Cupcakes, Cupcakes, more Cupcakes...and a Fantastic LOGO!

So..I've had a VERY busy weekend...2.5 dozen "cupcakes at Tiffany's" Cupcakes, 4 dozen "Easter Basket" cupcakes (Pipedream Bakery's first order), PLUS I had the chance to work with La Closette's very own, Liza Amlani (follow her on twitter - @laclosette) - she is the mastermind and creative genius  behind the brand new logo for Pipedream Bakery! Check it out:

The "Cupcakes at Tiffany's" cupcakes were a TON of fun to make..I started with that super-moist and yummy chocolate cupcake that I swear by (shout out to the Happy Baker), topped the cupcakes with a mouth-watering Tiffany "blue" buttercream, and topped them off with the signature Tiffany white bow. The pretty pearly white Tiffany bows are made from white marshmallow fondant, coated with a pearl white dust..check out these bows and the finished product!

Next up - Easter Baskets! I was super-excited to make these cupcakes (I had a similar feeling when I found my Canvas Gucci Hobo/messenger bag in San Fran over the holidays)!! The coolest part: I used "edible grass" as the basket holders! Here's a peek - 

Next up...my first attempt at Red Velvet..mmmmm...

Stay Slim, eat cake

NYC Bakeries - the "real story"

Okay, so I'm officially back from a nice, loooong holiday and am ready to get back at it! My first order of business: to reveal the "real story" on a few bakeries I had the chance to visit while in NYC a couple of weeks ago...so, here goes!


1. Baked by Melissa: This was the cutest place on a super-happening corner in Soho. What a concept - a walk-up bakery!! It was the coolest (and best) thing I've seen since Starbucks Drive-thru came into the world (yes, its true people - I went to the suburbs)! It also brings the two things I love most together in one place - shopping and cupcakes..who knew it could be so satisfying - take a walk through Kate Spade, and Michael Kors and then make a stop at Baked by Melissa for a yummy treat!

2. Crumbs Bake Shop: So, Crumbs is a very cool and different concept. Replacing the idea of the "perfect little cupcake" is the not-so-perfect-looking, super "crumb-mee", delicious cupcake! This place had everything from "Cherry Blossom" to a GIANT chocolate cupcake - "The Colossal Crumb."

3. Magnolia Bakery: Ahh, the famous Magnolia Bakery...When we got there, I could hardly contain my excitement - I mean, c'mon! Was I really going to set foot in the same bakery that Carrie and Miranda went to? Was I really about to  experience the cupcake with the buttercream frosting that I swear by?? Needless to say, the first thing I did when I walked in was purchase an "I 'cupcake' NY" t-shirt, and the Magnolia Bakery recipe book. I then proceeded to walk past every single baked good they had - from cookies to cupcakes..."This place is wonderful," I thought to myself as I landed infront of the cupcakes! I immediately purchased 1 vanilla on vanilla and 1 chocolate with (duh) purple buttercream frosting...I left thinking, "wow - one day, Pipedream Bakery will be this big"...We proceeded to (yes, you guessed it) shop...5th Avenue ofcourse! As we walked, I dug into the vanilla cupcake..General consensus: good flavour, but not moist in the least bit! The frosting on the other hand - deelish! After a long (and fabulous) day of walking up 5th, browsing through the 3 floors that make up the Gucci store, and the 6 floors that make up Tiffany (sigh), we walked back to our super-cute boutique hotel for a break..I thought - what better way to take a break than indulge in a chocolate cupcake! I saved the best for last (or so I thought). I have to say that I was heartbroken when I tried it! I will give Magnolia this: 1. The bakery looks and feels like perfection - you do feel special when you walk in there, 2. The frosting held true and was fabulous, and 3. I do love my t-shirt! The cupcakes, however, need a splash of milk and a dash of love!

Conclusion: Crumbs Bake Shop - you're at the top of my list...for now. I mean, I still have to hit up Carlo's Bakery in good ol' Hoboken the next time I go to NYC - Can't wait to meet you, Buddy!

Stay Slim, eat cake

The result - my first "professional cupcake decorating" class

So...as you know, I was extremely excited about taking a "professional" cupcake decorating class...There we were, aprons on, spatula in one hand, sift in the other..we were ready! Well, this was NOT what we (my sister, our good friend, and myself) expected! Let's just say that we ended up creating our own versions of the Instructor's designs!!! As a result, I'm left unfulfilled and unsatisfied! I need to find the perfect class that's going to really teach technique...Now, I can't say that we learnt nothing...We learned how to make roses out of butter-cream (shout out to Raheema on this one!), we learned how to pipe "grass" onto a cupcake, and best of all, we learned that cupcake tops taste SO yummy when they are fresh out of the oven!!! Needless to say, we need to find a new class! 

Here are some pictures for your amusement:

Next stop..New York City - Magnolia Bakery and Carlo's Bakery...here I come!!

Stay Slim, Eat Cake