How can you pick just one?! A sample of my cupcakes :)

First up, Mint Chocolate cupcakes with Vanilla Mint buttercream!

I was craving something minty before Christmas, but I didn't have any mint extract :(  I couldn't find what I was looking for in the shops here in Australia so I made my own!  It was really simple, I only had to put some vodka in a jar with some fresh mint leaves and set it in the fridge for a couple of months.  It was beautiful and flavored the cupcakes and the frosting nicely.  I hated the long wait but oh my, it was worth it.  These cupcakes hit the spot and they were so delicious.  

Next, Fresh Strawberry cupcakes with Vanilla Creamcheese frosting!

These turned out so pretty.  I first made a puree of strawberries, which was beautiful alone honestly.  I thought about reserving some or just making it again, to replace the sugary-too-sweet jam we have in the fridge!  The cupcakes themselves were moist and delicious, but a bit heavier than the chocolate mint ones.  The frosting paired perfectly with the cake, the cream cheese cut through the sweetness of the berries.  These were my girls' favorite :)

And finally, my Vanilla Vanilla cupcakes with (my new favorite) Vanilla Bean buttercream frosting!

I was inspired because I found some new vanilla at the store and I wanted to give it a try.  As you probably know, real vanilla beans can be quite pricy so I try to use it sparingly, well as sparingly as a baker can, lol.  But, I found some on special and YAY, I just wish I bought more!

Anyway, I LOVED this frosting.  Don't get me wrong, the cupcakes were delightful and moist and oh so yummy, but this frosting takes it to a whole new level.  It might not look like much, but this is my new favorite recipe.  I decided to try a new and oh my goodness, I'm glad I did.  You can find it here.  It is so good, I really can't stress that enough :)

I love the beautiful flecks of vanilla bean.  It adds something special don't you think?

Which ones is your favorite?  Can you even decide?!  No worries, I can't either, and now I just want to try making more!

Another Happy Birthday Chocolate cake :)

Happy Birthday Evelyn!

I do believe this is my most requested cake.  I can understand why--that yummy rich frosting pairs perfectly with the decadent moist chocolate cake.  It really is a winner :)  I hope you loved your cake Evelyn!

Look at that chocolate frosting!  And I love all the sprinkles :)

So pretty!  And delicious too!

Red Velvet and Chocolate Cakes -- An experiment

I've had some wonderful red velvet cakes in my life.  They seem luxurious and indulgent and beautiful--there's something special about them.  Then I wonder, why?  What flavour are they actually?  I decided to do some research and experimenting because I had to know.  I've learned so much about baking and techniques in the past year, and yet I hadn't properly tackled the red velvet. 

Just look at that beautiful bright red color!  Completely natural and from beetroot :) 

I found a perfect video on youtube.  Her website is called Dulce Delight.  She has so many yummy recipes, an adorable accent, and a retro kitchen and tools.  I watched almost all  her videos.  ANYWAY, back to the cake.  Most red velvet cakes you'll find today are just chocolate cakes with about a bottle of red food coloring... yuck.  I didn't know that.  And it didn't sit well with me.  I use food coloring sparingly and only when I have to, like for the rainbow cake or if someone asks for it specifically.  I love when I can get natural colors from fruits or vegetables.  

I found those pretty red sugar roses at the shop :)  Thought they matched perfectly!

Beets are the secrets to a beautiful, deep, rich red velvet cake.  Something magical happens when you have the beet juice, lemon, and vinegar and mix them all up.  I was skeptical because here in Australia beetroot is quite popular on burgers and in salads and lots of things, and I've tried it-- I wasn't a fan, it kind of just tasted like dirt to me?  But, I think beetroot has gained a special place in my heart after making this cake.  I couldn't be happier :)  (Well, maybe I could be, I have to make another cake or some cupcakes for more happy!:)  If you're curious about the taste, it tastes a little bit like a citrusy (tiny bit) chocolate cake.  Pretty unique and delicious!

I also played around with making chocolate mousse for the first time.  Oh my goodness, it blew any sort of chocolate mousse I'd had before out of the water.  I also got this recipe from Dulce Delight.  I'm very happy I found her!

These pictures are of the other cake I made.  Another small red velvet and chocolate cake covered in whipped cream.  It was really yummy too!

I really love pictures of pretty fluffy frosting :D

That was a lot of fun.  What next should I try to make?! :D

1st Birthday Cake and a Smash Cake on the side!

Another Happy Birthday Cake!  

I actually hadn't made a cake for a baby boy before this one.  I did a lot of thinking about how to decorate it and then my husband just told me to stop, boys don't want all the frills and fancy decor that girls want.  He was right and it turned out perfectly!  Nikolas's mom ended up putting a little airplane on top and a nice candle :)  Inside is my yummy moist chocolate cake and it's filled with chocolate frosting and the outside is covered in a divine cream cheese frosting (I used this one.)

I have wanted to make a smash cake for a long time too.  SOOO many cute ones all over pinterest.  (If you don't already know, a smash cake is for a 1st birthday.  It's for the baby to smash, just like the name suggests!  Then it's bathtime of course :P)  I decided to make a small all-chocolate cake for Nikolas and his parents.  I am not sure if they let him smash it or they decided to eat it.. lol

Just look at that frosting!!

Happy 1st Birthday Nikolas!  I hope you loved your cake!

Daniella's Chocolate Castle Cake!

Chocolate Castle Cake

This cake was an endeavor for me.  I have been wanting to make something amazing like this for a long time but I didn't have an opportunity to pull it off.  My wonderful friend Jennifer gave me the chance I needed when her little girl Daniella had her 6th birthday.  Her party was prince/princess themed so I decided to make a her a grand castle cake of chocolate and yumminess :)

I only wish I had taken more pictures.  I didn't get to even clean up the work space before we had to rush out the door (I must admit I was later than I would have liked finishing this massive cake.  I didn't budget my time too well that day due to a doctor's visit and a family thing >.<)  BUT we got it to the party on time.

I used my yummy moist chocolate cake recipe and topped it off with my yummy chocolate frosting and piped some pretty flowers and vines with buttercream.  This was such a fun cake to make and I hope I have more opportunites like it!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday Daniella! <3

Heavenly Banana Cream Pie!

Oh I know, isn't it beautiful?!  I was curious if I could alter my recipe for the Mississippi Mud Pie, switch out chocolate for bananas and YEP I did it, and YEP it was amazing and totally worth that entire day I spent planning and putting it together.

I had to develop my own recipe for the cake and just swapped a different cookie for the crust.  The custard was so so yummy, that recipe can be found here.  I didn't want a fake tasting artificial JELLO pudding pie.  I wanted a real-deal banana cake/pie.  And this is what came out of my efforts--I couldn't be happier.  

 You can see the layers of crust, cake, custard, and cream!  (ooooh that could be a song!)

It keeps beautifully too, although I doubt you'd have to worry about that :P

Happy 4th Birthday Leila!

 My beautiful little girl turned 4 this past weekend.  She wanted something purple and something delicious--she wanted a monster and so this is what I came up with.  I didn't want fondant (gross), I didn't want too much frosting, because no matter how nice frosting tastes, sometimes it can be overwhelming and most people can't eat a mouthful of sugar.  I settled on a swiss meringue buttercream because it's just perfect.  It's sweet, yet overly so, and it colors so well.

I let her help make her decorations, I told her I'd frost the outside and she could tell me what to put on her monster.  She just wanted some eyes and a squiggly mouth, so that's what we did!

The inside of the cake is what I was most excited about.  There are five layers, two chocolate layered between the cherry, chocolate chip, and funfetti layers.  I was so impressed with how it looked when we cut into it :)

And here is her little monster, a little worse for wear since it's quite difficult to keep a 4 year old's fingers off of her birthday cake :P

And here they are, my happy beautiful girls.  Happy Birthday Leila bug <3  (Look how happy she is!)