Christmas Tree Cupcakes

So Christmas is nearly here....just where has 2009 gone? Our business GENI is growing well since it's launch in April. One thing Chris and I both realise is that with such busy lives, you need a hobby to be able to switch off from your work life....and my hobby, well that's cupcakes!

I've made some gorgeous winter warming cakes this year. My favourites being Rum & Raisin, Ginger, Chocolate & Cinnamon and my feature cupcake - the Christmas Tree Cupcake!

It is so so easy to do in 8 simple steps:

1: Colour some sugar paste fondant with your preferred colour

2: Roll out to 0.5cm thickness

3: Cut out 2 large stars, 2 medium stars and 1 small star

4: Leave to dry

5: Stack on top of each other, each star offset against the other. Dab a little sherry in the middle of the star to help it stick.

6: Roll a little glittery ball of fondant for the top of the tree and stick on the top star with some sherry.

7: Sprinkle with edible glitter and leave to dry

8: Pop on top of your cupcake - voila!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Heather

Halloween Spider Cakes

(Spider Cakes)

These are so easy to do and a must for your Halloween parties. The family had great fun making these today although I still have black food dye on my hands from making the spiders - must get some gloves for this in the future.

1. Fill cases just below half full so there is a gap at the top between the cake and case once cooked ensuring a smooth base once the icing is on
2. With orange buttercream spread icing over cooled cakes with an offset spatula
3. Starting in the centre of your cake, pipe a black spiral on top of the orange icing
4. Take a cocktail stick and starting at the centre of the cake lightly drag to the edge of the cupcake. Do this at 1cm spacings to creat your spiders web

For the spiders:

1. Colour some sugar paste with black food colouring (wear gloves)
2. Roll a small piece in to a ball for the body
3. Make 8 legs and press lightly in to the body
4. With some white icing make little balls for the eyes
5. Place on to the spiders web

Voila! Scrummy halloween cakes...enjoy!

Babycakes

(Baby boy cupcakes)

My best friend Kathryn had her 3rd baby last week a little boy named Harrison. He is absolutely gorgeous and it gave me a great excuse to make my first baby cakes!

I bought a baby shapes mould from Design a cake and filled it with a mixture of sugar paste & flower paste some coloured baby blue and the others plain white.

I loved doing them and now need someone to have a baby girl so I can try out the pink design!

Byte IT

Each year, over 500 people from the IT and business community give up their bed for one night to experience a little of what it might be like to be homeless. The money they raise helps Action for Children tackle the root causes of youth homelessness and gets thousands of children and young people off the streets and into secure accommodation with education and training opportunities.

The North East event was organised by Derek Curtis of Bond Solutions and held at The Baltic. Unfortunately I wasn't able to join in at this years event, so what else could I do but to offer to make special 'bytenight cupcakes' along with other favourites (including Rum & Raisin) to try to keep the participants warm as they braved it outside by the Tyne!

Well done to all those that took part.

My Radio Debut!

(Erin Boag coloured inspired cupcakes from Strictly Come Dancing show Sat 19th Sept)

The power of twitter! #Cupcakebake was a special day for cupcake enthusiasts organised by @janetedavis on Sat 19th Sept to post their pictures of cupcake creations. Following posting my pics I was invited to talk 'cupcakes' on BBC Radio Newcastle on the Jonathan Miles show....

My time in the studio was eventful. Jonathan is a very gregarious character, eyed the cupcakes got me sat down and in position and then we were 'on air'....hmmm no time to clarify with me that Baxters Cupcakes is my hobby and not my 'real' job at Good Enough Never is!

So we talked cupcakes and how on trend they are at the moment - did you know the cupcake business in the UK last year was worth £37m. I'm not sure if Jonathan will have tried my Erin Boag inspired coloured cupcakes due to his high colestorel level but no doubt the rest of the team did - a good time had by all...

Corporate 'logo' cupcakes

In April, my husband and I launched our business 'geni' - good enough never is (www.ge-ni.com)
We had an amazing 'logo' created by Robin Owers of O Communications so to promote our launch in an edible way I decided to make 'geni' cupcakes and hand deliver them in ribbon tied boxes with our brochure.

The response was amazing. Instead of the usual 'pen/mug' combo, our clients & acquaintances were given something very memorable and rather yummy.

May you cook like Agnes and eat like George...

How exciting - my first cupcake blog entry which just so happens to coincide with National Cupcake Week which is running from 14th September!

I've always loved baking and my love for cakes stems back to being a small girl baking with my grandma. My granddad was a rather large man (in tummy size) mainly from eating all of grandmas amazing treats. When he passed away, the money he left us went towards our new kitchen and taking pride and place on our kitchen wall is a tribute to them both which reads "May you cook like Agnes and eat like George"

My gorgeous little boy and I love to cook together and of course like most children he loves cupcakes. This cupcake making for me has expanded quite rapidly and it's now a great hobby (and a little fee earner) from events and parties.

I hope to share with you in my blog any hints and tips I pick up on the way as well as gorgeous flavours and creations.

Enjoy National Cupcake Week - everyone deserves a treat, make sure yours this week is a cupcake.

Heather

(Thanks to Charlie from O Communications for encouraging me to start a cupcake blog - she really does know best when it comes to blogs!)