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Ok, so Eleven Year Old asked for cupcakes for her class of 26(!) to celebrate her bday. This is the image I saw in my head:
Apparently, however, she saw this:
Now, I know cupcakes have been in vogue lately. Like so many simple things from my childhood, they’ve been “Martha Stewart-ized.” Oh no…simple chocolate cupcakes like our moms made are no longer sufficient. Now a simple cupcake can be a major production with vanilla bean from Madagascar, French rose water and gold dust. Like this from Dozen …which c
omes with the following description:
The Emily
Named for a wonderful friend, our buttery yellow cupcake is topped with a Tiffany inspired blue royal icing with a hint of lemon and finished with delicate white non-pareils.
I’m not sure when cupcakes started being named like shoes or described like designer couture. Don’t get me wrong. I cleaned my computer screen with my tongue while viewing their cupcakes. But it just sets the standard so high for normal people like me.
As you can tell, I’m not really thrilled with the whole “designerization” (I just made up that word) of simple home cooking. (I know…cupcakes that look like dogs aren’t really gourmet….it’s just the idea.)
But anyhoo, said Eleven Year Old hardly ever asks for anything so I really wanted to give her this one thing. But a cake designer, I’m not.
Nevertheless, we rallied the troops and started decorating.
And like all kids who start out excited about something, they bored of it about 20 minutes in and started backing away slowly and quietly so as to avoid my attention as they made their escape. When I looked up to talk to them, they were long gone.
So I finished them myself. And like all loving mothers who do things for their beloved children, I thought,
“I HOPE she remembers and appreciates all this when she’s 50!”
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
yowza! if she doesn’t remember, i will - those are crazy! (in a good way)
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I once made 32 cupcakes complete with marshmallow snowmen with features make from fruit rollups (scarves) and gumdrops (orange noses) Do you know how hard it is to cut up gum drops, let alone something that small? But like you, once started, I had to finish. I feel your pain…..At least you have photos to use for blackmail when she gets older, lol!
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 am
I bet gumdrops are about as hard to cut as marshmallows. And yes, they are going in the blackmail file, along with the photos of when she babypowdered every inch of our master bedroom.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 am
Thanks! Oh, she’ll remember alright. If it kills me.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 am
The cupcakes are so cute. I’ll have to make those for my Grandkids.
They”ll remember. It is nice you let younger daughter help with the frosting too. That will definelty be a good memory. I am around 50 and I remember special things like that my Mother did, long ago.
Enjoyed my visit!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
1. My mom would make me cupcakes from a box — if I was lucky. It was a struggle to get her to make the icing purple, my favorite color. You are a saint.
2. How on earth did you manage to transport them to the school?
3. I need a video so I can see how to decorate these
4. The other moms are so going to HATE you now. Ha ha
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
These are really cute! I know what you are saying though - I made halloween kitty cupcakes for halloween this year and it was soooo time consuming - but the people loved them at the party I went to - so I guess it was worth it!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Short directions:
1) Pipe around the outside of the cupcake going from the center to the edge like a sunburst pattern.
2) Cut a marshmallow in half and take off about 1/3 off the edge so it’s kind of a half moon shape.
3) Pipe from the tip of the nose down (it’s supposed to look like fur hanging off the nose.)
4) Add mini M&M’s for the eyes, a chocolate whopper for the nose.
5) For ears, cut mini marshmallows in half, dip sticky side in pink sugar.
6) For tongue, microwave a cherry Starburst for about 10 seconds. Cut it into 4 pieces and make 4 teardrop shapes. Take a butter knife and push down the indentation for the tongue.
That’s about it.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:49 am
I’ve ordered the book these little doggies are contained in. I suspect they may be beyond me but the benefit of baking as a hobby, is that your mistakes get eaten (thus leaving no lasting evidence)!!!
http://www.thecakedcrusader.blogspot.com
April 4th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Yes, that’s true. Except for me, the evidence remains stuck to my butt forever. Sigh.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I just came across your website and I love it! Those cupcakes are really pretty, and I`m sure the kids loved them. For about the 2 seconds it took for them to shovel it into for their mouths.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Those are so cute!
April 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Well, thank you!
April 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Welcome, Emily. And thanks for the kind words. Yes, I’m sure the kids took about 2 seconds to shove them into their mouths. I would have them beat at .5 second though.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
What a lucky daughter you have!
April 4th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
As a 50 year old daughter/mother/grandmother I can assure you that there is a MUCH better chance of her remembering this adventure since she actually participated…had you done them all yourself she probably would forget it in a week.
A friend spend hours every Christmas making gingerbread houses because in her mind that was part of Christmas and it was important that her children grew up having a gingerbread house every year…her adult children have absolutely NO recollection of these houses!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
That’s encouraging. Somedays I wonder what they’ll remember as special and what will be long forgotten.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I know!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Oh you’re so funny, I’m 19, but I remember all the little things mom did for me. In fact I sent her your site so she could laugh too. I knew she’d appreciate it. You have talent for decorating. I’m in envy!
April 5th, 2008 at 4:53 am
How adorable. I love your style of writing as well. I once stayed up until 3 am decorating a birthday cake to look like a Carousel. Was it worth it? You betcha, every minute. Do my kids remember it? I am not sure. The important thing is I do.
April 5th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Wow, they are so lovely and cute! I think they’re really lovely! Almost too good to eat!
April 5th, 2008 at 8:01 am
The cupcakes are too cute. I have absolutely no doubt that she’s going to remember them - you have pictures and can bring them out at a moment’s notice to continually remind her of the self sacrifice you went through. And….most importantly - when she becomes a mother and has little ones she’ll be reminded of how much you love her and the special things you did for and with her. I know this because I’m now reaping the benefit of all of that and it’s worth it.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Ah ha! That gives me an idea. I’ll put these in the “You owe me!” file to give when it comes time to choose a nursing home.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:26 am
It’s good to hear that another mom has been through it and can see that her kids remember. But I’ll keep photos, just in case.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Yes, I thought so too! But the kids didn’t!
April 5th, 2008 at 9:29 am
You’re right. I mean, why else did I pay $100 to take my kids to Sesame Street Live when they’re too small to remember? Because we do.
April 6th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Francie-
This brings back some exhausting memories. For me it was 32 marshmallow snowman perched on top of cupcakes complete with gumdrop noses (do you know how hard it is to cut carrot shaped noses out of gumdrops!?) and fruit roll-up scarves. Into about the 10th cupcake my daughter skidaddled out to watch t.v. What could I do? Of course she needed them the next day. I labored on…and on…and on. I think I finally finished at midnight. The next day I asked her, “So how were the cupcakes?” “Good” she answered, skipping away. *Sigh* At least you have photos to prove you made them. I don’t even have that! lol
April 6th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I love these, and I bet her TEACHER was floored! You were probably the talk of the teacher’s lounge.
When I was little, my grandma taught a cake decorating class at a local Hallmark-like store. She would make us Holly Hobbie cakes or ones with a Barbie set in the top and a highly-decorated round skirt made of cake. Later we got to decorate our own cakes when it was our birthday, and it was a big highlight. I am sure your daughter will remember…and maybe she’ll get to do it for her own daughter some day!
April 6th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Kate,
I don’t know if anyone noticed them. The teacher asked me to leave them in the hall so I never got to see anyone. But I think my dog-lovin’ daughter was happy and she’s the one that counts, right? THANKS FOR DROPPING BY!!
April 6th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I remember Holly Hobbie cakes and definitely Barbie cakes. I think I even have a picture of me in 5th grade wearing a Holly Hobbie outfit with my new shag haircut.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:38 am
She is indeed the one who counts. And even if they were left in the hall, I still bet they live on in legend.
I believe I have a twin photo of the HH cake, but it’s my sister with the shag haircut…or more like Farrah with the wings. Thanks again for such a cool site…I’ve bookmarked it.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I saw that same article with those cupcakes and thought “How cute!” and “How insane would someone have to be to make those for 25 of her kid’s best friends?”
Guess I got my answer. They are adorable!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
A Tiffany-inspired cupcake, good grief! Your doggies came out adorable, great job!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
I know, too bad the teacher told me to just put them in the hallway. I wish I could have seen the kids faces.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Oh, those little doggie cupcakes are just the cutest thing! I might have to borrow this idea sometime. Love it! Love the photos too and yes I think she’ll totally appreciate it someday!
October 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
For my 8th birthday my mum made eyeball cupcakes for my whole class (eyeballs because i have an october birthday!) anyways, im now 21 and not only do i remember them but so do most of my friends who were in that class…im sure she will appreciate the puppy cupcakes forever!