Watermelon Themed Cake and Cupcakes

Today is #CupcakeLoversDay!  To celebrate, I have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you new recipes and posts all about cupcakes.  Special thanks to Valentina at The Baking Fairy for organizing this event.

I'm sharing my Watermelon Themed Cake and Cupcakes.  They are the perfect treat for your summer parties!  Follow my instructions below to make your own!

Since today is all about cupcakes....let's start with those instructions.  Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:
1 batch of chocolate cupcakes - recipe or box mix that you prefer
1 recipe of vanilla buttercream frosting
green food coloring
pink food coloring
mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Color half of the frosting recipe with green food coloring.  
2. Color the other half with pink food coloring.
3. Pipe a ring of the green frosting around the top of the cupcake.
4. Fill in the rest of the top of the cupcake with pink frosting.
5. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Now for the cake.....


Ingredients:
4-layer cake (I made mine with 2 boxed cake mixes), leveled
the rest of the green and pink frosting from cupcakes
mini chocolate chips


Directions:

1. Layer the cakes with green frosting spread between each layer.
2. Pipe green frosting around the outer edge of each layer, bottom, and top.
3. Fill in top of cake with pink frosting.
4. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Please take a moment to visit all of the other amazing cupcake posts from my blogger friends!!

Cupcakes for Cupcake Lovers Day!

Hosted by Valentina | The Baking Fairy

Vegan Birthday Cake Oreo Cupcakes by The Baking Fairy  
Avocado Cupcakes with Lime Frosting by A Day in the Life on the Farm  
Brown Cow Cupcakes by Palatable Pastime  
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cupcakes by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks  
Busy Bee Honey Vanilla Cupcakes by For The Love of Food  
Butter Pecan Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting by A Little Fish in the Kitchen  
Cheesecake Cupcakes by Walking on Sunshine Recipes  
Cherry Limeade Cupcakes by That Recipe  
Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes by The Freshman Cook  
Chocolate Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Frosting by Cooking for my Soul  
Chocolate Irish Cream Cupcakes with Irish Cream Frosting by Daily Dish Recipes
Cookies & Cream Cupcakes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories  
Creamsicle Cupcakes by Red Cottage Chronicles 
  Gluten Free Rocky Road Cupcakes by Frugal & Fit  
Honey Lemon's HoneyBee Cupcakes by Simply Inspired Meals  
Lemon Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting by The Olive Blogger
Lemon Lavender Blackberry Cupcakes by Culinary Adventures with Camilla  
Lost Princess Cupcakes by Seduction in the Kitchen  
Orange You Glad Cupcakes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings  
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes by The Beard and The Baker  
Pineapple Coconut Cupcakes by Crumb Top Baking  
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes by Bowl Me Over  
Pudding Pop Cupcakes by Nik Snacks  
Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting by Join Us, Pull Up a Chair Strawberry Basil Cupcakes with Chocolate Balsamic Frosting by The Spiffy Cookie
Strawberry Cupcakes by Confessions of a Baking Queen
Strawberry Jello Cupcakes by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats  
Sweet Summertime Cupcakes by Cooking with Carlee  
Vanilla Bourbon Bacon Cupcakes by Our Good Life  
Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes by Simple Family Crazy Life 
White Chocolate Truffle Cupcakes by Triple Chocolate Kitchen

Thanks ~ Nichi

 

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Spring Blooms Cake

I love making cakes, especially for family celebrations.  This cake was served at my sister's birthday party.  Using bright colored sprinkles from Sweets & Treats made it pop with color.  One of my favorite cakes that I've created! #SweetsSquad

Ingredients:

4 layer cake, baked and leveled

buttercream frosting

sprinkles (I used Sweets & Treats: Sweet Treats sprinkle mix)

BBQ skewers

candy melts

piping bags

parchment paper

Directions:

1. Bake and level cake.
2. Frost between each layer and around the outside of the cake.  Pipe frosting around the bottom of the cake and add sprinkles.
3. Add sprinkles to the top of the cake.
4. Melt candy melts in piping bags.  
5. Pipe the melts onto parchment paper in a flower design.  Add a large pearl sprinkle to the middle.  Let cool completely.
6. Pipe circles onto the parchment paper, lay skewers in the middle, top with a candy flower.  Let cool completely.  
7. Add flowers to the top of the cake.  Keep refrigerated until an hour before serving.

Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!  

BrunchWeek Beverages:
Blueberry Lemonade from Family Around The Table
Easy Smoothie Shooters from The Nifty Foodie
Fresh Squeeze Blackberry Lemonade from Cooking With Carlee
Guava Mimosa from Seduction in the Kitchen
Guava Moscow Mule from Love and Confections
Lightening Lavender Margarita from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Mango Mimosa from April Golightly
Rum Punch for Brunch! from Hardly A Goddess
Sparkling Lavender Lemonade from Snacks and Sips
Strawberry Lavender Smoothie from Eat Move Make

BrunchWeek Appetizers and Salads:
Keto Chicken Salad from Platter Talk
Pecan Grape Salad from For the Love of Food  

BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:
Baked Eggs with Mushroom and Asparagus from Caroline's Cooking
Baked Hash Brown Egg Cups from Creative Southern Home
Breakfast Pizza from Kate's Recipe Box
Cheesy Scrambled Egg Stuffed Popovers from Jolene's Recipe Journal
Fried Green Tomato BLT Benedict from The Spiffy Cookie
Ham, Egg, & Spinach Breakfast Bites from Sweet Beginnings
Roasted Carrot and Beet Frittatas from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Bake from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Sheet Pan Mexican Frittata from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Soy-Brined Hard-Boiled Eggs from Shockingly Delicious
The Best Avocado Toast from Simply Healthyish Recipes  

BrunchWeek Breads, Grains, and Pastries:
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Muffins from Big Bear's Wife
Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls from Cookaholic Wife
How to Build A Crepe Bar from The Crumby Kitchen
Salted Caramel Peach Sweet Rolls from The Redhead Baker  

BrunchWeek Main Dishes:
Cheesy Baked Breakfast Tacos from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen  

BrunchWeek Fruits, Vegetables and Sides:
Mashed Potato, Cheddar & Bacon Waffles from Tip Garden
Zucchini Cheese Pancakes from Karen's Kitchen Stories  

BrunchWeek Desserts:
Chocolate Banana Cookies with Sprinkles from Who Needs A Cape?
Cinnamon Roll Cake from Books n' Cooks
Espresso Banana Bread from PasstheSushi
Spring Blooms Cake from The Mandatory Mooch
Vegan Coffee Cinnamon Rolls from The Baking Fairy

Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix - Jessica's Natural Foods

I've been making birthday cakes for my girls since they were born.  Each year is a new theme to go along with their age.  This year was a little trickier than usual.  You see, my oldest daughter has been gluten free since last summer.  

Trying to find a good gluten free cake recipe or mix has been a struggle...UNTIL NOW!!

I found the most amazing cake mix and just had to share with you.  It is Jessica's Natural Foods chocolate cake mix.  My whole family was in denial that it was gluten free after tasting it.  It is a moist rich cake with no gritty after taste.  The smile on my daughter's face was priceless when she tried it.  We will be using this product for many events in the future.  Plus, I sliced the leftover cake and froze it individually for her to eat later.  Perfection!!  So, if you need a gluten free cake mix or treat, give this one a try.  You won't be disappointed.

I made her a video/movie themed cake because she has been interested in that field lately.  It was fun to create something she loved and something she could eat!

 Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Mermaid Cake

This adorable cake was created for my niece's birthday.  She asked for a mermaid cake and many ideas ran through my head.  I wanted to do something different, something cute and whimsical.  This is what I came up with.  Using the cake as the base for a mermaid swimming through it was perfect.  Making it happen was a bit of a challenge.

I started with fondant and created the mermaid face and arms.  Then, I made all of the fun plants to  surround the cake.  The flowers are candy that I found in the cake decorating aisle at a local hobby store.  The tail was the biggest obstacle, but came out great.  I created the tail by wrapping fondant around a mini red solo cup (the shot glass size).  The fins were attached with toothpicks.  Doesn't this cake just make you smile?!?!

 Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Batman Cake

Do you have a little superhero having a birthday?  This cake is a fun explosion of bats, color, and fun.  I melted black and yellow candy melts and piped them into decorations for the cake.  Add sprinkles and batman picks from my Silhouette machine and ta-da...a tasty centerpiece of the party.

Supplies used:

parchment paper

black and yellow candy melts

Batman and bat cutouts from Silhouette glued on bamboo skewers

black and yellow sprinkles

 Thanks ~ Nichi

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Build-A-Bear Cake

 
When my daughter turned 7 we had her party at Build-A-Bear.  Along with a big group of friends, they each picked out a bear or animal of their choice to create.  After stuffing, fluffing, and naming their new friend, we went to the food court for cake to celebrate.  To go along with the theme, I created this fun cake.

I frosted the outside of the cake with vanilla buttercream tinted purple.  

The turquoise accents were also buttercream.  

I used a #21 decorating tip to created the star shapes

The rhinestone ribbon I found at my local Hobby Lobby.  You can find it HERE.

The bear was created out of fondant.  

I started with a box of Wilton pre-made fondant and tinted it the colors I needed.

I hope you enjoy this cake and wish you and your kiddos many fun celebrations!

 

Please stop on over to say hi!!

Thanks ~ Nichi

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Gender Reveal Cake: Question Mark?

Know someone that is pregnant?  Going to have a gender reveal party?  This cake is a fun surprise for everyone.  I created this one for a friend of mine that was having a baby shower for another friend.  She wanted the inside to be pink or blue depending on the baby's sex.

A week before the celebration, she brought me a sealed envelope from the doctor with the results.  I made a four layer cake thickly covered (no peaking!!!!) in vanilla buttercream.  Then, decorated the outside with colored fondant to match other colors of the shower.  I got to see a video later of the mom-to-be cutting into the cake.  She was delighted to find out she was having........A GIRL!!!!!  The cake was bright pink on the inside to match the dots on the outside.

This cake was made with Wilton fondant and buttercream recipe.

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi!!




Thanks ~ Nichi