Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make

SUGAR ALERT: I will be fawning and tripping all over in talking about this book!If you are a closet cake-decorator but you don't feel up in the ranks of Duff or Colette or Martha, then grab this book and hold on to your socks, because Karen Tack and Alan Richardson will take you on a fabulous decorating ride!!Wow, wow, and WOW! This veritable encyclopedia of "mini-cake" decorating is so fun and easy that there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to lament "they can't". With the use of food items found anywhere, you will be making the cutest, and most impressive cupcake creations you can possibly think of, and Karen and Alan will make you legendary to boot!This team of talent has come up with extremely amazing and irresistable cupcakes like giraffes, Van Gogh paintings, clowns, aquariums, etc that will all fit on top of a little poof of cake batter.The book size itself is large with big print which lends itself to the purpose of the photographic detail that is so big, sharp, and clear, there is no doubt or question on sequence or step. Karen Tack is the recipe creator and food stylist and Alan Richardson is the text writer and photographer; both are brilliant and incredibly talented individuals, so as a team, they are a match made in cupcake heaven.The Acknowledgement page was itself fun and relaxed, not something plodded through; you can tell it was done with real gratitude and thought, which is part of the overall charm of how this book was put together.There are 8 chapters between the "Introduction" and the "Sources"; got those socks gripped?........INTRODUCTION: Your text page begins the journey, and right after, you are given an impressive section of pages that visually, and with text, show you how you will make the many creations through the use of candies, cookies, and types of sugars.CUPCAKING TECHNIQUES: This was invaluable for those who are novice cupcake bakers or wannabe's. Hints and instructions on methods for pouring batter, spreading frosting, making frosting, and melting chocolate for designs, are shown in close detail. They show you how to make "fur" for the lion cupcakes and "leaves" for flowers. This is followed by methods used to draw "bugs", people faces, and hairstyles by using melted chocolate and candies. The next section shows how you will literally build up these creations, like the bowling pin cupcakes, so instruction is shown in simple and fascinating detail. Part of the more complex designs require a grouping of cupcakes, like "corn on the cob", "rabbits in a hole", or the "alligator", and you are given an idea of the schematics involved in getting them just right!APRIL FOOL'S THEME:Corn on the CobBagels and LoxButtered PopcornTV Dinner ("peas & carrots", "drumsticks", & "mashed potato" cupcakes!)Spaghetti and MeatballsBox of ChocolatesVan Gogh's "Starry Night" in frosting (he'd love it!)PARTY ANIMALS:March of the PenguinsFat Cats (cats with their paws on fishbones!)Fishbowl (you use those Pepperidge Farm fishies for this one!)Panda-moniumWestiesCrazy Horses (this uses candy circus peanuts and wafers)Pup Cakes (a whole bunch of poochies to choose from!)Monarchs (what a great Spring party or bridal shower presentation!)Shark Attack (you'll want to go into these waters!)Old Swampy the 'GatorHAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE!:When I Grow UpParty Princess (any little girl will just LOVE these!)Slumber PartyBig Birthday PartyBowl Me Over (this is soooo darn cute; pins and a bowling ball!!!)The Big Top (definitely a more time-required, but great, project)HOSTEST with the MOSTEST:Sunflowers (a veritable burst of green and yellow and Oreo cookies!)Black and White PartyPlay Pool (no one will mind the 8 ball!)Baby ShowerPetit Fours (very elegant and delicate)Garden Party ( a "garden" of carrots, peas, radishes, and cabbage)Easter EggsRabbit Holes (so unbelievably clever; Karen Tack is a genious!)Candy Stars and Stripes ForeverFamily TreeWedding Cake and MonogramsNIGHTMARE BEFORE THANKSGIVING:Alien InvasionCreepy Crawlers (almost good enough for goin' fishin')What a HootPumpkin Patch ( absolutely adorable; Alan's photography is superb!)Howling WerewolvesAutumn Leaves (how did they think of this great project?!)Larry the TurkeyHOLIDAY ON ICING:Edible Ornaments (incredible boxed "ornaments"!)String of DelightsSnow Globes (this was sheer genius by placing the cakes on their side!)Gingerbread BoysPartridge in a Pear Tree (fantastic!)Nutcracker Sweet (you'll be dancing!)Frosting the Snowman (too darn cute!)White Wreath (Christmas glory in white and red! Awesome!)CUPCAKES AND FROSTINGS:(Cake mix recipes): Pumpkin Spice, Chocolate Chunk Surprise, Chocolate Mint, Orange Spice, Banana Chocolate, Gingerbread(Homemade recipes): Chocolate Cupcakes, Banana Cupcakes, Carrot Cupcakes, Almond Cupcakes, Lemon-Poppy Seed Cupcakes, Vanilla Cupcakes(Frostings): Next-to-Instant Ganache (melted chocolate), Homemade Ganache, Almost-Homemade Vanilla Buttercream, Cream Cheese Frosting, Chocolate FrostingSOURCESOK, OK.................I have gone beyond fawning but if you're a cake decorating fool like myself, you understand the passion. My deep gratitude to Karen and Alan; you guys ROCK!

It is apparent that everyone who loves this book loves the cute creations. I agree, but you could also go on-line and see videos from this book and instructions on how to create items like the owl cupcakes or cute penguins.What I feel makes the book worth purchasing are the additional sections. The book teaches the techniques, offers particular examples and then acts as a springboard for you to create your own cupcake designs.The projects are easy - requiring only a few items like a can of frosting, a ziplock bag, some cupcake batter and candy decorations. Karen and Alan claim that you don't need any baking skills to make these projects. I agree. It is a very simple, straight forward book.In the beginning of the book the authors take items such as mini marshmallows and Froot Loops to create various facial expressions like silly, goofy, angry moody and happy.The beginning pages of the book list essential tools for decorating. There are also four pages showcasing design materials - everything from sprinkles to Laffy Taffy. It has changed the way I view the candy aisles at the store. I now look at the candy on the shelves and think about the ways I could incorporate it into new cupcake designs.The book offers cupcaking techniques, like how to easily fill the cupcake liners with cupcake batter without spilling or dribbling (Use a 1-quart ziplock freezer bag).They demonstrate how to frost a cupcake, how to create a decorative edge around the cupcake and how to create various frosting designs. Cake decorating bags and tips are not needed for these projects. The frosting is placed in zip lock bags and the tips are cut in special patterns to create straight lines or stars.There is a section on melting candy wafers to draw patterns (like hair). There is a section on building with cupcakes, dipping cupcakes and creating multiple cupcake designs.Once you master the simple techniques you can move on to the various designs. They are divided into sections like April Fool's, Party Animals, Happy Birthday, Cupcake!, Hostess with the Mostest, Nightmare Before Thanksgiving and Holiday on Icing.The book ends with recipes for cupcakes and frostings (although a boxed mix and tub of already made frosting are good as well)This is a perfect gift to give someone who enjoys making creative desserts. It is also fun to do some of these projects with children. Enjoy time in the kitchen together as a family creating cute designs. Children can be quite creative and the results are fun to share with family and friends.

Me gusto mucho porque viene muy bien explicado

Made my daugther happy 😉

Bought for my mother in law who is an amazing cake maker, she’s really loves some of the designs as they’ll be fantastic for making with my daughter

Good book!

Very nice pictures!! Things are also well explained, some decorations and cupcakes are really hard to make though. But I'm not an expert, as in France we don't usually make this kind of cakes!