Easter Sock Cupcakes

rolled making sure to keep the bottom flat (so that the cupcake stands upright). - See more at: http://www.733blog.com/2011/01/sock-cupcake-tutorial.html#sthash.axg7iXPy.dpuf

Looking for a guilt free sweet treat for your kids Easter basket? How about an adorable Easter Sock Cupcake. These are adorable treats are great for little ones, teens, and even grown ups. Easter Sock Cupcakes have a only a few ingredients and are easy to make. 

Easter Sock Cupcakes ...

Ingredients:

• Socks (1 pair of fuzzy socks, or 2-3 ankle socks)
• Rubber band
• Decorative Paper
• Tape or Hot Glue
• Clear Treat Bag (optional)

Directions: 

There's a great DIY step by step tutorial over on Seven Thirty Three's blog or you may follow my steps below (sorry no pictures).

For my cupcakes I used 3 pair of no-show ankle socks. You can use 1 pair of fuzzy socks or any socks of your choice.

making sure to keep the bottom flat (so that the cupcake stands upright). - See more at: http://www.733blog.com/2011/01/sock-cupcake-tutorial.html#sthash.axg7iXPy.dpuf

1. Cut your decorative paper into a 12 x 12.5 inch strip. See steps at bottom of this post.
2. Starting at the toe, roll the pair(s) of socks up making sure that each layer that forms is just slightly below the layer above it. This makes the 'cupcake frosting'.
3. Once you are done rolling the socks, secure the rolled socks by placing a rubber band (or hair tie) around the bottom half of the rolled socks.
4. Get your 12 x 2.5 inch decorative paper that you cut out. Wrap it around the bottom half of rolled socks and secure with tape a dab of hot glue. The socks should be sticking up out of the top so that they look like frosting.
5. Place a wrapped chocolate Easter candy on top, or insert a lollipop through the center of the rolled socks (this will be your cherry on top so use whatever wrapped candy you would like)
6. Now place the Sock Cupcake in a clear plastic treat bag and tie with coordinating ribbon and gift card. On the gift card write "This cupcake is not eat. It was 'baked' with love to warm your feet!"

These Sock Cupcakes are great gifts for children, teachers, moms, sisters, brothers for Easter, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Mother's Day, etc. Have fun and be creative with your cuppies!

Decorative Paper Strips for Cupcake Liners / Holders:

The decorative paper, printables and gift cards used here are from Anders Ruff's Easter Has Sprung design collection. You can purchase them here. 

Print the pink, green and/or blue gingham paper from the Easter Has Sprung collection (or purchase decorative paper from your favorite craft store). Cut each printed paper into 12 x 2.5 inch strips with or scissors. Using a paper punch cutter, punch a decorative border on one side - this will be the top of your cupcake holder.

Cupcake Flower Bouquet

I have been in awe of cupcake flower bouquets for a long time now. This is my first attempt at making a cupcake flower bouquet. There are many, many tutorials and videos floating around on the internet. I will make a tutorial to share with you on my next bouquet. In the meantime, I used/followed this video from Fairytailcakes. The only change I made from the video was that I used a white Styrofoam ball with the plastic left on the ball to keep the cupcakes clean (the Styrofaom ball was wrapped in plastic at time of purchase). If you can't find one already wrapped in plastic, I would suggest wrapping the Styrofoam in foil or plastic wrap before adding your cupcakes to the bouquet. I used tissue paper as the filler for in between the cupcakes after I attached them to the Styrofoam ball.



I will be teaching a cupcake decorating class tonight to 30 girls who attend a local University. Our theme is Spring Flowers & Swirls. So I thought a few cupcake bouquets on the tables would be perfect for the girls to look at for inspiration on guidance when decorating their cupcakes.

One catch to the decorating class is that the cupcakes and frosting need to be kosher so all preparation needs to be done in the kitchen where the class will be taking place. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to teach so I need to practice at home before the class. I really didn't want to make too much frosting or spend alot of time making cupcakes since these were just practice before tonight.

To save time, I made boxed angel food cake because you only need to add water to the mix. And it makes 36 cupcakes so lots cuppies to play with. And for the frosting I used canned frosting (eek!) and added powdered sugar to stiffen up the frosting. For each can of frosting I added a heaping 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. It wasn't perfect but it did the job for demonstration purposes.

If you have any tips or comments about cupcake flower bouquets,
please be sure to share with us!

Ice Cream Sundae {Cupcakes}

Rumor is today is National Cupcake Day .. How about celebrating with an Ice Cream Sundae Cupcake?. I made these back in June for a party and have to admit they were one of the tastiest cupcakes I've made.

They are just boxed cake cupcakes but the combination of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry was a delightful mix of flavors topped with buttercream frosting, chocolate syrup, maraschino cherries, and banana (dried banana chips).







Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry Cupcakes:

Ingredients:

• Vanilla Cake mix (Such as an 18-1/4-ounce box)
• Chocolate Cake Mix
• Strawberry Cake Mix
• Baking cups
• Buttercream Frosting (recipe below)
• Chocolate Syrup
• Sprinkles
• Maraschino Cherries
• Dried Banana Chips
• Disposable or Featherweight Decorating Bag
• Decorating Tip #1M
  

Instructions:

Prepare all three cake mixes according to the directions on the boxes.

Line 36 muffin pan wells with baking cups. Evenly distribute the vanilla batter among the cups, then the strawberry, then the chocolate (approximately 3 tablespoons of each flavor of cake).

Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Let cool.

To Decorate:

Pipe buttercream frosting onto each cupcake using a decorting tip #1M. Top with chocolate syrup, sprinkles, a marsichino cherry and a banana chip.

Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifed
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Up to 4 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions:

In a mixer, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute, adding more cream if needed to piping consistency.

~Enjoy!

Cupcake Wars & {Giveaway}

My son will be moving up from middle school and into the high school next year. Next week is their Moving Up Ceremony. During the celebration they can participate in a cupcake wars game. We all know cupcakes are hot, hot, hot right now and there's so many great ideas that people come up with. To be honest I haven't come up with any ideas on my own but I couldn't resist in participating in the cupcake making. I LOVE to make cupcakes! Why is that? I have no idea!

A few months ago I made these Rainbow Cupcakes for my Taste Tempters Cooking Club and have been thinking I may make these in addition to two other types (still deciding on the other two). The recipe for these rainbow cupcakes can found at Our Best Bites. They are delicious!

I don't know if it's coincidental or what, but I keep running into cupcake ideas on the internet, FB, cook books, friends, etc. Today in my FB, this Marvelous Monday GIVEAWAY from A to Zebra Celebrations came up. So be sure to check out her awesome Giveaway of a $75 gift certificate to the Cupcake Stand shop. If I don't win, then I hope you do! :) :)