Dessert Table: Moody Cupcake Bar

You know how much cupcake bars fill me with glee, right? Yeah, of course you do. This one is moody and dark, unlike the bright, sunny dessert displays we see so often. And guess what, I love it! Emily Blake captured the unexpected, moody vibe so well.

This display is so different from this and this, just proving that you can bring your own vision to an already-done idea.

Sweet Idea: White Chocolate Confetti Popcorn

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, then you already know that I've been making my own white chocolate popcorn for an after-dinner snack a lot lately. When I saw this little bit of extra flare today on Pinterest, it was a "Why didn't I think of that?" moment. Amy of She Wears Many Hats shared these lovely pics of her Party Popcorn.

Simply drizzle melted Candy Qwik or other hardening white chocolate over your lightly salted popcorn (I like Pop Secret's Homestyle) and dust the morsels with colorful sprinkles for a festive treat. You can even make some the night before Valentine's when your kids are asleep and put a little baggie into their lunch for the holiday. Now you know what I'll be munching tonight while watching Alcatraz and SMASH.

Cupcake Countdown to 2011

Today, I have three New Year's Eve dessert posts for you. Each one is more metallic and festive than the last, so be sure to check in throughout the day to see each shimmery sweet.

This simple, gorgeous cupcake by Sprinkle Bakes somehow manages to epitomize the festive nature of the perfect New Years Eve party. It's nearly effortless, but it comes alive in the details. The metallic dragees and the hidden champagne filling are easy to pull off, but will definitely have your guests talking.

Simply scoop out the middle of the cupcake to add a surprising filling inside.

Stay tuned for today's second post. It's a metallic dessert table with a single vibrant punch of color. Be sure to check out the recipe for the sparkling champagne cupcake and the champagne pastry creme filling here.

So tell me, how do you plan to ring in the new year?

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.