Make A Wish Cupcakes!

So I've been away for a while! Over the last month I have been working, playing, travelling and baking! There is so much to update you on, but first things first, take a look at these 'Make a Wish Cupcakes.

The birthday girl had a special banquet and requested individual cupcakes for the guests. The theme was 'Make a Wish'. I've been thinking about edible flowers for a while and this felt like the perfect opportunity to try it out. I tell you though, it was trickier than I expected to find edible flowers. Unfortunately florists only really know roses to be edible so I came up against a brick wall. After going to a number of stores, it turns out the garden centre is the place to go to find them.

So now you've seen the birthday girl and the cakes, here's how to recreate them;

Vanilla Butter Cupcakes (adapted from Amy Atlas's Sweet Design Book)

makes 

1 stick/ ½ cup (114g) unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup caster sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup whole milk

1. Adjust oven to 350oF/ 180oC/ Gas Mark 4. Beat together the butter & sugar until they are light & fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add one egg at a time along with the vanilla until they are thoroughly combined. 

2. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. With the mixer on a slow speed add the flour mixture alternatively with the milk. Beat for about 3 minutes until the cake batter is smooth.

3. Divide the cupcake mixture between the cupcake cases and bake for about 17-20 minutes minutes until the a skewer entered into the centre comes out clean.

4. Leave to cool fully before topping with a generous amount of buttercream.

Vanilla Buttercream

250g unsalted softened butter

500g icing sugar

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons whole milk

1. Mix together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Once they are all mixed, add the milk and whisk for at least 5 more minutes to get a deliciously fluffy buttercream.

Edible Flowers (the fun bit!)

Selection of edible flowers; pansies & viola

1 egg white

½ cup golden caster sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1. Separate the flowers from the stems, then wash and dry them.

2. Lightly cover the flowers in egg white and carefully dip or sprinkle both the sugars over the petals.

3. Leave to dry on greaseproof paper, or if you don't have time (which I didn't), put the oven on the coolest setting with the door open and leave to dry.

4. Once they are dry, add glitter to make them fabulous!

The banquet!

These bad boys are a collaborative effort with my girl, Alexia Lenoir, the talented Event Stylist. Check out her blog post for her version of the day! :) 

If you do make these, please let me know how you get on!

Peace & Love

xx

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Dedicated To My First Born...

So Valentines Day has come and gone... I didn't get any balloons or love letters or flowers but I did get to celebrate the birthdays of two special boys; my first born son & my gorgeous nephew. 

My son was born on Valentines Day and I still remember his birth like it was yesterday. Like many first time mothers, it was a traumatic experience. I was in labour for 3 days and had every type of medical intervention known to man. By the time I had the cesarean, I was hungry, dehydrated and exhausted. But with my baby in my arms, I just couldn't sleep. I stayed up all night, excited, with him on my chest wondering how on earth I was going to look after this precious thing. 

There's something special about the first child, that one on one time, the unknown, the excitement with every development. I remember the first time he looked around, the first time he saw a balloon, his first words, first steps, our first holiday and how he smiled at all the ladies, the first time he got a fever & we panicked and rushed him to the hospital, there are just so many memories. 

Now he's grown and cuddles with mummy are a bit of a pain! He still lets me have them though and for that I'm grateful. :) 

9 Years Old, I can't believe it!!

I've just been listening to Alicia Key's latest album recently and one song she sings sums it up perfectly. It's called 'When It's All Over'

"When they lay me down, put my soul to rest

When they ask me how I spent my life

At least I got to love you, when it's all over

When it's all said and done, when it's all over

At least I got to love you, at least I got to love you"

I can't forget my nephew who's birthday is one day earlier. He is the sweetest thing and always has something nice to say. I love baking for him because he loves his aunty's cakes! :) Check out a post that I wrote for his birthday last year here.

My very gorgeous nephew getting tickled by my boys :)

So to celebrate this happy week, it only seemed right to make cakies...

It's been a while since I made Red Velvet Cupcakes, I forgot how tasty they are! I'm not a big cake eater (believe it or not), but Red Velvet Cupcakes are my one weakness. Add some sugar lego men and lots of sprinkles and it makes for a happy time all round, who cares about Valentines! :)

Click here for the recipe link.

What/Who are you grateful for?

Peace & Love

xx

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Champagne and kisses...xxx

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