It’s the first of the month, we’re officially in February! The Love Month. Valentine’s Day has held different feelings and emotions for me throughout various times in my life. When I was a teenager I wanted to give and receive cards and some years that happened. As I progressed in to my twenties I wanted someone special to give to and receive from. Then I met Robert and all I wanted was him. Now we have a family and it’s all about consciously remembering that the other one exists. Recalling and discussing the adventures we had driving down the PCH in Southern California , stopping off for a visit in Topanga Canyon and Robert falling asleep on the seat outside the best thrifty clothing store I have ever been to. Those days can seem very far away and it’s nice to reminisce.
It’s also nice to hold hands. We held hands the other night while we watched telly. Well, I watched telly (Grey’s Anatomy) and Robert was trying to surf on the laptop one handed.
But today’s post isn’t about Robert or past boyfriends or children. It’s not even about family.
It’s about girlfriends. You know the ones, those saucy minxes who know everything about you and only have to see the glint in your eye to know that you are planning on doing something outrageous. The ones who understand that although you love your children with every fibre of your being when you hold your post-pregnancy crinkly tummy in your hands you can’t help but be a little bit sad.
They are the ones who don’t mind that plans have to change because you’re trying to hold it all together. In fact they pull out all the stops to help. Coming over and taking a baby out of your arms so that you can fill a bath and finally use the nectar that your husband bought you as a gift many moons ago.
They are the ones who love you as you grow apart and then back together again as your lives take you on different paths.
They are the ones who don’t have time for anything other than love in their hearts because they are too busy living a big life.
They are the ones who would respond like they had just been given a red Cartier box when all you have done is made them a tiny cupcake gift stack.
This idea is so perfect because you could make gifts for up to ten girlfriends while making only one batch of cupcakes. It’s the best sort of idea for any busy girl – simple, fun and just a little bit beautiful.
What you will need for the Cup Cupcakes -
6oz butter (softened)
6oz caster sugar
8oz self raising flour
3 medium sized free range eggs
1 tsp baking powder
Mix the butter and the sugar together in a large bowl- ideally in a food mixer but this can also mixed by hand
Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and add them to the mixing bowl
Then, sift in the flour and the baking powder
Beat the mixture together until smooth and creamy
Separate the cake cases and distribute them evenly onto a baking tray(s), allowing at least 1 inch of space between each cupcake case – they tend to expand in the oven!
Fill the cases with the mixture leaving at least half an inch of empty case. This is important as it helps with the icing that you’ll do later.
Bake in the oven (190c) for around 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top and they are not wet in the middle
Once removed from the oven, allow to cool completely on a wire rack before you start the process of icing them
OK, so you’ve got the cake part finished. The icing part is important as this is what will give your cupcake gift a ‘professional’ finish. I love all things homemade but I want the quality of what I create to be a good as possible. I want to learn as many new skills as I can because then I can take more pride in what I do. This icing technique is one of those times where you can really show off.
Sift 500g of Royal Icing in to a mixer bowl.
Add three tablespoons of lemon juice and your chosen food colour and mix slowly together using the paddle attachment
As the icing begins to come together add a tablespoon of water one at a time until the icing runs SLOWLY from the paddle when held aloft. It has to run slowly and still be thick in its consistency or it will run off the top of the cakes so add the water gingerly and wait until it has all been mixed together before adding any more.
Pour the icing onto the top of the cake until it becomes level with the top of the cake case.
Allow to dry and then tie together
Two cupcakes.
Beautifully, nay professionally, iced.
Given in love.
Have a wonderful day. I love you and am very much enjoying hearing from you here, on Facebook, Twitter & email. You guys rock and are lovely.
Cherry x
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Hi Cherry,
Just wanted to drop a note on how fabulous these look, I will hopefully be re-creating these in pale yellow for my girlfriends sometime next week.
Love, another Cherry x
Now that we’re all friends, I’ll bring the hot cocoa, of course whipped cream, herbal teas, chick flick, and y’all can bring the cupcakes!!!It’s not snowing up here in Washington State, Cherry room for babies too!!!
A very charming idea, and they really do look professionally iced. I’ve been to culinary school and majored in baking and pastry arts, and no one at my school could have done it any better!
The cupcakes look beautiful, as is the sentiment behind it. There is a connection between women as friends, mothers, daughters, sisters etc. that is incredibly special.
Cheers to you Cherry, and to all your readers!
Marilyn (in Dallas)
You would go down so well in the States Cherry. Girls love this kinda thing out here.
Martha (New York)
That shade of green is my very favourite colour. I was only thinking the other day it is the colour I will wear to my son’s wedding. I love it and I love it for cup cakes with the little containers too. Then when I saw them with brown stripey ribbon they just got better.
These are so pretty! I’ve never seen cupcakes stacked like this and I live in cupcake mania. There must be six cupcake bakery shops in my town. I will definitely give these a try. Yesterday I made Cradle Cake which is a simple buttermilk cake wrapped in dacquoise. It was so simple and the result stunning yet I thought how fun to make it into cupcakes the next go around. With a bit of ganache melted on top it was probably the best recipe to date. Here’s the recipe
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/04/rose-levy-beranbaums-cradle-cake-recipe.html and here’s a great pictorial of the process http://evilcakelady.blogspot.com/
and so pretty too. Almost too pretty to eat!
x
such a lovely idea. cupcakes for dear girlfriends. thank you cherry. jx
Oh my God! These are just fabulous! I now have big plans for Valentine’s day: I’ve just made a batch of lovely, home-made, individually stamped and painted gift tags and I was wondering how best to use them. I now have a vision of a cupcake stack with a tag attached by gorgeous ribbon.
Thanks Cherry x
This is a fab idea – girlfriends are the loves of our life in their own way and know us so much better than the men in our lives. I think i will make some for my mum too – if i get time to make any at all, darn this full time job lark!
G xo
Such a lovely post today Cherry. Girlfriends rock! There should be a Girlfriends Day. Cup Cake anyone. Mx