The Valentine’s Day Cupcake Challenge

Not many people know how much I like to bake. Flapjacks, muffins, cakes, cookies, pretty much all kinds of desserts. One thing I hadn’t made in ages though were cupcakes so when English Mum asked for people to join in with her Valentine’s Cupcake Challenge I was in! Of course I nearly changed my mind when I saw the amazing creations other bloggers had made. But I persevered and on Friday night I made some lovely strawberry cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and sugar decorations. I’d never made buttercream before – how delicious? I used about half on the cakes and ate the other half for my lunch the next day. So much for the diet!

As my cupcakes don’t look the best I thought I’d gain points for staging. What do you think?

 

See - staging!

 

They went down a treat with my family. In case you were wondering the really tall one is the one my mum decorated. She’s never decorated a cake before and was extraordinarily proud!

Just to show how he is following in his father’s lady killer shoes Sam took a couple of cupcakes to our nextdoor neighbour’s 3 year old grandaughter Millie and gave her a big Valentine’s kiss!

I’ve already popped over to English Mum’s blog and had a look at the beautiful cupcakes everyone has made, some of them are true materpieces! I won’t win but I really don’t mind. I’d forgotten how much fun it was to make and decorate (and eat) cupcakes so a big thank you to English Mum for helping me to remember! And I’ve learnt how to make buttercream! Although for the sake of my waistline I think that should just be a rare treat!