Popcorn buckets

So these are just ridiculously cute.  I can't get enough of them.  I just keep looking at the picture and showing anyone I can find.  They really do look like popcorn!

The original idea came from Hello Cupcake!  But theirs were mini cupcakes and I didn't like the main kernel design as well; it was just a mini marshmallow without altering the top.  I'll show you later...

I made these cupcakes with a regular boxed mix cause I was very pressed for time.  But because I can hardly tolerate the store-bought mixes, I altered it slightly to make it taste more homemade.  When the boxed mix asks for water, I added soy milk instead.  When it asked for oil, I added unsalted butter.  I kept the amounts the same.  

For the "popcorn" you need a bag of white mini marshmallows and 2 bags of colorful mini marshmallows.  (Note: There were not enough yellow marshmallows in one bag of the colorful; we were only able to top 9 or 10 with the amount we had; so buy at least 2 bags if you need to do more cupcakes.)

Separate the yellows from the colorful (or you can make colorful popcorn, I guess). 

We snipped the marshmallows into 3 thin disks that kind of curled up on the edges.  That's the part that will be used for the lower part of the popcorn kernel as shown below.

Then we took the uncut 'mallows and snipped the top in an X.  I think that the x-cut promotes these cupcakes from "oh-aren't-those-neat?" to "omg!-these-are-so-freaking-adorable!"  But that's just my opinion.  :) 

We arranged the little smushy discs in 3 points and placed the main kernel in between.  Sometimes a little frosting helps it stick better. 

After we placed several "kernels" on the cupcake, I filled in the empty spaces with scraps of snipped marshmallow to give it a very full and fluffy experience.  

I downloaded a template for the popcorn bin wrappers, printed them out in color and cut them out.  This particular template is a bit short.  I would recommend enlarging it slightly before printing it out. The edges won't fit on your paper, but it's fine cause it's the back anyway. 

Now as far as how they taste?  I couldn't tell you but the kids seemed to enjoy them, but then again, they also love eating the little marshmallow straight out of the bag.  

I highly recommend this design for an easy cupcake topper.

Rubber Ducky, You're the One . . .

We went to a little baby shower today.  I brought the cupcakes since I'm always looking for an excuse to make some.  

I love polka dots, anytime, anywhere.  Except on my clothes . . . and maybe not in my house decor . . . but everywhere else.  Like in cupcake wrappers and wallets and little girl skirts and socks and hair bands and balloons and napkins . . .

I cut out a bunch of little m's the day before so they could dry but the next morning they were still pliable.  So I heated the oven for a couple of minutes (maybe 4-5 minutes) then turned it off and stuck the m's inside with the oven light on.  At first they looked like they were getting softer but after I took them out they hardened pretty quickly.  

M for Baby Miles.  

I added mini chocolate chips to the vanilla-bean cupcakes.  Yum.

These ducks were pretty easy to make.  I swiped the idea from the another website.  Click here to see the original.  I didn't follow her directions for making them; I just liked the ducky idea.  She uses frosting and food coloring for the eyes and beak.  I just used my Food Writer pens.  Seems much easier.  

I was very pleased with these.  So fun to make!  And so cute!

I love the pearls.  They add such a nice touch.  

The only cupcake left.  

Since I made 32 cupcakes we had quite a few left over after the party.  We were at a park so I went around handing out cupcakes to random kids.  The other ladies in our party thought that was hilarious and outrageous that these kids were accepting cupcakes from some strange cupcake lady.  Now, just to be clear, I always asked the parents if they wanted their child to have a cupcake.  Not a single parent said no.  I had a couple of kids who said "no thanks" but then their parents would encourage them to eat one.  "Come one, honey.  Are you sure?  Did you see what they looked like?"  

That just cracked me up.  I think I would have probably declined a stranger offering home-baked goods which makes it so much funnier to me.  I guess I look safe.  

Garden Variety

We had a couple of my son's classmates over for lunch yesterday.  I thought they'd have fun playing with fondant.  As you can see from above, they did some adorable stuff.  

The cake was Trader Joe's Vanilla bean.  And because I only had 4 T of butter in the house, I softened it and mixed it with a bunch of powdered sugar and a can of marshmallow creme.  Don't ask me why I had marshmallow creme; I'm not entirely sure.  But now I don't have it so it's just as well.  It was tasty frosting but since I over-heated the butter it was a little too soft.  Very sticky.  But very yummy.  

So next time you feel that marshmallow creme is unhealthy, try adding butter and sugar to it, then the original won't seem so bad.

We had 3 moms, 3 girls and 1 boy working on these.  The two younger boys preferred to play outside.  2 of the girls did a great job.  My 4-year-old, however, kneaded that fondant until it was as soft as peanut butter.  Then she decided she needed to eat it since it was too soft.  Oh boy!

This cupcake is a combined effort.  Andrea made the sweet pea, Kadence made the strawberry base, Liz made the strawberry top, and I dotted the berry with a food writer.

The original plan was to make ladybugs but then I tried to make a caterpillar that ended up looking like peas.  So then we made peas and strawberries and even a radish and some lettuce.  They're so cute!  

Of course, I wouldn't let them eat them until I had snapped up some pictures.  

Maci decorated her own, full of "peas" and one strawberry.

These were super fun to make.  I just know I'm going to have to make more this summer.  They're so easy too!  Maybe I can make a 4th of July variety with fondant blueberries.  Nah, I'd rather use real blueberries. But I love the radish idea and sweet pea, maybe even some carrots.  Oh my goodness, I want to make some more today!