5 Summer Ready To Roll Icing Cupcake Ideas

Summer is nearly here, and although the sunny weather hasn’t managed more than a sporadic showing it’s time to start getting ready for picnics and days at the beach. What better cakes to make for lazy summer days than cupcakes. Small, portable and oh-so tasty, cupcakes are great for including in picnic hampers and packed lunch boxes.

Here are 5 ideas for summer themed ready to roll icing cupcakes.

1. Bee Topper. What says summer more than the gentle buzzing of bees skipping from flower to flower. So why not create your own cute bumblebee topper. All you’ll need is some yellow, black and white ready to roll icing. Simply roll a flattened ball of yellow icing for the body and fix a few

7 Tips To Get The Best Results When Decorating Your Wedding Cake With Ready To Roll Icing

A wedding cake is a very important part of a wedding. When the moment comes for the bride and groom to make that first cut together everybody gathers round and their eyes will be as much on the cake as the happy couple.

These tips will help you avoid disaster if you’re decorating your wedding cake with ready to roll icing. Some of these pointers will help with decorating while others will help in other ways that are equally important. 

1. Make A Pinterest Board. This might seem an odd tip but whether you’re making your own

Simple Jam Sponge

The cold weather is expected to last and even worsen over the next few weeks so I've really been cranking out the warm desserts after dinner. Sponges are great winter warmers and this jam version can be whisked up in a matter of minutes for happy tummies all round...

It's delicious reheated for lunch the following day too!

Ingredients (serves 4-5)
4 heaped tbsp seedless jam
2 medium eggs
4oz caster sugar
4oz butter (and extra for greasing)
4oz self raising flour

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
Grease a pudding basin thoroughly and spoon in the jam
In a bowl, mix together the butter and sugar followed by the flour and eggs
Pour the mixture over the top of the jam and level out
Cook for around 25 until golden (use a skewer to ensure it is cooked in the middle)
Turn out onto a plate
Scoff!


For a similar alternative try our syrup sponge recipe

*This is my entry into the Co-operative Electrical competition.*

Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in order to raise vital funds for cancer research, Breakthrough Breast Cancer have released their new campaign; The Great Pink Bake Off.

As many as 1,000 women die each month of breast cancer within the UK so not only is this a great opportunity to fire up the ovens, pop on your apron and whip up something delicious in the kitchen, it is also a great way to help support life-saving research.

On Friday 18th October simply gather your friends, family and colleagues to bring their baked goodies and ask everyone who attends to make a donation. If 18th October doesn't work for you then you can hold a Bake Off anytime, anywhere, during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

It's a piece of cake!

Jane Asher, Great Pink Bake Off ambassador, says: "Everybody knows someone affected by breast cancer – so I'm urging everyone to join the Great Pink Bake Off on Friday 18th October and get baking to help support this fantastic organisation.

Simply ask your friends and family to bring their homemade treats, make a donation and decide whose bake is best. As well as having lots of fun, it'll be satisfying to know that all the money you raise will go towards Breakthrough Breast Cancer's vital work. Do join me: sign up today and help us save lives."

Visit pinkbakeoff.org or call 08080 100 200

Being breast aware is as simple as TLC: 

TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything unusual? 

LOOK for changes. Is there any change in shape or texture? 

CHECK anything unusual with your doctor

You can text SIGNS to 70500 to get their free credit-card sized TLC (Touch Look Check) guide. Not only does the TLC guide detail the key signs and symptoms of breast cancer, it also includes information about what to do if you notice anything unusual. Its handy size means women can keep it somewhere useful, such as in a handbag or on the nightstand, that will act as a helpful reminder to check their breasts.

You can also purchase a variety of products here: http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/shop

10% is donated for every item you buy.

Will you be joining in with the Great Pink Bake Off?

Space Cupcakes

It's National Cupcake Week and therefore a fantastic excuse to whip up something delicious in the kitchen. These are a little quirky but ideal for a bit of twist on your standard cake with the fizz of the flying saucers and sparkly glitter!

Ingredients

200g self-raising flour
200g caster sugar
200g butter
3 medium eggs
50g cocoa powder

250g chocolate

200ml double cream

Flying saucers and edible glitter for decorating.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

Combine the sugar, butter, eggs, flour and the cocoa in a bowl and mix until smooth.

Place the mixture evenly into the cupcake cases (makes about 18) then cook for around 12-15 minutes until well risen. Allow them to cool before decorating.

To make the gnache (alternatively use chocolate butter cream) warm the double cream on a low heat and add in the chocolate, stirring until it has melted. Allow the gnache to cool completely, whisk briefly and then pipe/spoon it onto the cupcakes. You can then add your glitter and flying saucers.

Scoff!

I'm linking this with...

Project 366, 212/366 - Cakes n bakes

The weather seems to have turned sour so some indoor entertainment was required. This resulted in some delicious flapjacks (recipe is here) and some Rice Krispies raspberry bites (recipe here).

Rainbow Cakes

Baking is a great way to have some cheap, family fun at home and these rainbow cakes are not only delicious but they look rather funky too!


Method


1) Make up a basic cake/sponge recipe and divide the mixture equally into 3 seperate bowls. We combined 4oz of caster sugar with 4oz of butter then added 2 eggs and 4oz of self-raising flour to make ours.


2) Add a few drops of different food colouring to each bowl and fold it in thoroughly. We used blue, green and red.


3) Spoon a small amount from each bowl into a cupcake case so the mixture is layered in each one.


4) Bake in the oven, allow to cool slightly and put the cakes onto a wire tray to cool down completely.


5) Add icing (we made butter cream) and try to make it look like fluffy clouds. Using a fork to pull the icing upwards gives it peaks.


6) Slice your fizzy rainbow sweets (we got ours in Co-op) down in size, around 3" should be fine or half a piece. Curve them slightly and place on top of each cake.


Scoff!

We have made slightly different variations of these over the past few years and you can aswell. We have left the sponges plain and had multi-coloured icing instead, added tiny marshmallows to represent clouds and added rainbow drops and other sweets too! Just explore with what you have available.