Double Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes from Sweetapolita

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I love this time of year because I get to enjoy pumpkin and gingerbread treats. Sure, I can eat pumpkin muffins or gingerbread cookies in the middle of June, but it just isn't the same.

How delicious does this recipe from Sweetapolita look?

Double Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes = Lola's Chocolate Cupcakes + Gingerbread Swiss Buttercream + Chocolate-Dipped Gingerbread Cookie Toppers

The holidays aren't over yet. There is still time to make these. AND there is still time to deliver your finished cupcakes to me. I'll let you hold my beautiful baby boy!

Review: Patty's Cakes

Two weeks ago I got to try out a new cupcake delivery service called Cupcakes Express. Cupcakes Express allows you to order cupcakes in 22 metropolitan areas and contracts with local bakeries to deliver cupcakes to the recipient. I reviewed the service last week. Since Cupcakes Express delivered my cupcakes from a bakery I hadn't tried yet, I also got to review the bakery.

Patty's Cakes and Desserts is a bakery located in Fullerton, CA. The cupcake package I picked from Cupcakes Express was the Baker's Choice. I received four different kinds of cupcakes, three of each flavor: Lemon Drop, Chocolate/Peanut Butter Mousse, White/Chocolate Fudge, Red Velvet/Cream Cheese Mousse.

I have to start off by adding a disclaimer that I don't like whipped cream ("mousse," as Patty's Cakes calls it.) All four cupcakes were either topped or filled with mousse. This is just a taste preference of mine.

Lemon Drop: lemon cake topped with lemon gel and filled with whipped cream. I don't see gel on cupcakes often, but this was pretty good. The cake was moist and there was a good amount of whipped cream in the center.

Chocolate/Peanut Butter Mousse: moist chocolate cake topped and filled with peanut butter mousse, topped with chopped peanuts. The mousse was pretty good considering it was whipped. I would have loved it if it were a little thicker and less sweet.

White/Chocolate Fudge: yellow cake topped with chocolate fudge frosting and filled with whipped cream. I loved this thick, fudgy frosting. It was definitely my favorite frosting of the bunch.

Red Velvet/Cream Cheese Mousse: red velvet cake topped with cream cheese mousse, filled with whipped cream, and topped with sprinkles. I am very picky with my red velvets, mostly based on the frosting. This cream cheese mousse didn't have enough cream cheese tanginess. The red velvet cake didn't taste chocolaty enough. Not a top choice for red velvet.

The cupcakes at Patty's Cakes didn't wow me. They reminded me of something I could buy in the bakery section of a grocery store. Patty's Cakes and Desserts specializes in cakes and I think they jumped on the cupcake bandwagon when cupcakes gained popularity. Their cupcakes were ok, but not something I would go out of my way for. Patty's Cakes sells their cupcakes for $3 each.

Patty's Cakes and Desserts

www.pattys-cakes.com

104 N. Raymond Ave., Ste. A-4, Fullerton, CA 92831

Facebook: Patty's Cakes and Desserts

Review: Cupcakes Express

Last week I had the opportunity to try out Cupcakes Express. I was very curious because I had not heard of the company before, but thought it was a great concept. Cupcakes Express services 22 metropolitan areas, with Los Angeles being the closest one to me.

The website allows you to order from 10 different cupcake arrangements. I chose Baker's Choice so I could be surprised. The price for this arrangement, which includes a dozen cupcakes, is $36. Of course prices vary by location.

And then I waited. I was very curious to see which local bakery these cupcakes would come from. That's the interesting part about this delivery service, you don't know who they've contracted with in the area.

My cupcakes were delivered during the two-hour time frame I was given, which was perfect for this busy, sleepy mama. The cupcakes were from Patty's Cakes in Fullerton, CA. I haven't been to Patty's yet so I got to review the cupcakes too! The cupcakes that I received were exactly what I ordered.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the service that Cupcakes Express provided. This is a great alternative to trying to deal with the hassle of shipping cupcakes. Have you tried Cupcakes Expss yet? Have you had cupcakes shipped by mail? Thoughts?

Stay tuned for a review of Patty's Cakes

Cupcake Wars: The Closer 100th Episode

This week's episode of Cupcake Wars was a redemption episode. The bakers competed to have their cupcakes displayed at 100th episode party for The Closer.

Mr. Cupcakes (four locations, NJ)

Crushcakes (Santa Barbara, CA)

Crave Bake Shop (Lake Oswego, OR)

Just Cupcakes (Virginia Beach, VA)

Have You Tried Cupcakes Express?

I was recently contacted by Cupcakes Express to try out their services. This was the first I had heard of them, but was anxious to see how the service worked. Here's a little info about the company:


Through Cupcakes Express, locally-baked cupcakes can now be ordered online and hand-delivered to cupcake lovers across the United States. (www.cupcakesexpress.com).

Cupcakes Express allows you to order from anywhere and have fresh, delicious cupcakes delivered to your friends, family and co-workers. Since cupcakes are impossible to ship from one central location, Cupcakes Express associates with cupcake shops in each geographic market to produce and deliver fresh cupcake orders.

Cupcakes Express is modeled after 1-800-Flowers. While the cost of sending a nice bouquet of flowers can exceed $75 plus shipping, all of the arrangements at Cupcakes Express are affordably priced at $36 per dozen plus the cost of delivery. Currently, Cupcakes Express delivers to 22 major metropolitan markets in the United States, but has plans to expand in the near future.

I got my cupcake delivery on Wednesday. Want to know what I thought? Check back for full review. In the meantime, tell me what you think about this concept.

Cupcake Wars: Hollywood Parade

The second episode of the season aired on Sunday night and my first thought was: why do the bakers wear matching outfits? Just seems kinda weird to me. Maybe that's a new rule now.


Pick Your Poison Bake Shop (Las Vegas, NV)
Sugar Cat Studio (Santa Barbara, CA) *WINNER
Cako (San Francisco, CA)
Sweet Ride (Chicago, IL)

Cake Mix and a Can of Soda

Hard to believe you can make cupcakes using only a cake mix and a can of soda.

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But Cookies & Cups does it. That's right, you only need a boxed cake mix (any flavor) and a can of soda (any flavor, not diet)

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I like easy recipes, especially since I have less time to do things now. Who knew that caring for a newborn would be so time-consuming? Well worth it though. You can find the recipe for Soda Can Cupcakes here.

Return to My Delight Cupcakery

All I wanted for my birthday was cupcakes.

I turned 30 last month (yikes) and I was one week away from having my sweet little boy (although I didn't know I was that close).

I reviewed My Delight Cupcakery back in January and fell in love with their delicious cupcakes! Since then, I've been dying to go back. A big birthday was the perfect excuse.

I picked up a dozen assorted cupcakes to eat all myself....I mean, share with my family and friends. Some of my favorites were back: Peanut Butter Chocolate, Red Velvet, Chocolate Salted Caramel. I devoured one of my all-time favorites: Cherry Red Velvet. I like the unique spin on a red velvet.

I also got to try some new-to-me flavors: Snickerdoodle, Sweet Potato Pie, and Chocolate Chip Breakfast. The Snickerdoodle was hands-down the best Snickerdoodle I've ever tasted. Everyone who tried it was in love with it! The flavor was perfect. I really enjoyed the whole snickerdoodle cookie that adorned the top. The Sweet Potato Pie also was delicious. The walnuts sprinkled on top gave it a good crunch. The Chocolate Chip Breakfast cupcake had a great combination of chocolate, bacon, and maple flavors. You must try this cupcake!!

If you haven't tried My Delight Cupcakery, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

My Delight Cupcakery

1520 N. Mountain Ave.

Ontario, CA 91762

909-988-4151

www.mydelightcupcakery.com

Twitter: @My_Delight

Facebook: My Delight Cupcakery

Cupcake Wars is Back

Cupcake Wars is back! I had no idea it was starting again until I saw it recorded on my DVR. The first episode had the bakers competing to display their cupcakes at the New York City Ballet Nutcracker. Sometimes I wonder if the bakers have ever seen an episode or practiced at home. Are you still watching or have you lost interest?

Cupcakes in Bloom (Berlin, MD)

Flavor Cupcakery (Bel Air, MD) *Winner*

Cream by Crystal (Los Angeles, CA)

Cupcake Fairies (New Orleans, LA)

Neighborly Cupcake Love

It's been one week and I'm falling more in love with my little guy everyday. He's so sweet and cute and he's a great sleeper.

My kind neighbors heard the news about our baby and dropped off some delicious cupcakes from The Perfect Circle Cupcakery. I already knew I loved the Pumpkin, but the Chocolate Peppermint was new to me. Delicious!

I'm slowly making my way back into the computer world. Can't wait to blog about my cupcake baby shower and my recent trip to My Delight Cupcakery. Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful holiday season!