Pokemon Cookies used as Cupcake Toppers (Royal Icing)

One more fun cookie project made! As you most know that I work with a charity that brings birthday's to homeless kids staying in shelters. Please check out Birthday Dreams (they can use all donations). I had a request for an 9 y/o little girl wanting a Pokemon Theme. I've done a few Pokemon themes before for them so I thought I would try to do something different. I'm really loving royal icing and how the cookies make the perfect toppers.

  
What you Need:

Sugar Cookies cut into circles

Royal Icing in yellow, red white and blacj(recipe below)

AmeriColor Gel Food Coloring yellow, red and black (to dye Icing - This is my fav brand)

Food Pen in black and red

I used the dipping method with my royal icing. I started to do the dipping method about 6 months ago to speed up my decorating time. You can pipe each cookie which is a little cleaner but I find the dipping method to be the best. You get your royal icing to the outline consistency and put into a pie dish (I find this is not too deep). Once you dip the top of the cookie you tap off the extra icing and then you let dry! Once dry you can add your details.

For Pikachu I dipped in the yellow royal icing. When that was dry I took the food pens and drew on different Pikachu face's. I started with red cheeks using a red food pen (little circles toward the bottom of cookie). I than took a black food pen to draw on the eye's, nose, mouth and tongue (on a few). For the ones I added a tongue I used a red food been to color it in. for the open eyes I used white royal icing it add a dot like a twinkle in Pikachu's eye.  I'm no artist and was very worried about how they would turn out.

For the Pokemon balls I had to use the piping method. I started with white and made a half circle. I then piped on red for the other half of the circle. When that was dry I took black in a pipping back and drew a line between the red and white halves. I then added a black circle in the middle. After that dried I added a white circle in the middle of the black circle. I did this last part right before I left so when I put lid on some of the white came off (make sure you do this with time for it to dry!!). I let those dry before moving or adding to the cupcakes.

Once the cookies had dried I then added them to the top of frosted cupcakes. I'm obsessed with royal icing and love the way they come out. This way the kid not only gets a cupcake but a cookie, best of both worlds.
 

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INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3.	Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Julie Usher, she has 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

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.

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.

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. 

In Party Mode ...

Sorry I am MIA again, between work being crazy busy it's Cole's 11th Birthday party. And those who know me know I'm a little nutty about themes and parties. So I'm in planning over drive right now.  Here is what we have going on so far for the Pokemon Party next weekend.

A big Happy Birthday to Cole!  I can't believe you are already 11 years old! You're becoming an amazing young man!

Projects going on :

Have a GREAT weekend!

Birthday Dreams ... Pokemon Themed Cupcakes

The next themed I signed up for Birthday Dreams (Bringing Birthday's to Homeless kids) was a Pokemon party.  I did some googling and found some ideas I ran with from 1st Birthday Cakes and New Party Ideas.  From there I just kind of made it my own using candy clay to make the toppers.  

What you Need:

Candy Clay (White, Red, Yellow and Black)

Black Piping Gel

Cupcakes

Frosting

Frost your cupcakes and then get to work on your candy clay.  Since I make cupcakes once a week for this charity I have a stock on candy clay in my fridge.  I did make some new to make these ones.

Candy clay is so easy to make and it holds it shape unlike the fondant I use to make cupcake toppers.

Candy Clay

12oz Candy Melts (In Red, Yellow, Black and White)

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 Pokeball:

Need:

White Candy Clay

Black Candy Clay

Red Candy Clay

Black Pipping Gel

Frosted Cupcakes

Circle Cutter

Small Circle Cutter (or a pipping tip like I did)

Knife

Roll out the red candy clay (with a little powder sugar), take a circle cutter and make red circles.  Then roll white candy clay (with a little powder sugar), take a circle cutter and make white circles. Take a knife and cut your circles in half.  Put a white and red half together by pushing them together.  Then take a small circle cutter to make white circles for the middle. I used a little black pipping gel to out line the small circle and the outline where the white and red meet.  Add to a frosted cupcake!

For Pikachu:

Need:

Yellow Candy Clay

Black Candy Clay

Red Candy Clay

Black Pipping Gel

Frosted Cupcakes

Circle Cutter

I rolled out my yellow candy clay (using a little powder sugar). I took my circle cutter to make the face.  for the ears I took a small amount of yellow and formed ear shapes.  I rolled out little balls in red for the cheeks. I added the ears with a little water and then with a little water to the back of the red balls I added the cheeks. I pushed them down to flatten them out.  Doing the same with black to make eyes and a nose.  For the mouth I tried a few different method's like a candy marker, or making it with black candy clay and then finally decided on using my Wilton pipping gel in black. Add to a frosted cupcake!

They turned out pretty darn cool if I must say so:

I picked up these awesome cupcake trays on Amazon.

So much better then the boxes I've been delivering in.

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

Birthday Dreams ... Spiderman Cupcakes

As many of you who follow me know about a charity close to my heart that I love to help out by making kids.  Birthday Dreams brings homeless kids birthday parties.  The next on my list was a Spiderman party for a 6 year old boy.  I found some ideas on The Cupcake Blog and Something Sweet Cakery Blogspot but they were just pictures so I had to wing it. I've added my steps so you can see what I did.  I also added a few web designs to make it fun.

When I delivered the cake the mom was the nicest person I've ever meet.  Usually I just kind of hand the cake and move on.  This lady invited me and was just so appreciative of the party for her son.  It makes it all worth it.

I went on search for Spiderman ideas and came across a spiderman eye cookie cutter on Ebay.  I love how they came out and pretty darn easy!  Using candy clay these came out pretty darn cool if I must say so.

What you Need:

Candy Clay (Blue, Red, White and Black)

Black Piping Gel

Cupcakes

Frosting

Frost your cupcakes and then get to work on your candy clay.  Since I make cupcakes once a week for this charity I have a stock on candy clay in my fridge.  I did make some new to make these ones.

Candy Clay

12oz Candy Melts (In Red, Blue, Black and White)

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 Spiders:

Small Circle Cutter

Medium Circle Cutter

Large Circle Cutter

Black Pipping Gel

Cut a blue circle with your large circle cutter.  Cut a small and medium black circle.  I formed them into a spider body closer to a oval shape.  I added my spider body to the blue circle and then pipped on the legs and arms of the spider.  I added this topper to the frosted cupcake.

For Spiderman Eyes:

Spiderman Eye Cookie Cutter

Large Circle Cutter

Cut a red circle with your large circle cutter. Using your cookie cutter cut the outside of the eye in black candy clay and then white candy clay for the inside of the mask.  You can add a little water to make it stick to the red circle.

I have a few more to show this week. I'm not scheduled for another cake for a week or so which is good since my kitchen is under remodel and I currently don't have a stove ... lol

I love how they came out:

That same week I did a pokemon party (that will come tomorrows post)

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

On Board the week .... Cupcakes to do

I signed up for not one but two cakes this week for Birthday Dreams.  I know I tend to take on too much, and don't tell my husband .. lol.  I just can't help myself I hate to think a kid would not have a cake for their birthday or a store bought one when they could have a homemade cake that was made especially for them.

I signed up for a Spiderman Cake for a little boy age 6.  Then I saw a need for a Pokemon Cake for a 11 year old boy.  I love to do cupcakes since they are easy to serve and easy for me to make :).

So here is what is on my list for delivery Friday:

I found an idea for Spiderman Cupcakes on Something Sweet.

The cupcake Blog also had this option a little more 3D.

Then for the Pokemon I found this idea on Birthday Cakes.

Wish me luck! I plan to use candy clay to make the toppers!