I made two different cupcakes this weekend. The top was a margarita cupcake and the bottom was a chocolate cupcake with a marshmallow cream filling and peanut butter frosting.

I made these chocolate cupcakes with mandarin zest and chocolate buttercream frosting with a candied mandarin today.

Made these cupcakes last night.

I made these rainbow cupcakes for a birthday party I went to last night.

I made these cupcakes yesterday for my cousin’s graduation party.

They were vanilla cake with peach filling and a brown sugar buttercream frosting.

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes

I made these pumpkin cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream last night.

i have an addiction to cupcake themed television programming.

i started watching dc cupcakes last night and that show is fascinating (maybe only to me).  i love baking & cupcakes are one of those things i love making, but to see a cupcake business run is really cool.  i often wonder how the people that worked there before the reality show started feel about being portrayed on tv.  i mean it’s their job…it’s not like they signed up to star in big brother or anything. side track: which got me thinking about how many reality shows start filming and the ‘cast’ is just not interesting enough do they keep filming and edit or do the just cancel.

anyway, back to dc cupcakes.  the two sisters are living the dream as they said many, many times, but you do have to admire their drive and i am assuming that georgetown cupcakes is crazy busy all the time, especially now with the show.  i’ve only seen about 1/2 of the six episode first season and it seems a little scripted, but i’ll give it a chance, especially since it has been picked up for a second season.

the other show that i am completely obsessed with is cupcake wars.  i have seen every episode & possibly have seen them more than once.  i love the challenge aspect of this show & having to completely think on your feet while making interesting & sometimes inevitably awful cupcakes.  the basic idea is there are four bakers who compete to be the final baker, this baker gets to bring their large display and all 1000 cupcakes to some sort of event.  this event (and show really) are a way most of these cupcake bakers/shop owners get mass exposure in turn boosting their business.  the show is judged by three judges: candace nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and florian Bbellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company madmac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week (usually from the event in which the 1000 cupcakes and display eventually go to).  it is hosted by a leprechaun, jks,  it is hosted by justin willman (who you say? he comes from rachel ray’s show and his star making role on gilmore girls as a T.A. oh & he’s also a traveling magician. i know right?).

all this cupcake watching has invigorated my interest in baking cupcakes and my desire to become a pastry chef again.  maybe i’ll just get a job in a cupcake shop first.

vanilla peppermint cupcakes

i made these for christmas eve dessert last night.

boom boom pow

taken out of context these batman cupcakes are endlessly entertaining (to me mostly)

chocolate peanut butter banana cupcakes

i’ve been listening to a lot of elvis this morning and thinking about eating a peanut butter & banana sandwich, but this…this may be a whole lot better.

boston and harvard square cupcake bakery sweet is serving up these mad men cupcakes to celebrate tomorrow night’s season finale!