Spring into Dessert

Strawberries (a personal favorite) are finally in season, so stock up and make a special strawberry treat for you to enjoy. Rhubarb is also in season, it's tartness pairs nicely with sweeter fruits such as raspberries or strawberries. Take full advantage of spring by enjoying these wonderful spring inspired desserts.

Sources & Recipes:
1. Strawberry Cream Cake
2. Strawberry Shortcake Jellies
3. Strawberry-Almond Cream Tart
4. Strawberry Panna Cotta with Strawberry Compote

Sources & Recipes:
1. Rum-Spiked Grilled Pineapple with Toasted Coconut
2. Plum Oatmeal Tart
3. Fresh Grape and Champagne Sorbet
4. Rhubarb Raspberry Crisp

Sources &  Recipes:
1. Lemon Angel food Cupcakes
2. Cream Puffs with Lemon-Cream Filling
3. Lemon Meringue Pie with Graham Crust
4. Frozen Blackberry-Lemon Chiffon Pie

Easter Cupcakes

Take a look at these cute cupcakes decorated for Easter. Adding bright colors, flowers, eggs, baskets, bunnies and chicks to your baked goods is a great way to celebrate the joy of Easter.

Sources: 

1. Peeps Cupcakes

2. Easter Cupcake Meadow

3. Easter Hat Cupcakes

4. Birds Nest Cupcakes

5. Fondant Easter Cupcake Toppers

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! Here are some festive green flowers from me to you to celebrate this joyous occasion.

source: flowers

I am looking forward to going to the St. Patty's parade in NYC today. Do you have any fun plans for today? If so, please share! In the meantime, take a look at these creative cake creations in honor of today:

Source: Shamrock Cake

Beautiful rainbow cake with a hidden shamrock inside!

Sources:
Green Red Velvet Cake Balls
Beer Mug Cupcakes

Source: St. Patrick's Day Cake

Love the wonderful shades of green inside this cake!

Going Green for St. Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is soon approaching (March 17th). This past weekend already saw a number of festivals and parades for those early celebrants. After this long winter, we all need something to celebrate... and who doesn't feel a little Irish on St. Patty's Day? How do you plan to express your Irish side? These green desserts will surely help you show off your love of the holiday.

Sources & Recipes:
1. Shamrock Milkshake Cupcakes
2. Kiwi Lime Pie
3. Clover Cookies
4. Green Pinwheels
5. Coconut Pistachio Pie
6. St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

If you decide to make cupcakes, take a look at these decorating ideas for some inspiration:

Sources & How-To:
1. Leprechaun Hat Cupcake Wrappers
2. Shamrock Cupcake

Valentine's Day Cakes

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. You may consider putting in a little effort to make the day as wonderful as it possibly could be. You may want to follow one of these cake recipes which are sure to bring a smile. These would be great to share with that special someone, bring to a Valentine's Day bash, office party, or family gathering. Have fun!

Sources & Recipes: 

Buttermilk-Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Fabulous Red Velvet Cake

Sacher Torte Heart with Truffle Top

Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake (I tried this one and it was delish!)

Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes 

Heart Cake

Football Cupcakes & Cake Pops

Super bowl is this Sunday. If you are hosting a super bowl party (or going to be a guest at one) you might consider making football themed desserts. Here are some cool football cupcake ideas for game day. 

Sources & Tutorials:
1. Football Candle Cupcakes
2. Chocolate Football Cupcake (sorry no tutorial for this one)
3. Football Cupcakes

Here are some cupcake liners you may want to use:

Sources
1. Football Corset Liner (Click for directions/how-to)
2. Touchdown Liners (available for purchase)

Here is a tutorial for football shaped cake pops (the kids will definitely love these):

Tutorial:
Football Cake Pops

Hot Chocolate Desserts

Cold weather makes me wish I had a fireplace in my apartment to sit next to and keep me warm. Of course, if I did have a fireplace I couldn’t imagine sitting there without a nice hot cup of hot chocolate. However, instead of enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, take a look at some of these desserts inspired by this favorite winter beverage. 

  Sources: hot chocolate cookies, hot chocolate cupcake, frozen hot chocolate, hot chocolate cake, hot chocolate-brownie cupcakes, hot chocolate cupcakes-in-a mug

Christmas Tree Desserts

Nowadays Christmas trees for sale are popping up all over the city. I'm sure many of you have already started to trim your trees. Here are some ideas for Christmas tree inspired desserts.

Sources: stained glass trees, linzer sandwiches, chocolate tree, gingerbread-cookie tree 

For an easier way to make Christmas tree cupcakes, pipe green frosting high, decorate, and top with a shimmering star.

Sources: green christmas tree cupcakes, candy cane christmas tree cupcakes

Everything is cuter on a stick! 

Source: christmas tree cake pops

Ice Cream and Cupcakes

Ice cream cone + cupcake = cupcake decorated as ice cream?

Sources: Ice Cream cone, cupcake, ice cream cupcake

 

CLOSE…. but not close enough

Here’s the real deal. Check out these ice cream cone cupcake creations.

Sources: Chocolate dipped cone, swirl cone, classic cones with cherries, sugar cones

What do you think-do they look more like ice cream or cupcakes?

To make ice cream cone cupcakes, simply pour cupcake batter into the cones, secure the cones with foil in a muffin pan, bake, frost when the cupcakes have cooled, and decorate. You can top your treats with some of your favorite ice cream toppings such as: whipped cream, chopped nuts, melted chocolate, caramel, sprinkles, and don't forget the cherry on top! You can find Martha’s how-to for sugar cone cupcakes here. 

Ice cream cone cupcakes are fun for kid’s parties and the sugar cone cupcakes make a great adult treat. Try making some of these for a party without informing guests that they are cupcakes and see if you can trick them!