Cupcake Couture

I am so excited to share with you, one of the most adorable finds.... Bella Cupcake Couture

Cupcakes are HOT and as their popularity grows, it's fun to find new and pretty ways to present them. Bella Cupcake Couture has fashionable cupcake wrappers, taking these trendy desserts to the next level.

You really must go check out all the gorgeous design options.



They have 2 sizes; mini, which are just perfect for wrapping truffles and candies, and regular cupcake size, both in a variety of chic colors and designs.



You can even customize your cupcake wrappers! Your little babes name and birthdate, the bride and groom, or your company logo! The possibilities are endless, and always gorgeous!

All wrappers are eco-friendly, using soy inks on recycled linen papers.

Bella Cupcake Couture has been generous enough to sponsor a giveaway,

A dozen wrappers of the design of your choice!

Because I love you, Im going to include Dove Chocolate Baking Mix (includes solid Dove Chocolate to melt into the mix, making it incredibly rich and yummy)

This is the perfect pairing, making rich and beautiful cupcakes.

To enter this giveaway, it's MANDATORY to; go to Bella Cupcake Couture and click on the link to get their newsletter...then come leave a comment on my page, and let me know which design you'd select if you win.

Additional entries for:

1. "like" Bella Cupcake Couture page on Facebook

2. Follow my blog (you're here now!)

3. "like" my Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Independent Chocolatier Kim Sprague page on Facebook


This contest is open to everyone (excluding Dove Chocolate Discoveries chocolatiers, Mars, Inc. employees, and their families.)

You must live in the Continental USA

Leave your email so I can contact the winner...the giveaway starts now, and ends promptly at noon on Sunday, June 20, 2010. The winner will be contacted Sunday evening, and must respond with mailing address no later than Tuesday, June 22nd at 5pm PST, or a new winner will be selected.

CONGRATULATIONS! OUR WINNER IS; Kyle & Alissa Circle

Delicious Giveaway!

Check out the Dove Chocolate Giveaway, being hosted by Cake Mom.

Cupcake Bouquets

I was so excited to try out the gorgeous cake that I saw at Kids Culinary Adventures.

I will give my usual disclaimer (ie. excuses)....

this was the very first time that I tried this dessert. At my class, I intentionally like to do things for the first time, so that all of the participants see the errors ... If I just make a perfect dessert, not as much learning takes place.

ALSO, I imagine this would be a bit easier on a large cake, but I wanted my class participants to have something to take home, thus I went with cupcakes. It was harder to manage the intricate details, but ultimately, they were so pretty and we learned the techniques that can also be used for a big cake.

Anyhoo......on with the show.....

I made cupcakes with the Dove Chocolate Baking Mix, and then cut them to make a mini, stacked cake. I think it is important that the cake have height, to have room for the chocolate siding. Using a round cookie cutter as my guide, I went around with a parring knife, so that there was no fluting. I also cut off the tops, so they were flat.





I wanted a fresh, Spring look, so I chose to use Dove Spring Transfer Sheets, giving the appearance of grass



The bottom end of the chocolate strips will need to be flat, but the top end is intentionally uneven. For this reason, I cut the strips at double the length, and will break them in the middle when ready to apply.



I tempered Dove White Chocolate, and spread it on the design transfer strips




Once the chocolate is on the strips, I move them to a new piece of parchment, so that they dry without smeared chocolate attached to the strips. Then they are put in the refrigerator to set up.

When the chocolate strips are ready, I pull the transfer sheet off the back, and break them into the right height. They can be put onto the side of the frosted cupcakes.

(note: some of the bright, spring colors look best on white chocolate. When I do this again, I will also use white frosting, as I think the dark chocolate frosting didnt quite go with my "fresh spring" motif.)



I took straws and inserted them in 3 places, cutting them off just a bit above the cake. This will serve two purposes; keep the cake sturdy, and allow me to input flowers (so they arent in the cake itself.) A bonus, is the flowers will stand up a bit straighter too!



I trimmed fresh flowers to insert. NOTE: make sure the stem is thin enough to fit inside the straw (I found lovely gerbers that were too thick to fit...ultimately I found a variety that was just right)



Once the chocolate siding is on, wrap the base with ribbon, and tie a pretty boy. This really does help secure the sides and pull them into place.



And one more bow on top



You can mix and match flower types, colors and ribbons to match your special occassion.



I waw really pleased with how this turned out, and cant wait to celebrate future events with the big-cake version.

Thanks again Kids Culinary Adventures for the great idea!

Baking Class Tonight!

I am so excited to make some BEAUTIFUL cupcakes tonight!

I first saw this pretty cake on the Facebook page for Kids Culinary Adventures;



They do incredible work, and I cant wait to share it with you....

So, if you are in the neighborhood; My house, 7:30 tonight, $10 per person. Let me know you plan on joining us; 949-584-7577

If you arent able to make it, stop back later for photos....

Chocolate Tempering Video

I know that like me, many of you are LOVING making things with tempered chocolate. You can make candies, bark, chocolate covered anything, and always have that shine and snap....and with REAL CHOCOLATE :)

Here is a video by Dove Chef Tracy....I hope you find it helpful. ">

Entertaining tips with Dove Chef Mark

He always has the best ideas; Watch as he shows us how to decorate a plate with dessert sauces, and yummy ways to serve our mousse.

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MJ's Fabulous 6 Layer Cake

Look what I got!


Well, I got the picture, not the actual cake. You should see my monitor screen. Just an FYI, licking your monitor screen makes it blurry.

My fellow Dove Chocolatier, MJ, always makes delicious desserts, and this time she has really out done herself!

I know you all are going to want to make this cake for your family and friends.

OR, perhaps, you want to make it and hide it, then, kiss your husband goodbye as he goes off to work, and wave at your children as they skip off to school....all the while stoically mentioning the laundry and floors you are going to clean....and as soon as they are out of sight, you can pull it out and gnosh on it while you watch The View. Just sayin'.

In any case, here is how MJ made this beauty;

FABULOUS 6 Layer Cake
Topping: Dove Chocolate ganache with White Chocolate shavings
1st layer and bottom layer: Dove Chocolate Baking Mix
Pink: Dove Raspberry Mousse
White: vanilla cake
Cream: bavarian cream filling w/fresh strawberries



Enjoy!