Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011)

"Hankerie's Xmas Reindeer Nutella Cupcakes"

Have a jolly holly Christmas with Hankerie this month!! Thanks to SSB for giving me the chance to host this month Aspiring Bakers challenge. This month theme is similiar to last year Xmas theme, the only difference is the creativity of your Xmas bakes. Of course, we do hope more submission coming this year too. Get ready of your bakeware and let your own creativity flows for this coming festive. One exciting giveaway worth AUD39.90 (MYR130) for the winner to keep new bakeware into your collection.

Definition of the Creative Christmas Bakes: We want more ideas coming in for the Xmas, no constraints of any bakes that you would like to submit (For e.g Xmas cookies, cakes, pies, or gingerbread house). We do emphasize the originality & creativity of your bakes.

Who can join?
Everyone! (if you do not have a blog, just send me a photo and recipe of your bake/dish)

How to join?
Step 1 :
Can be any bakes of related to Xmas based on your own creativity, in the month of December 2011.


Step 2 :
Post it on your blog between 01 December 2011 and 31 December 2011.
Your post must include the recipe or link to the original recipe. If you are using a recipe from a book, please include the title of the book too.
Any entries that are posted outside the date range will not be accepted.
Any entries that do not include a recipe or link to the original recipe will not be accepted too.

Step 3 :
Please mention that you are submitting your post to Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie and provide a link back to this post HERE.
Entries will not be accepted if the above is not included.

Step 4 :
Email to hankerie@gmail.com in the following format:

Your name or nickname:
Your blog name: (omit this if you do not have a blog)
Name of your bake/dish:
URL of your post:
URL of your photo (one photo for each entry):
(alternatively, you can attach your photo in your email, preferably less than 500kb).

Please use "Aspiring Bakers #14" as your email subject. You may submit more than 1 entry.

The roundup will be posted on 01 January 2012.


Giveaway worth AUD39.90 (MYR130) for the Winner:
As a token of appreciation, I'm giving away this exclusive Australia "Willow" brand - non-stick bakeware with 3-years guarantee. It is 12-hole dome patty tray for the most creative Xmas bakes winner worth. I will start to post all the entry photo in my "Hankerie" Facebook album and let people vote. The closing date for the votes is 7th January 2012. The winner (with most "likes") will be announced in my blog & Facebook on 8th January 2012 (to be fair for those late submissions). Take note the prize is sponsored by myself.

12-hole dome patty tray worth AUD39.90 (MYR130)

***
If you are interested to find out what's on the previous Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog, check it out.

It is NOT burger! It's cupcake.

Believe it or not, they are not burgers. They are cupcake burgers!!! My inspirations came from my cupcakes excess for baking too many cupcakes in one go. They are my combo cupcakes from all of my previous cupcake posts titled "Butter-less Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes", "Mix Berries Juice Cupcakes with fresh berries" (Omit the berries) & "Black Forest Cupcakes" (I just take its cherries). These burger cupcakes taste are just awesome and perfect, combined all the gist of these cupcakes.

The funniest thing was when I brought this to office to eat these as my breakfast, my colleagues asked me "why are you eating burgers as breakfast???". Burst laughter when they found out all these are sweet cupcakes.

Assemble wise, half the vanilla cupcakes (without any berries) into half, cut a slice of the butter-less chocolate cupcakes, and then dressing with avocado cream, strawberry jam & cream, few slices of fresh cherries, at last close it with the other half of vanilla cupcakes. Topping with sesame. Burger cupcakes completed !

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Fresh Apricot Cupcakes - Insect Series

This is first ever experience in my life to eat the fresh Apricot. The texture is so similiar to the peaches, it's much smaller and crunchier, of course more expensive too. Taste, it's unique but not too sweet. Perfect for baking which matching sweeter cupcake base. Since November is apricot's season in Australia here, I bought some fresh apricots and experience baking them for the first time. The result are pretty good when matching with blueberries in the cake :) Enjoy my creativity inspiration to decorate these lovely healthy cupcakes.

Ladybird Cupcakes - made from half of apricot, stick with some mini chocolate chip to represent back of ladybird.


Butterfly Cupcakes
A snapshot of the rest of my apricots cupcakes.

My recipe as below ( It yields 6-8 medium cupcakes)

Cake:

120g butter
50g white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tub yogurt
1 TBSP sugar liquid from apricot can (optional)
3 pieces of fresh apricots (chopped) - prefer ripe one
150g flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Topping
100g Fresh whipped cream
10g sugar
Fresh apricot for decoration

Method

The steps are similar to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", put the toppings after your baked cupcakes has been completely cool down.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Fresh Australian Mango Cupcakes

It's nearly the end of the Cupcakes month. Today's menu is the fresh Australian Mango Cupcakes. By using the fresh mango blend with gelatin, sugar as well as fresh cream, it's perfectly set on top of the moist mango yogurt cupcakes. For me, I am still prefer the Philippines mango rather than Australian Mango, it is much sweeter and softer. The good thing to bake yourself is you definitely know all these are free of any colouring, preservative or artificial mango puree. 

Cake & Method:

Same as my previous post titled "Fresh Nectarine Yogurt Cupcakes", change the nectarine into mangoes.

Topping
1 TBSP sugar (depends on ripe or sweet of your mango, adjust accordingly)
1 Fresh Australian Mango
1/2 TBSP fresh cream
1/2 cup mango juice
1TBSP gelatin dissolved in 50ml water
Fresh chopped mangoes for decoration

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

I love cupcakes so much especially chocolate cupcakes. When fresh cherries meet with chocolate cupcakes, the fantastic taste just like heaven. 

I love the way how I assemble this cupcake. How did this idea coming from? The reason is that I want to put more fresh cherries in between the chocolate cupcakes layer. That's how you can taste every single bites with the cherries and cupcakes together.

Super closeout of the cupcakes.

Cake recipe & Method:

Refer to my previous post titled "Black Forest Cupcakes", omit the grated chocolate.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Grapes Cupcakes with Flower Arrangement

These wonderful seedless grapes are the best combination with the strawberry cream frosting on these vanilla cupcakes. All the natural fruits sweetness spring the gist of original flavour cupcakes. For presentation wise, these grapes are decorated as flower petal while putting the chocolate chips in the middle of flowers to join all the petals together.

Cake & Method:

Same as my previous post titled "Mix Berries Juice Cupcakes with fresh berries"

Topping
1 cup icing sugar
110g butter
1TBSP fresh strawberries juice
Few Chocolate chips
Fresh Seedless Red Grapes for decoration

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Devil's food Cupcakes with Avocado Lemon Glaze

It caught me a surprise today! My Butter-less Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes has been featured in one of the Cupcake.blog.com which based in US (for those that appreciate the art of the cupcake), see my feature  here. This website basically feature those unique and creative cupcakes; You may find some wonderful ideas there too.

With that, i'm posting the similiar cupcakes today but these cupcakes are not the chocolate cupcakes which bake with cocoa powder only, it consists of the melted chocolate inside. These devilishly dark goodness chocolate cupcakes match perfectly with the sourish pure avocado cream. The natural green colour combine with the red colour cupcakes liners make the perfect bakes idea for this coming Xmas.  The taste, the look & the presentation will impress your guest for sure.

Cake Recipe & Method:

Refer to my previous post titled "Butter-less Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes", put some dark chocolate at the middle of cupcake's batter before sending into oven.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Wedding Cupcakes Tower Designed by Hankerie

Wedding bell rings for Barry & Izzy soon. All of us in the project team in Australia decided to give them the surprise wedding party celebration for them before their flyback to Malaysia tomorrow. Everybody are bringing some snack/food for the surprise party (High-tea) today. For me, I decided to bake the exclusively design wedding cupcakes for them.

Well, this has been my best meaningful cupcakes as they are for the wedding couple. By using the white & pink colour as my cupcakes theme, came out slightly different design for each of them to build up the wedding cupcakes tower. The pink colour swirl represents the pink roses for the wedding. Glad that everybody are enjoying these 12 cupcakes and finished it with thumbs up :). Some of them are extremely surprised that all these cupcakes are baked by me, they called it "Expensive SAP Consultant Cupcakes". What a joke! Couple of them taking the cupcakes tower photo as they claimed really looks too nice. Some even say they all done so professionally, even looks much better than those sell outside. Oh...really made my day!!

The cupcakes below are my fondant icing cupcakes which I made it from scratch. Letter "B" represents Barry & letter "I" represents Izzy.

Everybody are so excited to give this lovely couples surprises, putting up the decoration together in the meeting room & prepare the food in just the short time. After that, the couples being dragged in the meeting room as an "order" to attend so called "meeting". They indeed caught in the surprises after seeing all these - our mission accomplished. We can see Izzy's touched with tears.

Wonder what's underneath the cupcakes' decoration? They are my all-time favorite fresh blueberries Yogurt Cupcakes.

Cake Recipe & Method:

Refer to my previous post titled "Fresh Nectarine Yogurt Cupcakes", change the peaches into fresh blueberries as well as brown sugar into white sugar as I prefer lighter colour for the cake.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Fresh Nectarine Yogurt Cupcakes

What is Nectarine? From my first sight, I am confused by its look, it looks like red apple from far, sometimes looks like plum but it is a type of peach. The most interesting facts about this unique fruit is that they come from the same family as the rose and are also related to the almond!!! Its smooth skin is red in colour on a yellow to pale yellow background whilst the flesh is yellow to almost red. Each of this nectarine has a pointed, furrowed, egg-shaped seed in the middle. 

In Australia, nectarine's season is from September until April whereby January and February are the peak season. The prime growing areas are located at New South Wales and lower part of Queensland. Now I understand why I can get the cheaper price of these nectarine in Brisbane here.

To keep my story short, since these nectarines are not naturally sweet, I've used some portion of can peaches with the mixture of natural yogurt. Indeed the combination of all yields pretty good result, if you do like the super moist inside the cupcake, you might love these wonderful fresh nectarine yogurt cupcakes too! Lazy to bake? Just call me and place order then :)

My recipe as below ( It yields 6-8 medium cupcakes)

Cake:

120g butter
75g brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tub yogurt
1/4 cup of can peaches
1 TBSP sugar liquid from peach can
2 pieces of fresh Nectarine (chopped)
150g  flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Topping
100g Fresh whipped cream
10g sugar
Fresh nectarine for decoration

Method

The steps are similar to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", put the toppings after your baked cupcakes has been completely cool down.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Butter-less Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes

Everyone scare of FAT!!! Cupcake, no way (it's full of butter). Do not worry now, this GOOD-Fat avocado cupcake absolutely match your diet plan then. It contains mostly the monounsaturated kind, is extremely good for the heart according to the medical research. How I've invented this is just substitute the butter into fresh mashed avocado in this cake recipe. Undeniably the texture of the cake is not as fine as the butter-contains cupcake. Think about it, it's good for your health and say it all later. 

Some interesting facts on how avocado good for our health, source from here. I might need to invent more avocado-related recipe since it's easier to get it at Australia anytime now.

1. Did you know that avocado or an avocado extract is good for prevention or treatment of “breast cancer” as well as “prostate cancer”?
2. Avocados contain “oleic acid”, a monounsaturated fat that may help lower cholesterol.
3. Avocado is a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure.

Anyway, my recipe as below

Cake:

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", change the flour to 70%, 30% of the total to use pure cocoa powder. Substitute the butter into mashed fresh avocado (1 small one). 

Topping
2 small to medium avocado (ripe one)
1/2 cup sugar (you may reduce it if you prefer the original avocado smell)
1tsp lemon juice
Fruits (decor) - my liking :)

Method

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes"

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

&

I am submitting this post to the Christmas Giveaway in the Sweet Spot

Snoopy Cupcakes by Hankerie

It's decorating cupcakes time. Having the idea to decorate cartoon character always the fancy option. Specially dedicate these lovely cupcakes for my sister-in-law as she is a super-duper Snoopy fan! See my other Snoopy bakes, click here.

For the base cake recipe (Vanilla cupcakes), refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes".

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Black Forest Cupcakes

This classic and elegant cupcake reminds me of my childhood. Black Forest Cake was our family splurge dessert whenever celebrating our birthday. They weren't much choices for the birthday cakes in the past, and the black forest is the most delicious and affordable price among others. Naturally, my siblings and I always hope that faster reaching either one of our birthday soon, just to get and eat this Black Forest Birthday cakes.

Even as getting older, this is still one of favorites-although, I’m not quite sure if it’s more the cake or the nostalgic effect when I have it. Today, I make it into small little cupcakes, perfect for few bites and yet not enough to just have one.

Since I managed to get fresh cherries easily in Australia, I am not going to use those canned preserved cherries to bake this. Best served with a cup of hot brewed coffee too :)

My recipe as below

Cake:

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", change the flour to 70%, 30% of the total to use pure cocoa powder. 

Topping
100g Fresh whipped cream
10g sugar
Fresh  Cherries & grated dark chocolate for decoration

Method

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", put the toppings after your baked cupcakes has been completely cool down.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Mix Berries Juice Cupcakes with fresh berries

It's summer at Australia now. Whether you’re looking for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or boysenberries, all the fruits are becoming readily available and at affordable prices (some even half price in supermarket now). This mixed berries juice cupcake is versatile and a great use of any type of berry or soft and juicy fruit. With the wonderful fresh mixed berries juice as well, I've invented these juice cupcakes in order to get tastier and stronger berries-fragrance. The only disappointment again is the colour, it becomes a bit greenish after mixed with batter, no pink or red colour at all for the cake.

Anyhow, this recipe is simple and perfect for those afraid of baking. You mix a batter and pour it into a cupcake pan, then drop handfuls of berries on top after baked. Bake and eat. Seriously, it’s that simple and the taste? Out of this world delicious, natural & fresh. It’s that good.

The close-up of my both mixed berries Juice cupcakes with different fresh berries toppings - one with strawberries and the other one with blueberries.

Apart from that, there are some interesting facts about blueberries while I browsing some internet yesterday. I do not know that blueberries has so many types & specific name (northern highbush', ‘southern highbush' and the ‘rabbit eye' blueberry). To see more, refer to this website
"Approximately 50% of blueberries are sold as fresh market fruit into the Australian domestic market, 30% is exported to Asia and Europe, while the remaining 20% of fruit is processed, principally as frozen product"

My recipe as below
Cake:

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes",change the 1/4 cup of milk into 1/4 of fresh mixed berries juice. Omit the vanilla essence since you would not want the vanilla taste in these cupcakes. Prepare chopped fresh strawberry & blueberries. Cocoa powder not required.

Topping
1 cup icing sugar
110g butter
1TBSP fresh mixed berries juice
2 mashed fresh strawberries
Fresh Strawberries and blueberries for decoration

Method

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", put the toppings after your baked cupcakes has been completely cool down.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Angry Birds Cake Pop

I miss my Angry Birds!!! By using the remaining cakes, made it into Angry Birds cake pop!!! The best ever gift for kids especially during their birthday party!

Australian Cherries & Blueberries Cupcakes

In the past one week, I've missed the baking so much!!! Finally, I baked these first batch of cupcakes in Australia after sorting out all the house moving.

During my grocery shopping yesterday, I bought some fresh cherries and blueberries, which are the product of Australia. It's the season now!! Hence, gladly bought them back and started to bake my cupcakes! At first, I was wondering just bake blueberries cupcakes only but it's too common. And I believe, the taste will be much better if I add on some of the juicy sweet cherries. My instinct is right, the combination is just perfect. Another important point here is, I prefer some crust on top of my cupcakes and I came out the idea of this specially made topping :)

My recipe as below
Cake:

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes",change the vanilla essence into half cup of chopped  cherries and half cup of blueberries. Omit the cocoa powder.

Topping
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
3 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp cocoa powder

Method

Refer to my previous post titled "Volcano Cupcakes", the toppings must put before sending into oven.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

Volcano Cupcakes

If you know me well, I always like to being myself to invent new bakes. Well, for today's bake, I call it as Volcano Cupcakes but it's the dead volcano without any eruption.

Previously, I been asked by few of my readers/fans regarding on what's the difference between cupcakes & muffins. They all look the same. Well, for your benefits, I summarized it as below:

1. Cupcake is essentially the same as a whole cake. It is simply baked and served in a portion to serve one individual. It usually contains butter and sweet; decorated on the top. 
2. Muffin is one of the easiest things to bake. It is simply mixing the wet and dry ingredients together and some recipes do not even require the use of an electronic beater or whisk. Normally muffin is healthier than the cupcakes.

My recipe as below
Cake:

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 tsp mocha powder (decor)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tins with liners.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; sieve well .
3. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg & vanilla essence and beat until incorporated. Mix in the mixture of no.2. Pour into the cupcakes liner.
4. Bake in preheated oven on center for 28-30 minutes. Cool at room temperature for about half an hour and then chill until very cold.
5. Dust some mocha powder as decoration.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #13: Enjoy Cupcakes! (November 2011) hosted by Min of Min's Blog.

{Result} October Halloween Party

Hello!!! Time flies. October's Halloween Party has been closed. Congrats to Trilogy Edibles (EEEEEK Pops) for being a winner (the most views entry) in this event. 

Check out my November hosted event. Have fun :)