Disaster Strikes :(

I cooked the cupcakes themselves perfectly. However when I got to the decorating part everything went wrong! I didn't whip the butter enough,so the yellow colour and blue food colouring turned it a weird green colour!
 I tried again but then the icing refused to stand up properly to look like the Cookie Monster's hair, it all just melted into itself like I just slapped the icing on.

In the spirit of the competition we weren't allowed to ask anyone to help us as this was meant to be a fun learning experience and I can tell you that I learned a lot. I need to research my recipes more thoroughly and read through any feedback and I discovered other people had issues with the green tinge.

My teacher told me it was a great idea in theory. The cupcakes were edible but not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as they were meant to be. Here they are below.

I certainly did not win the cupcake challenge, the rightful winner April made these awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cupcakes that looked great and were easy to make. She actually took the time to practice her piping technique in her own time- something that I will take on board for next time.

Design Chosen!

So, I have finally chosen a design for the cupcake challenge in class. Seeing as how the birthday party is for a boy turning 5, I thought that Cookie Monster cupcakes would be ideal as they are blue AND a pretty cool character from Sesame Street. I remember loving the Cookie Monster so I hope they work out well.

I popped Cookie Monster Cupcakes into google and discovered a lot of people have already made them with great success! They look excellent, I hope mine turn out like theirs. There is even YouTube videos to help!

Today is the day!

Today is the day we are actually doing the cupcake challenge. I have found an easy to follow recipe from kidspot.com.au for the cookie monster cupcakes. As it is only for 10 cupcakes, I will need to make two batches to cover all 18 cupcakes.

Cookie Monster cupcakes recipe

These chocolate flavoured Cookie Monster cupcakes will delight your Sesame Street loving pre-schooler. They are perfect to take to school for birthdays or even just to delight your little guests at your next birthday party.

Serving Size:

10

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

20 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 quantity chocolate cupcakes
• 200g butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups icing mixture
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• blue food colouring
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 pkt white marshmallows
• 1 tube black writing icing
• 12 chocolate chip cookies (1/2 per monster with a few for breakage)

Method:

Using an electric mixer, whip the butter until it is pale. This will take at least 5 minutes on high.
Gradually add in the icing mixture and vanilla until well combined.
With the mixer running, add in food colouring until you get to the Cookie Monster colour. This may be a lot if you are using liquid food colouring or a little if using gel food colouring.
Add in the milk and mix until the frosting puffs up.
Fill a piping bag with a fluted nozzle and pipe on icing.
With the writing icing, place black spots on the marshmallows for pupils.
Place on each cupcake.
Cut cookies in half and place in 'mouth'.

Cupcake Wars!

This week in Home Economics, we are taking on a challenge similar to Cupcake Wars: a highly addictive show on Food Network. Everyone is to make a batch of chocolate cupcakes from the linked recipe and then decorate them for a 5 year old boy.

I'm not sure what I should decorate them as yet, I don't have any little brothers. I might have to google up some ideas for what kids that age like.

Let the challenge begin!