LilSugar

Goblins, Ghosts and Spider Cupcakes, Oh My!

babysugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:25 -0700

It's time to get spooky in the kitchen! Most everybody loves a cupcake and boy have we got some haunted frosted tops that will make wee ones squeal! Though the creepy cakes may look tough to tackle, these deliciously lil devils are a cinch to make and the youngsters can easily give a helping hand.

To see how to make the ghost caps, spider crawlers, and goblin adorned treats, just read more.

First, pick out your candy and decor. I was lucky enough to find all of my inspiration at Walgreens. Here is my quick list of goodies:

Ghost Peeps
Candy corn
Black and orange sprinkles
Goblin and witch jelly pops
A bag full of plastic purple and black spider rings

First you'll want to bake up a batch of cupcakes to your liking. Choose fun Halloween frosting colors like black, white and green and frost the cakes. Add sprinkles if you wish.
Peeps:
If using the Peeps, take a straw or a toothpick and push it halfway into the marshmallow. Then poke the remaining portion into the cupcake. Add candy corn for color and added sugar bonus.
Witches:
The jelly pops are easy enough as you can simply unwrap them and stick them into the cupcake as is.
Spiderweb:
The most complicated of the bunch, these are still quite easy. Frost the cupcakes with white icing and use a knife to spread it smoothly. Then take the black icing and make three circles starting with the smallest one first. Then make four lines across the entire cupcake to form the web. Take a clean knife and insert it just a bit to make room for the ring portion of the spider. Push the spider in and mama's got a perfect web!

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Tasty Treats For Halloween Bashes: Wicked Witch Cupcakes

LilSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:18 -0700

Halloween's focus may be on a youngster's costume and the candy he gathers as he makes his way through the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean the party can't start early with some tasty treats. From school-sponsored bashes to kiddie soirees, Halloween parties offer lil ones another opportunity to show off their costumes and indulge in some sweets to kick off the spooktacular holiday.

With some inspiration from Martha Stewart, a platter of wicked witch cupcakes is more likely to put a smile on a wee one's face than frighten him. After baking up a favorite cupcake recipe, simply mix up some green buttercream icing, add a chocolate ice cream cone hat, and dig into your Halloween candy supply for some pieces that will create a witchy face. Be sure to have a few extra on hand as these devilishly good delights are sure to entice the parents as much as the kids.

Kiddie Soirée: Sweet Spring Treats

babysugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0700

The idea of giving every guest a goldfish or a furry lil snow bunny for a party favor sure sounds cute, but is it practical? Not so much. At your Spring chicken's next birthday party, keep with the "new life" theme with frosted cookies and cupcakes to go. Check out the slideshow of my favorite Spring sweet treats that you and your child can make together.

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Kiddie Soiree: Cupcake Sleeves

LilSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:17 -0700

Crank the cuteness factor up a notch next time you serve up a batch of cupcakes with Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves. The decorative, non-toxic, self-adhesive sleeves ($9 for 12) come in a variety of designs to tie in to your next party's theme. From Easter Bunny and basket images to treasure chests and gumball machines, the sleeves are easily applied to the base of the cupcake and the company's site offers clever design tricks for creating the masterpieces, such as using Milano cookies to serve as a bunny's ears and placing marshmallows on top of cupcakes to replicate popcorn in a movie theater bucket. The company behind Roundabout will also work with you to create custom designs for your lil one's next party.

The Gifted Child: Cupcakes 101 Kit

LilSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The state of the economy has me tightening up my spending budget, tracking my expenses more closely, and making smarter purchases. I still want to treat my children and get their friends birthday presents, but now I aim for more thoughtful offerings. This beautiful Bake It Pretty Cupcakes 101 Kit ($22) caught my eye because it's a gift and baking project combined. The little suitcase comes with baking cups, 25 traditional toppers, and Rainbow Jimmy Sprinkles.

The penny saver in me says this would be an easy-to-emulate DIY gift option as well. Visit your grocery and party store for the contents and a nice box to house the goodies, and print out a few of my favorite cupcake recipes to inspire your little chef.

9 Valentine's Day Treats For Kids

LilSugar — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Nothing says I love you like homemade treats, but most mothers don't have time to make decadent desserts. Save yourself an expensive trip to the bakery or hours spent in front of the oven by dressing up simple kid favorites - brownie bites and pudding. These simple no-bake (unless you want to) and no fuss Valentine's Day desserts are perfect for school parties, playdates or a family Valentine's Day fete and offer an inexpensive, semi-homemade alternative to candies or store-bought goodies.

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Bite of Love: Macaroon'ed by Love Brownie Cupcakes

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:55 -0800

Looking to dress up your simple kid-friendly Valentine's Day dessert? Much to my children's pleasure I've been testing out a variety of tiny brownie bite "cupcakes" and pudding treats for a preschool party and our family celebration of love.

While most of the treats air on the simple side, I decided to dress up the beautiful, but plain Pretty-in-Pink cupcakes with tiny macaroons from the French bakery around the corner from our house. Not only does the dessert look more polished, but the mini macaroon on the top adds an extra nibble of sweetness for your little sweets.

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Need more ideas for creating tiny delicious treats for your tots this Valentine's Day? Check out our Bite of Love series for inspiration.

Babycakes: Bake Sweets With Baby Food!

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Once your baby has outgrown pureed foods, what's a mama to do with her stockpile of jars in the pantry? Well, Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown found a winning dessert in one mother's cupcake recipe. Made with pureed baby food, the moist and delicious pecan-laced treats satisfy a sweet-tooth of any age.
To get the inventive recipe, read more.

Babycakes
Lisa Roman, Food Network

Have some leftover baby food in the pantry, try baking with it!

Ingredients

Cupcake Batter Ingredients:

* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 eggs
* 1/4 clover honey
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 (4-ounce) jar pumpkins with pears baby food (recommended: Nature's Goodness brand)
* 2 (4-ounce) jars applesauce and apricots baby food (recommended: Earth's Best brand)
* 1/2 cup ground pecans

Frosting Ingredients:

* 1 teaspoon almond extract
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
* 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
* 1/4 cup ground pecans
* Special equipment: 2 (12-cup) mini muffin pans

Directions
Cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small mixing bowl add the baking soda, salt, baking powder and flour. Mix thoroughly with a fork and set aside. In a large mixing bowl add the eggs, honey, both sugars and butter. Mix until smooth using a hand mixer. Add the cinnamon and baby food. Mix until smooth. Using a rubber spatula fold in the pecans. Slowly add the flour mixture using a sifter and fold in until ingredients are evenly mixed.

Place 24 mini baking cups (2-inch, nonfoil) into each hole of the mini muffin pan. Place a 1-gallon resealable freezer bag into a bowl (for support) and pour the cupcake batter into the bag. Seal the bag and cut the tip off 1 of the bottom corners of the bag. Squeeze the batter into each baking cup, filling them only 3/4 of the way full. Place the mini muffin pan in the oven on the center rack. Bake for 12 minutes.

Frosting:

In a small mixing bowl add the extracts, milk, cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth and creamy using a hand mixer. When the cupcakes are done baking remove each cupcake from the pan and place on a cooling rack. Place the cooling rack in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 minutes.

Once the cupcakes are cooled remove them from the refrigerator. Frost each cupcake by putting a generous dollop of frosting on the top with a spoon. Garnish top with ground pecans and they are ready to serve.

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Bite of Love: Marshmallow My Love Pudding Cuppycake

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

If you don't have time to make almond butter and brownie cupcakes or fancy brownie cupcakes sprinkled with frosting, serve up a routine treat in an unusual presentation for your family's Valentine's Day fete.

I dished up chocolate pudding into mini cups and decorated the top with mini marshmallows for a festive, but portioned controlled dessert. Your child's mouth will water at the thought of a cup of sweet goodness, but the reality is you're only serving them four spoonfuls of pudding.

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For tips on how to make these little bites of love, read more.
I used one six pack of pudding from the health food store, which I dished into about 14 mini cups (you know the kind you used in college for Jello shots). I decorated with marshmallows, but you could use any candies or serve plain.

Bite of Love: You're My Pudding Cuppycake

LilSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:00:04 -0800

Every mom has been in this predicament: You have no time to cruise through cookbooks or run to the bakery, but you need to whip up a delicious sweet treat for impromptu party guests. If you are planning a simple Valentine's Day celebration with your family or your children's friends, or your child's Valentine drops by with his or her parents, consider these hassle free "cuppycakes."

I used items I had in the fridge to make these sweet pudding sliders - all you need is the mini cups, pudding and whipped cream. I garnished with sprinkles of hot chocolate for a polished look that hides the fact that these treats only took me five minutes to prepare!

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To check out my guide to making these yourself, read more.

You're My Pudding Cuppycake
lilsugar original

Don't want to give your kids a whole cupcake? Make them a mini dessert in a tiny cup and dress it up to look delicious.

Ingredients

1. Chocolate Pudding (4 containers makes about 12 cuppycakes. 8 makes 24)
2. Whipped cream
3. Optional: Chocolate powder, hot chocolate or chopped chocolate pieces (to use as dressing on top)
4. Mini "jelloshot" paper cups

Directions
Put about four spoonfuls of chocolate pudding into mini paper cups, top off with a swirl of whipped cream and chocolate dust or your decoration of choice.

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