I've re-branded and moved!

Hello, loyal cupcake followers!

I've re-branded to...

and moved to...

http://karolynhs.wordpress.com 

 

So come check us out and visit often! Oh, and have yourself a cupcake (or two)! :)

In the Presence of a "Cupcake Wars" Winner

Meet Dorothy Tong, the winner of the Hard Rock themed "Cupcake Wars" episode.

I recently joined the LA Cupcake Meet-Up Group and was delighted to see that Dorothy Tong would be the featured guest.

Not only was she sweet and sociable but she seemed frazzled at wanting the presentation of her cupcakes to be the best they could be but, at the same time, be out of the spotlight herself. That brought me a sense of calm because that's exactly how I am, too!

Not only were her cupcakes delicious but deelicious! They were a bit too greasy for my liking but, other than that, they were great! I tasted...

Chocolate Covered Banana - banana cake frosted with peanut butter, then dipped in chocolate and rolled in peanuts

The Cupcake and Cookie - chocolate cake filled with eggless cookie dough, frosted with chocolate chip cookie dough

The Red Velvet - red velvet cake filled with cheesecake cookie bar, frosted with cream cheese

I simply had to try the winning cupcake she created on the first part of the competition (which is to create a cupcake with surprising ingredients): Pink Grapefruit with Rosemary. What a delightful treat it was!

Thank you, LA Cupcake Meet-Up Group for creating such a group and Dorothy Tong for honoring us with her presence (and cupcakes!).

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

May the cupcake force be with you

I simply couldn't turn down an invitation to attend a Star Wars themed birthday party OR the chance to create Star Wars themed cupcakes!

Unfortunately, I was asked to make them basic as I had to consider those (little) ones with allergies.

                                            "With you, the cupcake force is."

Special thanks to Williams-Sonoma for making Star Wars cupcake liners and toppers!

                              Me and Darth Vader? Yeah, we be homies now. ;)

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com.  Thanks for visiting and visit often!

a sneak peek...

...at what's to come!

                   Would you like to join our cupcake picnic? Don't mind if we do!

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Patience is a cupcake

Taste? Check.

Presentation? Semi-check.

Patience is quite the virtue when it comes to baking and (especially) piping cupcakes.

I'm working on it, my fellow (vegan) cupcake lovers.

Alright, time for breakfast. French Toast cupcake, anyone?

(forget about Egypt. let's wake up to cupcakes.)

This was our very first cupcake photo shoot and, boy, was it an experience. A good experience at that. A huge THANK YOU to Jeffrey Young. Until next time...

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

they're like Two Cupcakes in a Box

Cookies 'n Cream, meet Apple Cinnamon.

Apple Cinnamon, meet Cookies 'n Cream.

You two have become quite popular, I must say.
Everyone loves you, you are here to stay.
It's time to enjoy you now, in our tummies you go.
Mmm hmm, just like so.

Big ups to Kiomi K. for placing this divine order!

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Aloha Apple Cinnamon!

I wish I baked this in Hawaii but that would entail actually being in Hawaii. Maybe I'll visit you this Fall? In the meantime, let's all rejoice around Apple Cinnamon because it is quite delicious.

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

A Letter to Carrot Cake

Dear Carrot Cake,

The carrots, the spices, the raisins, and the walnuts pair wonderfully together. The kicker? The moistness. Mmm, the moistness. You rock the ground I stand on.

Love,
Sweet Little Cups

P.S. I'll learn how to pipe the frosting better, and do something fun with those walnuts. :)

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."

Here, have a S'mores cupcake to keep you warm and toasty.

This was my first time handling chocolate ganache and, after deciding to go with my natural instinct and heart, a S'mores cupcake should actually look like this:

 Agreed? Agreed. :D

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Almond Matcha Green Tea

You smell good. You taste good.

Which is why I made a heart cut-out and filled it with almond green tea frosting.

I don't know what else to say but...I heart you. ;)

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Oh man, I haven't posted an entry in a while...

...that's because I've been baking delicious cupcakes!  I will kick my butt to update what I've been creating since then over the weekend.  In the meantime, check out Greg's review of my smashin' cupcake!  Thanks Greg! :D

         http://www.gregsendlessdessert.com/blog/cookies-n-cream-vegan-cupcake

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Plop on the frosting please!

I made these for a friend's birthday and didn't tell him they were vegan because he despises anything healthy. Really. After requesting his absolute honest opinion, he displayed massive desire and then I hit him with it, "Surprise! They're vegan!" He was astonished. I'm glad to be of service when it comes to ingesting healthy ingredients. :)

So you see friends, vegan cupcakes really do taste like regular cupcakes - only better. Still not a believer? Dang, tough crowd. Well then I highly suggest requesting some before knocking them (in which case, you won't). I might even throw in a few "regular" ones to see if you can even tell the difference. As the saying goes, "Don't knock it unless you've tried it."

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Tiramisu in cupcake form?!

Yes, Tiramisu in cupcake form. I love it and it loves you.

The first time I made these, coffee lovers loved it because I put more than enough coffee flavors in it. Oops? I'll reduce the amount and it will be perfecto.

Side note: vegan chocolate chips were hard to find but worth every bite. Mmm, chocolate.

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Chocolate fever!

Brownie with Chocolate Frosting sprinkled with Walnuts.

Who doesn't love brownies? Like, who? But in cupcake form? Your taste buds will thank you...after finishing it all in one sitting.

To walnut or not to walnut? That is the question.

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Hello, lemon!

Lemon with Lemon Buttercream Frosting sprinkled with Macadamia Nuts.

This was a hit with the lemon lovers and haters-turned-lovers. To macadamia nut or not to macadamia nut? That is the question.

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Mini cupcakes!

Cookies 'n Cream, Chocolate with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, Vanilla with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, and Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting sprinkled with Pecans.

Besides the Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting sprinkled with Pecans, this was my very first time making the others. The feedback? "These are delicious Karolynh, especially the frosting. I couldn't tell they were vegan!" :) 

What can I say, I love making old-fashioned-looking cupcakes because they look edible. :)

For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting and visit often!

Allow me to introduce myself...

...at Cupcake Camp LA!

Holy smokes people, I can't believe I actually put myself out there for all to view, taste, and critique! I can honestly say that I'm so very happy I did it because 1)I had a great response, 2)I finally believe I can make great-tasting cupcakes, and 3)I won't be adding another regret to my list. Hallelujah to that!

My name is Karolynh and I love everything about cupcakes. Being a hardcore cupcake eater, I noticed that most stores made them a little too dry and/or a little too sweet. Several pondered the increasing size of their weight and/or having too much sugar in their system. Many would have to share one small cupcake with others for those reasons or couldn't even finish it at all.  "What a waste of a cupcake." I thought. Suddenly, a light bulb flashed above me: vegan cupcakes. "Vegan cupcakes? Oh, the horror!" I prematurely assumed. And then, I did some research...

Vegan cupcakes are made dairy-free: no milk, eggs, cream, and anything else that's taken from an animal. "So what's in them?" everyone asks. Soy products. Not only is it healthier but tastes better. That's right, better. They're lighter, fluffier, and, with the way I make them, not too sweet. I also try to make them as organic as possible which makes it all the more better! *insert my big fat smile here*

Side note: gluten has nothing to do with being vegan because it is not derived from an animal but from wheat. You can be a vegan and have wheat products unless, of course, you're allergic to them.

So, pop open that curiosity box of yours, clean your palette, and let the tasting begin. Don't dissect it, enjoy it!

Once the first set of people started trickling in, I became a nervous wreck. Can't you tell from the picture? This was, after all, my very first cupcake event!







Check out my makeshift table. What else would you expect from a preschool teacher? I'm a preschool teacher by day and a cupcake baker by night. :)

                                     Cookies 'n Cream was the star of the night

                                      Lemon with Lemon Buttercream was a hit

        You can't go wrong with the traditional Vanilla with Chocolate Buttercream

                                         Or Chocolate with Vanilla Buttercream

                                                      Thanks for the love!

                           Thank you, BakeSpace, for this wonderful opportunity
                                                  and your mission behind it!

After baking 100 cupcakes, I would've collapsed without these folks: Kathy K. for her suggestions and willingness to help and supplies, Trevor K. for perfecting my business cards, and Katherine T. and Rey L. for the photos. Also, my big smile goes to the lady who gave me her token because that literally made my cupcake soul. :)

         For all cupcake inquiries, contact sweetlittlecups@gmail.com. Thanks for
                                                    visiting and visit often!

Welcome friends!

I'll be participating in a wonderland of a cupcake event and wanted to make it my very first entry. So, I shall introduce myself to you all very shortly.

In the meantime, eat a cupcake (or two).

Cupcake lovers unite!