DIY Easter Projects

Kathleen at Twig & Thistle is at it again! Her DIY Easter project includes marshmallow peeps, Easter basket, and stuffed bunny.

Check out her post for all of the DIY details and printables.

Cupcakes & Cakes Galore

 

I love this light, bright display that Betsy from Nine Cakes put together for the recent Urban Wed event organized by Vane of Brooklyn Bride. There's definitely something for everyone here.

DIY Twinkies: Organic Goodies

Here's a recipe for DIY Twinkies that are much better for you than the store-bought cakes. Made with organic ingredients and none of the high-fat, sugar-laden preservatives and empty calories you're used to.

Umbra adapted this recipe from the book Food Rules by Michael Pollan. Pollan believes that the effort of baking your own junk food will keep your consumption down to an occasional activity, rather than every day indulgence. Plus, you will avoid a lot of those weird, mystery ingredients.
 
Check out this video for the demo and find the recipe here.

Silhouette Sweets

I came across this silhouette-laden event on Green Wedding Shoes and had to share some of the details with you. Last month, I incorporated hand-cut silhouettes into this dessert table's design, but there are plenty of other ways to incorporate your profile into your event.

Favor bags, silhouette cookies, and invitations in a united, bright hue make for a nostalgically-modern event.

Printable Lemonade Labels

Marry You Me has some beautiful lemonade labels that you can download and print. These would be perfect for a hot, outdoor Summer wedding, baby shower, or reunion.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies

These thumbprint cookies look so good, it's hard to believe they are gluten and sugar free. Kristen of Domestifluff came up with this recipe through lots of trial and error as she tries to adjust to a restricted diet.

Kristen says:

"My gluten and sugar free take on one of my favorites, thumbprint cookies, comes pretty darn close to the “real” thing. I’ve always enjoyed the balance of the subtly sweet, shortbread-like cookie, covered in toasted walnuts, with a sweet burst of jam in the center. My favorite jams to use are raspberry and strawberry, and I’ve also seen them with chocolate frosting or ganache in the center."

Find Kristen's recipe here.

Dessert Table: Girly Goodness

Style Me Pretty featured this girly dessert table by Lisa of Delicious Desserts yesterday. Wouldn't this light, feminine palette be perfect for a baby shower?

Celeb Crazy Cakes

Towering cakes aren't just for weddings. You can use any occasion as an excuse for some frosted goodness. People.com showcased this collection of celeb cakes for all kinds of occasions. So, if you didn't have the chance to have an over the top cake for your wedding because of budget, tradition, or compromising with your spouse...it's not too late.

Kelly Ripa at Ovarian Cancer Fund benefit.

Kim Kardashian's fragrance launch.

Tori Spelling's son Liam's 2nd bday cake.

 Eva Longoria's gift from the Latin Chamber of Commerce in celebration of her nightclub opening.

Producer Seth Green's Robot Chicken cake in celebration of the show's success.

Kid Rock's Jim Beam bday cake.

Flavor Flav's 50th bday cake.

DIY Cupcake Bar II

When photog Sarah McGee saw this week's post on the DIY Cupcake Bar and sent me some pics of a cupcake bar by Wildside Catering that she shot last year. Sarah tells me that the kids attacked the cupcake bar immediately. Who can blame them when overturned bowls of frosting are involved?

Thanks for the pics, Sarah!

Dessert Table: Funky Romance

This darkly sweet dessert buffet was featured on Green Wedding Shoes. I love the votives scattered across the table to set a dark, romantic mood.

Images: Amelia Lyon

Dessert Table: Little Birdie

This cute dessert table was for a lucky little girl's 1st birthday. Hip Hooray featured this adorable table in a perfect pink and red palette.

Check out all the yummy pics here.

DIY Cupcake Bar

Style Me Pretty featured pics of a DIY cupcake bar photographed by Jen Huang. Even the most budget-conscious host could create this interactive, fun idea. Bake several flavors of cupcakes, place several different frostings in dishes, and let guests mix and match flavors in limitless combos.

Dessert Table: Ele-fun-t!

This is the cutest little birthday party, and the little cupcake toppers make it super sweet. Twig & Thistle posted a few pics recently. Thank goodness Kathleen directed us to photog Youkeun Oh's blog for more pics.

Check out the photog's blog for more yummy pics!

Decorate Your Cakes & Cookies

You might remember the tool I shared before to design and decorate your wedding cake. Well, if you're not in a nuptial state of mind, but still want to have some cake-related fun this Parents Magazine tool is for you. Choose your frosting colors, tip sizes, decorations, and cake and cookie shapes.

Surprisingly, my virtual creations look a lot like my real-life ones. My shaky hand is evident in both! Check out the tools to decorate a cake and a cookie.

Easy Lattice Brownies

I love the clean, preppy look of these black & white brownies. They are a sophisticated twist on the traditional swirl variety. Even better? Bakers Royale provided the recipe and the lattice technique so you can DIY. Check it out here.

Cute, Couture, Cultural: Cakes of All Kinds

 

I stumbled across Cupcakelicious' Flickr page last night. She's working wonders with fondant and marzipan. Isn't that picnic cake adorable? The logo'd cupcakes remind me of these Louis Vuitton cakes.

Love, Sweet Love

This photo shoot is full of sugary goodness. Jenna of Eat Drink Pretty makes a lovely bride/model. She even convinced her hubby to join in for the Style Me Pretty photo challenge. A candy shop would make a great engagement photo setting, too.

 

 

  

  

 Images: Red Ribbon Studio

Spring Has Sprung: Easy Cupcakes for the Season

 

  

   

It was very Spring-like in MN this weekend, which of course made me think of all the easy warm-weather cupcake recipes I love. These are great because the art is all in the decor. No fancy ingredients or labor-intensive directions. Yeah! Check out these and other easy Martha Spring desserts here.

Decorate Your Cupcakes

Ticings makes cupcake decorations easier than ever. Designs are on edible sheets of frosting that you simply put on top of your frosted goodies.

 

   

Dessert Table: Dolly Delights

I found this sweet little girl's doll-inspired dessert table created by Laura of Sweet Soiree on The Birthday Girl. As much as I love candy, I love the picture of the cute guest of honor even more.