Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Just a quick one again - I have recently been visiting family and friends in the UK for my 30th birthday so not had much time to bake. However I did receive 5 recipe books; cupcakes, desserts, muffins, breads and macarons so I have lots of new recipes to try and share!

But even though I was in the UK I still got a chance to bake - my mother is involved with the Women's Institute and they often have cake-bake sales, so my mum (of course knowing my love for cupcakes) asked me to make some and I was only too happy to before I started suffering baking withdrawal symptoms!

Classic Vanilla-Vanilla (Cutesy) Cupcakes

Just a quick one this time. It is my 30th birthday this week so had to take (and wanted to anyway!) the obligatory cakes to the office to share with colleagues - and so far they have been enjoying being my guinea-pigs!

So this time it was time to try out my new 1M wilton open star tip as well as get use of my flower cutters, so decided on some classic vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream decorated with flowers. And to give it that nice spring feel I went for a yellow and pink theme.

Cookie Monster! Cupcakes

Following on from my Easter weekend baking exploits; making cakes for my nephews 2nd birthday. I couldn't resist making some Cookie Monster cupcakes (he loves his cookie monster t-shirt after all). And I am glad I did when they were met with an 'ooooh' and even a 'no, mine!' as we tried to share them out!

And the great thing is, they were not difficult to make. Honest!

Oreo Cupcakes

Looks good enough to eat!

Since seeing these delights on many a blog and tweet, I've had these stored as a 'to-do' for a few months and just couldn't wait any longer to make them! I got my recipe from the blog 'A Cup Full of Cake' - which I halved and adapted slightly.

Unfortunately I don't have a stand mixer so have shyed away from the Swiss Meringue buttercream, opting for simple buttercream instead (this was a new recipe I tried which personally I didn't like very much so you might want to stick to your favourite). I'd be interested to try it with Swiss Meringue frosting in the future.