These are four fun and easy Halloween designs to decorate your cupcakes.
This is the cupcake and icing recipe I used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF-islIWwV8
For the cupcakes, I’ve added orange food coloring to the batter and for the icing, I’ve substituted half a cup of sifted cocoa for half a cup of confectioner’s sugar and added black food coloring.
To decorate:
Piping bag
2D nozzle
2 round nozzle (or any round nozzle)
233 – grass/hair nozzle
Coupler for grass nozzle
Candy eyeballs
Black licorice strips
Black edible pen
Fondant
This is a great tool to help speed up your cake decorating. It makes a string of pearls/beads that you can quickly apply to your cake. The mold I have is 8mm, but they come in all different sizes to suit your cake.
This is a really yummy and easy peach jam recipe. It’s great to give as a gift or keep it and enjoy it yourself! This recipe makes 10 half pint jars.
Ingredients:
7 cups peaches, crushed* (about 12 whole peaches)
juice from 2 lemons
8 tbsp classic pectin
5 ½ cups sugar
* to crush peaches, place in a single layer in the bottom of your pan and crush with a potato masher.
Equipment:
8 qt. pan for jam
Smaller pan for extra hot water
Large pan/stockpot for canning – I use a 21 qt. canner that has a jar rack as well.
10 half pint mason jars
Funnel
Jar-lifting tongs
Ladle
Magnetic lid lifter or tongs
– to remove skin from peaches, cut a small cross in the bottom of each peach.
– place peaches in boiling water for 30-60s and then remove to a bowl of ice cold water.
– once cool, peel peaches, remove pits and cut into pieces and crush.
– wash jars and lids with hot and soapy water and rinse well.
– to sterilize jars, place jars in canner with just simmering water. Leave the jars in there until ready to use.
– warm lids (do not boil) in smaller pan.
– in 8 qt. pan, mix peaches and lemon juice. Gradually stir in pectin.
– bring mixture to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly.
– add sugar all at once and stir to dissolve. Bring to a hard boil (that can’t be stirred down) and then boil for 1 minute. Use a spoon to skim any foam from the top of the jam.
– remove from heat and ladle into hot jars. Fill to about ¼ inch from the top.
– make sure there’s no jam on the rim of the jars that could affect the seal. Clean with a damp cloth.
– place lids on top of jars and screw on bands until finger tight.
– place jars in canner and lower into water. Make sure there’s at least 2 inches of water over the top of the jars. Bring water to a boil and process jars for 10 min. Use the following chart to adjust water canning times for different altitudes:
– turn off heat, remove lid and allow jars to sit for 5 min.
– remove jars from water and place on a towel for at least 12 hrs. During this time you’ll hear each of the lids pop as they seal.
– check the jars have sealed properly – they shouldn’t move up and down when you press in the middle of the lid. If a jar hasn’t sealed, you can refrigerate it and eat it or you can process the jar again using a new lid.
– keep processed jars in a cool, dry and dark place. They will last for about 1 year.
It’s so easy and fun to make your own jam. Blueberry jam is one of my favorites!
This recipe makes 5 ½ x half pint jars – 5 to store or give as gifts and ½ for you to eat right away.
* to crush blueberries, place in a single layer in the bottom of your pan and crush with a potato masher.
Equipment:
8 qt. pan for jam
Smaller pan for extra hot water
Large pan/stockpot for canning – I use a 21 qt. canner that has a jar rack as well.
6 half pint mason jars
Funnel
Jar-lifting tongs
Ladle
Magnetic lid lifter or tongs
– wash jars and lids with hot and soapy water and rinse well.
– to sterilize jars, place jars in canner with just simmering water. Leave the jars in there until ready to use.
– warm lids (do not boil) in smaller pan.
– in 8 qt. pan, mix blueberries and lemon juice. Gradually stir in pectin.
– bring mixture to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly.
– add sugar all at once and stir to dissolve. Bring to a hard boil (that can’t be stirred down) and then boil for 1 minute.
– remove from heat and ladle into hot jars. Fill to about ¼ inch from the top.
– make sure there’s no jam on the rim of the jars that could affect the seal. Clean with a damp cloth.
– place lids on top of jars and screw on bands until finger tight.
– place jars in canner and lower into water. Make sure there’s at least 2 inches of water over the top of the jars. Bring water to a boil and process jars for 10 min. Use the following chart to adjust water canning times for different altitudes:
– turn off heat, remove lid and allow jars to sit for 5 min.
– remove jars from water and place on a towel for at least 12 hrs. During this time you’ll hear each of the lids pop as they seal.
– check the jars have sealed properly – they shouldn’t move up and down when you press in the middle of the lid. If a jar hasn’t sealed, you can refrigerate it and eat it or you can process the jar again using a new lid.
– keep processed jars in a cool, dry and dark place. They will last for about 1 year.
These are nice chewy cookies. If you are looking for a more cakey cookie, use softened butter instead of the melted. If you are looking for a thicker cookie, chill dough before and after scooping into mounds. Chilling helps them to hold their shape better.
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
2 1/2 cups oats (not quick cooking)
12 oz pkg chocolate chips (or heaped cup)
– Preheat oven to 350ºF.
– Mix together butter and sugars.
– Add eggs and mix well.
– Mix in vanilla extract.
– Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon (if using).
– Stir in oatmeal and chocolate chips.
– Chill dough in bowl in fridge for 30 min.
– Scoop out dough into mounds on cookie sheets and bake 15-18 min.
– Cool on wire rack.
2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking soda
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 – 3/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp butter, cold
3 tbsp shortening
3/4 cup buttermilk
– Preheat oven to 450ºF.
– Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
– Cut in butter and shortening.
– Stir in buttermilk with a fork until just holding together.
– Turn out onto work surface and gently knead a few times to combine.
– Roll or pat out dough to about 3/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes.
– Bake 12-15 min or until light golden on top.
– Cool on wire rack.
1. Preheat oven to 170ºF.
2. Mix 1 tsp original white mix and 2 tsp pearlized white premix.
3. Spread over butterfly mat and bake 10 min, then cool.
4. Spread pearlized white premix over cooled butterflies and bake 10 min, then cool.
5. Fold aluminum foil sheet several times to create peaks.
6. Gently peel butterflies from mat and hang over foil peaks. Bake again for 20 min.
7. Store cooled butterflies in box until ready to use.
This a great sugar cookie recipe for cutting out shapes and decorating. The Wilton Color Flow icing is great for getting a nice smooth finish on the top of your cookies.
Method:
– whisk together flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.
– mix together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
– mix egg, extracts and milk.
– stir in flour.
– wrap dough in cling film and refrigerate about 1 hr.
– roll out dough on a floured surface to desired thickness.
– use cookie cutters and cut out shapes.
– bake in a 350ºF for 8-12 min.
– cool on wire rack.
Icing:
– follow directions on Wilton Color Flow container.
This is a lovely subtle coconut cupcake. There is coconut and coconut milk in the cupcake and cream/custard filling. If you would like a stronger coconut flavor, you can add some coconut extract to the batter. I also love the toasted coconut on the top. I’ve added some gelatin to the whipped cream topping to help stabilize it. If it’s not too hot out and you’re eating these right away, then you can just use regular whipped cream.
3/4 cup Coconut Milk
3/4 cup Half & Half
3 Egg Yolks (save the whites for the cupcakes)
1/3 cup Sugar
2 tbsp Cornstarch
1/2 tbsp Butter
3/4 cup Flaked Sweetened Coconut
3/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/8 tsp Salt
Method:
– Whisk coconut milk, half & half and egg yolks in a jug. Set aside.
– In a heavy-based saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Over medium-low heat, slowly whisk in egg/milk mixture.
– Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, bring to a boil and boil for 1 min.
– Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla, salt and flaked coconut.
– Place cling film or plastic wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Cool completely.
Note: I remove the custard to a bowl to cool. If needed, you can place the bowl in an ice bath to cool more quickly.
Ingredients for Cake:
2 1/4 cups Flour
1 1/2 cups Sugar
2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
3/4 cup Coconut Milk
3/4 cup Shortening
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
3 Egg Whites
1 cup Flaked Sweetened Coconut
1-2 cups Flaked Sweetened Coconut, for toasting
Method:
– Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line 2 – 12 cup cupcake pans with cases.
– Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, coconut milk, shortening, vanilla extract and almond extract on low and then increase to high until light.
– Add in flaked coconut.
– In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form.
– Gently fold egg whites into batter.
– Evenly divide batter between cupcake cases.
– Bake for 20 – 25 min. until golden brown or toothpick inserted comes out clean.
– Cool in pans for 10 min. before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
– Place coconut for toasting on a baking tray and bake until lightly golden brown.
Ingredients for Stabilized Whipped Cream:
2 tsp Gelatin
8 tsp Cold Water
2 cups Whipping Cream
1/2 cup Confectioner’s Sugar
Method:
– In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over water. Let sit 5 min.
– Over a low heat, stir to dissolve gelatin.
– Cool to room temp. Make sure gelatin doesn’t set.
– Whip cream and confectioner’s sugar until soft peaks form. Slowly add gelatin to whipped cream.
To assemble cupcakes:
– cut a small hole in the top of each cupcake.
– Fill hole with some custard (placing custard in a piping bag makes this very easy and quick).
– Cover top of cupcake with whipped cream (I use a Wilton 1M nozzle in a piping bag).
– Sprinkle toasted coconut over top.
Note: If you’re not eating these right away, then keep them refrigerated.
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