"Faux"stess Cupcakes

I made these pretty shiny little glorious cupcakes in honor of a classic favorite: "Hostess" Cupcakes.

But since they aren't what you buy in a little box in the grocery aisle..
let's call them "Fauxtess" (pronounced Foe-stess, as in hmm umm.. my Amanda Cupcake version of hostess cupcakes?)

I am always such a fan of shiny beautiful chocolate ganache glaze.
And the pretty loopy frosting curls. ♥ it.

I added my classic Amanda Cupcake edible sparkles to some of them ♥
You can't buy these in the grocery store!

Sparkly dreamy filling.

Shared the flavor with my hair stylist and his friends at the Jacques Dessange salon.
A few of them said this was the best cupcake they have ever eaten. Yay!

♥

Birthday Cake For My Mom ♥ With a Surprise Inside!

I love my mom. We have a great relationship.

I remember the first time I considered her a friend, and it was when I was 13.
We were driving back home from a shopping trip, and we were talking..about everything.
I could trust her with my heart ♥ There aren't very many people that you can trust with such a priceless commodity!

My mom loves the classic white cake.
So I made her a white cake from scratch.
And her favorite buttercream flavored with orange extract.

I made the cake extra tall. (4 tiers to be exact).
And added rosettes, swirls, twirls, and frosting shells.
Sparkler candles.
The surprise waiting for her .... was the red velvet heart in the middle.

The red heart was inspired by this very talented lady:  i am baker
I love surprises inside of cupcakes. I do it all the time.
Why not add a surprise inside of a cake?
I wasn't even really sure the heart shape would work..
but I knew after seeing it already done, I had to try!

When we sliced open the cake, success!
It was a hit at Red Lobster, and made people smile from tables near and far.
We even gave the extra pieces of cake to the kitchen crew.
Our wonderful waiter told me that they were waiting to devour the cake with spoons!
(I hope our waiter got a chance to enjoy a piece himself).

I do believe in my own little way I am helping to change the world one lunch hour at a time!! Yay.

I heart it.

I am an insomniac right now,
and am trying to soothe my busy mind with beautiful photos of dreamy delights.
I think by the end of this blog I will be nice and sleepy, tucked under my blanket.
Praise the Lord for food that makes you feel beautiful when you eat it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter *fly* Cupcakes!

More for Nica's party!
I made these yummy chocolate Peanut Butter *fly* cupcakes.
Peanut Butter frosting made with au natural peanut butter and cream cheese.
Chocolate Chocolate cuppycakes.

To snaz them up, make them more springy..
I added little chocolate butterfly wings to a reeses peanut butter cup body.
And of course...added the Amanda Cupcake *sparkle*.
I delivered them to Anna & Nica in handmade parchment paper liners ♥