Psychics and spring

Can you tell that I really adore alliteration?

Last night, my sister hosted a psychic party and I provided the dessert. I had to think of something that would be appropriate for the theme but not cheesy. I was also limited on color options because I didn’t have time to go buy more candy melts or colored sugar crystals, so I have to say, this isn’t my proudest cupcake moment ever. I decided on a simple white cake with cream cheese frosting. I intended to add chocolate chips to the whole bunch, but forgot and only mixed them in to the second batch…which I made to take to work and they became generic spring-themed cupcakes.

Anyway, I had a vision, but didn’t have the necessary supplies to carry it out. I wanted to do different icing colors to represent the elements earth, wind, fire and water, but I wanted to accent each with sugar crystals of the same color, and I didn’t have the right colors for that (or even enough clear to get me through) and I didn’t have enough candy melts is contrasting colors, either. The candy melts would be used to make astrological signs. My choices for the candy were green, purple, red or yellow and my sugar options were red, pink, purple, green or orange. I could color the icing just about any way I wanted, but as it seemed I was stuck with green in both other categories, I didn’t want to get too crazy with color so I left the icing white. Boring, I know. Like I said, I’m not thrilled with the result. Anyway, I printed out the astrological signs and melted the candy, made the accents and would up with these:

See the really fat one? My ice cream scoop failed me on that one.

Meh. They’re okay. For a last minute project, I won’t complain TOO much, but I’m definitely not happy with them. Apparently, they tasted really good (I didn’t eat one), so we’ll call it a day.

I haven’t quite figured out the “fill 3/4 full” thing yet - new ice cream scoop, little bit of a learning curve - so I always bake more than I need because there will always be a fatality or two. And that’s what my husband is - eater of crumbling cupcake catastrophes. There weren’t TOO many casualties this time, so I had some left over to take to work and give to my sugar-crazed spouse. I decided to cheer things up a bit and have some fun with sprinkles. I mean, come on. What is more entertaining than putting sprinkles on a cupcake? Or on anything, really. Sprinkles are a slight obsession of mine, so I was completely blissed out after going to town on the remnants. Here’s the star of the show:

Love, indeed. Don't you just want to lick the side where it looks like the icing is melting off? Heaven.

Sigh. No matter how many new techniques I learn, I don’t think anything will ever come close to providing the joy I find in shaking sprinkles on top of a casually iced cuppie. Seriously, I wish I could go home right now and make a million cupcakes just so I can cover them in sprinkles.

But I can’t right now. My next project is a delicious five-flavor pound cake for my hubster’s new boss. Nothing says thank you like a freshly baked cake! Sassycakes, out!