Spooktacular Treats Workshop

October 21, 2012 by 9 Comments

Today was my first workshop here in Germany!  Although it was a small class due to some last minute cancellations, the two wonderful ladies who attended had a blast and made some super cute Halloween cupcakes!

Before they arrived, I made three dozen cupcakes, a quadruple batch of buttercream and a big bowl of meringue frosting.   Now, I had a lot of all the frostings left over… but I wanted to make sure the ladies had enough to work with!

Spooooooooooooooky Ghost

So… on to the cupcakes!  I taught them how to make three different cupcakes.  First, was the ghost cupcake.  I was inspired by the cake that Lemon Sugar made with the most adorable ghosts on top and thought they’d make the cutest cupcakes!

I showed them how to use a piping bag and large round tip to create these ghosts and then added black decorating gel for the eyes. Chasity got super creative and added a scary “ooooooooooooooooo” mouth to her ghost! (above)

Next, it was on to the Spiderweb Cupcakes.  I’ve made these in the past and they are one of the easiest cupcakes to make!  In the picture below you can see the ladies frosting their cupcakes with the spatulas… another technique they learned at the class.

Making spiderweb cupcakes

Finally, we made my favorite… the Monster Cupcakes!  As soon as I saw these little cuties on the Sweetology blog, I knew I had to make them myself and decided they’d be another great addition to this workshop.

Emily got super creative with a couple of her monster cupcakes… added lots of eyes, eye lashes and combining the colors!  But, I think my favorite came from Sue.  She made a monster with three eyes!  SOOO CUTE! I mean SPOOKY! hehe (below)

Bug-eyed Monster Cupcake!

I had about a dozen extra cupcakes, so I let the ladies decorate them anyway they wanted.  We ended up with a table full of some pretty spectacular cupcakes!

Some of the Spooktacular Treats made at today’s workshop!

Chasity, Sue & Emily with their creations!

 A big GIANT THANK YOU goes out to Sue and Chasity for coming to my first Workshop here in Germany!  I had a ton of fun preparing for this class and even more fun teaching you how to make these Spooktacular Treats!!

If you’re interested in coming to a JavaCupcake Workshop… I’ve got two more this year.  Visit my blog for all the details!

Spooktacular Treats Workshop – October 2012

Take a peek at all the pictures from today’s workshop!

Filed Under: baking and blogging community events, events/meet ups, halloween, seasonal, workshops

Calling All Oreo Lovers!

September 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

Now, you may be wondering what’s up with this blog post.  It doesn’t contain a cookie recipe or pictures of my latest cupcake creation and you’re confused.  But hey… don’t worry.  It’s still pretty darn cool!

As you may have heard, OREO is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year!  Can you believe it? 100 years of twisting apart those chocolate cookies to get at the delicious cream on the inside! Amazing!  So to celebrate the OREO “Daily Twist” campaign has been releaseing a new ad each day based on the latest news and pop culture of that day.  It’s been pretty darn fun to watch what OREO comes up with every day! Here are a few of my favorites.

 Sept. 20 – Celebrating 40 years of Pong

Photo courtesy of OREO

 Aug. 5 – Mars Rover lands

Photo Courtesy of OREO

 June 25 – Pride

Photo Courtesy of OREO

I’ve made a few things out of OREOs here on my blog… let’s take a trip down memory lane!

1.  Graveyard Cupcakes with OREO Buttercream

2.  OREO Cupcakes

3.  Cookies ‘n Creme Cupcakes

4.  Rainbow Funfetti Birthday Cake OREO Cupcakes

5.  OREO Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

6.  Death by OREO Cupcakes

7.  Cookies ‘n Creme Brownies 

So… why am I talking to much about OREO? Well they’ve got this amazing event coming up next week that I think you need to participate in!!!

OREO fans in New York and around the globe have a chance to make history today by inspiring the creative for the brand’s first-ever, live, crowd-sourced ad – the 100th in the OREO “Daily Twist” campaign which releases a new ad each day based on the latest news and pop culture of that day.

The World’s Favorite Cookie will set up a “virtual office” on October 2 from 10:00am-2:00pm EST in Times Square, NYC (Broadway in between 46th and 47th Street) where it will create a new OREO ad in mere hours based on real-time suggestions from fans on what hot news of the day they think should be the focus of the campaign’s final Twist!!

Suggestions can be submitted via OREO cookie’s Twitter page (@OREO) and Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/OREO) and may be fed live to a billboard in Times Square.

The creative teams will then develop the ad using the iconic OREO cookie and milk imagery. Fans can watch the creative process unfold live or follow the action via the OREO Facebook page and Twitter handle. From concept to creation, the final ad will debut for the entire world to see later that afternoon.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it?  I know that I’ll be participating all the way over here in Germany… and you should to! Wherever in the world you are… whether you go down to Times Square, live in the USA or around the world!  Join OREO in celebrating 100 days of “Daily Twists”!

For more… visit OREO “Daily Twist” on Facebook.com/OREO or OREO.com/DailyTwist.

Filed Under: events/meet ups, Oreo

Desserts for the Deserving: Monster Cookies

July 16, 2012 by 3 Comments

When Amanda at i am baker put out the call for bakers to participate in her “Desserts for the Deserving” program, I knew I had to be involved.

Desserts for the Deserving was established in 2011 with the sole purpose of bringing people joy. It is a non profit movement where bloggers, bakers, crafters, and all forms of creative people offer up time and resources to bring strangers joy.

This year I was pared up with an extraordinary woman.  Here’s what her sister shared with us and why she nominated her to be a recipient of “Desserts for the Deserving.”

“I would like to nominate my big sister, (name omitted for privacy). She is a nurse in the NICU and as is her nature, ALWAYS cares for others. Our father passed away 3 years ago and she was there when he was slipping away. She used her medical expertise and cool head to perform CPR until the EMS arrived. He never regained consciousness, but he survived for another 24 hours which allowed our mother, me and our 3 brothers to say goodbye and be together when he died. I will be forever grateful for that. Unfortunately, last year her marriage of 25 years ended and she is now in the middle of a heartbreaking divorce. It saddens me beyond belief because she deserves every happiness. She is my daughter’s godmother, my sister and my best friend. I want her to know she is cared about and thought of every day. Getting an unexpected surprise in the mail would make her day I know!”

So, I am pleased and honored to be sending  a care package full of these cookies.  I wanted to make her a cookie that would travel well all the way from where I am, Germany to where she is back in the USA.  A big cookie full of yummy chocolate would do the trick!

These Monster Cookies have chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, M&Ms, oatmeal and peanut butter.  Can’t get much better than that.

I really hope that she enjoys these cookies!  (If she doesn’t… she can send them back cause I know a 12 year old who will eat them! hehe)

To learn more about “Desserts for the Deserving” and how you can nominate someone or get involved as a baker… check out the i am baker blog or “Desserts for the Deserving” on Facebook!

Thanks to AMANDA at i am baker for putting this amazing project together!  It’s such a great thing to see the blogging, baking and crafting world come together to bring others joy <3.

Print
Monster Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • 4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 cup M&M's

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and peanut butter. Mix in the sugars and cream on high until smooth.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time. Mix well after each addition.
  4. Mix in the vanilla.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together the baking soda and the oats. On medium speed, mix in the oats. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure all the oats get combined.
  6. Fold in the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and M&M's.
  7. Scoop 2 in balls of dough onto baking sheet. For more uniform cookies, roll dough in your hand gently to form a ball.
  8. Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown and cookies begin to look set in the middle. Don't over bake!
  9. Cool on pan for about 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
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http://javacupcake.com/2012/07/desserts-for-deserving-monster-cookies/

Now THAT is a MONSTER cookie!

Filed Under: candy filled cookies, chocolate cookies, cookies, events/meet ups, featured, M&Ms, oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate, peanut butter cookies, recipes, volunteerism

Listen to me on AFN Bavaria Radio!

February 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

Last week I had the privilege of spending two hours in the AFN Bavaria studio with SGT Elliot Valdez and his trusty sidekick SGT Tom Christensen. We talked baking, Army life, FRG and gave away a dozen cupcakes! It was a ton of fun and I can’t wait to go back again later this Fall!

If you’re interested in listening to the show, click the links below to hear just the parts where I’m on! All the commercials and music has been edited out.

Enjoy!

Betsy on AFN Bavaria Radio – Part 1

Betsy on AFN Bavaria Radio – Part 2

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair

November 6, 2011 by 5 Comments

Yesterday I participated in my first holiday fair.  It was the VCSC Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair in Vilseck, Germany on the military base.  I spent weeks preparing and the 4 days prior, I shopped and baked like a crazy person.

23 dozen cucpakes

4 handmade cupcake stands

25 packages of handmade cupcake wrappers

It was a hot mess of baking and crafting supplies in my house.  But… I did it!  I set off yesterday morning for the venue and set up my table with my handmade awesomeness and delicious cupcakes.

The fair began at 10am and we started selling quick!  By 11am we had sold at least  1/3 of our cupcakes and sales continued steadily until 2:15pm when we sold out!  The fair wasn’t over until 4pm, so we were out of there early!

I heard later that people came after we left looking for cupcakes… I’m sorry we sold out!! Next year, we’ll make MORE!

I cupcakes I had on hand were:

Orange Candy Corn
Sweet Strawberry
White Chocolate Peppermint (topped with Hershey Kiss, Andes Mint, candy cane or a snowman Peep)
Cookies n’ Creme
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Pumpkin Latte

Click on the pictures below to see all the fabulous cupcakes from the day!

I seriously had a ton of fun at the fair.  I was able to meet so many of the other crafters in the community as well as meet some new people and make some great connections!  It was a great opportunity to get my name and brand out there!

I need to send a very special thank you to my husband and daughter who helped me so much getting ready for this big event!  They both stepped up and did dishes, loaded the car, helped set up and were just amazing!  I truly appreciate everything they did for me and how much they helped make this a huge success!

And THANK YOU to everyone who bought cupcakes.  I can not thank you enough for your support!  So many of you have already helped spread the word about my cupcakes and have increased my sales so much!  THANK YOU!

Like I said, next year… we bring 300+ cupcakes!

Filed Under: events/meet ups, holiday

Cupcake Camp Seattle – Spring 2011

February 12, 2011 by 2 Comments

I am pleased to bring you some fantastic news!!! Cupcake Camp is coming back to Seattle this Spring!!

Brought to you by Bella Cupcake Couture, Cupcake Camp will be held on Sunday, April 17 at The Canal in Seattle.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Hope Heart Institute!  Last year, Cupcake Camp Seattle was able to raise over $5200 for Hope Heart!

Along with thousands of cupcakes, there will be a cupcake eating contest with judges that include Jessie Oleson of CakeSpy, Jackie Shaffer of CakeCentral.com and Keren Brown of Foodportunity.

The Details:
When: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12pm- 4pm
Where: The Canal in Ballard - 5300 34th Avenue NW Seattle, WA 98107
Why: Because who doesn’t love cupcakes? Plus we will have some fun competitions and a fundraiser for
Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door valid for 6 mini cupcake tastings or 3 standard size on the day of the event only. No refunds available.

Purchase tickets HERE!

If you would like to Sponsor the event, Volunteer, or Participate…  packages and information are available on the Cupcake Camp Seattle website.

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Happy Birthday to me!

February 11, 2011 by 3 Comments

Yesterday was my birthday and I made a special visit to see my Seattle cupcake friends at New York Cupcakes in Bellevue, WA! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

Top Chef: Just Desserts

February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Anyone who loves desserts has probably seen the hit Bravo show, Top Chef: Just Desserts!   Well, Top Chef: Just Desserts is casting for their next season and they are coming to Seattle! [Read more...]

Filed Under: contests/giveaways, cupcakes on tv, events/meet ups

CupcakeCamp Seattle 2011

December 27, 2010 by 3 Comments

Great news for cupcake lovers in the Pacific Northwest… Carrie Middlemiss of Bella Cupcake Couture is at it again with CupcakeCamp Seattle 2011!!! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Happy Birthday Cupcake Royale!

December 13, 2010 by 1 Comment

Can you believe it’s been 7 years since the first cupcake shop in Seattle opened?  Cupcake Royale celebrated seven years of cupcake success with a party in their flagship shop in the Madrona neighborhood in Seattle this weekend! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, eggnog, events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

Bella Cupcake Couture – Now at Dish it Up!

December 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

This weekend at the Ballard Artwalk, Carrie Middlemiss, owner of Bella Cupcake Couture, expanded her line of cupcake wrappers to be sold at the kitchen store, Dish it Up! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, events/meet ups, gingerbread, novelty cupcakes, pacific nw cupcakes

Cupcakes Take the Cake Birthday Bash Recap & Photos

December 10, 2010 by 6 Comments

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 will go down in history as one of the best night’s of my life.  The Cupcakes Take the Cake 6th Birthday Bash in Seattle was one the biggest events I’ve put on in my adult, professional career and I am definitely more proud of this accomplishment [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcakes take the cake, events/meet ups, featured

Birthday Bash Promotion!!!

November 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment
FOR A LIMITED TIME!

Using this code (BOGO), when you buy ONE ticket to our Seattle Birthday Bash, you’ll get the second ticket HALF OFF!!!!

Make sure to use the code BOGO when checking out to take advantage of this promotion! [Read more...]

Filed Under: contests/giveaways, events/meet ups

Will Bake for Food

November 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Whatcha doing this Saturday?  Oh… I know! You’re coming to the Will Bake For Food fundraiser for NW Harvest!! Cause, you know, I’ll be there… and so will about 60 other Northwest food bloggers with TONS of baked goodies!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, fundraisers, pacific nw cupcakes

Birthday Bash Door Prizes

November 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

The Cupcakes Take the Cake 6th Birthday Bash is just a month away!  Planning is underway and sponsors have lined up to donate items to giveaway as door prizes and yummy treats for you to enjoy! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcakes take the cake, events/meet ups

FREE CUPCAKES – Today Only!

November 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment
TODAY ONLY!
THREE cupcake shops in Washington State are giving away FREE CUPCAKES!! [Read more...]
Filed Under: contests/giveaways, events/meet ups, free cupcakes, pacific nw cupcakes

FREE CUPCAKE DAY at Trophy Cupcakes is THIS Saturday!

November 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

IT’S EASTSIDE FAN APPRECIATION DAY AT
TROPHY CUPCAKES AKA “FREE TROPHY CUPCAKE DAY”!
It’s true…free cupcakes for all on Saturday, November 6 at The Bravern !
Seattle, WA – Seattle-based Trophy Cupcakes and Party is feeling the love. After being named the Best Cupcake Shop in the Readers’ Choice poll in Seattle Magazine, voted Best Cupcake by Seattle Weekly, and Best Seattle Bakery and Best Dessert by Citysearch Seattle, it is safe to say that these are the best cupcakes in town bar none. With that in mind, Trophy wants to share the love with fans!  On Saturday, November 6th Trophy will host the first of its Fan Appreciation Parties at The Bravern (Bellevue, WA) location with an Eastside Customer Appreciation Party, also known as “Free Trophy Cupcake Day!”
(Never fear, Seattle will get a party of its own soon!) Everyone who visits Trophy’s Bravern location from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will enjoy a free full size cupcake, festive balloons, a chance to win Trophy prizes, cupcake-serving magician, Nate Jester, ace of illusions, will wow the crowd, and Trophy Cupcakes owner Jennifer Shea will be demonstrating how she decorates the delightful cupcakes at the shop as well!

“It’s really exciting and humbling to have so many supporters and to have won so many awards recently!” commented Trophy Cupcakes and Party co-owner Jennifer Shea. “We owe it all to our fans and are so happy to show them our appreciation by throwing the first of our “Free Cupcake” parties. We are hoping for a huge turnout and are really looking forward to having the opportunity to visit with Trophy enthusiasts one and all!”

About Trophy Cupcakes and Party
Opened in 2007, family-owned Trophy Cupcakes and Party is a labor of love, operated by husband and wife team Michael Williamson and Jennifer Shea. The stores have become Seattle’s premier cupcake bakery, where each cupcake is baked daily from scratch using the finest ingredients, including Valrhona and Callebaut chocolate, pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, local hormone-free dairy products, free-range eggs, fresh lemons and bananas and local organic berries. Trophy specializes in exquisite cupcakes to match any celebration. Fun, fancy, or completely custom, Trophy Cupcakes will make your occasion even sweeter. Trophy Cupcakes can be found at the Wallingford Center, University Village and at The Bravern in Bellevue. For more information about store hours, daily flavors and special flavors, please visit www.trophycupcakes.com and follow us on Twitter at TrophyCupcakes and become a fan on Facebook at Trophy Cupcakes.
Media Contact:
Carilyn Platt
Magnolia Public Relations
206.618.2033
carilyn@magnoliaprc.com
RSVP on Trophy Cupcake’s Fan Appreciation Day Facebook event page!
Filed Under: contests/giveaways, events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

Tacoma Harvest Fair

October 18, 2010 by 2 Comments

Yesterday was a big day for me.  HUGE actually.  I gave my very first cupcake decorating demo at the Tacoma Harvest Fair! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake demos w/ javacupcake, events/meet ups, tips & tricks

Bakerella Book Signing & a “Cake Pops” Giveaway!

October 12, 2010 by 55 Comments

Who doesn’t love Bakerella!?  I mean seriously… she’s mastered the Cake Pop and at least a dozen other yummy baked goods.   She’s a baking master and… she’s as sweet as sugar! [Read more...]

Filed Under: contests/giveaways, events/meet ups, featured

Cupcakes Take the Cake 6th Birthday Bash – Seattle, WA

October 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Cupcakes Take the Cake is turning 6
and we are ready to CELEBRATE!
Join blog intern, Betsy Eves of JavaCupcake.com, as she hosts the “Cupcakes Take the Cake 6th Birthday Bash” in Seattle, WA this December!

[Read more...]
Filed Under: contests/giveaways, cupcakes take the cake, events/meet ups

JavaCupcake at the Tacoma Harvest Fair

September 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

On Sunday, October 17 at 12:00pm (noon), Betsy of JavaCupcake, will be giving a “Cupcake Decorating 101″ demo at the Tacoma Harvest Fair!  This will be my first public cupcake demonstration and I’m so super excited to be participating!!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake demos w/ javacupcake, events/meet ups, featured, tips & tricks

“Cupcakes for a Cause” week

September 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

This week all across the country, bakeries and cupcake shops will be participating in “Cupcakes for a Cause“.  Now in its seventh year, Cupcakes for a Cause works with hundreds of bakeries across the nation and has raised $325,000 for CancerCare for Kids. [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, fundraisers, pacific nw cupcakes

Watch out Oregon! Cupcake Camp is comin’ your way!

September 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

That’s right… Cupcake Camp is set to hit the Oregon Coast this October in a two day, star-studded event! You know it’s gonna be good when Bakerella and Cakespy are involved! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

Cupcake Tweet-Up at New York Cupcakes

August 19, 2010 by 5 Comments

Monday was a GREAT DAY!  I had not just one great Tweet Up, but TWO!  A Military Wife Tweet Up and a Cupcake Tweet Up! Can’t beat that with a bat!  [Read more...]

Filed Under: cupcake reviews, events/meet ups, featured, pacific nw cupcakes, twitter

Cupcake Cannon

April 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

On the Johnny Cupcakes Suitcase Tour stop in Portland, Kamp Grizzly pulled out all the stops and custom made this Cupcake Cannon for the event! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, novelty cupcakes, pacific nw cupcakes

Johnny Cupcakes visits Seattle!

April 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Johnny Cupcakes Suitcase Tour came to Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle on Sunday! Check out the video from the event! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Cupcake Camp was a Success!

April 10, 2010 by 7 Comments

Cupcake Camp Seattle has come and gone and I have to say… I HAD A BLAST!  I brought about 200 homemade “Tree Hugger Apple” cupcakes to the event and they were gone in about 20 minutes! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, featured

Johnny Cupcakes Suitcase Tour

April 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I am so super excited that Johnny Cupcakes will be coming to Seattle this month to Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford.  I have been following him and am getting really super pumped!!  [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

Johnny Cupcakes is coming to Seattle!

March 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment


The Johnny Cupcakes brand is taking to the streets… in suitcases! When Johnny Cupcakes first began, they sold their merchandise out of their suitcases white on tour with their band and today, Johnny Cupcakes has several shops all across the US.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Cupcake Meet Up – Trophy Cupcakes

February 25, 2010 by 3 Comments

Rachel Kramer Bussel from “Cupcakes Take the Cake” was in town for a Cupcake Meet Up sponsored by Jennifer Shea, owner of “Trophy Cupcakes” in Wallingford, Seattle, WA.   We ate cupcakes, got to know each other, laughed and a had a great time! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups

Cupcake Camp Seattle

February 16, 2010 by 1 Comment


Bella Cupcake Couture is proud to bring  this special event to the Seattle area. [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes

“Cupcakes Take the Cake” Seattle Meet Up

February 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment


Founding member Rachel Kramer Bussel of the famous blog “Cupcakes Take the Cake” will be in Seattle for a Cupcake Meet Up! [Read more...]

Filed Under: events/meet ups, pacific nw cupcakes