Gender Reveal Cake Pops

My pregnant friend had an ultrasound the other day.  THE ultrasound, the one where you can find out the gender of the baby if you want.  I convinced her to let me make her some cake pops, so that her whole family could find out at the same time.  So instead finding out at the ultrasound, they had the technician write the gender on a paper, and stick it in an envelope.  Envelope got delivered to me.  I was the first one who got to read what the little paper said!  

At first, I wasn’t 100% certain on my decision to draw the question marks.  But then my daughter saw them, and exclaimed, “Mom, those are just like mystery pop cakes!  Like there is a big surprise in the middle!!”  Um, actually, that’s exactly right.  Thankfully, the customers liked them too!

So are you dying to know what they’re having??  I even got it on video:

So exciting right?  I love their family.  and now they get another sweet girl.

Congratulations guys, and thank you for letting me be a part of it!!

Pumpkin Mousse Cupcakes

I love pumpkin.  Well…..  Sweet pumpkin that is.  Savory pumpkin, not so much.  I tried to make pumpkin soup one time.  Let me tell you, it was disgusting.  I tasted it probably 5 times thinking it couldn’t possibly be as bad as the last bite.  it was.  That soup got dumped down the drain. 

Sweet pumpkin though?!?  How can you go wrong?  muffins, cakes, breads, cheesecakes, and don’t forget cupcakes: 

These cupcakes were an instant favorite.  I made them mini because I took them to a church activity, but I know that they would be delicious normal size as well.  (and then you wouldn’t feel like you need to eat 5 either….)

I know you’ll love the filling.  Pumpkin Spice Mousse.  With some cream cheese frosting to top it off. 

So good.

Pumpkin Mousse Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting 

adapted from Jamie Cooks It Up

 

Spice Cake, prepared according to package directions, either mini or standard size. (I used Betty Crocker)

 

Mousse Filling

1  3.4 oz package Pumpkin Spice instant pudding mix (it’s a seasonal release!)

1 3/4 C half and half (I just made my own, mixing heavy whipping cream and 2% milk)

• Pour milk into bowl or standing mixer, add pudding.

• Beat with a mixer until thickened, should take a couple of minutes.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

1  8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1/4 C butter, softened

1 t vanilla

dash salt

3 1/2 C powdered sugar

1-2 T milk

• Beat cream cheese and butter together.

• Add vanilla and dash of salt.

• Add the powdered sugar 1 C at a time, mixing well.

• Add milk if necessary to get the consistency that you want.

To Assemble:

Wait until the cupcakes are completely cool before filling.  Prepare a pastry (or ziploc bag with the tip cut off) with a medium size round tip, and fill with mousse.  Stick the tip into the top middle of the cupcake, and squeeze in filling, until you can feel/see the cupcake start to expand (if you want a lot of filling, like in the picture)  A couple of mine even cracked on the top, but no worries because then you just cover it all up with a little dollop of frosting, I used a Wilton 1M start tip.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!!

 

Also, I’m sharing this recipe over at everydaysisters!  The theme is pumpkin recipes!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

So, it’s October.  That means that Halloween is almost here!  I think Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate/make treats for.  The possibilities are endless!!  I especially love that you can pick if you want things to be creepy or cute, depending on your mood.
I decided to make my first Halloween treat with a candy corn theme.  I'm putting these in the cute category:
cute and simple.  But wait, there’s more:

Since the inside is filled with frosting, I just wanted a little bit on top.  I love how these turned out.  And it’s easier than it looks, I promise.

Chocolate Cupcakes makes about 12 from OurBestBites

note: I’m not against box mixes at all, but this technique needs something more dense.  I do not recommend a box for these.

1 C Flour

1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 C firmly packed brown sugar

4 T unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg, room temperature

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 C lukewarm water

1/4 C buttermilk

• Preheat oven to 350. Line standard muffin tin with liners.
• Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• Beat the sugars and butter together until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
• Add the flour mixture alternating with the water and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Mix to combine on low speed between each addition, scraping the bowl as needed.
• Divide evenly into muffin tin and bake 15-18 minutes until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Let cool for 5 minutes in pan, then remove and let them cool on a rack.

Candy Corn Filling inspired from The Sugar Turntable

Buttercream frosting

Gel food coloring: Orange and Yellow (I recommend Americolor)

Piping or ziplock bags

long thin knife (I think I used a ‘tomato knife’)

• While the cupcakes are cooling, make the buttercream, then separate into 3 bowls.  Color one bowl yellow, one bowl orange, and leave one white. Then put into piping bags.  (I frequently use freezer ziplock bags with a small corner cut off.)
• Once completely cool, unwrap a cupcake and flip it over.  Insert the knife at an angle near the edge, so the point goes to the middle:
• Cut around the outside of the cupcake, keeping the point of the knife in the middle, to make a cone shape cut out: 
• Fill the middle of the cupcake in layers, starting with white, then orange, then yellow

 

• Cut the triangle of the cone off, so that you only have a flat bottom of the cupcake:
• Place the flat piece of cupcake back in the bottom to hold the frosting in. 
• Chill cupcakes until ready to eat: this will help the colors stay layered while eating/cutting.

Happy October!!
I'm also linking up to a blog that is sharing all kinds of seasonal inspiration! Go check it out!

Construction Birthday Treats: Oreo Truffles

Have you guys seen some of those birthday parties on the internet that are pretty much beyond incredible?  If you haven’t, take a quick gander at Kara’s Party Ideas.  Uh-mazing.

I really wanted to do a big production like that…. but, here’s my *very* scaled down version:

That caterpillar, is scooping some oreo truffles!!  I first saw the idea from this construction party.  These “boulders” were a fun addition to the party, and enjoyed by all.  I mean, who wouldn’t love Oreos mixed with cream cheese, and dipped in chocolate?

Oreo Truffles recipe adapted from Kraft  makes around 48 1-inch truffles

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

1 16 oz  pkg. Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (should make about 4-1/4 cups), divided

Candy Melts (I used chocolate, but I think vanilla might be even better, more of a contrast of flavors)

• Mix cream cheese and 4 cups of the cookie crumbs together until combined.
• Shape mixture into balls, chill. ( I did different sizes to go with the whole ‘boulder’ theme)
• Melt your candy melts according to package directions.
• Dip chilled balls into chocolate to coat, then sprinkle with remaining crumbs.
• Let set up in fridge until ready to serve (about an hour).

Construction Birthday Cake

When my now middle child turned 2 (youngest at the time), I kind of had a melt down. I was in complete denial that my baby was growing up. And it made sense to me why mothers like to baby their youngest for so long.

But, this time around, I’m doing a lot better! I was actually really excited to make a cake, and help him celebrate. We’ve even been practicing how to say ‘two!’ and hold up 2 fingers.

I debated for a long time what kind of cake to make. He is all about any kind of big vehicles. Construction, garbage, emergency, big pickups, etc. My sister-in-law helped me look online to find some inspiration. We found this, and I was totally inspired.

Construction Cake 2 layer 8” cake

With a serrated knife, I cut out a part of the cake, flipped it over on top, so it looked like the excavator was digging a hole. Then I frosted the whole cake. I put crushed up Oreos in the hole and on top of the mound. I also added some of these rocks. The cones and orange circles are made out of fondant. I used cookie cutters for the squares of the cones, and also the circles. The tops of the cones I hand shaped.

Frosting: I made a triple recipe of my favorite buttercream, and added chocolate!

3 sticks (1 1/2 C) butter softened

4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

12 oz chocolate

• Chop your chocolate (unless you’re using chocolate chips) and melt in a double boiler. Set aside to cool.

• Cream butter, and add powdered sugar 3/4 C at a time, mixing to combine before adding more, scraping sides as needed.

• Mix in vanilla, and cooled chocolate.

As much as I loved the outside of this cake, I think the inside was my favorite:

so, isn’t that cool??? I can’t lie, it turned out even better than what I was hoping. It was totally an experiment. I got my inspiration from this tutorial, but made my cuts slanted, so it would look like construction tape. Making it 2 layered made it even better, and it was the perfect touch to this construction cake!!

**I made a picture tutorial on the slanted stripes if you want more details!**

I made 2 cakes: one chocolate and one vanilla. The vanilla I dyed yellow with gel coloring, and the chocolate, I used black cocoa! It makes the cake totally black. It also smells like Oreos. But, if you can’t or don’t want to get black cocoa, just use the recipe with normal cocoa, and use black gel coloring.

Also, I made both recipes as is, so I had 4 layers, enough for 2 double layer cakes.  I cut them both, and then picked which ones I thought would look better.  If you don’t want that much cake, either make a half batch of each recipe, or, make the vanilla recipe and dye it 2 different colors.

Chocolate Cake Recipe makes 2 8” layers

found this recipe at Engineer Baker

1 1/3 C flour

1 2/3 C sugar

1/2 C cocoa (see note above for details of cocoa)

1 1/3 tsp baking soda

2/3 tsp salt

2/3 C oil

2/3 C sour cream

1 C water

4 tsp vinegar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your pans with spray and wax paper.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.  Whisk to combine.
• Add the oil and sour cream – this will be thick!
• Gradually beat in the water. 
• Add vinegar and vanilla and blend.
• Whisk in the eggs and beat until will blended, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
• Divide evenly into 2 prepared pans, and bake 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let sit for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire rack, remove wax paper, and invert again onto a wire rack to let cool completely. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet little guy!