Week 1 - Cupcake 4 - Lemon Butterfly Cupcakes

I totally forgot that I had to do a butterfly on the top of the frosting. I got carried away with the piping tips and how cool the things I made! The decorations doesn't look perfect but this is the first time I've used this decorating tip so I might need to practice. I haven't tasted the cupcake yet but I think I will have someone else eat it because I've eaten three in two days. I definitely don't want to gain so much weight doing this so I would need tasters!

Interested? Hit me up on facebook https://www.facebook.com/altonileen.cabling

Lemon (no butterfly) Cupcakes with lemon butter cream

Week 1 - Cupcake 3 - Gingerbread Pots

I did some research about using terra cotta pots when baking and I found out that you have to clean it really thoroughly before using it because some of them contains lead. I didn't want to take any risks especially when it comes to food so I didn't buy any and just baked them in a regular cupcake pan.

This is the one I was worried about the most. I used my mom's ginger candies and sliced them in little pieces but I was worried that it's going to be too big for the cupcake and it will just sink down the bottom of the cupcake. I tried it this morning and it was gooood! the lemon frosting compliments the ginger alot and the candies melted in the middle of the cupcakes making it really moist!

Gingerbread cupcakes with lemon butter cream frosting

Week 1 - Cupcake 2 - (Alternative) Almond Cupcake with salted caramel frosting

The original recipe calls for a vanilla cupcake but it gave me an option of doing an Almond one if I wanted to. The recipe didn't have any frosting so I researched online what would be good to go with an Almond cupcake and caramel seems to be the best one :)

My dad commented that it felt dry because I've put alot of almond slices inside the cupcakes then on top of the cupcakes. So next time, I'll remember to not over crowd the cupcake with so much nuts lol. The frosting tasted delicious though!

Almond cupcake with salted caramel frosting and extra caramel drizzle topped with sliced almond pieces.

Week 1 - Cupcake 1 - Spanish Orange Syrup Cupcake

I must say. This is a lot of hard work and patience to bake one recipe, wash the utensils and then bake another, four times!!! I'm super tired but it's all worth it. Now I just have to find people who would like to taste it :)

I think instead of doing four cupcakes in one night, I'll do one cupcake a night on any day of the week so I'm not super stressed like today! I finished which felt great but dang, this too much. I'll definitely not back down on the challenge but I really gotta find the time to bake em'.

I'll do alot of updating tomorrow but for now I'll show you the final product of CUPCAKE #1!

Spanish Orange Syrup Cupcakes with orange buttercream and a candied orange rind. 

I added the orange buttercream (the book didn't require a frosting for this cupcake but I don't like unfrosted cupcakes) so I decided to look up an orange buttercream recipe online. (RECIPE COMING SOON)

Supplies

This what happens when you go through your pantry (image below) and find that you don't have any o the ingredients the recipe calls for.

I did a little shopping today after work for some ingredients and more supply! 

I went to Walmart, Foodmax, Joann, and Safeway 

All added up to $44.71. I think I'm going to go broke doing this blog.

I should have someone sponsor me lol

Walmart:

-2lbs of Powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) 

-Small bottle of honey

-Two boxes of small block of cream cheese

-4 60ct. Baking Paper liners (which by the way Im gonna end up returning because I found cheaper ones at foodmax)

-Cooking spray

Foodmax:

-Two boxes of brown sugar (1 light, 1 dark)

-Two 6 oz. Heavy whipping cream

-Baking powder

-Pure Almond extract

-A tub of Imperial Vegetable oil Spread (Turned out that real butter is way more expensive. I've been using this when I'm baking anyways so to save some money I bought this instead)

Joann: I felt like a kid in a candy store looking at so many supplies for baking. That's a birthday gift hint ;)

-a box of Gel food coloring

-Two decorating tips and a couplet <--- I'm super excited about :)

Safeway:

-A bag of sliced almonds

-Semolina Flour

Went through my whole kitchen cabinet and looked for my supplies!!! so far this what I have. I need to go shopping for some more supplies :)

Introduction

Hello!

My name is Altoni Cabling. Currently a senior at Cal State East Bay! For my last year in college, I thought I'd do something interesting. A good way to get away from what's going to be a stressful year!

This is the 501 Cupcakes Challenge. I will be baking at least 3 cupcake recipes every friday and blogging each and every one of them! Using the 500 Cupcakes book I bought from Costco that has been sitting in the shelf for two years and one final signature cupcake that I will be developing myself. I love reading cook books especially baking books but I never really used it to bake something so I'm starting now!

I used to bake a lot during high school but recently, I only bake when there's an occasion or when my sister feels like baking too. Sister is a good baker too so I think this will be fun for me and her. 

This should be a fun journey! If you ever wanna be a help and be a guest in one of the week recipe, feel free to add me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/altonileen.cabling and shoot me a message! :)

I will be also adding some pictures to my Cupcakellery each week with cool photos of the cupcakes and whatever comes in mind!

I'll also do some fun games and create little surprises each week so stay tuned!

My first three cupcakes will be this friday, August 31, 2012.