pennquaker09
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The Cupcake Thread!
- Thread starter Mara
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Mara
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hey cupcakers (and eaters!)...i haven''t checked in on this thread in forever it feels like!! just been so busy..!! cupcaking is going quite well, i had i think 4 orders last week..wow. one so far this week and i have a friend''s 40th bday party this wkd and she asked me to do the cupcakes and said she''d pay me but i was like just give me cost of supplies....sometimes i have a hard time taking people''s money haha.
i also committed to doing this sweet gal''s kids bday parties for the last 2 wkds of the month and i am a little paranoid. she wants cupcakes and cakes as well, and i am really not a caker just yet. they take more work to get pretty, even, level, whatever, seem to take more work to decorate too. we spent 45 minutes on the phone yesterday hammering out details and i feel okay about it, it will just be a lot of work. i am like what did i get myself into with these cakes!? at least i don''t have to split and layer the cakes as they are shapes (the big super cupcake one for her daughter along with matching small cupcakes, and a barn shaped cake for a farm themed party for her son) but the decoration and all that..yikes. AND i have events both weekends for a friend''s upcoming wedding (actually one wkd is the wedding which we are staying overnight for in carmel). anyone else an overachiever like me?? greg is always like why do you take on so much? say no. i have the hardest time hahaha...esp if its something i really want to do.
anyway there''s my update!! oh and freke i have been playing around a lot with fondant flowers and shapes, veiners etc. do you know about any of that stuff? its really fun and quite relaxing actually. i can take 2 hours and just zone out doing flowers. they last so long when premade. i also want to take a gumpaste flower course for fun, we''ll have to see, there is an awesome place about 45 minutes from me that does all kinds of specialty things but the timing on schedule might not work out. oh and random note but a friend is looking locally into going to pastry school here and she priced it out for me because greg was like ''you should take some classes'' ... and it''s $25k for 10 months, wow! that''s a whole new diamond...! i can learn a lot on my own for $25k...hehe.
i also committed to doing this sweet gal''s kids bday parties for the last 2 wkds of the month and i am a little paranoid. she wants cupcakes and cakes as well, and i am really not a caker just yet. they take more work to get pretty, even, level, whatever, seem to take more work to decorate too. we spent 45 minutes on the phone yesterday hammering out details and i feel okay about it, it will just be a lot of work. i am like what did i get myself into with these cakes!? at least i don''t have to split and layer the cakes as they are shapes (the big super cupcake one for her daughter along with matching small cupcakes, and a barn shaped cake for a farm themed party for her son) but the decoration and all that..yikes. AND i have events both weekends for a friend''s upcoming wedding (actually one wkd is the wedding which we are staying overnight for in carmel). anyone else an overachiever like me?? greg is always like why do you take on so much? say no. i have the hardest time hahaha...esp if its something i really want to do.
anyway there''s my update!! oh and freke i have been playing around a lot with fondant flowers and shapes, veiners etc. do you know about any of that stuff? its really fun and quite relaxing actually. i can take 2 hours and just zone out doing flowers. they last so long when premade. i also want to take a gumpaste flower course for fun, we''ll have to see, there is an awesome place about 45 minutes from me that does all kinds of specialty things but the timing on schedule might not work out. oh and random note but a friend is looking locally into going to pastry school here and she priced it out for me because greg was like ''you should take some classes'' ... and it''s $25k for 10 months, wow! that''s a whole new diamond...! i can learn a lot on my own for $25k...hehe.
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Mara
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Mara
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Linda W
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Linda W
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FrekeChild
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Mara!
Your stuff is lookin' good!!!
I've made lots of gumpaste flowers. Not to mention marzipan ones. I loathe fondant though, honestly. I avoid it as much as I possibly can. We actually had to make a new marzipan rose every night for homework in a class I took. My problem is that I want them to be as life like as possible, so I will spend hours and hours on them, making them as perfect as I possibly can. I also find it relaxing, but I think that I'd probably drive myself nuts-and I certainly couldn't charge enough to make it worth my while. My mom asked me to take a class on making them with me, and we had to buy a stupid Wilton kit each to participate-which was stupid, because I think Wilton tools suck if you're planning on using them professionally or for an extended period of time. Plastic does not cut it when there are quality stainless steel tools out there.
I'd totally recommend that you pick up one of Colette Peters' books. In the one I have (I think it's Colette's Wedding Cakes?) has all of the basics (recipes, techniques, templates) in the back, and a ton of pictures and step by step instructions in the front, and I think it even has places listed where you can buy equipment-although that stuff is easier to find with the internet now. Anyway, I think they run about $30 each, and I can't tell you how often I'll refer back to it when I'm planning for making any type of cake.
You should find out if there are any airbrush classes you can take. I love love love using the airbrush--it's so much fun! Like Graffiti! But not as permanent or illegal!
Where have you looked for classes?
My community college was maybe a total of $4k for an associate's degree (including tuition, uniforms, knives, supplies, books and lab fees) and CIA was going to cost $50k for an associate's (with everything included, even my dorm room) but that doesn't include the costs incurred for the externship or travel costs.
If you need any help researching for classes, or questions about that stuff, let me know! There might even be some pastry chefs/bakers/cake decorators in your area that would be willing to give you "private" lessons for a much smaller fee than the classes. Perhaps you could ask around? I can probably help you with that too. There was a retired Chef Instructor who lived by CIA, and if the students got at least 6 of them together, she'd teach them a class on whatever they wanted for about $100 for an afternoon. So that might be something to check out too.
Anyway, let me know if you need anything!
Your stuff is lookin' good!!!
I've made lots of gumpaste flowers. Not to mention marzipan ones. I loathe fondant though, honestly. I avoid it as much as I possibly can. We actually had to make a new marzipan rose every night for homework in a class I took. My problem is that I want them to be as life like as possible, so I will spend hours and hours on them, making them as perfect as I possibly can. I also find it relaxing, but I think that I'd probably drive myself nuts-and I certainly couldn't charge enough to make it worth my while. My mom asked me to take a class on making them with me, and we had to buy a stupid Wilton kit each to participate-which was stupid, because I think Wilton tools suck if you're planning on using them professionally or for an extended period of time. Plastic does not cut it when there are quality stainless steel tools out there.
I'd totally recommend that you pick up one of Colette Peters' books. In the one I have (I think it's Colette's Wedding Cakes?) has all of the basics (recipes, techniques, templates) in the back, and a ton of pictures and step by step instructions in the front, and I think it even has places listed where you can buy equipment-although that stuff is easier to find with the internet now. Anyway, I think they run about $30 each, and I can't tell you how often I'll refer back to it when I'm planning for making any type of cake.
You should find out if there are any airbrush classes you can take. I love love love using the airbrush--it's so much fun! Like Graffiti! But not as permanent or illegal!
Where have you looked for classes?
My community college was maybe a total of $4k for an associate's degree (including tuition, uniforms, knives, supplies, books and lab fees) and CIA was going to cost $50k for an associate's (with everything included, even my dorm room) but that doesn't include the costs incurred for the externship or travel costs.
If you need any help researching for classes, or questions about that stuff, let me know! There might even be some pastry chefs/bakers/cake decorators in your area that would be willing to give you "private" lessons for a much smaller fee than the classes. Perhaps you could ask around? I can probably help you with that too. There was a retired Chef Instructor who lived by CIA, and if the students got at least 6 of them together, she'd teach them a class on whatever they wanted for about $100 for an afternoon. So that might be something to check out too.
Anyway, let me know if you need anything!
pennquaker09
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Mara
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thanks ladies... good to see ya''ll too! 
thanks for the wealth of info freke!!! i actually do find the flowers relaxing too. and i like using fondant though i don''t like the taste of it, i like that it is drier mostly and doesn''t stick as much, but i am still learning techniques. i just got some of that choco pan fondant and it''s sooo soft. i had to add a lot of flour to get it to a consistency that i wanted to work with for flowers BUT i could see how it''s awesome for covering cakes, it''s very soft and pliable and has a slight ''sheen'' to it. it is made with chocolate and is supposed to taste WAY better than regular fondant but i have not eaten it yet.
i will check out that cake book too, i def need something i can refer to with techniques and instructions on how to that can be kind of like my bible. have you heard of The Cake Bible? Many people SWEAR by it for layer cakes, but i have also read online from multiple sources that it''s also very hard to perfect, like the recipes are not EASY and that a lot of times stuff comes out hit or miss. so it''s put me off from buying.
i know most of it is practice makes perfect though....that is just what i need to keep doing. locally in berkeley at a cake shop they have FUN looking classes like gumpaste flowers, advanced fondant cakes, shapes like a purse... i totally want to take that stuffto learn the basics...problem is that berkeley is like 45 min from me and a lot of their classes are like at 6pm on a weekday OR 9am on a saturday. so it''s not quite easy. there is another local place where i took my first cake class and they are kind of more ''rustic'' and not as fancy as i''d like to be...but i asked the gal last time i was in and she said they are doing a gumpaste flower class so i think i will take that one cuz its like 1/2 the price of the berkeley one and i just want to learn more about techniques and shaping which i can then apply to anything.
also there is a ton of stuff online that i have checked out, i get most of my supplies online and also you can watch youtube videos and stuff! haha. anyway, i am making cuppies this wkd for my friends 40th bday party...so that''s my project for tomorrow.
thanks for the wealth of info freke!!! i actually do find the flowers relaxing too. and i like using fondant though i don''t like the taste of it, i like that it is drier mostly and doesn''t stick as much, but i am still learning techniques. i just got some of that choco pan fondant and it''s sooo soft. i had to add a lot of flour to get it to a consistency that i wanted to work with for flowers BUT i could see how it''s awesome for covering cakes, it''s very soft and pliable and has a slight ''sheen'' to it. it is made with chocolate and is supposed to taste WAY better than regular fondant but i have not eaten it yet.
i will check out that cake book too, i def need something i can refer to with techniques and instructions on how to that can be kind of like my bible. have you heard of The Cake Bible? Many people SWEAR by it for layer cakes, but i have also read online from multiple sources that it''s also very hard to perfect, like the recipes are not EASY and that a lot of times stuff comes out hit or miss. so it''s put me off from buying.
i know most of it is practice makes perfect though....that is just what i need to keep doing. locally in berkeley at a cake shop they have FUN looking classes like gumpaste flowers, advanced fondant cakes, shapes like a purse... i totally want to take that stuffto learn the basics...problem is that berkeley is like 45 min from me and a lot of their classes are like at 6pm on a weekday OR 9am on a saturday. so it''s not quite easy. there is another local place where i took my first cake class and they are kind of more ''rustic'' and not as fancy as i''d like to be...but i asked the gal last time i was in and she said they are doing a gumpaste flower class so i think i will take that one cuz its like 1/2 the price of the berkeley one and i just want to learn more about techniques and shaping which i can then apply to anything.
also there is a ton of stuff online that i have checked out, i get most of my supplies online and also you can watch youtube videos and stuff! haha. anyway, i am making cuppies this wkd for my friends 40th bday party...so that''s my project for tomorrow.
FrekeChild
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Hey Mara.
I don't own The Cake Bible, but I have heard the same things.
After buying The Professional Pastry Chef, the other textbooks for class and a couple of other random ones (mostly just dessert books and then Colette Peters' book) I started buying more artsy stuff-art books, plated dessert books, etc.
What is this choco pan fondant? I've always used modeling chocolate for covering cakes, making sculptures, etc. It's a lot like tootsie roll. With any sugar doughs you should use powdered sugar to stiffen the consistency. Occasionally I'll toss in some corn starch, but I like to play it safe.
I'd take the cheap class that's close by. That's a really far drive for those other classes, and combined with the fact that they are at such sucky times, I would say it's not worth it, unless they cover something that you really want to learn. Like really really want to.
I can't wait to see some of the stuff you make!!! Good luck with the cuppies this weekend! Make sure you take plenty of pics!!!
I don't own The Cake Bible, but I have heard the same things.
After buying The Professional Pastry Chef, the other textbooks for class and a couple of other random ones (mostly just dessert books and then Colette Peters' book) I started buying more artsy stuff-art books, plated dessert books, etc.
What is this choco pan fondant? I've always used modeling chocolate for covering cakes, making sculptures, etc. It's a lot like tootsie roll. With any sugar doughs you should use powdered sugar to stiffen the consistency. Occasionally I'll toss in some corn starch, but I like to play it safe.
I'd take the cheap class that's close by. That's a really far drive for those other classes, and combined with the fact that they are at such sucky times, I would say it's not worth it, unless they cover something that you really want to learn. Like really really want to.
I can't wait to see some of the stuff you make!!! Good luck with the cuppies this weekend! Make sure you take plenty of pics!!!
steph72276
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Ok, Miss Mara....will you please share with me how you frost your cuppies so beautifully? They are just gorgeous. Oh, and you were sooo right. I finally made homemade red velvet cupcakes and they were a million times better than Sprinkles mix! I am in cupcake mode right now too but I need to go get some supplies.
cpster
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I just found this thread and love looking at all of your fabulous creations! I just got a mini-muffin/cupcake pan and have a question. I got mini sized liners and they are slightly less than 1/4" short of the top of the top of the pan once in place. Does anyone else have this problem? Will the minis bake out fine? Or will they get stuck? Should I shop for a new pan? Thanks!
pennquaker09
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The Cake Bible is a great book, you should pick up one. I think I ordered mine for Amazon with The Whimsical Bakehouse and it was around 30 bucks or so, maybe more, I think I might have ordered a few extra books.
It's my understanding that Choco Pan isn't actually fondant. And the warmer it gets, the harder it is to work with. The better choice would be Satin Ice. They both have the tootsie roll type flavor, but Satin Ice is much easier to work with. The Choco Pan tends to tear easily. Satin Ice tastes good and is easier to work with.
Look at this, it's so cute: http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/baby-shower-cupcake-stand-2008-02-16.htm
moremoremore
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Tacori E-ring
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Sorry if this has already been discuss but I have decided to do cupcakes for my daughter''s 1st birthday party (they will be no where as near beautiful or creative as all of yours) I am looking to get a cupcake stand. Anyone have one they love? Also is there a certain place that is the best to buy supplies (liners and stuff)? TIA!
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Kaleigh
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princesss
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Tacori, I've been going around looking for cupcake stuff. Michaels actually has some decent cupcake stands (mini and full-sized) and decorating stuff (tips, dyes, etc.). I go to the one on South (Exit 65 off of 485). The other place I can think of right away is at South Park...I think it's Sur la Table? I can't remember where in the mall it is, but I think it's on the right if you come in by Nordstrom's and go towards the rest of the mall. It all just depends on what you want to do, budget-wise.
Tacori E-ring
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neatfreak
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Date: 8/24/2008 9:57:41 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
P, that is the Michael''s I go to too! How funny. Not looking to spend a ton. Found one online for $42. I think that would be my limit. I already found the CUTEST Halloween cupcake ideas.
ETA: it held 38 cupcakes
Tacori, I think the one you are referring to is the same one we had for our wedding. It''s great. I still use it all the time!
This one right?
http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Cupcakes-Stand%252d-Silvertone%2528Holds-38%2529/dp/B000EN6HD2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1219630618&sr=8-5
neatfreak
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pennquaker09
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fisherofmengirly
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princesss
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Haha, Tacori, I had a sneaking suspicion you might be on my side of town. I love going through that Michaels. BF and I were in there last week looking for a box for my loose stones, and I got sidetracked by the cupcakes. And then I got *really* sidetracked by World Market. I had to go pet the dishes that I want, and play with the furniture. Oh goodness. I spend far too much time in that store.
Tacori E-ring
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princesss
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Oh my goodness, Tacori, I love that stand! And cupcake stands are the kinds of things you can use more than once. Besides, gorgeous Tessa is turning 1! That deserves some slightly-less-than-practical celebratory cupcake-standery.
(Btw, have you looked at those terra cotta dishes at WM with the brown pattern around the edges? Because those are destined to be in my kitchen cupboard.)
(Btw, have you looked at those terra cotta dishes at WM with the brown pattern around the edges? Because those are destined to be in my kitchen cupboard.)
neatfreak
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Date: 8/25/2008 6:53:37 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
princesss, I love World Market''s dishes too. We could be neighbors for all we know!
Neatfreak, that''s the one! Glad you liked it. I feel kind of silly buying one JUST for her first b-day but I figured it will come in handy.
It completely will, we''ve used ours numerous times in the past year. And people ask to borrow it all the time, so it gets used quite often for showers, parties, brunches, etc.
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