The Weekender: Cocomallow Cloud Cupcakes

It always seems to be the case that the weather is gorgeous all week while I'm cooped up working, and immediately turns to torrential downpours as my weekend starts. As annoying as this is, it's a pretty good chance to come up with new sweets. I think weekends should be for activity, creativity, and a little bit of doing absolutely nothing. So today, I dragged my new pup friend up a godawful hill, did some sketching, and made the latest addition to the Little Bow collection: Cocomallow Cloud Cupcakes. Given that half of them are gone already, I'd say they're worth keeping around. Also, my Coconut Cloud Frosting is a great summery way to top any kind of cake you fancy, whether you're a Betty Crocker baker or a scratch-made purist. I've included the "recipe" down below, but honestly it's the easiest thing in the world to make!

Chocolate cake batter: dangerously easy to eat. Like pudding.
If pudding were made of butter.

COCONUT CLOUD FROSTING:

Smells like sunscreen, tastes like heaven.

Beat 1 1/2 cups of unsalted butter with an electric mixer...for a while. Like, until it no longer looks like butter. For this icing, the butter should be so whipped that it looks like icing before you've even added the sugar. Once you have fluffy white butter, with the mixer on low, gradually add 2 1/2 cups of icing sugar, a little at a time. If it's too thick, add a tablespoon or two of coconut milk(or regular milk if that's easier). Add a pinch of salt, and a big teaspoon of coconut extract/flavouring/ lorann oil...whatever you like. If you're just spreading this frosting you can also add the thick cream from the top of a can of coconut milk, but for piping purposes it may be easier to omit any extra moisture.

Everything is better pink, and that includes coconut.

Wish List Wednesday: Party Prettiness!

This week, Wish List Wednesday is on Thursday (surprise surprise, I'm behind again). I'm keeping it short and sweet, and it's all about parties today! I've been mildly obsessed with party decorations lately, so here's a few of my faves!

These cute little milk bottles for anything from milk to martinis from
The Little Big Company.

These pretty ombre party tassles from PomLove on Etsy!

These perfect paper pom poms from Etsy

The Weekender: Baked Donuts!

As some of you may know, donuts are the next big sweet trend. People are having donut tiers at weddings, and there's even a Donut Showdown on the food network now, full of the same terrible puns and irritating dramatic music as everyone's favourite Cupcake Wars. I was keen to get on this trend with Little Bow, but I just can't bring myself to start deep-frying bread dough and cake batter...Firstly, it's not like either of those things are that good for you in the first place, so why add insult to injury? Secondly, I am wayyy too clumsy to deal with vats of boiling oil. Seriously, it's not even worth the risk. So, Little Bow's donut range is going to be 100% baked. They're not exactly like a regular donut, but by tweaking a couple of recipes I've managed to get a baked donut that's a little crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and perfect for glazes and fillings. They're also all going to be mini-sized. Bigger than timbits, but smaller than regular donuts- Just a few bites each, perfect for dessert tables and catering....so here's the first batch!

Sweet vanilla-scented bread dough rising before baking.

Fresh out of the oven, just barely golden brown and smelling amazing.

Sugared Donuts with Vanilla Custard Filling...yummm

25 of these disappeared in less than ten minutes...I think they're a hit!

Funfetti Glazed- sprinkles make everything better!

Sweet vanilla cream filling...omnom.

Wish List Wednesday: Accessorize

Hi everyone! I missed Wish List Wednesday last week, but there's a very good reason- I started my brand new job last Monday morning, and between that and picking my new car up on Wednesday evening, the Little Bow blog kindof got left by the wayside! Now that things are starting to settle into routine again though, I am going to do my very best to post regularly. I have tons of sweet new creations coming up, as well as some new printables and recipes on the way! 

This week, my picks are two accessories- one for my kitchen, and one for myself! I'm on the lookout for a super cute apron, since I can't seem to go near flour or icing sugar without emerging from the kitchen covered in smears and splotches. I have this terrible habit of absent-mindedly wiping my hands on my legs when I'm decorating or creating, and I'm hoping that maybe a stylin apron will stop me from being such an idiot! For my kitchen, I want a vintagey looking chalkboard to write my baking lists for the day on. A whiteboard would definitely be more practical, and easier, but I just don't even care. In  this case, pretty trumps practical.

This gorgeous retro apron from Etsy is ah-mazing.
Not only is it bright pink, it's polka dotted. And has
a sweetheart neckline. And a white bow. Enough said!

I want a chalkboard baking list in a beautiful frame. I don't know why, I just
do. And I want it to casually lean against whitewashed walls with bunches
of flowers coincidentally lying nearby. I wouldn't pay for this though, because
I think a little craftiness and some chalkboard paint would be a lot more fun and
a lot easier on my bank balance than this $133 number.

That's all for this week! Watch out for an upcoming post about my last baking adventure in Australia, and more goodies on the way! xx

Blowing Out the Candles: A Cautionary Tale

Well, I've had one week back in BC and the cakery has begun! The weekend's projects were simple and fun- some thank-you cupcakes, and a birthday cake and cupcakes for a lovely lady. I decided on a rustic girly theme for the birthday cake- a 3-layer lemon cake, filled with vanilla buttercream, raspberry preserve, and wrapped in light raspberry buttercream. If you use Pinterest, you've probably seen the 'cake banner' trend floating around. I thought it would be a nice way to top a fairly simple cake, and didn't even consider the possibility that there might be 24 candles stuck on top at some point....BIG MISTAKE. When it came time to cut the cake, someone said "we're lighting the cake!" and still, I didn't catch on. It wasn't until the cake was brought out, with 24 lit candles, that I realized what was going to happen. Ten seconds later the banner above the cake was in flames and the Happy Birthday song had turned into "let's try not to light the carpet on fire." Luckily the potential crisis was averted and everyone was able to enjoy the cake (even with a slightly melted top). Needless to say, next time I try and be cute and trendy I'm going to establish whether or not fire is a factor beforehand...

Simple & rustic

Waiting for something special on top!

Disaster pending...

Just in case you were wondering, paper banners and candles don't mix.

Wish List Wednesday: Gypsy Edition!

Well, it's Wednesday night here in Australia, and I go home to BC tomorrow. That's right, tomorrow- 24 hours from now I'll be half way to LA..crazy! It's been a really up and down week. I'm so unbelievably excited to get home and see my friends and family, but equally as sad to say goodbye to all the amazing friends I've made here. When I get too depressed about it I have to remind myself that the only reason this adventure is over is because I'm going home to start another one- I start my first real graduate job on Monday morning, which is both exciting and terrifying, not in the least because I have less than three days to set up my life back home again! So, in the spirit of looking forward and planning exciting things to come, this Wish List is really just examples of my biggest wish of all- to eventually own my own business!

Whenever I'm travelling these days, I always scope out cupcake shops- I love seeing other people's visions come to life! It really gets me excited about the same possibility for myself...plus I always have lots of people willing to help me with a little international market research!

I got really excited about Little Cupcakes in Melbourne,
because I had just decided on Little Bow Sweets about
a month beforehand. This teeny tiny shop is tucked away
down one of Melbourne's famous lanes.

They do literally mean Little Cupcakes- almost their
whole selection is mini cupcakes!

Sorry about my face. It's full of tea. (which comes on the
sweetest little trays with your own little milk bottle!)

In Singapore, I found this bizarrely cute shop in a basement food
court in Clarke Quay. I creeped around outside taking photos while they
conducted what looked like a baking class inside.

Little House of Dreams...the name is a bit intense, but Asia is pretty
intense (and full of ridiculous names for things)

Excuse the terrible quality, but I snapped this today in Sydney, while I
was getting drenched walking around the city. Seriously, I got soaked
by a car  driving through a puddle when I stepped back to take
this photo- dedicated much? I'm pretty sure this is a franchise, since
 I also saw one in Melbourne.

I think the only solution to my travelbug-versus-entrepreneurship dilemma
is to get a cupcake caravan like this one from Enjoy Cupcakes and travel
the world, funding my adventures with frosting and sprinkles>

Obviously for very serious and important professional development reasons, I will continue to find cupcake shops everywhere I go and sample them based on the cuteness of their window displays. In the meantime, stay sweet and I'll be back in a few days!