bad for those with high blood pressure and gout.

Coffee. A study from Brazil shows that people who drink coffee with milk every day are less likely to suffer from depression. Caffeine is probably the world’s most popular mood-enhancing drug. But it has its pros and cons. Coffee boosts your energy levels, makes you feel more alert, and can improve your memory. A single cup of coffee with milk in the morning can jumpstart your day. However, too much coffee can also wreck your disposition, cause heart palpitation and anxiety, and make it difficult for you to sleep. A cup or two a day is okay. Small doses of caffeine can improve your mood but too much coffee can be bad for your health.

Finally, any food you crave can be considered your own personal comfort food. Eating anything delicious stimulates the production of endorphins, making us happy. Endorphins can reduce pain sensation, too, and is like the brain’s natural painkiller.

So try our devil chocolate cupcakes with crushed milk chocolate cream cheese filling today to make yourself happy=)

                         Stay sweet!

Stay happy!