These are both fantastic cupcake ideas and are brought to you courtesy of Arpeggio Rush on Flickr.  Now I am not sure if they created them or took photos of them when they saw them while they were out, but either way, they are simply fantastic and I had to share!

Share with friends

Cake Fail by Elley

Firstly I want to thank all the lovely people that are true to themselves and don’t mind posting their cupcake disasters on Flickr and elsewhere.  You are the people that give us all hope that although we may sometimes fail that there is always a possibility of getting it right at another time!  The inspiration for this post actually came from a cake by Linda (Elley) and although I totally feel for her ‘Cake Fail’ this is a great shot!

Cupcake overflow thanks to Nbejcek

For Nbejcek the issue wasn’t really about how she made the cake mixture, but how much of it she made. There is something strangely artistic and appealing about this photo.

Multi-cupcake pile up from Bassetsfarm

My final one is from Bassetsfarm and her disaster happened after all the hard work had been done, these looked like they were perfectly frosted.  Apparently her carrier decided it didn’t want to lay flat anymore, and crash, multi-cupcake pile up!

I still reckon they look really good, except maybe that bottom one in the middle that seems to have taken the worst beating!

If you love seeing baking disasters there is actually a group on Flickr dedicated to Baking Blunders, so next time you have a ‘oh no!’ moment in the kitchen, take a photo and provide a knowing smile to all of the rest of us out there!

Share with friends

This week I read a magazine recipe for cupcakes to “cheer someone up.” They were sweet, bright and colorful. These yummy cupcakes looked like a great idea and I thought they could easily cheer someone up. But sometimes there are some extra steps you can take to be sure your cupcakes cheer someone up. Let’s talk about how to make your cupcakes really put a smile on someone’s face if they are down, ill or just need to brighten their day.

Remember the cupcakes are for them – not your own pleasure. This sounds kind of simple but some cooks seem to forget this. Making cute cupcakes is fun, but you really want to make the type of cupcakes your recipient would prefer to receive. Special little touches you make like their favorite flavors, favorite colors and favorite items can really go a long way. By doing this you’re showing that they are special and worth going the extra mile for – and this alone brightens their day.

Some are on special diets and may enjoy cupcakes – but need careful baking. Today making cupcakes is easier than ever. You can bake vegan, sugar free and gluten free cupcakes – all of these recipes exist. If you aren’t sure about someone’s dietary restrictions – ask. There’s nothing like bringing your great aunt some “cheer up” cupcakes only to discover she’s borderline diabetic and can’t have sugar.

Make enough cupcakes for someone to share. This is probably one of our biggest tips. Many people who need cheering up of all kinds are lonely in some way. If they are elderly they may be in a nursing home or apartment complex on their own. If they are in the hospital they are away from family and friends. If they are down and depressed they may be withdrawing from friends and family. Giving someone cupcakes to share encourages them to get out there and give cupcakes to others in the nursing home, hospital or to reconnect with friends and family. A small gesture yes, but still a thoughtful one that can lead to friendly conversation for them.

Spend time when you give them the cupcakes. It may be convenient to just drop off the cupcakes and go. You’ve got the kids, family, work and other obligations to manage. But someone who needs cheering up could be so grateful for just 20 minutes of your time. That isn’t too much…is it? Talk about lighthearted things, interesting news about people you know or topics they want to talk about. You may even see them actually start to look a bit cheered up – before they have that first bite of cupcake! And isn’t that what it’s all about?

(c) photo Ramasamy Chidambaram

Share with friends

Okay so I am not expecting that you will rush out and bake up these babies, but we thought that you enjoy looking and reading about them!

1. Salmon Cupcakes

I Really Like Food give us the Salmon Cupcake recipe along with, of course the salmon frosting!  The whole idea of Salmon and Cupcakes is just wrong to me, but hey, what do you think?  I do like one of the comments this post got, which was from Natalie who simply says “Say no to cupcake crossbreeding” and in this case I couldn’t agree more!

2. Broccoli Cupcakes

Sparrow Dream says, and I quote “Nothing I do has to make sense”, haha, I agree 100%, but there is no way I would try these, I admire her resolve to taste test them!

3. Beef Cupcakes

Now I could actually see myself eating these beef cupcakes from Dough Dough Kitchen because they really are not too cupcakey, just cooked in a cupcake tin, which is not a bad idea!  The only difficulty is the frosting, tomato or barbeque sauce?

4. The Honey Baked Ham Cupcakes

These cupcakes from Cupcake Project like the ones from above probably do not really deserve to be on this list because the reports are that they taste really good. Although in this case the ham presented a problem to bite through (easy solved if you eat them whole).  Cupcake Project also have a recipe for this one, if you are game?

I feel so lame, I talk up how I would try anything, but I am just not sure I would.

5. Sardine and Spinach cupcakes

Yup you heard right.  Ugh!  Cupcake Takes the Cake found this one created by Blogger Dog Hill Kitchen.  I chose the photo with the sardine’s head bitten off.  It is just really too gross to contemplate.

I did also find one forum where a lady admitted making liver cupcakes… all I can say is EWWWWWWWWWWWW

Share with friends

Whoever said that birthdays were sweet was right! And American Greetings is certainly taking that saying to heart, offering a new line of greeting cards called Tasties ™ that have a flavor strip inside. This dissolvable strip complements each card type according to the flavor offered.

Our favorite is the cupcake card (of course!). A yummy cupcake is featured on the outside of the card and it says, “If nothing else, birthdays are a great excuse to eat cake.” The inside says, “lots and lots of cake.” Then the dissolvable strip invites the card recipient to “taste” the vanilla cupcake to make this greeting even sweeter. What a unique card? We think that’s certainly a greeting card people will remember. What could be better than offering the temptation and treat of a great cupcake and your sweet wishes for a Happy Birthday for a loved one?

The Tasties ™ cards are available at grocery stores (where you can also find the ingredients for cupcakes….), drug stores and other locations that sell American Greetings cards. We have a feeling you’ll be on the lookout for these great cards near you!

When it comes to celebrating birthdays, cupcakes are the best! Whether for an child’s or adult’s birthday, the sweet treat of cupcakes says, “Happy Birthday!” like nothing else. We bet you have your favorite birthday cupcakes you like to make for a loved one’s birthday.

A single cupcake is a sweet way to say Happy Birthday, especially to someone who doesn’t like much of a fuss over their birthday. It shows you are doing something special, without going out and getting a mariachi band or parade floats. Cupcakes are always sweet and thoughtful. And who can resist blowing a single candle out to get that great birthday wish we all hope comes true? (I know I can’t!) Someone you love is on a diet? Try making mini cupcakes! It’s a tiny sweet treat that still has all of the celebration with less than half of the calories. That’s a great way to celebrate when someone is watching their waistline – and you still have that deep urge to make them cupcakes.

So spill and share! What Happy Birthday cupcakes have been a big hit at that birthday party? What birthday cupcakes do you love for kids? Or adults? What birthday cupcake tips would you give fellow cupcake lovers?

(c) photo Michael Lorenzo

Share with friends

You are craving breakfast for dinner and you make pancakes or maybe some waffles. But, what about dessert? You, can’t have the traditional cupcake. How about a doughnut cupcake? These were made using Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a bluebottle coffee cupcake. Thanks cjmartin for this great shot.

Share with friends

zingersb made spaghetti and meatball cupcakes using vanilla cake and vanilla frosting piped on for the noodles. The meatball is a Ferrero Rocher candy drizzled in strawberry jam. This would be a fun desert to serve with your favorite Italian meal.

Share with friends

photo credit: Igal Koshevoy

Remember trying to memorize the periodic table of elements for chemistry class? Well, this idea from Bill and Ann would have really helped me out. Or, at least given me some sugar to help me get back to studying chem.

How many of the elements can you remember?

Share with friends

photo credit: Pargon

This is either a big cupcake fan or someone looking to get some serious attention with a mobile car cupcake. The cupcake decorations look like pills. Any ideas?

Share with friends