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Authors: Sheryl Berk & Carrie Berk

Baby Cakes (8 page)

BOOK: Baby Cakes
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I love the idea of gender-reveal cupcakes to let everyone know if you're having a baby girl or boy. I first learned about it from my friends Sophie and Katherine who own Georgetown Cupcake and star on
DC
Cupcakes
on TV. Katherine revealed she was having a girl by serving her shower guests pink-cream-filled cupcakes. But that's not the only surprise you can add to a cupcake! I admit it: I like to keep my friends and family guessing…

A Cupcake Inside a Cupcake

How cool would it be to bite into a chocolatey cupcake and discover a mini vanilla one inside? Simply bake the inner cupcake first. I like to bake a flat cake in a sheet pan, then use a round or heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a “mini” cake. When you are filling your cupcake liner with batter, only fill it halfway. Place the mini inside the batter, then cover with more batter on top. Bake for about 20 minutes. This is a great trick to use for Valentine's Day! You can put red heart shapes smack in the middle of your cupcakes!

Go with the Flow!

After your cupcake is cooled and baked, use an apple corer or a butter knife to cut out the center of the cupcake. Fill with pudding, caramel, marshmallow fluff, fudge, fruit preserves, or anything that has a gooey or oozey texture. Now frost and “cover up” your surprise. When you bite into it, the filling will pour out!

A Sweet Treat

I like to bake my friends' and family's fave mini candy bars right into the center of a cupcake. Dad's is a peanut butter cup or a mini Snickers, but Mom and I prefer Twix! I've even done a rainbow marzipan cookie inside—colorful and cool, don't ya think?

Mix It Up

I like to add texture to my cupcakes, so I'll mash up candy bars, cookies, even bananas, and add them right into the batter.

Whip It Up!

Instead of plain frosting, try something a little lighter—like fresh whipped cream or meringue. It really lets the flavor of the cupcake shine through, especially if it's rich and chocolaty.

Serve It Up!

Instead of an ordinary dinner, serve your family something hearty and savory baked in a cupcake pan! I've done baked ziti cupcakes, spaghetti and meatballs, even meatloaf topped with mashed potato frosting. Simply bake your meatloaf or meatball recipe in a muffin pan (spray with non-stick cooking spray first so it slips out easy), then top with “mashies” and a little gravy. Yum!

It's no secret that I like to bake, and I have a
huge
collection of cupcake recipes to rival even Kylie's! I'm always on the lookout for something fun and new—and I found it in Megan Seling's book and blog (
Bake
it
in
a
Cupcake: 50 Treats with a Surprise Inside
;
www.bakeitinacake.com
)! Basically, there is nothing this woman is afraid to put in the middle of a cupcake, and I love that element of surprise and adventure! I asked her to chat…

Carrie: Why is it cool to add an element of surprise to a cupcake?

Megan
: Cupcakes are so great on their own—they're practically the perfect dessert—but the inside of the cupcake has always felt a little empty to me. The bottom of the cupcake is the perfect size and shape to hold a piece of candy, a miniature pie, or a brownie bite, so why not hide something in there? People get really happy when they take a bite and discover that their cupcake is holding a secret treat—it's like getting a second dessert!

Carrie: What is the
weirdest
thing you have ever baked in a cupcake?

Megan
: Oh, man, I have had a lot of weird baking experiments. I tried to put Dr Pepper and jelly beans in cupcakes, and that just tasted gross. And while I love gummy worms and Starburst candy, they don't really work in a cupcake, unfortunately. When you bake them into a cupcake, they turn into gross, sticky puddles of goo. The sugary candy just melts and sinks to the bottom, and all the colors blend together and everything turns a greenish brown. Eww! I definitely wasn't expecting that. It took forever to soak the burned sugar bits off my cupcake pan. I've also baked mini marzipan brains into cupcakes. They taste great, but some people get really creeped out by the idea of biting into a brain…even if it is candy.

Carrie: How many cupcakes have you made over the years? What have been your faves?

Megan
: I have baked a
lot
of cupcakes—I'm sure I've baked thousands over the years. My absolute favorite is the pumpkin-pie-stuffed cupcake. Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite desserts, and the creamy texture of a pumpkin pie works really well with the texture of the cake. I also really like the lemon-bar-stuffed cupcakes—they taste like lemonade!

Carrie: How can kids learn to be amazing cupcake bakers?

Megan
: The most important rule: don't be afraid to experiment! Sometimes the best and only way to know if your idea will work is to try it. And if it's a disaster, that's okay too! Not everything you bake will turn out how you expect it, and that certainly doesn't mean you're a bad baker. Just move on to the next idea. The first time I baked a mini pie into a cupcake, I didn't think it was going to work, but it did! And it was delicious.

Also, practice really does help. When I started baking cupcakes, I was really quite bad at frosting them—I didn't know how to use a pastry bag, and all my cupcakes looked kind of goofy and sloppy. But I practiced with different kinds of decorations and I got better at it, so don't get discouraged when you first start out. As you bake and make things, you'll learn what you're good at and be able to bring your own flare to your creations.

Carrie: What's the secret to a delicious cupcake? What are the elements it must have?

Megan
: Butter! Butter definitely helps make really delicious cupcakes. But the thing I really love about cupcakes is that there are no rules. You can have a cupcake with chocolate glaze instead of frosting. You can make cupcakes in different shapes like square or heart shaped, or you can even serve a cupcake upside down!

Carrie: Why are cupcakes cooler than any other dessert? Even cronuts and macaroons!

Megan:
Cupcakes are so great because they can be as easy or as fancy as you want them to be. If you don't have much time, whip up a batch of basic cupcakes with a box mix, or if you're feeling a little more adventurous, make the batter from scratch and throw in some experimental ingredients. You can keep things simple and frost them with a traditional swirl of vanilla frosting, or you can get crazy and use all kinds of sprinkles, fondant, and other decorations. Cupcakes are so versatile. Which isn't to say cronuts and macaroons aren't good too—in fact, maybe you should try to bake them into a cupcake!

The lobby concierge at The Savoy Hotel handed Kylie a large envelope. “For you, miss,” he said. “It was just delivered.”

Juliette raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Kylie, who would send you a letter all the way here in London?”

Kylie held the large cream-colored envelope up to the twinkly chandelier on the ceiling, trying to see inside. “I have no idea.”

Sadie peered over her shoulder. “It looks very fancy,” she said. There was gold wax seal on the back, stamped with some sort of Coat of Arms. And it was addressed in a swirly calligraphy script to “The Cupcake Club.”

“OMG, do you think it's from Buckingham Palace?” Delaney asked. “That would be so…how do they say ‘awesome' again here in London?”

“Brill!” Kylie exclaimed. “As in brilliant.”

“Right! That would be brill!” Delaney replied. “Maybe Prince William and Princess Kate need some cupcakes? Or maybe the Queen has a craving for our
royal
icing!”

Jenna shook her head. “All the way here in England?
No es posible
!”

Kylie smiled. “If there's one thing I've learned after all our cupcake adventures so far, it's that
anything
is possible!” She took a deep breath before tearing into the envelope and pulling out the card inside.

“What does it say?” Lexi asked excitedly. “Is it from the Queen?”

“Or Prince Wills?” Sadie asked. “Maybe he needs cupcakes for his polo match?”

Kylie wasn't listening. She was too engrossed in the letter.

“Kylie, we're dying of suspense,” Delaney pleaded with her. “Who's it from? What does it say?”

Kylie cleared her throat and read aloud in her most proper British accent:

“The honour of your presence is hereby requested at a tea hosted by Lord and Lady Wakefield of Wilshire.”

Jenna grabbed the card out of her hand. “It's gotta be a practical joke. Someone's pulling our leg.”

Juliette nodded. “I'm afraid I've never heard of a Lord or Lady Wakefield,” she said. “Maybe it was meant for someone else.”

“I assure you it was intended for you,” said a voice behind them. It was a tall man in a long black coat. “I am the attaché to Lord Wakefield.”

“What's an attaché?” Delaney whispered.

Kylie shrugged. “I thought it was a briefcase my dad carried to work.”

“Archibald Thomas Watson at your service,” he said, formally extending his hand to Kylie. “I believe you call it a personal assistant in the States?”

“Oh, yeah!” Delaney interrupted. “All the celebs have personal assistants. The Lord and Lady must be VIPs.”

“Indeed,” he replied. “And they are planning a very important party that they would like you to bake for. You come highly recommended.”

Juliette was suspicious. “Really? By whom? We don't know anyone here in London.”

“Oh, but you do,” he insisted. “You see, my mate from University told me all about you.”

Juliette's eyes grew wide. “Wait a minute…are you…
Archie
?”

The man bowed deeply. “None other.”

Juliette threw her arms around him. “It's so wonderful to finally meet you! Rodney said you'd be coming!”

“Okay…you lost me,” Jenna sighed. “Who's Archie, and why is Juliette hugging him?”

“Girls, I'd like you to meet Rodney's college BFF Archie,” she said, smiling. “Oh, I've heard so much about you!”

Archie blushed. “Only good things, I hope. Rodney didn't tell you the fish and chips story did he? I swear, I didn't mean to get one stuck in his ear. It was all in good fun!”

Suddenly the pieces started to come together. It was Juliette's fiancé who had recommended them!

“Excuse me?” Kylie said, raising her hand. “It's very nice to meet you, Archie. But you still haven't told us what you want Peace, Love and Cupcakes to do.” They had arrived only a few days ago in the UK at Juliette's invitation to see Rodney open in
Macbeth
on The West End. She knew her friends wanted to go on the Harry Potter tour of London and check out Hummingbird Bakery in Notting Hill today. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Sadie making the “time out” sign with her hands. But a party for a lord and lady was tough to turn down…

“Kylie, remember we have plans,” Sadie interrupted her. “I am not leaving London until I visit Wembley Stadium.”

Archie smiled. “The party is Sunday, and today's only Tuesday. That leaves you plenty of time to make 500 cupcakes for their guests
and
get in your sightseeing.”

Kylie pulled out her notebook from her backpack and started jotting. “Okay, 500 cupcakes should be doable if we get started recipe testing tomorrow.”

“Kylie,” Jenna reminded her. “We said we were going to Harrods's Food Hall tomorrow. I have an entire list of truffles I need to try.”

“And to The National Gallery Thursday,” Lexi added. “Remember? Van Gogh's two Sunflower Paintings are there together for the first time in 65 years?”

“I dunno,” Delaney shrugged. “A fancy tea party sounds like a lot more fun than some old art exhibit, a soccer stadium, or a department store.”

Kylie was glad to hear at least
someone
was on her side! “Look, guys. Let's hear Archie out. I'm sure we can make time to do it all,” Kylie pleaded.

“Fine,” Lexi agreed. “Where's this party? And do we even have a kitchen to bake in?”

“You are welcome to use the kitchen in the Wakefield estate. It's large with all the equipment you'll need.”

Kylie chewed her pencil eraser. “Chocolate frosting? Vanilla?”

“I believe Lady Lillianne is partial to Curly Wurly,” Archie replied.

“Who is Lady Lillianne?” Sadie asked.

“And more importantly—what the heck is a Curly Wurly?” Delaney added.

“Lady Lillianne is Lord and Lady Wakefield's daughter, and the tea is in honor of her thirteenth birthday.”

“And a Curly Wurly is a candy bar here in London, “Jenna piped up. “I tried one the other day at The Tube station. Chocolate covered caramel in this twisty shape. It kinda looks like a ladder.”

“Precisely!” Archie replied. “Which should be perfect for the architectural structure.”

This time it was Lexi's turn to raise her hand. “Excuse me, I'm the artist. What architectural structure?” She tore a sheet out of Kylie's notebook, preparing to sketch.

“Ah, yes, sorry, I forgot to mention the display for your cupcakes,” Archie apologized. “It's a bit complicated…”

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Lexi whispered.

“You see, her ladyship would like a London Bridge…made out of cupcakes.”

Lexi gasped. “As in London Bridge is falling down?”

“Precisely,” Archie smiled. “The tea is to be held in the North Tower Lounge of the Bridge.”

Kylie was already flipping through her Fodor's Guide Book to London. “The London Tower Bridge spans across the Thames River,” she read aloud. “It's a bascule bridge—which is French for the word ‘see-saw.'”

Lexi nodded. “As in up and down since the bottom of the bridge goes up and down.” She quickly drew a picture of a bridge opened and a boat sailing through the river. “I could do blue gel icing for the water.”

“There are two towers on either side and a huge walkway between them,” Kylie continued.

“How huge are we talking?” Sadie asked. “Because my dad's contracting shop is all the way back home in New Fairfield.” She turned to Archie. “We're bakers, not builders.”

“Hey, you're talking to the Queen of Legos,” Jenna volunteered. “My little brothers Ricky and Manny are always building bridges. I got this.”

“Whatever you need, I'm at your service,” Archie replied. “Flour, sugar, baking tins.”

Lexi did some quick math and handed him a sheet of paper. “Let's start with this: five hundred Curly Wurly Bars and fifty cans of Meringue Powder. That should be enough for a five-foot long display, I think.”

Archie scratched his head. “What will you do with all that powder?”

Kylie smiled. “We're going to gumpaste-glue you a London Bridge that will knock your socks off!”

Archie stared down at his socks. “Yes, well, it's rather chilly today so I like my socks where they are.”

Juliette laughed. “What Kylie means is please tell Lord and Lady Wakefield that we're going to make their daughter a wonderful cupcake bridge for her birthday.”

Archie looked relieved. “Very well, then. Here is the address of the Wakefield estate. You're welcome to begin straight away.” He handed Juliette his calling card.

“Pip, pip, cheerio!” Delaney said, waving goodbye as Archie strolled out of the hotel.

“I think someone has seen Mary Poppins one too many times,” Jenna teased her.

“I'm just trying to speak the language,” Delaney insisted.

It was fun to hang out in the hotel lobby listening to the locals and lounging on the plush velvet couches, but Kylie didn't want to waste another second. “I think we should decide on the cupcake flavors—something that would work for a British tea.”

“How about bangers and mash?” Delaney volunteered. “A sausage and mashed potato cupcake?”

Jenna wrinkled her nose. “Next!”

“Let's do a Curly Wurly-inspired cupcake,” Sadie suggested. “Chocolate and caramel together.”

“Prestat is the Queen's official chocolatier,” Jenna pointed out. “And they do this amazing milk chocolate with Earl Grey tea in it.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you are an encyclopedia of sweets?” Sadie marveled.

“A chocolate Earl Grey tea cupcake it is,” Kylie said.

“And we can make a rich caramel frosting with dark brown sugar,” Lexi suggested. She looked at the picture of the bridge in Kylie's tour book. “It's kind of silvery-gray, light blue and white. I can do fondant circles in those three colors and give it a bit of metallic shimmer with edible glitter.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Kylie asked. “Let's hit Covent Garden market first, then head to Prestat on Piccadilly for the chocolate. She marked all the points on her map of London with a red star. “Spit spot!” 

BOOK: Baby Cakes
13.74Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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