A backup cake!

I know I posted a while ago about my Youth Group's bake sale - but I don't think I fully explained HOW MUCH baking I actually did that weekend... It was actually quite absurd.  I had researched a whole bunch of different cakes, a variety of flavors, designs, etc, this way there was a flavor, cake and sweet for everyone!

I was a Girl Scout growing up, and I came across a cake based on one of the most popular Girl Scout cookies, the Samoa.  I thought this was a great dessert - taking a classic cookie and making it a cake! I bought all of the supplies from the recipe and didn't bother to actually read the recipe.  As I was about to start the Samoa cake, I scrolled through the recipe to find out that one of the main steps included boiling condensed milk for over 10 hours!  Goodness- I couldn't do that.  So I hopped on Pinterest and found a simple chocolate-cinnamon bundt cake, and knowing I had all of those ingredients - I started on that cake.  It was simple and a huge hit!  I was happy I was able to think on my feet, but it definitely still is on my to-do list to figure out how to make a Samoa cake :)  Check it out below and remember to BAKE ON!

Hoppy Easter, Everybunny!

I know, I know, yesterday was Easter!  But, I took yesterday off from blogging, but I still want to wish everyone a late Happy Easter!  We had a great Easter here, and the weather was perfect for a few Egg hunts outside (that tricky Easter Bunny snuck outside!)

On top of all of the food and festivities - it was my aunt's birthday on Friday, and since she was away on her actual birthday -- we celebrated on Easter for her!  I wanted to make her a special cake but also tie in something fun for Easter.  I found this cute Peep Sunflower cake on Pinterest, and attempted it!

What do you think?  Everyone enjoyed it and it was super simple!  Bake on and stay tuned to some other recipes and new flavors that I've been experimenting with.

Baking Filled Weekend!

This past weekend was filled with baking, probably one of the busiest baking weekends I have had in a long time!  The church youth group that I run held our first bake sale on Sunday!  Knowing that it was Palm Sunday, and a lot of families have big family dinners and would need to bring dessert - we were the solution!


All in all I baked 3 different bundt cakes, 42 cupcakes (2 different flavors), and 3 batches of cookies!  You can see all of my baked goods below!  I think my favorite was these Lemon-Blueberry Cupcakes with a Lemon cream cheese frosting!  YUM :)  I even put them in a very spring-like box, because presentation is very important!  I found the recipe and pinned it on Pinterest - check my pinterest out for a bunch of awesome new recipes!  What do you think of everything below -  stay tuned for more of the recipes, and more of what I baked this past weekend!  BAKE ON!

Happy St.Patrick's Day!!!

I may only be a "wee" bit Irish -but this year I went all out for St. Patrick's Day (my boyfriend is really Irish!).  I went all out and bought green necklaces, shamrock glasses, Leprechaun hat headbands, and of course, cupcake tins! I searched online for some Irish themed cupcakes, and Irish Car Bomb cupcakes and I knew I had to make them!

 It was a Guinness chocolate cupcake, a Jameson ganache, and a Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream icing!  It was the first time I incorporated beer into a cupcake, and it was quite the experience - I paid close attention as to not burn the beer, and the cupcakes came out perfectly!  It was also the first time I made a ganache, and I was a little afraid about getting the chocolate chopped properly and getting the right consistency.  I probably could have let it sit and cool a bit longer, but it was also delicious!

I finished the cupcakes - and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cupcakes, and I have to make them again this weekend for my sister in law's birthday...so more adventures to come!  Bake on!

Yummmmmy Cupcakes!

I will usually taste my cupcakes before handing them out (USUALLY)... but I also kind of like the surprise and the feedback of other people.  Especially when I try a new flavor - I like the criticism, because it's always positive because it can only make me a better baker!

It was my best friend in the entire world's birthday last week, and sadly - we couldn't spend it together.  So I went to visit her this past weekend for a birthday re-celebration with her family.  She had asked me the month prior to her birthday to make her some special cupcakes (last year, I made her Princess Aurora).  I started to brainstorm of something cool to do - but I knew what would make her happiest.  We bonded over a few inside jokes in middle school, and one of them was Milkyways!

So I made  her Milkyway flavored cupcakes - I melted down Milkyway bars, folded them into the cupcake batter, and made a chocolate butter cream.  As you bit into the full cupcake, it was as if a Milkyway exploded!  I was quite proud of them... I am looking forward to making some other candy bar cupcakes in the future, so stay tuned and bake on!

Go Army!

I work with a pretty awesome sales team as my regular 9-6, mon-fri job...and one of the benefits of sales is the fact that they can wine and dine clients!  And sometimes it's nice to send a little something to thank our clients for their time and consideration.

Well...when I heard one of our sales guys was meeting with the marketing team for Army -- I HAD to make something!  Whether or not we work them or not, I wanted the opportunity to make some custom Army cupcakes.  (Especially since my best friend is going to marry someone in the Army).  The cupcakes were pretty simple, nothing too difficult, but fun to make!  What do you think of them?

BAKE ON!

We're Late for a Very Important Date!

It's been a while since I have posted - but I have continued to bake over the past few weeks, despite a hectic work schedule and getting back into the swing of things after some travelling!  My first adventure back into baking was quite the adventure down a massive rabbit hole!  Alice in Wonderland themed cupcakes for a baby shower!

The task wasn't easy, I wanted something fun, colorful and yet somewhat relevant for a baby shower.  I came across some sample cupcakes and I worked to replicate them with my very own twist on them!  It took me about five hours from start to finish -- creating every piece from scratch (the mushrooms, flowers, and hats!).  My back may have been a little sore from hunching over the details, but it was all worth it when I put the cupcakes together and saw how Alice in Wonderland just popped from the cupcakes!  What do you think?!

Bake on!