Monday, December 13, 2010

Cupcakes and Wine.

The 6th Annual party for the blog "Cupcakes Take The Cake," at Brooklyn Winery. I was invited to be a part of this great evening. The sponsors who supplied cupcakes for the event included CRUMBS, Robicelli's, Magnolia Bakery, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Tonnie's Minis and Man Bakes Cake...

I chose to set up my cupcakes on a wine barrel. I figured most people would stick to traditional holiday flavors, so I tried to create unique cupcakes for this special event.

The ladies who are responsible for running the blog.

Setting up. There were so many to choose from.

Cupcake tasters.


Cupcake "Shots."

Cupcake shots donated to a "Team in Training," member for her charity event. Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake shots topped with Eggnog and Pomegranate Buttercream.




Let It Snow.

Snowflake Cupcakes for Voice Charter School in Astoria, Queens. Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream and Fondant Snowflakes.


Christmas Cranberry Cupcake.

"Christmas Cranberry" Cupcake. Orange-Cardamom Spice Cake filled with Mulled Wine-Cranberry Curd, topped with Pomegranate Buttercream and a Sugared Cranberry.

To make the curd, I mulled some Syrah with Sugar, Cinnamon Sticks, Whole Cloves, Ginger, Cardamom, Oranges and Black Pepper. Then, I threw in some Cranberries and a bit more Sugar, cooked it down and added a bit of Cornstarch at the end until it was the right consistency.



Naughty and Nice.

"Naughty and Nice," Red Velvet Cupcakes. Red Velvet Cake split open and filled with Spicy Chocolate Ganache and topped with Milk Chocolate Buttercream.




Coquito Cupcakes.

Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican beverage made with Rum, Egg Yolks, Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Cloves. I have been making it for the past few years, but decided to try it this year in a cupcake. "Coquito Cupcake" Coquito cake filled with Coquito Custard and topped with Coconut-Rum Buttercream and Flaked Coconut.




Sunday, December 5, 2010

Apollo Theatre.

My tribute to the World-Famous Apollo Theatre. Gingerbread with Royal Icing, Fondant, Candy, Sprinkles, Dragees, Edible Stars and Disco Dust.




Ayrton Senna da Silva.

Racing Helmet Cake in honor of the late, great Formula One Race Car Champion Ayrton Senna. Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream covered in Fondant with Hand-Painted Fondant Logos.




Here, Piggie...

Pig Cake created to honor the Queens County Farm Country Fair. She is a Maple-Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Bourbon-Brown Sugar-Bacon Buttercream, covered in Fondant and sitting in Chocolate Frosting "Mud."




Not Your Mom's Thanksgiving.

A duo of cupcakes created for DINNERfix, a private dinner series held at CULTUREfix. www.culturefixny.com. The theme was "Not Your Mom's Thanksgiving." New twists on old classics. These are two pie-inspired cupcakes.

"Pumpkin Pie." Pumpkin and Graham Cracker Cupcake with Vanilla Buttercream, Graham Cracker Crumbs and Pumpkin Brittle.

"Apple Pie." Dark Rum and Apple Cake with Caramel-Rum Applesauce filling, topped with Apple Buttercream and Cinnamon.

Blushing Bride.

Cupcakes for a Bridal Shower. Chocolate Cupcake "Sandwich" with Sweet Vanilla Buttercream and Pink Pearl Fondant Flowers.



Welcome To Brooklyn.

Brooklyn-Themed Cupcakes to welcome a young lady moving to Brooklyn. Vanilla Cake with Almond Buttercream and Hand-Painted Fondant.





Tiny Footprints.

Baby Footprint Cupcakes for a Baby Shower. Dark Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache Buttercream.


Hannah Montana.

"Hannah Montana" Cupcakes created for a young girl's birthday. Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream, Disco Dust, Sprinkles, Stars and Hand-Painted Fondant.









Saturday, December 4, 2010

El Dia De Los Muertos.

Day of the Dead Cupcakes. "Churro" Cake with Orange-Almond Buttercream and Cinnamon Sugar.





Guava Cupcakes.

Guava Cupcakes. Guava Cake with White Chcocolate Buttercream and Guava Jelly.


Halloween Cupcakes.

Halloween Cupcakes. Devil's Food Cake with Vanilla Buttercream with Fondant Jack o' Lantern, Frankenstein and Mummy Decor and Candy Bats and Bones.


They're Creepy and They're Kooky...

Addams Family Cupcakes. Vanilla Cake with Orange Buttercream and Hand-painted Fondant.








Anita's Gonna Get Her Kicks Tonight!

Cupcakes for an actress making her Broadway debut covering the role of Anita in "West Side Story." I used the color palette of the Shark's costumes and incorporated lines of dialogue and songs from the show. Red Velvet Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream and Fondant accents.







Friday, December 3, 2010

Rocky Road.

Rocky Road Cupcakes. Chocolate Cake filled with Chocolate Ganache, and topped with Marshmallow-Almond Buttercream, Mini Marshmallows and sliced Almonds.




It's The Great Pumpkin...Cupcake.

Pumpkin Cake with Bourbon-Brown Sugar Buttercream and a sprinkling of Pumpkin Spice.


Raspberry Beret.

Raspberry Cupcake. Vanilla Cake with Raspberry Buttercream and a Fresh Raspberry on top.


Baby Bear.

Cupcakes created for my Godson Tomas' 1st Birthday Party. Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.


Rocket Cake.

Rocket Cake and Cupcakes created for the launch party of www.rockethub.com at the Gibson Guitar Studios in NYC. Check out their successful crowd-funding site and sign up to fuel (fund) a project or start a project of your own.