End of Year ... Graduation Cap Cupcakes

Next on our graduation list to make was for another grad, sadly I did not make it to the party in time so my bestie got a ton of cupcakes to eat with her family ... lol.

What you need:

Mini Rolo's

Mini Ghirardelli squares

Red Hots

Twizzlers

Frosting

Frosted Cupcake

Frost a cupcake (I use my sturdy buttercream frosting) then I top with the little graduation hat.  I took a mini rolo added a little frosting and attached the Ghirardelli square.  I found these mini Ghirardelli square's at Walmart, they were the perfect size!  For the top I added a little more frosting to attach some Twizzlers I cut and topped with a red hot.

Super Easy and they look so cute!

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

End of School Year ... Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

We had a graduation party to attend this weekend for my friends son who I've known since he was a baby!  Let's just say I was the noisy neighbor that use to throw crazy parties late at night.  And here I am married with kids of my own, going to bed early instead of having cocktails.  I wanted to bring something fun to the party I found flourless chocolate cake graduation caps on Hungry Happenings.  They are delicious!!  MOST people probably could ONLY eat a bite or two since they are so rich. ME on the other hand with my addiction to all things sugar probably could eat everyone and stuff myself full!!

What you need:

Flourless Chocolate Cake (See Recipe Below)

18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped* (I used Chocolate Chips)

2 sticks of butter (1/2 lb.), cut into small cubes (I just threw it in)

8 large eggs
a small amount of butter to coat the molds

ALEXIS NOTES: I used Cake Release but found that butter worked better! I bought my mold on Amazon (Freshware 15-Cavity Mini Half Sphere Silicone Mold and Baking Pan).

Cake Directions:

Preheat oven and a roasting pan filled with enough water to go halfway up the sides of the silicone mold, at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. NOTE: You will want to bake your cakes in a water bath so that they will bake evenly and be creamy and smooth. ( I used the roasting pan like she suggested, let the pan with the water get warm in the oven then add the silicone pan). I also did 6 cakes at a time.

Place chopped chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl. (I did mine for 2 minutes she did her's in 30 second intervals). I whisk eggs in a mixing bowl with a hand held mixer on medium high until the eggs double in volume. You'll want the chocolate to be warm at this point, so make sure it is warm to the touch. Stir one third of the eggs into the melted chocolate to loosen the chocolate. Fold in the remaining eggs.

Butter your silicone molds. Equally divide batter among 18 half sphere silicone mold cavities, (I found one batch made only 12 cakes for me). Bake for 10-14 minutes until the cakes still looks moist but are set. Insert a digital thermometer into a cake, (my oven must have been off I found mine became a gooey mess if I didn't bake for 35 minutes). Once the cakes reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit, remove them from the oven and set on a cooling rack. Using a thermometer is the best way to tell if your cakes are done (I didn't have one this could have been my problem). Don't overcook them, or they will become dry. 

Bake these in batches, just be sure the water doesn't evaporate too much. If it does, just add more water to the roasting pan and allow it to heat up for a few minutes. Allow cakes to cool completely. Un-mold by turning silicone mold upside down and pressing the cakes out while turning the mold inside out. Keep refrigerated until ready to decorate. 

Chocolate Directions:

Turn a rimmed baking sheet upside down and set a piece of parchment paper on top. Spread half of the chocolate into a thin layer on the parchment paper. Set it in the refrigerator for about 3 minutes, just until it looses it's shine but isn't completely set. It needs to be soft enough to cut through. Cut into 3" squares using a straight edge and a pizza wheel or knife. She used a 3" wide piece of Plexiglas that to cut her chocolate barks into squares, I eyeballed it, her's turned out better (next time).  Refrigerate the chocolate until set about 10 minutes.  

Reserve a small amount of melted chocolate to attach the tassels to the caps, and repeat with remaining chocolate.  (I just made a huge batch with my chocolate and used frosting to attach the cake and cap).  

Decorating Directions:

She used a clay extruder to make the edible tassels, I used red Twizzlers (I was in a hurry and Rick would have KILLED me if I bought another tool for baking). I used a red hot for the button and some red frosting to attach the Twizzlers and Red Hot on top of the chocolate.

ALEXIS NOTES: This took a little time but I think they turned out great.  I've NEVER made a flourless cake before so it took a little time to get it right.  My oven took 35 minutes to cook, I then put in the freezer for a few minutes before letting sit on the counter and popping out of the silicone mold. I found the chocolate melts worked best to make the capes using my NEW 13 Inch Angled Spatula and pizza cutter.  I wish I had 2" plastic that she used to make them perfect but I know for next time.  I used Twizzlers instead of the extruder she used, Rick is already on me with buying new stuff for my baking so I went with what was easy and I had on hand.

A little work but as Cole said they were a hit!

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

Busy Weekend Ahead of me ...

I did it again over extended myself ... ugh!  We have 2 birthday parties to attend, 1 graduation party. PLUS I have to get all of Caden's invites out for his party and oh yeah I volunteered to make ANOTHER cake for the homeless kids party and I volunteered to help at field day!

My Plans:

I got the invites done

(WELL enough for the class at least

I gave up at midnight last night)

The Cake I'm doing for the homeless charity

Olaf - Well I'm going to attempt one like this

Idea found Fun Finds for Families

The Gamer Gift I'm putting together

Idea found on Bubbly Nature Creations

The Summer Gift I'm putting together

Idea found on Living Practically

The graduation mini cakes I'm making 

Have a great weekend!

Wish me luck!!

Let Them Eat Cake ... Fondant Graduation Cap Cupcakes

Yesterday I showed you the graduation cap cakes I made, today I wanted to show the cupcakes I made.  I wanted to make the cupcakes have the same theme as the cakes.  I was so excited when I came across Glorious Treats and a tutorial on how to make fondant graduation caps.  Here step by step photos are excellent and I must say the cupcakes came out amazing, the looked like a million bucks if I must say so myself!!

I also made a few with the year on them.

What you need:

Fondant (I used my Rolled Buttercream Fondant)

Ruler or Cutter

Wilton Color Icing (if you need to color fondant)

Fondant Cut & Roll Mat

Wilton Letter / Numbers (if you want to add)

Baked Cupcakes

Frosting (I used my Sturdy Buttercream frosting)

Here are the wonderful steps that Glorious Treats did up:

1.  Color your fondant as desired

2.  Roll out the color of fondant you plan to use for the hat.

3. Cut fondant into strips about 3/4 inches wide and 3 3/4 inches long.

4.  Roll up a strip of fondant to create a ring (overlapping slightly).  Use a teeny, tiny bit of water or corn syrup to help the ends stay together.  Set aside to dry.

6.  Cut a square (for the top of the hat) about 1 3/4 inches x 1 3/4 inches.

7.  Allow hat bases (the rings) and tops (squares) to dry for several hours or overnight.  They should be totally firm before moving to the next step.

8.  When the pieces have dried, use a tiny bit of “edible glue”- made with a few tablespoons of powdered sugar and a tiny bit of water (it should be the thickness of toothpaste) and apply with a (clean) paintbrush along the top edge of one ring.  Set the top of the hat (a fondant square) on top, and set aside to dry.

9.  Once the top of the hat has been secured to the base of the hat, make a tassel.  For the tassels, simply roll a tiny piece of fondant into a little “snake”.  I used my finger to press down one end just a bit, then used a knife to create just a bit of texture to represent the individual strings at the end of a tassel.

10.  Add just a drop of your ”edible glue” to the center of the hat, and attach the tassel.  Bend tassel over the side of the cap just a bit.  Set aside to dry (at least 1 hour).  Add toppers to cupcakes right before serving (up to a few hours before).   Fondant decorations added more than a few hours before serving will begin to get soft and lose their shape.

ALEXIS NOTES:  I used water as my glue. I also used my wilton roll and cut mat to make the lines even and my squares (I would suggest getting one).  I added them to the cupcakes right before I left for delivery so they would hold up.  I also found mine must have been on the thick side so they took a little longer to dry.   I made the fondant a few days early and kept in a air tight container in the fridge.  I did not make enough of the white so I had to make a few of them the night before and they didn't have enough time to harden up and were a little on the soft side, so I say you MUST let them sit for a day before assembling.

For those like me that need step by step:

What you need:

My Helper had to have his picture taken too!

These were a little bit of time to make but if you do it in stages it will help it go faster.  I made two version's for each girl who graduated college.  I made the little caps look exactly like the big caps.

Hope you give these a try they would be perfect to make for a classroom or a graduation party.  I had full intention of making a batch for Cole's class but just ran out of time last week.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

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

Let Them Eat Cake ... Graduation Cap Cakes

If you follow me here or on Facebook you will know I've been on a mission.  My friend asked if I would make a cake for her daughter and niece who were graduating college.    She was so funny she said I was thinking a sheet cake lol I told her what I was thinking.  2 graduation cap cakes and then 70 or so cupcakes decorated in a graduating theme.  They were expecting around 75 people, figured the girls may not want to cut into cake and share ... lol.

So on the mission I went to find a tutorial on making a graduation cap.  Well I found many pictures but no step by step.  Now I saw MANY beautiful graduation cap cakes but all were from professional sites that they wanted you to buy. So I just figured I'd wing it.  

Here is what I came up with.  

I made 3 total cakes! 

1 for Each Girl and then 1 trial cake I made for Caden:

PLU Cake (College Color's were Black & Gold)

Seattle University Cake (College Color's White & Scarlet)

Here was my first attempt that I made for Caden's Class

His School Colors are Black & Red

What you need:

• 2 baked round cakes (I used 10")
• Buttercream frosting (for middle and dirty icing)
• Fondant
• Wood dowels 
• Wilton Icing Colors (In school Colors)
• Silicone molds Numbers / Letters
• Fondant Mat
• Cake board (round)
• Cake board (square)
• Cake release
• Rolling pin or fondant roller
• Fondant Cutter / Pizza Cutter

Before I started this project I researched the school colors and what I would need and bought most of the items off Amazon.  I did make a test one that I gave to Caden's graduating Kindergarten Class.  I found PLU was Black and Gold.  Black Wilton Icing Color I bought at Walmart (I say you must use Icing Color's instead of food coloring, $1.57 at Walmart for a mini jar).  For the Gold I went to the Wilton icing color chart and found that for a antique gold you need add just an extremely small touch of Leaf Green to Golden Yellow (Both of these I found at Michael's).  I MUST say Gold is a pain the butt to make it just right.  For Seattle University I found their colors to White and Scarlett.  White was easy I just kept the fondant it's normal color (make SURE you use CLEAR vanilla extract found at most craft stores or Amazon). For Scarlet back to Wilton icing color chart to find Maroon (the closest match) you need Burgundy and Red Red.  I have Red Red that I picked up at Walmart, the Burgundy was a tougher one to find here so I ordered on Amazon.

I also ordered on Amazon (since they were half the price as the stores here) Wilton Roll and Cut Mat and Wilton Fondant Silicone Mold Numbers and Letters.  I picked up some 10" cake round pans also.

I started with my favorite homemade yellow cake mix.  NOW make sure you use Wilton cake release, this can be bought at Micheal's or even Walmart. It will make sure your cake comes out nice. Believe me I had to throw out 2 cakes that didn't come out, in pieces was my heart and the cakes. Let the cakes cool before you do any thing.  While the cakes cooled I whipped up a few batches of my favorite Sturdy Buttercream frosting.  I used a Wilton circle cake board, put a dollop of frosting on the board.  I then put one of the cooled cake rounds on the board the dollop of frosting is like the glue to hold in place. I then added frosting to the top to be the middle of the 2 tier cake.  I added a cake on top, then lightly frosted the the sides and the top to be like the glue when you put the rolled fondant on (See photo's below for step by step).

Then I made my favorite rolled buttercream fondant, one I dyed with Wilton black icing colors and the other I left white (side note I used clear vanilla extract so it didn't make any color).  This is the easiest fondant, I found if you roll it out on a Wilton fondant mat, I then used the mat to drape the fondant on, I found this was the easiest and it didn't rip.  You will have to do a little smoothing out the bumps and any lumps.  I Added 4 wood dowels to make sure the cake didn't slip.

For the top of the graduation cap I came up with using a square cake board the I rolled fondant out and covered it.  It worked perfect.  I added frosting to the board as the glue, rolled the fondant and the put the frosting side down. And like a present I pulled the sides up and pressed them on the backside that be came the underside of the cap (see picture below).

For the tassel I rolled out fondant in the 2nd color I then cut into strips (use a Wilton fondant cutter or pizza cutter) and added to the top of the hat.  I rolled a ball that I used for the button on the top.   My friend April came up with adding little balls in the two school colors around the base of the cake.  She is the fondant rolling queen and helped me out so much!!

I added Congrats, their name and the year on top of the cake.  I pushed the fondant into the mold. Put in the freezer and when it hardened up I popped the letters/numbers out and added onto the top of the cake.  To add to the top of the cake use a little water as glue.  My friend April also gave me a tip of using corn starch in the mold to help the fondant pop out easier!

It was a bit time consuming but it was so worth it! They looked so great!  Ok I'm bragging but I was so excited!

Here are all the cakes!

For Caden's class I added to a clear bag & tied with a ribbon.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

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

Taking a Breath ...

Sorry gang haven't been around much!  Last week we had end of year concert, graduation from kindergarten, last day of school and I made 2 graduation cakes and 70 some cupcakes for a friend.  I'm just coming up for breath now.  Just a quick post of what we have been up to.

We had 3 parties to attend this weekend and me baking up a storm!

Cole & Caden's End of Year Concert!

Kindergarten Graduation

Preview of Cakes and Cupcakes

Oh yes and my laptop screen died :(.

Who knew the keyboard could work but screen stays black.

Thankfully my dad showed me to jimmy rig it using a monitor to the side of the laptop.

OH yes it a real pain in the butt, but my new laptop is coming.

I'm hoping to be around more today!