Graduation Cap Cookies ... Royal Icing

I've been loving those cookie YouTube video's on FB where the girl does the royal icing in time warp. They are beautiful, and I've always wanted to try! A friend from the gym asked if I could make some graduation cap cookies.  I thought this is my time to try out royal icing! NOW this was a big day for her daughter so I didn't want to mess them up OR not have anything for her! I called my best decorating gal and headed to her house with my baked cookies.

I did a Google search to find the best Royal Icing recipe and I found Julie Usher, she had a GREAT YouTube video on how to make, color and make consistency adjustments. 

Royal Icing what you need:

2 lbs Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

5 Large Egg Whites (or equivalent) 

Flavor to Taste

Gel Icing Color

Mix powder sugar and cream of tartar in your mixer, just to make sure it is incorporated in. Slowly add egg whites, then whip start of slow then go to very high speed. She says around 2 minutes, my friend had an older mixer so it took almost 10 minutes. You want stiff peaks that hold on and won't fall off the spoon. Add in your flavor, I would suggest you use a clear flavoring.  This would be the glue texture great for ginger bread houses etc.

Take 1 cup of royal icing in a smaller bowl then add your coloring, lightly mix so you don't get air into the the icing. I'm like her and like the gel coloring. 

For Top Coating - Add 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tsp Water (This is if you don't want to outline and flood)

For Outlining - Add 1/2 to 3/4 tsp Water

For Flooding  - Add 2 to 3 tsp Water

We decided on the outline and then the flooding. This way you make a clean line for the outline then fill in the outline middle with the flooding. WATCH her video on How to Top-Coat, Outline, and Flood Cookies. YES it is around 7 minutes BUT if you have never done this technique it's a MUST she explains it perfectly.

We outlined with dark blue (using AmeriColor Royal Blue Soft Gel Food Color). My friend had a steady hand so she did the outling. I did the flooding. I must say it was easier then I thought. We then outlined with black (using AmeriColor Black Soft Gel Food Color). The one thing I have learned about black is it goes from grey to black. NOW I should have let it rest and turn black our's turned a bit grey in the meantime. 

It was a bit time consuming and I know why people charge like $1.50 to $2 each cookie. They turned out so cool and I have another graduation to go to in 2 weeks that I wanted to make cookies for her gift.

A BIG thanks to my friend for always helping me with my adventures in new baking techniques. 

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Pokemon Party ... Pikachu Candy Clay Topper

And to top the cupcake's why not add a Pikachu! I thought this would be a fun way to add a little more to the themed party. I found tons of cool ideas, but of course when I got time to make these it was the morning of the party! So it was a make it or break it moment, and it was a super easy but cute topper!

What You Need:

Candy Clay - Yellow

Candy Clay - Red

Black Edible Marker

Circle Cookie Cutter (Extra Small & Large)

MAKE CANDY CLAY:
For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay) all pictured but the orange.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

MAKE TOPPERS:

Roll out your yellow candy clay (I had some pre-made in the fridge). Rolled it out (using a little powder sugar) and used my circle cutter. When I had enough circles I took a black edible marker and drew on my face and ears. To make them a little 3D I took some red candy clay and used my extra small circle cutter to make cheeks. I put it on top of the frosted cupcakes with the cupcake wrappers.

Pikachu in a Bag ready to go! Easy to carry and take home or to the party!

Table set up at the Bowling Alley

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Pokemon Party ... Pikachu Cupcake Wrappers

And this week we wrap this Pokemon Party! It really didn't seem that much was done but when I blog about it sure is a lot! This last one was another super easy one! I saw on several pinterest pin's these cupcake wrappers. I thought this would be a perfect way to go with my theme AND even though I was told outside food to the bowling alley I COULD bring cake!

I did a search on Ebay and came across this digital download for Pokemon Pikachu Cupcake Wrappers. NOW I waited a little late for these (uh hum .. the night before). Thankfully even when I downloaded like 9pm I received the digital download within 20 minutes.

What You Need:

Cupcakes 

Frosting (I used my Sturdy Buttercream)

Yellow Heavy Card Stock

Scissors

Tape

Thankfully I had Cole and he is old enough to cut things out straight as could be. I baked my cupcakes, I waited to frost them until I put the wrappers on. After all the wrappers were cut, we attached them to the cupcakes. I wrapped the wrapper around the un-frosted cupcakes and attached with a little tape, make sure snug so they stay when transporting them. Once the wrapper was attached I frosted with yellow tinted Buttercream.  Since we had to drive them I did my trick of putting in a clear cup and wrapped in a clear bag and tied with a bow.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Pokemon Ball (Oreo) Cookie Cupcakes

For Cole's class I wanted to bring some fun treats.  Cole's school has been very sweet and has allowed me to bring baked goods (usually they only allow store bought). I found several ideas on Pinterest to make Pokemon Ball's using Oreo Cookies.

What you Need:

Oreo Cookies

Red Wilton Melts

Black Wilton Melts

White Wilton Melts

Frosted Cupcakes

Clear Cups (Optional)

Clear Bags (Optional)

Ribbon (Optional)

I made a batch of simple white cupcakes and then tinted a batch of my sturdy buttercream with Super Red AmeriColor Food Color. 

Then I started to make the Pokemon ball cookies. I first melted the red Wilton melts in the microwave. I melt mine in my pampered chef glass bowl for 2 minutes. I then dipped each Oreo cookie into the red melt (only dip half the cookie). Let the red dry, you can put in the fridge to help dry. Then I melted white Wilton melts in the microwave (same process) and then dipped each Oreo in the the white melt (only dip half the cookie). When the white dries you can then add the black line and circle of the Pokemon Ball. Now this is the 2nd time I've tried to melt the black and do perfect lines. YUP not so perfect, I'm still working on this part, if you know a better way let me know. I melted the black into a Wilton squeeze bottle and made the lines (I've also tried piping bags etc).

Since I was taking these to school I wanted a easy way to transport and hand out to the kids. I found this trick a few years back on Pinterest. Putting cupcakes into a clear cup and then put a clear bag and tie with ribbon. This is perfect for parties. I find the clear cups at the Dollar Tree 25 pack for $1 and then the clear bags also at Dollar Tree 25 pack for $1. I tie with ribbon also from the Dollar Tree a spool also $1.

Have a Great Day!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Olaf Cupcakes (Made with Modeling Chocolate)

As most of you know I make cakes/cupcakes for a nonprofit that brings birthday's to homeless kids. Birthday Dreams is an amazing charity (they have a live auction going on now also to raise money).  I've done a Olaf Cake (click to see) for them so when I signed up for another one I went for cupcake decoration instead. I found inspiration on Pinterest of these Olaf's no person to give a shout out too. Her mouth's turned out so much better than mine, still working on that one!

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes

White Modeling Chocolate

Orange Modeling Chocolate

Black Modeling Chocolate

Candy Eyes

Circle cutter or fancy cutter

Small Circle Cutter for mouth

Small square Cutter for tooth

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay) all pictured but the orange.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

Roll out modeling chocolate in white for the heads, cut out the rounds.  For the nose I took the orange modeling chocolate and formed a nose shape. The mouth I made a round circle and took a square to make a tooth spot. The white I took a square to form a tooth. I use Wilton candy eyes and took a small piece of the black to make eyebrows. 

Have a GREAT day!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

March Madness ... Basketball Oreo Cookie Cupcakes

Cole played basketball at the YMCA and we just wrapped their season. We had an award ceremony with a potluck meal. I thought it would be fun to bring cupcakes for the kids.   I saw these Basketball Oreo Cookies on The Domestic Rebel. I knew they would look perfect on top of a cupcake!  I love serving cupcakes in a clear cup that is wrapped in a clear bag with ribbon. It's perfect for parties so people can take them home away with them.

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes

Oreo's

Orange Candy Melts

Chocolate Chips

Plastic Cup (Optional)

Clear Plastic Bag (Optional)

Ribbon (Optional)

Bake and frost your cupcakes.  Melt your orange candy melts, I put mine in my glass pampered chef bowl and place in microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds. I stir the melts to make them smooth then place an Oreo in the candy melts. Using my slotted spoon I take the Oreo covered on to some parchment paper to dry.  Once dry I melted some chocolate chips in a pipping bag. I then pipped the lines to look like a basketball on top of the dipped Oreo.

You can serve this way or you can place on top of a frosted cupcake like I did. Now I like to serve cupcakes in a easy transportable way. I do this for a lot of parties so ppl can take cupcakes home. I place the done cupcake in a clear cup (12 pk dollar tree $1) then take a clear bag (25 pk dollar tree $1) and put the cup/cupcake into it.  I tie with a ribbon (Roll Dollar tree $1). BAM done!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Spiderman Cupcakes for Birthday Dreams

Next on my cupcakes list to do for Birthday Dreams (bringing cupcakes to homeless kids) was for Spiderman cake .. WELL what I wrote down was Spiderman what it was suppose to be was Batman.  I felt like such a boob, so have to much on my plate ... ugh.

What you Need:

Cupcakes

Frosting

Spider Cookie Cutter (I bought mine at Halloween from Michael's)

Spiderman cookie Cutter (I bought mine on Ebay)

Black Modeling Chocolate

Red Modeling Chocolate

White Modeling Chocolate

I found a recipe for Moist Chocolate Cupcakes on Food.com and made them, they smelled so good! This was a great easy and yummy recipe!

While the cupcakes were cooling, I found a recipe for Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on Good Cheap Eats. Another super easy and yummy frosting, I found it a little thick so I added extra heavy cream to make it easier to pipe onto the cupcakes.

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay) all pictured but the orange.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

For the Eyes I cut a small red circle from the candy clay.  I then took the inner eye and made white eyes that I attached to the red.

For the spider's I used a spider cookie cutter to cut out black spiders.

I attached the Spiderman Eyes and Spiders to the top of a frosted cupcake.

I box them up in the great clear cupcake boxes I picked up on Amazon.

And deliver them to the shelter.

Have a great week!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Princess Cupcakes ... Wands and Crowns

Also on my to do list I signed up for before I became very sick was Princess Cupcakes. I just love helping Birthday Dreams bringing birthday's to homeless kids, so I couldn't disappoint I had to make the cupcakes I signed up for.  So sorry no detailed pictures just the after picture of them going out the door.

What you need:

Frosted Cupcakes (I tinted my Sturdy Buttercream with Electric Pink AmeriColor)

Decorating Pearls

White Modeling Chocolate

Wilton Jumbo Pink Decorating Hearts

Small Decorating Hearts

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay).

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and THEN add the corn syrup (make sure all the lumps are smoothed out).  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

For the Wands I made strips of white modeling chocolate, then added a large pink heart at the tip. For the crowns I made square's from the modeling chocolate then took the top of a shoot star cookie cutter to cut out the top of the crown (you can do this with a knife also).  I added a small heart on the front of the crown. Frost your cupcakes then decorate with the pearls and top with a crown or a wand.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Rock Star Cupcakes ... Microphones and Star (Modeling Chocolate)

The last 3 weeks I have been so sick ... yuck.  But of course I had previously signed up for cupcakes for the charity I work for Birthday Dreams (bringing birthday parties to homeless kids). So my cupcakes were not as beautiful as I usually would do, medicine head really can put you in a fog.  I signed up for a rock star themed cake, I had an idea to do mini microphones using mini cupcake cones. WELL during the winter finding those is IMPOSSIBLE! So I switched to making my own with Modeling Chocolate.

These were pretty easy to make and I added a few stars and done!

What you need:

White Modeling Chocolate 

Yellow  Modeling Chocolate
Wilton Licorice String
Edible Silver Dust
Frosted Cupcakes

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay).

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

For Microphones I made the white hand part out of white modeling chocolate and then dusted with edible silver dust.  I'm thinking next time a tootsie roll dusted would be easier ... lol. I took yellow modeling chocolate and made the balls for the top of the microphone. For the wire I used Wilton licorice string.  For the stars I used a cookie cutter and yellow modeling chocolate.

Have a great week!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

12th Man Cupcakes

Well the Superbowl is over, it was a great game from the screaming and yelling in my living room last night. Living in Seattle it was a huge deal we made it there 2 years in a row! Me not being a football girl and a non bandwagon hopper it wasn't a big thing for me. BUT, the charity I work for Birthday Dreams had a 15 y/o homeless girl having a Seahawks themed party.  I made the 12th man treats for Cole's class on Friday and thought I could do that on top of a cupcake also!

WELL my first idea was to make a 12 and do the M&M cake (I made previously for this charity) done in the Seahawk colors!  BUT my order of M&Ms from Amazon arrived an hour before the game which of course was hours after the cake was due.  So I went to plan B Sunday AM.  I got up super early and made the treats and then cupcakes!

What you need:

Candy Melts - Dark Blue

Candy Melts - Green

Candy Melts - White

Vanilla Wafers - I used Minis

Food Writer Black

Rice Krispy Treats
Cupcakes (Chocolate Cupcakes were requested)
Frosting (I used my Sturdy Buttercream)

I used the mini wafers again since they needed to fit on cupcakes. I made a double batch of rice krispy treats,I cut them into rectangles to be the bodies. I melted my Candy Melts and dipped the treats, just about 2/3 of the treat. I used my fondant spreader to make the chocolate smooth for the shirts. I took a food writer and make the face on the mini wafers. I melted some white candy melts and made the 12 on the blue and green to be the shirts. The second time I made them I used a piping bag with my small top to write the 12 it was a lot cleaner this time. I then put a dollop of white chocolate on the un-dipped part of the treat to attach the face. I made a few Flags and square's with the 12 on it too.

I frosted my cupcakes and added the 12th men and flags to them and loaded them up into a clear cupcake containers (I bought mine on Amazon).  I love these containers they make it so easy to deliver cupcakes. They stay nice without being destroyed in the travel.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Birthday Dreams .. Elmo Cupcakes

I start the new year with a new cupcake made for my favorite charity Birthday Dreams, I signed up for a Elmo cake for a 1 year old.  I had plans to make a smash cake also but I didn't get that far.  But these cupcakes did come out pretty darn cute if I say so!  I found an idea for Elmo Cupcakes on Afternoons in the Kitchen. 

What you need:

Blue Modeling Chocolate 

Red  Modeling Chocolate 

Orange Modeling Chocolate

Black Modeling Chocolate 

Candy Eye

Large, Medium and Small Circle Cutter

For those who have not seen my previous post on how to make modeling chocolate (aka candy clay) all pictured but the orange.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

To make elmo I rolled out the blue (with a little powder sugar so it won't stick) then I used a large round cutter to make the blue circle.  For Elmo's head I rolled out red and used a medium circle cutter.  I then rolled out the black and used my small circle cutter and then cut it in half to make the mouth.  For the nose I took a small ball of orange and made a nose shape.  I was going to do modeling chocolate for the eyes but I ran out of time so I used the candy eyeballs I had on hand.  I used a little water to make the modeling chocolate stick to each other.  

Chocolate Cupcakes were requested and I topped with my favorite sturdy buttercream frosting. I boxed them up in the clear cupcake boxes I bought off Amazon and delivered them to the homeless shelter for a very special 1 year old.

Here they are ready to be delivered!


Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

After returning from my business trip I signed up for a cake for Birthday Dreams. I just love this charity Birthday Dreams (bringing birthday's to homeless kids). I of course picked a crazy busy week and almost forgot I signed up.  So I had to make a quick cupcake design.  I had a Mickey Mouse cutter from Caden's party a while back so I made these up.  Not my best but still cute!  Thank God I had a bunch of Modeling Chocolate left over so they were a breeze to put together. Recipe below if you haven't made it before.

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes (I use my Sturdy Buttercream Frosting)

Red Modeling Chocolate

Black Modeling Chocolate

Pink Modeling Chocolate
Mickey Mouse Cutter
Wilton Circle Cutter

Cut the Mickey / Minnie Mouse head out of black Modeling chocolate. I then made red and pink circles to represent Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  I used a little water to attach the black head to the circle.  I then added my toppers to frosted cupcakes.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Birthday Dreams ... SeaHawk Cupcakes

Next cupcake I signed up for was a SeaHawk's themed party.  For non football people like me the SeaHawk's is a football team here in Seattle that won the SuperBowl.  I just love this charity Birthday Dreams (bringing birthday's to homeless kids). 

Modeling Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

What you Need:

Frosted Cupcakes (I use my Sturdy Buttercream Frosting)

White Modeling Chocolate

Brown Modeling Chocolate

Black Modeling Chocolate

Blue Modeling Chocolate
Green Modeling Chocolate
Football Cutter
Circle Cutter
Number Mold

Cut a circle with a circle cutter Blue and Green.  On the Blue I added the Number 12 (Seattle Fans are known as the 12th man). On the Green I added SEA for Seattle.  I cut out brown footballs and added white for the laces.  This was on of the quickest cupcakes I've done so far.  I love that they are simple but fit perfect with the SeaHawk themes.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.