Springing back!

It's been a while, but, hey, I've been busy. This Easter has been a great weekend for baking - too cold and the family too poorly to be bothered with going outside anyway! So, I've been getting creative indoors with some new flower styles for cake toppings, just in time for the spring blooms and blossoms. These will be great for parties and wedding cakes come the summer too.

I've also been squirrelling away on a new website with some new photos and yummy cake flavours ... watch this space for relaunch.

Recipes also coming soon....

Flavour of the Month: Smashing Pumpkin

Inspiration struck while I was making the first big batch of pumpkin cupcakes for market on Friday and, lo, it is now called Smashing Pumpkin!

It's a pretty satrightforward recipe - just like a carrot cake really - from Susannah Blake's Cupcake book that mother-out-law loaned me. It makes really light and moist cakes.

For 12 muffin size cupcakes:
115g soft brown sugar
120ml sunflower oil
2 eggs
115g grated squash (I'd recommend small pumpkin or butternut for taste)
zest of 1 lemon
115g self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder
1tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 180c or 160 fan and line your muffin tin with spooky cases.
Break up sugar in a bowl so there are no lumps and beat in the oil and the eggs. It's goo to leave this while you grate the pumpkin as it seems to combine well after a little sit. Add grated pumpkin and lemon zest.
Sift together dry ingredients and fold into wet ingredients.
Fill cases 2/3 full.
Bake for around 20 minutes (I always check cupcakes at 17 minutes, and maybe give the tray a turn if your oven is - like mine - slightly warmer on one side than the other!)

I've topped with a vanilla buttercream in orange and black (although I was worried about the amount of black food colouring required so they were kind of dark grey really), but white chocolate topping or flat icing would work just as well.

Chaos in the kitschy kitchen

It's been a crazy few months in cupcake land for many many reasons, but I thought it was about time I picked up the blog again. Really need to update the website too, which hasn't promoted a new flavour since June (although, there have been new flavours of course; this month's is pumpkin!) I also have some lovely photos and testimonials from this summer's weddings - coming to the website soon....
At the moment though, the kitschy kitchen is having an overhaul so baking is not permitted on hygiene grounds! (Not to mention a complete lack of space.)
I best get back to painting the kitchen cabinets so that I can get it done before next weekend's Wivey Market. If I'm pleased with my work, I'll post a photo later!

Still on the road

Kitschy cupcakes has been on the road in recent weeks. Sadly, not in a delightful whirl of visiting bakeries and cake shops, but 'doing the day job'. Stopping at weekends only to BAKE! (And do the washing.)

I'm also in the middle of a website overhaul at the moment, and am about to launch July's flavour (rose), minicupcakes and information about cupcakes for parties. Phew! So I've been quiet on the blog, but all go in the real world.

Also been planning an expansion into other cakes, tarts, scones etc (although resiting the ruddy whoopie pie), so need new branding. If you've any ideas (sensible or amusing) for a new name, send 'em over! Top of my list at the moment are CakeSmith and Wimblebakes. Oh, 'the naming of things is a difficult matter'.

Kitschy web

Well, there's not been a lot going on in the kitschy kitchen this weekend, but the kitschy computer has been very busy! I've now tarted up the kitschy website, with some fabulous paisley wallpaper (and much improved content, but paisley is the most fun bit!)

Hopefully, we'll be able to add lots more info about new flavours and cupcake collections over spring and summer, with photos and dates for stalls etc. Online ordering soon too if I can make it work....

Check out the updated www.kitschycupcakes.co.uk and let me know what you think!