Cupcake Tower#3 COMPLETE!

Well, I completed my third cupcake tower over the weekend. It was my largest order ever of appro. 200 cupcakes. I ordered the cupcake tower about a week ahead and chose a fall color palette to decorate it. My plan was to make tons of sugar paste flowers and decorate it with those. Of course, plans are great but even the best laid plans don't always come to fruition! I very smartly planned ahead and purchased a dozen roses the day before the tower was due, in case I needed supplemental flowers or just to add to the decorations of the tower. I made three kinds of cupcakes: vanilla, chocolate and red velvet. Whew-was that a ton of cupcakes to make. By the time I finished icing them all my hands were quite sore. I tinted the frosting in three tones; a copper shade, a cream color shade and a rose red. I had used coordinating ribbon and faux flowers to try to give the tower a wonderful fall feel. When all was said and done, I def. am glad I had the extra real flowers-I didn't have nearly enough gumpaste roses/flowers and it worked out very well! In the end, the cupcake tower and the cupcakes all came together well and I thought it was a nice fall arrangement. I have received positive feedback from the client, so I think she was pleased also! Thank goodness I had those roses to bring it all home-disaster averted-for now at least!

Next Iron Cupcake Challenge

Well, we are gearing up for our next Iron Cupcake Challenge! (In the photo above, our judges from the last challenge carefully sample and "grade" the cupcakes which were entered in our maple ICC for September) I am so very excited because this time we are being hosted by the PopShop in Collingswood! The PopShop has amazing food including over thirty varieties of grilled cheese and many delish choices for food lovers of all ages! The PopShop was even featured on the FoodNetwork recently when Bobby Flay challenged him to a THROWDOWN! The owners, Stink and Connie Fisher have been gratious enough to host our fun cupcake event and we are psyched to be there! The secret ingredient this month is PUMPKIN and we are encouraging all bakers and guests to dress up in their favorite Halloween gear! Can't wait to see all the ghouls and goblins who show up! We have an unprecedented FOUR judges this time and as always, top prize is $100.00 for the adult baking level!! We have recently added a jr. bakers level (kids 16 and under) and top prize for them is $20!!

As always,  a portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit a very worthwhile charity--this month we are donating to the Knight Park Playground Foundation! Come out and join us and enjoy some delicious cupcakes, have great conversations with other cupcake and baking enthusiasts AND help a very worthwhile cause!! Can't wait to see you all dressed in your Halloween finest AND taste your delicious pumpkin cupcake entries--see you on October 25th at the PopShop! Here's a link for more info: www.meetup.com/Iron-Cupcake-Challenge-Moorestown
And: if you'd like to see some pictures from our previous challenges: take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1175443@N22/