1st - The Rainbow Paddle Pop Cake
In Australia we have stick icecreams called Paddle Pops, one of the flavours is basically a tasteless milky vanilla which looks extactly (maybe a little less pink) like the icing effect on this cake.
This one gave me grief, the Italian Buttercream just wasn't its usual beautiful self, tasted delish, but wasn't behaving. The cake was supposed to have delicate swirls covering in but the buttercream just wouldn't pipe without cracking (you can see a little bit of the problem on the bottom piping). So I got out my trusty balls and went nuts. I love silver balls, they are so effective. If look closely enough you should be able to see me reflected. As for the inside its the Orange Buttercake filled with Marmalade Italian Buttercream.
I made these cupcakes for the first time last year at the beginning of my cupcake odyssey, I had found the wonderful 52 cupcakes blog by cupcake queen and have never looked back.
Back to the first time, well I made them for a friends 'lights out' party (they hadn't finished their renovations - so lights out was to hide the unpainted walls - great idea don't you think), anyway, the cupcakes were perfect, mint instead of almond, nestled in a bed of mini licorice all sorts on my Allessi platter (forgot to take a photo). They looked a million dollars, and what did I do as I walked down the driveway. I rolled my ankle and dropped the lot - upside down, not one was saved! They still tasted fab, but what a disaster.
My dad ordered dozens of cupcakes to take to work for his birthday and left the selection up to me so I had another excuse to bake them in minis and regular sizes and this time as per the recipe, almond flavour. Oh so Divine, and this time I got pictures.
I highly recommend this recipe (orginally by Elinor Klivans), it takes a little time (you can, if you want, work over a couple of days) but the results are stunning and your cupcakes will be the talk of the town.
Once again, many thanks to the cupcake queen at 52 cupcakes. Her tireless work and dedication to the cupcake cause gives hope and calories to the whole world. Oh and Layla her pooch is a honey. How does she get Layla to pose for the pics.
