Grape Vine & Wine Bottle Cupcake Toppers (Modeling Chocolate)

Yesterday I showed you the Wine Glass Cake my friend and I made for my mom's surprise 60th birthday party. Today I will post the cupcakes made for the party! I found a few ideas on Pinterest and then made my own creations.  I started with an idea for Grape Vine Cupcakes on Ifood.tv.

What you Need:

White Modeling Chocolate

Green Modeling Chocolate

Purple Modeling Chocolate

Circle Cutter

Leaf Silicone Mold

I rolled out the white modeling chocolate (recipe below) and cut out circle's using a cookie cutter. I made little balls from the purple modeling chocolate (to be the grapes). My friend had a leaf silicone mold so I used that with the green modeling chocolate. Attach the grapes in a cluster and the leaves on top with a little water to your white circle (I used a fancy one but a simple circle would work also). Let these harden and then you can put on top of your frosted cupcake.

Wine Bottle Cupcakes

What you Need:

White Modeling Chocolate

Purple Modeling Chocolate

Wine Bottle Silicone Mold (Found mine on Amazon)

Black food Coloring

Vodka (it will evaporate but the black will stay)

Paint Brush

I used the purple modeling chocolate into the wine mold to form wine bottles. I put in the freezer to hard quickly and they come out easy that way. We then took some white modeling chocolate to make the labels on the wine bottles. My friend used a trick with small amount of vodka and then added some black food coloring to it. She dipped her paint brush into and wrote the 60 onto each label. Once dry the Vodka evaporates and the black is only left. We then put on the top of a frosted cupcake.

For those who haven't seen my post about Modeling Chocolate:

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).

Here is the cake and cupcake table:

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

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 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cupcakes

As some of you that follow me know that I love a charity called Birthday Dreams, they bring birthday's to homeless kids.  I love to bake cakes (or cupcakes for them) and I'm trying to get the word out about them.  If you don't live in the Washington area a cash donation would go a long way.  

I signed up for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party for a 6 year old at one of the rescue missions close to home.  I went on the search and goggled some ideas. I found several different cakes but I thought cupcakes would be the easier way to go. I then went on the search for a TMNT cookie cutter. I found one Ebay that was perfect, I ordered the 2 inch and the 3.5 inch.  I ended up using the 2 inch, the ONLY bad part was when I tried to cute out the mask part it was too small and didn't pop out right so I made them my own and molded them to the way I wanted and made eye holes.

My first act was to make the TMNT characters. Now usually I use my Rolled Buttercream Fondant for making characters.  But I saw a Blog Hop post for Candy Clay on Pint Sized Baker. I must admit that I had my doubt's while making this candy clay.  When I first mixed it up it was oily and not holding up and few hours later it was still not like I thought it would be.  Thankfully OVER-NIGHT and it was ready to go! Phew!!

Ingredients:

1 bag (12oz) Candy Melts (In Color you need - I use Wilton Brand)

1/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup

Dump bag of candy melts into microwave safe bowl.  Melt in microwave, my takes 1 min 30 seconds to melt. BECAREFUL not to burn, YES I've done it before and posted my disaster mess.  Once melts are melted stir in corn syrup.  I will start to form a ball (it will be greasy). Wrap in plastic wrap, press down to make it flat.  Let the candy clay sit for a few hours, mine took until overnight. In the morning it was hard and ready to go.  I found a little bit of powdered sugar on my work service made it not stick also made it easy to roll out.  I am now IN LOVE with technique and will be using from now on.

Karyn from Pint Sized Baker had a suggestion of Oil Candy Color if you need a more vibrant color.  I find Candy Melts come in almost every color you could need, but the white with a color could always be done.

Next on my list to make was the cupcakes, chocolate was requested.  I found this Super Easy Chocolate Cupcake Recipe on All Recipes.

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup shortening 1 2/3 cups white sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules 1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups water

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with 18 paper baking cups.
2.	In a medium bowl, beat the shortening and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla, instant coffee and cayenne pepper. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter, alternating with the water, just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
3.	Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost as desired.

Last thing to do was to make the cupcakes come together.  After the cupcakes had cooled, I frosted them with my go to Sturdy Buttercream frosting.  Then I topped with my TMNT Characters.

Need:

Cupcakes

Frosting

TMNT Cookie Cutter (2 inch fit the best of cupcakes)

Candy Clay - Green

Candy Clay - Orange

Candy Clay - Blue

Candy Clay - Purple

After Candy Clay has set up (mine took overnight), roll it out a little powdered sugar helps the sticking.  I found after you unwrap the clay you have to mold it into a ball then roll it out for best use.  Take the face cookie cutter to cut out the faces, I made 24 of them one for each headache.  NOW I tried to use the mask cutter but it was so small that the mask wouldn't pop out right. So I made my own mask by rolling out a small rectangle.  I form one end to look like a mask flapping int he wind.  I took a pick and made eye holes.  I took the mouth cutter to make the mouth's on each face.  The Candy Clay held up so great better than any fondant I've used.  They went on top of the cupcakes perfectly!  Did I say how much I love this technique.

All Boxed up and ready to go:

Thanks for stopping by

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