Fourth of July Inspiration

Happy Monday!

As you all know – the 4^th of July is right around the corner.  I LOVE the 4^th of July! Great food, a day spent at the beach or laying by the pool, lots of friends, and an evening filled with fireworks – not many things could make me happier!

It’s also a great excuse to make really adorable and festive cupcakes! Before I decide what I want to make for the 4^th, I took a look online and gathered some really awesome inspiration.

Enjoy 🙂

P.S. Just click the photo and it will take you to the site where I found the photo!

American Flag Cupcakes

Patriotic Tye-Dye – So much Fun! I also LOVE the little American Flag on the top. Perfect touch!

Ice Cream and Cupcakes - Nothing more American 🙂

Ice cream cone Cupcakes. A not-so-traditional approach to the normal ideas of red and white blue cupcakes. Simple but adorable!!

Simple and Elegant

This set up is just so perfect! I love the coordinating wrappers and the small red and blue flowers. This shows a perfect balance of color without having red, white, and blue overkill.

Popsicle Cupcakes!

Red, White and Blue “Bomb Pop” Cupcakes. I love the popsicle stick for added effect!Kids will go crazy for these!

Beautiful Swirl Frosting!

3 color striped frosting! This is such a fun technique. I’ve done it a few times here and here.

Lot’s of awesome ideas, right?! I am going to do a lot of baking and experimenting tonight, so make sure you check back for my 4^th of July cupcake recipe and more decorating ideas!

Have a sweet day!

Xoxo,

Jill

Classic White Cake

Image from weheartit.com

Ah, Wednesday. Halfway through the week – Wednesday feels good, doesn’t it?! I’d like to thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes! You sure know how to make a girl feel loved 🙂

I have to admit though, with everything going on for my birthday, I neglected to notice that it was my dear friend’s one year wedding anniversary. Such a great milestone to celebrate! And you know that no one loves a celebration as much as I do, it’s the perfect excuse for eating tons of cake (or cupcakes in my preference!)

So today, I dedicate this post to my close friend Nikki. You are inspiring, determined, and oh-so creative. Thanks for being my friend and happy ONE YEAR Anniversary! So happy for you and your hubby!

Let’s celebrate with a recipe for traditional white cake and some great cupcake decorating ideas!!

Beautiful Cake and Cupcake Display! By "Cakes and Culinary Creations"

Classic White Cupcakes (adapted recipe from Wilton)

Ingredients

• 6 cups white flour sifted

• 2 tablespoons baking powder

• 1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened

• 3 cups granulated sugar

• 2 cups milk

• 2 tbs of Vanilla Extract

• 12 egg whites

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Fill cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

2. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.

3. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Set aside.

4. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.

5. With mixer at slow speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk.

6. Beat well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.

7. Gently fold egg whites into batter.

8. Pour into cupcake liners.

9. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

I would use any of the following frostings – depending on what mood you’re in!

Strawberry Buttercream

Classic Buttercream

Marshmallow Whip

Pinapple Cool Whip Frosting

Classic White Cupcakes with white pearls! LOVE it!

Mini White Cake Cupcakes. So Cute!

That’s all for today. Have a fabulous Wednesday, and as always, Stay Sweet!

xoxo, Jill

You Owe My Mom a Thank-You

Celebrate your Mom on May 8th

If you’re asking “Why on earth do I need to say thank you to this chick’s mom?”, let me help clear things up for you.

Almost a year ago, my mom gave a little bag full of cupcake related goodies. Some stickers, a cupcake mug, some notecards, and a magnet. The set of note cards said “Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake”. It was then that I was inspired to start my “Stay Calm, Have a Cupcake” blog and from there, open up my online cupcake store, “Stay Calm Cupcake Shop”.  See? You really do owe my Mom a thank you – without her, this blog might not even exist! 🙂

For some reason the 6  simple words on that set note cards really resonated with me. It was a message so simple and so obvious – just stay calm!

I began blogging shortly after with the philosophy that cupcakes are the perfect 5 minute escape from the craziness that can surround us at times. It’s just as important to me now, as it was a year ago, to remind each of you to take a few moments for yourself. Breath deeply, stop worrying, and eat a cupcake. Not because it takes good, or because it’s the “chic” dessert at the moment, but because we all need a couple of minutes to re-group. And honestly, you deserve it! It’s ok to quietly admit we feel overwhelmed while we sit down and take the first calming bite of a delicious vanilla cupcake with homemade buttercream frosting.

So this is for you Mom. Thanks for inspiring me to slow down and continue to pursue my dreams of baking in a greater way than I could have ever imagined.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mom’s who have undoubtedly inspired your children in one way or another!

Stay Sweet and Stay Calm! The solution is only a cupcake away!

xoxo, Jill

Red Hot Cupcakes

Spice Up Valentine's Day!

I love the idea of a Red Hot cupcake! It is the perfect recipe for spicing things up a bit on Valentine ’s Day.

Unfortunately, when I looked around for a good recipe, I couldn’t seem to find one that wasn’t a) super complicated or b) filled with tons of actual spices. I’m not against using real spices, but I really wanted my cupcake to taste like the little red hot candies vs spicy chili powder and cinnamon.

I combined a few recipes and came up with my own way to flavor it just the way I wanted to!

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup of butter (divided)
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups of Red Hots
• Additional ½ cup of sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line your cupcake pan with paper liners
3. In a medium sauce pan on low heat add your Red Hots, 1/2 cup of sugar,1/2 cup of butter, 3 tbs of water
4. Let the Red Hots melt. Stirring continually so it doesn’t burn
5. Let simmer until most of the Red Hots have melted and mixed in with the sugar and butter.
6. In a medium bowl, cream together 1 cup of sugar and ½ cup of butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
7. Pour in your red hot liquid – mix well
8. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until batter is smooth.
9. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.

10. Bake 20 to 25 minutes

For the frosting, I think a Marshmallow Whip is the perfect addition. Decorate with Red Hots and enjoy!

Sprinkles, Aprons and Minis

Happy Friday everyone!

I don’t know about you – but I am so glad the weekend is here! Today’s post is a mix-up of a few different things (all cupcake related though..of course!)

Every wonder how professional cupcake bakers get the perfect amount of sprinkles around the edge of their frosted cupcake? Me too, until I just tried it and realized it’s not hard at all!

Once you’re cupcake is frosted, pick out the type of sprinkles you want to use. Pour 1.5 Tablespoons of sprinkles into the palm of your left hand. Holding the cupcake in your right hand, dip the edge of the cupcake’s frosting in the sprinkles – rotate the cupcake’s edge in the sprinkles until you have made a complete circle. Fill in any spots that aren’t covered and VOILA – a very professional looking sprinkle job!!

Whats better than sprinkles?!!?

But what about looking the part?? Every cupcake baker needs an apron! My new sponsor Apron Queen  has just what you are looking for! Her shop is filled with the most adorable aprons and gloves!

Here are some of my favorites:

Cupcake Apron for Cupcake Baking!

"Diva Dish Gloves" by Apron Queen

Everyone looks cute in Pink Polka Dots!

 Stop by and check out her shop – if you don’t see a pattern you like, she will be happy to create a custom design just for you! I’m still trying to decide which apron I want to buy!

 

Feel like cupcakes but don’t feel like making them yourself? Good news…Today’s Special on Stay Calm Cupcake Shop is a 6 pack of Mini Cupcakes for only $3.00!! Head on over and order yours while supplies last.

Stay Sweet!

Xoxo, Jill

Strawberry Buttercream

Pretty in Pink!

It should come as no surprise to that I love anything and everything girly! Including the color PINK! I especially love pink around the holidays – aren’t hot pink Christmas trees adorable?? These days it’s “trendy” to decorate with colors other than the traditional red, green, and silver. So today I want to give you a recipe for festive strawberry buttercream cupcakes. These will be a huge hit at any holiday party and are really fun to decorate!

Strawberry Buttercream

 

Pink Holiday Cupcakes - Yum!

• 2 sticks of softened sweet-cream butter (unsalted)
• 3 cups of powdered sugar (no need to sift)
• 2 tsp of Vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons of Strawberry extract
• 2 tablespoons of whipping cream
• Pink food coloring

Directions

1. In a standing mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk together powdered sugar and butter on medium high speed. Once combined, whisk for about 3 minutes until light and fluffly
2. Add the vanilla and strawberry flavoring – mix well
3. Add the whipping cream and food coloring and whisk for another 3 minutes

Golden Butter Cupcakes

Complete with Snowflake Sprinkles!

• 2 1/2 cup(s) (plus 2 Tbsp.) flour
• 1 tablespoon(s) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 cup(s) milk
• 2 teaspoon(s) (pure) vanilla extract
• 1 cup(s) (2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cup(s) sugar
• 4 large eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. In measuring cup, mix milk and vanilla.
3. In large bowl, with mixer at medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until smooth, scraping the bowl occasionally with a  spatula.
4. Pour batter into cupcake liners and bake for about 20-22 minutes.
5. Let cool completely before frosting the cupcakes.

Hope you enjoy the recipe! Til next time, stay sweet!

xoxo, Jill

P.S. Don’t forget you can get 10% off any cupcake purchase if you use the code SCCS10. Visit my shop for some yummy holiday treats. www.etsy.com/shop/staycalmcupcake

I LOVE Holiday Sprinkles!

Alright, Thanksgiving is over so now we can officially move on to Christmas! To be honest, I haven’t been in much of a holiday mood lately. That was until I starting buying holiday cupcake supplies! I found some of the cutest holiday sprinkles at Marshalls, and my mom found some great ones at TJMax. Both stores always have really cute, and affordable seasonal sprinkles.

Here’s some of my favorite!

Candy Cane Sprinkles. Perfect for Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes!

Gingerbread Man Sprinkles. I like to use these to top my Pumpkin Spice and Double Chocolate Cupcakes!

Snowflake Sprinkles! I always love the combination of Blue and White. These look great on top of Marshmallow Whip frosting.

And of course, you cant forget the Christmas Tree Sprinkles! These little guys add holiday cheer to any cupcake!

A great way to incorporate fun sprinkles into you baking is to stick with simple frosting. A great buttercream frosting can be tinted any holiday color and topped with festive sprinkles for a fun and quick Christmas Treat. I always remember to color coordinate my sprinkles and my cupcakes for the best outcome! Check out some of the links below for good frosting recipes to accompany these yummy little sprinkles.

Peppermint Twist Buttercream : https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/candy-can-cupcakes/

Green Mint Frosting: https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/the-perfect-mint-buttercream/

Honey Cinnamon Cream-Cheese Frosting: https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/pumpkin-spice-cupcakes/

Marshmallow Whip Frosting: https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/marshmallow-whip-and-mingle-monday/

Happy Holiday and Happy Baking! xoxo

Halloween Inspiration

Fall is finally here! The weather in Florida is starting to cool down and I am begining to actually enjoy being outside again.

Today’s post is a collection of some Halloween inspirations. This week I will post some great Halloween and Fall inspired cupcake recipes, so make sure you check back! And don’t forget that tomorrow the winner of my Bake It Pretty give-away will be announced. You still have time to enter though – follow the link for the rules (https://fontgirl.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/bake-it-pretty/)

For now, enjoy some baking inspiration!

Adorable Candy Corn Cupcakes

Orange Velvet Cupcakes!

Halloween Candy Dots

Spider-Web Cupcake Wrappers

Candy Corn Cupcake Wrappers

Halloween Frosting with Spiderweb wrappers

Candy Corn Cake with Buttercream Frosting!

For recipes and more pictures of the above cupcakes, follow these links (They are in the same order as the pictures.) Enjoy!

1. http://thecurvycarrot.com/2010/09/20/candy-corn-cupcakes/
2. http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2010/09/orange-velvet-cupcakes-for-halloween.html
3. http://www.bakeitpretty.com/category_116/Halloween-Shop.htm
4. http://www.fancyflours.com/cupcake-wrapper-spider-web.html
5. http://www.bakeitpretty.com/item_1342/Tilt-a-Whirl-Baking-Cups-in-Orange.htm
6. http://www.wasabimon.com/archive/ghoulishly-gluten-free-halloween-cupcakes/
7. http://iheartcuppycakes.com/2008/10/15/candy-corn-cupcakes/

Lemon Berry Treats

Can someone please tell me how this summer flew by so quickly?? It’s so true that the older you get, the faster time goes. I don’t like it one bit! The only solace I find is that with the end of summer comes the arrival of Fall, which means an entirely new palette of flavors to work with. Not to mention all the holidays I will be baking for. When I think of Fall I think of carrot cake, and spice cake, and oatmeal cookies, and all sorts of “feel-good” homemade treats. While I am excited to start baking new flavors of the season, I am sad that I have to say goodbye to the whims of summer fun.

I created this recipe for Lemon Berry cupcakes because to me, it truly represents all things summer. Enjoy the recipe!

Lemon Berry Cupcakes decorated with a pink and black theme for a bridal shower.

Lemon Cupcakes (the quick version)  

1 Box of Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme Cake Mix

1/3 cup of vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 1/3 cup of water

1 lemon

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

(**For 100% homemade cupcakes, I enjoy this lemon cake recipe: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/lemon-cream-cupcakes/Detail.aspx**)

Directions

1. Prepare the batter according to the directions on the back of the box.
2. Add 1 tsp of vanilla to the batter, mix well
3. Add ¼ cup of lemon juice
4. Add lemon zest of one medium size lemon
5. Mix all ingredients together and pour into baking cups.
6. Bake as directed on the box.

Berry Filling

1 box of strawberries (at least 15 strawberries)

1 bog of blueberries (2 ½ cups)

3 cups of sugar

¼ cup of cornstarch

Directions

1. Wash the berries
2. Cut the strawberries
3. Place berries in a bowl and mash them together (I used a potato masher)
4. Pour berries into a pan and add 3 cups of sugar.
5. Stir until combined
6. Let boil (stirring occasionally) for 7-10 minutes until it starts to thicken.
7. Turn to low heat and add cornstarch (be sure to add the cornstarch to cold water before adding it to the hot mixture – reference the directions on the side of the cornstarch box)
8. Remove from heat, let cool completely

Berry filling - yum!!

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 8 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (about 2 lbs.)
• 2 tablespoons milk

 Makes: About 5 1/2 cups of icing.

 In medium mixer bowl, cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add sugar one cup at a time and milk. Mix well. Beat on high until smooth (only 30 seconds to 1 minute). Thin to ice cake smooth; use full strength for piping borders.

NOTE: Do not use light cream cheese or butter substitute. If margarine is used, icing will be softer.

Now, for the fun part! Use an apple corer (or a small knife) to carve out little holes in each cupcake – don’t throw away the part of the cupcake you remove, you will need to use it to fill the hole once the filling has been inserted.

Once you have a hole in each cupcake, fill the cupcake with berry filling. It is easiest to put the filling in a piping bag (a Ziploc bag will work too). Be sure you don’t  overfill the cupcakes. Once filled – cover the hole with the piece of cupcake you removed.

Pipe cream-cheese frosting on the cupcake and decorate as desired.

Cupcakes should be refrigerated.

Enjoy!! Till Next time, stay sweet. xoxo