Carnation cupcakes

Cupcakes anyone? these came about because it was sunday and i knew we would have many people come to visit us, but  more importantly, the new puppies we have. they are drawing crowds from far and near. and everyone needs a snack when they arrive so what better than a chocolate cupcake! there were no complaints and by nightfall, all 30 cupcakes had disappeared.

wouldn't you come to see this?!

yummy black magic chocolate cake cupcakes topped off with bright pink buttercream icing flowers
makes about 30 cupcakes in white paper muffin cases. make sure to only fill the cases half full with batter because this recipe rises quite a bit.  

to ice these babies you need the buttercream icing shown in the link, a piping bag which you can make from baking paper and a very special icing tip which is shown in the photo below.

shaped like a teardrop (i have size 124), the icing tip pipes a variety of flower petals. you can also make beautiful roses  using this icing tip. see my rose cupcake post  Here (scroll down that post for the roses). these are the other things i used like the robertsons rose pink colouring for the icing, the silver balls (can be bought from Pick'n Pay) and edible glitter (specialist cake shop)

the cake stand is quite popular in South african stores at the moment, you can get them at Mr Price home, At Home and  other home stores. and they make for great cupcake presentation on the coffee table