Hello, Cupcake! News and Fun from the Hello Cupcake Candy Lab
Sweet ideas by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. Check_out_our_website_www.hellocupcakebook.com
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Hello, Cupcake! BLOG
Sheep Variations
A Wild and Woolly Rescue!!
We found ourselves in a REAL CUPCAKE QUANDRY recently.
We were doing an afternoon cupcake demo at SAKS Fifth Avenue. (FANCY!) And someone--who described herself as a huge huge fan--asked us to please make the sheep from the cover of OH, MY!
We weren't prepared to do that particular project AT ALL. We didn't have any pound cake with us, and we didn't have Milano cookies for the heads.
But we hate to disappoint our fans.
Karen and I stared at one another. And as if we read each other's mind, we grabbed some chocolate cupcakes (for the body) and Oreos (for the head).
And we reinvented our sheep on the spot. Whew!!
That is always exciting for us because we tell our readers to think outside the candy box and use what they have on hand. Get creative and find a way to make it work.
That is always exciting for us because we tell our readers to think outside the candy box and use what they have on hand. Get creative and find a way to make it work.
And as it turned out, our huge huge fan loved our sheep variations.
They were pretty cute!
Happy Cupcaking
Alan & Karen
Alan & Karen
Cupcake Downtime
Another Sunny Day in the Candy Lab
Life isn't ALWAYS frantic at the Candy Lab.
Some days it's just about focusing on that computer screen. Proofreading a recipe. Returning e-mail. Making endless TO DO lists.
Of course, even peace and quiet means "PHOTO OP" to Alan.
Heck, even Bunny looks mellow.
Happy Cupcaking,
Karen and Alan (and Bunny)
Superhero Shield Cake
....It's SUPERCAKE!!
Here's the last of our recent PARENTS projects--perfect for the superheroes in your life.
This unbeatable SUPERHERO SHIELD CAKE comes complete with spice drop lighting bolts, and a fruit leather border.
And best of all, it doesn't take special powers to make it.
For the complete recipe, go to:
Thanks to Tara Donne for the mighty photo.
Up, Up and Away,
Alan and Karen
Hostess with the Mostest
For those who've been suffering from HCW (that is, HOSTESS CUPCAKE WITHDRAWAL) we have great news!!
It was rumored that TWINKIES would return this summer. And now we have a solid DATE!! According to NBC News, Twinkies will hit shelves across the country in late July!!
Plus we've learned that ALL the classic Hostess snacks--Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, etc--will be back before the close of 2013!!
Welcome back, Hostess. Supermarkets and Gas Stations have not been the same without you.
Here's the link to the entire story:
Happy Cupcaking,
Alan and Karen
Pirate Cupcakes
Cupcakes Ahoy!!!
For anyone who'd walk the plank for a good cupcake, here's Part Two of our new work for PARENTS magazine.
It's what we call PUNKY PIRATE TATTOO CUPCAKES. They come complete with anchors, skulls and crossbones--everything you need for a hearty yo-ho-ho!!!
Check out Tara Donne's tasty photo below.
Now dive deep into our how-to video:
Happy Cupcaking, Mateys.
Karen and Alan
Robin's Candy Shop
Candy Mountain!!
Last weekend, I happened to be driving through the beautiful BERKSHIRE MOUNTAINS. And I came across one of the most fun candy stores I've seen in a while.
Robin's Candy Shop in Great Barrington, Mass, contains everything I love about a candy store--funny surprises, rare items, vintage touches and lots and lots of scrumptious-looking candy.
My favorite items were THE WORLD'S LARGEST GUMMY WORM. I figured it was about two feet long.
And, of course, I loved the CUPCAKE TOOTHPASTE!! Can't wait to brush!
Happy Cupcaking,
Alan
Goldfish Cake
Something Fishy!
Call us CUT UPS---but we really love cutting standard cakes into different shapes to make new whimsical creations.
Recently, we used our cut-up shapes to create a colorful GOLDFISH for PARADE magazine.
It's a fishcake even kids should love! And it's so easy to make!
Take a look at the photo by Sheri Giblin.
And check out the link to PARADE's website and the recipe:
Happy Cupcaking,
Karen and Alan
Cupcake Ramekins
The "Cup" in Cupcake!
A friend of ours is something of an armchair cupcake historian. And when he dropped in the Candy Lab last week, he told us how cupcakes got their name.
He says that there are several semi-official reasons we call cupcakes "cup-cakes."
His favorite is the fact that cupcakes were originally baked in pottery cups--or ramekins--that were thick enough to be ovenproof.
This is a practice that dates back to the 19th Century. And it's a practice that's still used today--with modern variations.
Does that mean cupcakes were the first food to come in an individual serving?
Here's to further research,
Alan and Karen
Dinosaur Egg Cake
Hatching Some New Projects!!
Recently, we did some new projects for PARENTS magazine. They were nice enough to allow us to share some of the photos they took and the how-to videos we filmed.
We'll be sharing those projects over the next week or two.
We wanted to start big--and what could be bigger than a dinosaur egg!!
We wanted to start big--and what could be bigger than a dinosaur egg!!
This colossal green-neon cake is perfect for those days when you and the kids are feeling a bit Jurassic.
Discover the dino-mite photograph below by Tara Donne.
And here's the unmissing link to our prehistoric how-to video:
Happy Cupcaking,
Alan and Karen
Discover the dino-mite photograph below by Tara Donne.
And here's the unmissing link to our prehistoric how-to video:
Happy Cupcaking,
Alan and Karen
Foreign Editions
Going Global!!
Publishing a book comes with lots of unexpected side benefits. One of them is getting to see your work in foreign editions.
We love when our efforts are translated into other languages. It's like we created a brand new book!
Plus it's great to know that CUPCAKES ARE GOING GLOBAL!!
Just for fun, here's the French edition of WHAT'S NEW, CUPCAKE?
("best-seller du New York Times").
Happy International Cupcaking,
Alan and Karen
Happy International Cupcaking,
Alan and Karen
