Fondant Cuppies Creation Continued.....

As promised in the earlier post, here is the remaining creations of fondant cupcakes. This cupcakes are easier to make as compared to the animals figurines. I can't be making 60 plus animals figurines rite? I'll be dead tired after making them.. So to ease my 'burden', the second and third batch fondant cupcakes were flower themed. They still look lovely to me... Do you share the same opinion as I do? Kindly have a look at them and give your verdict..

Second batch - flower themed

Third batch - flower themed as well

Some of the close up shots for the flowery ones......

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My First Fondant Cuppies Creation

Horsey cupcake

'Moo moo' Cow cupcake

'Baa baa' Sheepy cupcake

Snails couple cupcakes - maybe they quarrel; which makes them look different directions

' Oink oink' Piggy cupcake

' Buzz buzz' Bee cupcake

Caterpillar cupcake

Tootsie tortoise cupcake

Animals parading....

Still marching...

Are they heading for a 'riot' or something else????

OOOO.. There's more here.....

So how many are they?

Sheep seems to be the leader?

Now I can see a clearer picture....

Here we go..... Are you prepared??

They came to greet Daddy and Mummy - Happy House Warming Party! That's why the HOME word came into the picture... :)

I have been super duper busy the whole week night time in order to prepare for this lovely cupcakes to bring back home. My first attempt on making fondant on my own was a failure. Thus, the following night I tried another recipe of rolled fondant and thank GOD they turned out fine except that I had been using more icing sugar than what the original recipe to get the consistency of fondant which it's not stick and soft. After making the fondant where it was recommended to let them 'rest' overnight, the following night was my figurines making project where I had googled and search for ideas of the types of cute animals that I can make out of the fondant.

The experience of making the figurines is similar to the experience of kids playing with their 'Play Doh'. Very fun and enjoyable but it's very time consuming. After trying my hands on this making this cute little guys, I really understand why all those cute cupcakes sold outside were priced premiums. Indeed a lot of concentration and time were needed to make them. So guys, hope you'll like my first time animals fondant figurines. Hope to make more of them in the future. :)

*Next post will still be on my fondant cupcakes where they were more flowery themed.

Ingredients

1 tbsp plus 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup glucose
2 tbsp shortening

1 tbsp glycerin
8 cups sifted icing sugar
Icing color and flavoring, as desired

Methods

1. Combine gelatin and cold water; let stand until thick.
2. Place gelatin mixture in top of double boiler and heat until dissolved.
3. Add glucose, mix well. Stir in shortening and just before completely melted, remove from heat.
4. Add glycerin, flavoring and color. Cool until lukewarm.
5. Next, place 4 cups confectioner’s sugar in a bowl and make a well.
6. Pour the lukewarm gelatin mixture into the well and stir with a wooden spoon, mixing in sugar and adding more, a little at a time, until stickiness disappears.
7. Knead in remaining sugar. Knead until the fondant is smooth, pliable and does not stick to your hands.
8. If fondant is too soft, add more sugar; if too stiff, add water (a drop at a time).
9. Use fondant immediately or store in airtight container in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate or freeze. When ready to use, knead again until soft.

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Vanilla Raisin Cupcakes

I had made this cupcakes to prepare for my fondant cupcake project for the upcoming parents' house warming party. The cupcakes were moist and filled with raisins flavour covered with the orange juice. A very nice and simple recipe and it's very good to just have it on it's own even without any decorations.

*Read more on my fondant cupcake creations in my coming post. Stay tuned!

Ingredients

1 cup dark raisins

1/3 cup orange juice

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar (used slightly lesser)

3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup milk

Methods

1. Set oven to 160 Celsius.
2. Line cupcakes liner in the tray.
3. In a saucepan, bring raisins and orange juice just to a simmer over medium heat; remove from heat.
4. In a small bowl combine the flour with baking powder and cinnamon.
5. In another bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.
7. Alternately stir in flour mixture and milk into butter mixture beginning and ending with flour mixture.
8. Drain raisins and discard soaking liquid, then stir raisins into batter.
9. Spoon batter into cupcake liners to three-quarters full.
10. Bake cupcakes about 20 minutes or until lightly browned and tested with cake tester.
11. Cool then transfer to a rack.

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Chocolate Chips Cupcakes

Since I have nothing much to do on a Sunday afternoon, my hands started to get itchy and tempted to make some cuppies as our afternoon tea snacks. What's nicer than sipping a cup of hot drink with rich chocolate flavour cupcakes. The original recipe only require cocoa powder but I decided to enhance to chocolate flavour by adding chocolate chips into the batter as well. Therefore, my cuppies have extra chocolatey flavour. Now with a cup of hot cocoa drink, we will have a triple dose of chocolate goodness. It's nice to savour on some chocolate to brighten up a boring Sunday afternoon... :)

Cuppies parade..

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbsp vinegar
50g chocolate chips


Methods

1. Mix all ingredients together except chocolate chips until moist and well blended.
2. Add in half of the chocolate chips into the batter and mix well.
3. Spoon in batter into cupcake liners and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on the surface of batter.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 180 Celsius.

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Magnolia Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

I had decided to try another vanilla cupcake recipe that I have found on the internet from Recipezaar tonight since Hubby will be going for his badminton session with his friends, which means I am home alone tonite. Yeah! I can turn the whole house up side down since he will only be back late at night... *Just kidding*. I found that I like this recipe better as compare to the one I had tried before. For the topping, I am using the chocolate ganache recipe but I had whipped the chocolate ganache to become fluffy and turn it into frosting. The chocolatey flavour is just so marvelous. Yummy! I cant resist but to taste some of it while decorating the cuppies. The recipe for the chocolate ganache can be found here. So guys, happy experimenting with the recipe while I enjoy my cuppies now.. *Munch munch*.....

Hmm, I ought to improve in decorating skills..

Sprinkled with 'hundreds and thousands', silver balls and flower decor..

Can I take a bite now?

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Vanilla Cupcakes

Everytime I logged into the internet, one of the must see blogs will be those about Cuppies. They are simply cute and adorable. I had always wished I had the skills to made those cute and lovely cuppies. And today, I had finally managed to make some though not as lovely as those in the blogs that I've seen, I am still happy for my effort. Will definitely try more cuppies recipes and hoping to get the correct piping skills.. Oh God! I am so tempted to sign up for the decorating courses in Wilton after making these. Do wish my dreams comes true when my budget allows ya.. ^Keeps fingers crossed^.

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcakes

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Buttercream Frosting

2 cups (230 grams) icing sugar, sifted
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk or light cream
Assorted food colors (if desired)

Methods

1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Beat in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add to the butter and egg mixture, along with the milk, and beat until combined.
6. Evenly fill the cupcakes liners with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and cake tester inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
8. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing.
9. If you want flat topped cupcakes then slice off the dome of each cupcake, with a sharp knife, before frosting.
10. For the frosting, cream the butter until smooth and well blended.
11. Add the vanilla extract.
12. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar.
13. Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Add a little more milk or sugar, if needed.
14. Tint the frosting with desired food color (optional).

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