My 100th Post

A little less than a year ago I started a blog about one of my favorite things on earth - cupcakes. Now I am already on my 100th post and have had people from all over the world visit my blog. 

For my 100th and final post this year, I thought I would let you know my top favorite cupcakes for 2011. I already narrowed down my absolute favorite cupcakeries (see side bar "My Favorite Cupcakes") but thought I would narrow it even further. I have tried SO many amazingly delicious cupcakes (at my favorite and other cupcakeries) that it was so hard to narrow it down to just five. (Quick note: Sprinkles Cupcakes Red Velvet would always make the list, but unfortunately I didn't get to visit a Sprinkles Cupcake this past year.) 

So, in no particular order, here are my top five favorite cupcakes for 2011: 

Coconut Mango 

From The Sweet Tooth Fairy

Coconut cake with coconut mango frosting topped with fresh shredded coconut

Lava Fudge

From Georgetown Cupcakes

Valrhona chocolate cupcake with a rich fudge core topped with a vanilla icing with a fudge star drizzle

Razzle Dazzle

From Kara's Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcake filled with a raspberry cream filling and topped with a sweet raspberry buttercream

Little Devil

From Dippidee

Chocolate cake filled with a sweet creamy filling topped with a rich chocolate buttercream frosting

Chocolate w/ Buttercream 

 From Cakes De Fleur

Moist chocolate cake with a rich creamy buttercream frosting

So, there you have it - my favorite cupcakes in 2011. I can't wait to see what flavors 2012 bring. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Make Lemon Cupcakes

National Cupcake Day

Happy National Cupcake Day!! Do you know what this means? It means that you need to head to your favorite local cupcakery and celebrate! 

Marble Slab Creamery is ready to celebrate. They will be giving customers one free ice cream cupcake today between 4 and 7pm.

I was so happy that my Holiday Assortment cupcake order from Georgetown Cupcake showed up last night. The timing was perfect and the cupcakes are delicious. (Yes, I started celebrating early. The Rudolph Red Velvet was so yummy.)

Have a happy and delicious day!

Holiday Cupcake Recipes From Cupcake Wars

Season 4 of Cupcake Wars has already begun and so far the episodes have had a holiday theme. Check out some of the delicious holiday recipes from the show.

Episode: The Nutcracker

Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes with a Chocolate, Orange, and Clove Infused Ganache Filling and a Chinese Spiced Tea Buttercream

Picture from Cupcake Wars (Food Network)

Episode: Tree Lighting
Recipes: Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball Cupcake, Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cupcake, Strawberry Thumbprint Cupcake, Sweet Potato Cider Cupcake w/ Marshmallow Frosting

Picture from Cupcake Wars (Food Network)

There has also been a Holiday Christmas Parade episode, but no recipes have been posted to Cupcake Wars website yet.

For even MORE Cupcake Wars recipes, click here.

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Spiced Chai Latte Cupcakes

Spiced Chai Latte Cupcakes w/ 

Cinnamon Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting

Don't these cupcakes sound divine? The spicy flavors of chai tea with a rich and creamy buttercream frosting. Heaven! This Pinterest recipe of the week comes from a website called Love and Olive Oil. You need to check out all of their delicious recipes - there is a ton and they all look amazing.

You can find their website, here, or follow them on Pinterest, here.

Cupcakes Are Happiness

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Eggnog Cupcakes With Spiced Rum

Eggnog Cupcakes with Spiced Rum Buttercream Frosting

Picture from bakersroyale.com

Are these seriously not some of the most gorgeous cupcakes you have ever seen? This Pinterest recipe of the week comes from a blog called Bakers Royale. (I posted another recipe of hers a couple of weeks ago - Toffee Crunch Cupcakes.) I just love her blog, she always gives great tips on making the cupcakes and even lets you know where to find the same sprinkles she used. What a perfect cupcake for the Holiday season. 

Cake Push Pops

Picture from mycakeschool.com

Lately it seems like Cake Push Pops (aka Cake Push Ups) are everywhere. What a fun way to eat cake, right? It's a layer of cake, then frosting, then cake, a filling, cake, and frosting again. Oh, and don't forget a cute garnish on top. With the fun Cake Push Pop containers, you push the cake up from the bottom until you get to the last bite. No forks required. I can't wait to make my Andes Mint Cupcakes into Cake Push Pops.

You can find Cake Push Pop Containers online, here. Also, check out the wonderful Cake Push Pop tutorial at My Cake School. Want to see more Cake Push Pops? Click here.

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

Picture from www.glorioustreats.blogspot.com

What a perfect cupcake to start off the Holiday season. This week's recipe comes from a blog called Glorious Treats. She has craft ideas, party ideas, and of course a ton of amazing recipes. She took her classic chocolate cupcake recipe and created a delicious peppermint cream cheese frosting. She even gives tips on how to achieve the red/white stripe in the frosting.

You can find her blog, here, or find her on facebook, here.

What is Pinterest? Where can I find past Pinterest recipes of the week?

Cupcakes Made "Oprah's Favorite Things 2011" List

I absolutely love Oprah's Favorite Things list that she puts together each year. This year was no exception, even though I am sad I didn't get to watch her give it all away on TV. She has a lot of fabulous things on the 2011 list that also includes two cupcake items, check them out: 

Baked by Melissa "In Chocolate" Miniature Cupcakes

www.bakedbymelissa.com

$25 for a box of eight

Oprah says "A perfect hostess gift, these miniature cupcakes come in flavors like Cinnamon and Cookie Dough. They're also - ingeniously - doused in chocolate." 

Feeling Smitten Cupcake Bath Bombs

www.feelingsmitten.com

$10.50 ($8 if you use the code OPRAH)

Oprah says "I love these calorie-free bath bombs, which come in scents like Mellow Mimosa and Mint Condition and fizz with essential oils and Dead Sea salt when you drop them in the tub."

You can find the complete list in O Magazine and online. While you're online, don't forget to enter to be one of twelve lucky winners that will win all of her 2011 Favorite Things.

Starbucks Holiday Petite Treats

Two new holiday petite treats are now available at Starbucks. They aren't cupcakes, but they both include frosting and cake. They have a Chocolate Creme' Whoopie Pie which is two small chocolate cakes with buttercream frosting in between. They also have Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cake Pop which is chocolate cake mixed with buttercream frosting and candy cane pieces and then dipped in white chocolate and rolled in more candy cane pieces. I had the Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cake Pop today and it was festive deliciousness on a stick. It was so yummy.

Fun news! You can buy a DIY kit to make Starbucks Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cake Pops at home. Click here for more information.

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting

Sweet Potato Cupcakes w/ Toasted Marshmallow Frosting

What is more perfect for Thanksgiving than Sweet Potato Cupcakes? Break out your kitchen torches, puree some sweet potatoes, and get ready for some culinary fun. This delicious recipe comes from a website called Annie's Eats. She has a ton of recipes for appetizers, main dishes, breakfast, baby food, and much more. Check out Annie's Eats website, here, and find them on facebook, here.

I have to make this recipe for my husband because his #2 favorite cupcake is a sweet potato cupcake from The Sweet Tooth Fairy (a November flavor of the month).

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Picture from bakingdom.com

The Pinterest recipe of the week comes from a fabulous baking website called Bakingdom. She has very easy step-by-step instructions with pictures (love that!). These would be perfect for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning with a glass of milk and some fresh fruit, don't you think? I am totally planning on making them from breakfast (if eating cupcakes for breakfast is wrong - I don't want to be right). If you make this recipe I would love to hear your comments.

Check out this week's recipe and Bakingdom's website, here, or you can find them on facebook, here. You can also follow them on Pinterest, here.

What is Pinterest? Where can I find past Pinterest recipes of the week?

Goodie Girls Owner And Winner Of Cupcake Wars Announces Opening Of New Store In LA

You're Invited

To:           Goodie Girls Store Opening Celebration
.
When:     November 20, 2011 from 5-8 pm
.
Where:   415 East Broadway #100, Glendale, CA 91205

One of the most popular posts on my blog was about the Cupcake Wars Season 3 Premiere Winner, Annette Starbuck (click the link to read the post). I just received an invitation to celebrate the opening of her highly-anticipated storefront, Goodie Girls, in Los Angeles on November 20... and you're invited too!

Annette will serve up her gourmet cupcakes including her signature Pumpkin Pancakes cupcake along with her popular Cake-Ups push pops during the 'petite treat affair' taking place from 5-8 pm. The first 75 attendees will receive an awesome gift bag including products from Pink Pewter, NuBar, Scentsy, H2O+, Soap Cafe, and pop artist a.n.t., plus a Cake-Up from Goodie Girls.

The grand opening will feature live music by DJ Arthur Galestian, appetizers catered by Kitchen 12000, a chocolate photo booth by Images Printed on Chocolate, wine from Cupcake Vineyards, decorations by Pom Flair, and lots of Goodie Girls samples. You don't want to miss this delicious event!

Pinterest Recipe Of The Week: Toffee Crunch Cupcakes w/ Caramel Frosting

Toffee Crunch Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Picture from Bakers Royale

I seriously can't wait to make these these! They are cupcakes dipped in chocolate, rolled in toffee, and then topped with a frosting made with homemade caramel. Yum! This recipe comes from a blog called Bakers Royale. It is a whole website of delicious recipes (be sure to check out all of their cupcake recipes, here). You can also find Bakers Royale on facebook, here.

Cupcake Gifts For Girls (Ages 0 and Up)

If you have a little cupcake fan in your life, here are some perfect gifts just for them (click on the brand to find out more information or to order): 

Trend Lab Cupcake Blanket Gift Set

Includes a velour blanket and three bibs

$26.99

Ages 0 and up

Little Tykes Cupcake Kitchen

Comes with all the cupcake accessories they could need. It also makes interactive cooking sounds.

$39.97

Ages 2-6

KidKraft Cupcake Stand Set

Wooden mix and match tops and bottoms with a 2-tier stand.

$24.17

Ages 36 months - 8 years

Melissa and Doug Wooden Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set

Wooden cupcakes, frosting, candles, and baking sheet with wipe-off markers so they can decorate their cupcakes. 

$19.22

Ages 3 and up

 

Hatley Kids Umbrella

You can even order a matching rain coat and rain boots.

$19.98

Ages 3 and up

Creativity for Kids Bath Time Bakery Cupcake Soaps

Includes soap clay, glitter, shaping tool, cupcake holders, and bath salt sprinkles.

$19.19

Ages 5 and up

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker

It comes with everything to make and decorate real cupcakes. Refills are available at an extra charge.

$19.99

Ages 8 and up

And for the older cupcake lovers, here are a few gifts for you too (this list could go on and on, but I will just share a few of my favorites):

Assorted Cupcake Banks

It's a perfect place to hide your cash. You can choose from three different colors.

$5 

All Ages

Home Classics Cupcake Flannel Sheet Set

Includes fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillowcases.

$29.99-$59.99 (on sale at Kohls)

All Ages

Christmas Cupcake by Yankee Candle

They also have Vanilla Cupcake.

$22.99

You can also check out these posts for more great gifts ideas; The Cupcake Diaries by Georgetown Cupcake,  Cake Pops DIY Kit by Bakerella, Cute Cupcake Aprons, and Sprinkles Cupcake Mixes.

Cupcake Popcornopolis

Do you love popcorn? Do you love cupcakes? Well, you are in for a treat, Popcornopolis has Cupcake Popcorn. It is so delicious and sweet! I love it! Like their website says, it's like biting into a delicious cakey, creamy, vanilla cupcake with plenty of icing... and lots of colorful sprinkles.

I found my bag of Cupcake Popcornopolis at Harmons, a Utah grocery store chain. You can find a store that sells it near you by clicking, here. Or you can order online, here (if you order soon enter the code get25off for a 25% discount).

And The Winner Is...

Crystal!

The winner of The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake is Crystal! (Crystal, I will be in touch.) Thank you to all who participated. 

Please check back soon for more contests.

This contest was for the followers of this blog only. You needed to become a follower by November 1, 2011 at 5:00 PM MST to have participated in this contest. The winner was randomly selected from the followers of this blog using Random.org. 

News From Georgetown Cupcake/DC Cupcakes

Picture from Georgetown Cupcake - "Holiday Dozen"

Attention early Holiday shoppers! Katherine and Sophie, owners of Georgetown Cupcake (and stars of DC Cupcakes), will be on QVC's "Gourmet Holiday" show this Friday, November 4th, at 4:00 PM ET (click here to check the time in your area). They will have a one-time only special price on Georgetown Cupcake's Holiday Dozen. Don't forget to tune in!

Their cookbook, The Cupcake Dairies: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake, goes on sale November 8th. To buy the book or other DC Cupcakes products, click here.

Last, but not least, don't forget to catch the DC Cupcakes Wedding Special (Katherine's getting married!) on November 11th at 10PM ET on TLC.

Mind-Blowing Decorating Tips

Watch this short video for tips on mixing several colors of frosting and only using one bowl and one spoon and how to fill bags with frosting with no clean-up. Her tips are genius!