Mix n Match Cupcakes

There's no end in sight to the cupcake craze. Thousands of boutique bakeries focused solely on those little cakes have popped up all over the country offering hundreds of different flavors. But, with all of those options, very few give you the control to mix and match your way to the perfect cupcake.

Saint Cupake Takes Flight allows you to choose from ten cake flavors, eight icings, and nineteen sprinkles to create your cupcake. I'm dying to try a vanilla toffee cupcake with vanilla buttercream and chocolate jimmies. I must admit, though, I'd also add a dash of sea salt to counter some of the sweetness and hopefully achieve a nice salty/sweet mix.

If you still need more options, you can also choose cupcake accessories like flags, banners, and sprinkles scoops. The cupcakes and fixings are shipped to you, and you decorate and frost to your heart's content.

What's your dream combo? Check out Saint Cupcake Take Flight to see your options, and let me know here, on Twitter, or on Facebook.

Dessert Table: Effortless Glitz

This dessert table strikes a beautifully-executed, albeit unusual, balance of vintage charm and glitzy glamour. Photographer Aaron Delesie's pics were featured on Style Me Pretty, and they capture this spread wonderfully. The design is effortless with simple oatmeal cookies and a variety of cupcakes filling out the milk glass display. A mirrored table ups the sophistication level, while a cool blueish grey and white palette keeps the mood refined.

Be sure to check out the full post to see other pics from this picture perfect soiree.

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Letterpress Recipe Cards

I have a box of tattered, mismatched recipe cards in an old wooden box. Some of them are my mom's recipes, others I've written, and each sparks nostalgia of a time when she and I tweaked and experimented to perfect each one. With all of the memories those recipes stir, there's nothing inspiring about the cards themselves.

Nothing says sophistication more than letterpressed papers. These letterpressed recipe cards by Dingbat Press are an affordable luxury. If you have a collection of finely-honed, favorite recipes, don't they deserve to be preserved in such a lovely fashion? I've been eyeing some of these designs to jazz up my old recipe box.

Not a fan of sunshine yellow and precious pink? Don't worry, you can choose your hue for a truly custom design.

Check out all of the Dingbat Press recipe cards at the Etsy store.

Sudsy Sweets

I don't remember what brought me to KC Soaps N More's Etsy site, but the little dessert soaps I found made the visit worthwhile.

These macarons are actually pineapple-scented soap made of goat's milk.

These brown sugar and fig sugar scrub is made of goat's milk, too.

These mini popsicles are too cute. Cherry, blueberry, pineaplle, and watermelon scents make these goat's milk goodies complete.

Check out the bonbons and other dessert soaps at KC Soaps n More's shop.

Minnesota's Largest Candy Store

This weekend, my family and I went to visit one of Minnesota's many waterfalls. Last Summer, we decided to visit as many different MN waterfalls (and even a few in Wisconsin) as we can, and this year the tradition continues. Sunday, we went to Minneopa Falls.

On our way to the state park, we passed Minnesota's Largest Candy Store. Obviously, this discovery necessitated a visit after we hiked around the falls.

The store smelled amazing. The scent of pies, apple-filled cookies, and strawberry vanilla fudge greeted us as soon as we entered.

My husband and daughter were busy weighing all of the sweet options. I didn't even know giant chocolate Smarties existed!

There were more varieties of chocolate than you could ever want. Be sure to read the fine print on the no weight gain chocolate.

 

Entire rows of the store were devoted to licorice from various countries and every flavor imaginable.

I bought one of these delicious rice crispy treats. Giant maltballs were added to the traditional marshmallow and rice crispy mix. Some of the other flavors included coconut and macadamia nut and triple chocolate.

And to get all of that sticky goodness out of your teeth, of course, you need these.

If you've ever wondered what happened to politically-incorrect sweets like Big Chew gum and candy cigarettes, don't worry. They are alive and well here. This barn-like shop was about halfway between Jordan and Belle Plaine on 169 South. At least I think it was. Perhaps it was just a delicious mirage.

All in all, it was a perfect Minnesota Sunday.

A Sweet Non-Stop Flight

If you fly Delta like many Minnesotans, then you're very familiar with their biscoff cookies. I'll admit it, I've often stolen my husband's pack and squirreled them away while he's sleeping in the seat next to mine. I'm obviously not alone in my love of those little cinnamon and sugar biscuits.

Stef of Cupcake Project was kind enough to share the recipe for biscoffs along with tips for stamping them with a happy message or even company name.

Using a stamp set from Williams-Sonoma, she shows a little love for her blog.

These fuss-free cookies are adorably simple, and they'd be great for a casual, laid-back get together among friends. If you haven't yet enjoyed a biscoff, let me just tell you, they would be a perfect gift. Why waste time and money trying to figure out the perfect gift for your boyfriend's cousin's going away present when you could whip these out and save your sanity?

They aren't at all fragile, so they'd ship nicely. It's never too early to plan some inexpensive, but heartfelt gifts for all kinds of occasions.

Painted Popsicles

I found these watercolor cards by Fine Day Press on Oh So Beautiful Paper. They're perfect for Summer's lazy days. The cards are blank inside, so they're great for birthday well wishes and just because. They're so vividly painted that they look like they are melting right onto the card.

Swing by Fine Day Press's website to see even more watercolor and letterpress designs.

Dessert Table: Jelly Bean Bar

I absolutely love this unique idea featured on Green Wedding Shoes! The team at Amorology created this wonderfully homespun-looking jelly bean bar by arranging a variety of jars and vases on these antique wooden shelves.

I love how unplanned and effortless this arrangement feels, almost like the couple gathered the elements together from a collection of vases from friends and families. Can't get enough? Check out Green Wedding Shoes for even more yummy pics here.

Dessert Table: Elephants Go Girly (Finally!)

I realized earlier in the year after posting this and this that elephants were increasingly popular for baby boy's showers. Style Me Pretty recently posted this dessert table that proves they are even popular for girl-themed showers.

I love the pattern on the linens and the gorgeous flowers in shades of pink and orange. Powdered donuts, cheesecake bites, and cupcakes make for simple, tasty sweets.

Be sure to check out more photos from the event here.

Images (Gertrude & Mabel Photography)

Cake Designs for Dummies

Megan Herbert's cake and coffee stencils make designer desserts as easy as 1, 2, 3. As a skilled illustrator, Megan creates intricate stencil designs. Simply place the stencil over the top of a cake or your favorite foamy coffee drink and sprinkle confectioner's sugar or cocoa powder over the top. The result? Beautifully-detailed dessert designs!

Images (Marino Thorlacius)

Pretty Little Cakes All in a Row

I stumbled across this gorgeous collection of cakes yesterday while perusing The Cinderella Project. Eclairs, truffles, and macarons mingle with several towering confections.

I absolutely love houndstooth. Here, the menswear pattern is translated onto cake with very pretty results. A traditional croquembouche, whoopie pies, and lemon tarts under glass finish off the charming display.

Have a great Friday, everyone! This weekend, I'll be celebrating Minneapolis' Aquatennial at the beach. Hope you all have a great weekend, too. See you Monday!

Images (New York Magazine)

Shauna Younge Dessert Tables in MN Bride Magazine!

The new issue of Minnesota Bride has been unveiled, and I'm thrilled to have one of my dessert tables featured!

When a bride asked the magazine for alternatives to traditional wedding cakes, they kindly recommended Shauna Younge Dessert Tables and included pictures of my Love dessert table.

For those of you who are new to the blog, be sure to check out the design process that went into creating this table here and more yummy pics of the finished design here.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Minnesota Bride's Fall/Winter 2010 issue from your favorite newsstand!

In a Gelato State of Mind

Lately, I've been very interested in all things gelato, which you may have noticed. I posted this and this recently. Well, here's another gelato-riffic post that any sweet tooth can appreciate.

Eat Drink Chic featured this sweet stationery. Designer Joe Stephenson created the set to invite guests to Fedrigoni's London Showroom for an ice cream event.

What a fun branding suite. I definitely would have kept a few of the little scoops and cups for my future inspiration.

Subtle Sweetness: The Caketress

My friend Maddy, of The Inspired Bride, recently posted a few images from Caketress Lori Hutchinson's portfolio. They were so beautiful, that I had to swing by Lori's site to see more. Lori's designs are beautiful, as are a lot of cakes, but her style creates an impact by relying on intricate details rather than bold, bright colors.

By replicating fabric textures, button designs, and draping, Lori brings a richness to her designs that negates the need for "Hey, look at me!" color palettes. Pleated layers of fondant, cascading flowers, and cameo accents make these cakes subtly sweet.

Be sure to visit Lori's gallery for even more beautiful pics.

Image 1 (Rebecca Wood Photography), Image 2-4 (Rowell Photography)

Coffee A la Mode: Piccolo Affogato al Caffe

I've tried a lot of interesting things to sweeten up my coffee, but I've never considered an espresso/ gelato combo. Sunday Suppers featured the recipe and delicious images for Piccolo Affogato al Caffe, a traditional Italian dessert of gelato and espresso.

This is such an easy treat to wow your guests with. All you need is your favorite gelato, espresso, and pretty glass mugs. Place a mug at each guest's seat and garnish each saucer with a cookie for a fabulous finishing touch. Voila!

You can even experiment with different flavors of gelato if you prefer something a little less, well, vanilla. Check out the super simple recipe.