Monday, November 30, 2009

Chai Vanilla Dahlia-topped Wedding Cupcakes!

chai cupcakes, vanilla buttercream dahlia



One of my first jobs when I was a teen was working at Produce City Plus, a grocery store that once belonged to our family, and used to sit at 16th & Cambie St. in Vancouver, where Capers moved in ever-so-briefly, which is now currently the weirdest overly-large Shoppers Drug Mart. I started as a grocery bagger, a produce packer and a fruit-basket maker (I loved doing the fruit baskets!). I would sit in the basement of the store, crank the tunes on my sister's old turquoise blue mini ghetto blaster and power through stacking perfect domes of fruit and saran-wrap-trapping them in, and tie it all with ribbon. The following summer I moved up to CASHIER! Memorizing produce codes was a fun game- I would test myself by cruising the produce aisles. I trace this back to my wrist problems-- and of course my future years as a TEMP through Kelly Services, typing away like a Mad Men secretary.

LONG STORY... but the point of the story is... holy WRIST PAIN piping these Coco Cake dahlia buttercream topped cupcakes! I think they turned out so lovely though. Randi and Tim requested chai cupcakes with a vanilla buttercream, and dahlia-topped cupcakes to match their wedding flowers. So five dozen cupcakes later I was done! They also ordered mini chocolate ganache cupcakes with red hearts.

Congratulations Randi and Tim! Thanks for having Coco Cake be a part of your special day!

Naruto Cupcakes for Becky's Birthday!






Sweet and pretty Becky's birthday rolled around last week and her thoughtful boyfriend Michael (who incidentally, I learned recently that we went to the SAME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL!) secretly emailed me with a cute idea: Naruto cupcakes! Okay, so I didn't actually know who Naruto was until he sent me the links! I made the four main Naruto characters, plus the rest in yellow "spikey" buttercream frosting, to resemble Naruto's hair! Michael also brought Becky with him to pick up the cupcakes and when I showed her the surprise it was so cute-- she loved them! Michael also emailed me the next day to say thank you, and also that his sister called them "cupcake pillows" they were so soft and delicious!! I love that! Cupcake Pillows!

Happy Happy Birthday Becky! Hope all your wishes come true!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Coco Cake At November BLIM ART MART


I know it's not actually called the BLIM ART MART. But for some reason I call it that ALL THE TIME... yes, crazy times Coco Cake cupcakes will be selling delightful cupcakes at this month's BLIM MARKET! Sunday, November 29th at Cambrian Hall, 215 E.17th and Main St in Vancouver! Come on down and try some cupcake treats and shop for some early arty crafty holiday gifts!

I will be there at 11am until I sell out! So please arrive early to avoid disappointment!

Cupcakes will be on sale for $3. This month's flavours:

Coco Cake Chocolate: dark chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream, Belgian chocolate sprinkles
Lemon Frill: lemon cupcakes with lemon creamcheese frosting, lemon zest
Chocolate Ganache (vegan): dark chocolate vegan cupcakes, Lindt dark chocolate ganache, finished with Lindt dark chocolate shavings

plus a possible additional flavour if time allows! I will have boxes available for those who would like to purchase 4 or more cupcakes, but if you bring your own receptacle, you get $1 off your purchase of 4 or more cupcakes! Neat-o! If you would like to pre-order a box of 4 with any combination of the above cupcakes, please email me at lyndsay@cococake.com with BLIM ART MART in the subject line before Saturday at 12pm.

Thanks so much, see you at the market!

xo Lyndsay

Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes!



These Coco Cake cupcakes turned out delicious and delightful. A "woodsy" theme ordered by the ever-cool Stephanie for her boyfriend Brock's birthday -- I made dark chocolate cupcakes with peppermint chocolate buttercream, with shards of Lindt dark chocolate sticks and faux-bois paper party flags! Hooray!

Coco Cake Cupcake Round-up! Yee-hawww

Birthday Hello Kitty buddy cupcakes...

Meow!!

Hee-larious monkey cake for Mike's birthday-- "call me" he says into the banana...

Dark chocolate with vanilla buttercream, purply blue tinted sugar fondant.

Before, above: and after, below!

Oh, and it's that little vixen Tinkerbell, made into a birthday cake for cute little Giselle! This cake reminds me of the days when I used to spend hours drawing fashion pictures when I was a kid...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Hee Hee! Shaggy Green Golf Cake

my friend the shaggy green golf cake!


look at that lovely green buttercream grass...!


Oh this funny little Coco Cake specialty cake was a real chuckle for me to make. My bro-in-law Geoff and his girlfriend Monique requested a birthday cake for Monique's mom's birthday-- something golf themed. Immediately a comedy lightbulb went off in my head and I thought, what about a cake completely covered with "grass"... but with a smooth putting green with flag and teeny golf ball. I thought the cake turned out wonderfully surreal-- and Monique and Geoff are so awesome because when I told them my idea they immediately were like: "sounds great!! Let's do it!"

The cake was dark chocolate with green-grass-tinted vanilla buttercream and a Lindt dark chocolate ganache filling.

Really hoping more people will request the "shaggy" cake. Also was considering ONLY doing shaggy/furry buttercream cakes from now on... heh heh... Imagine a cake with that shaggy fur with an ANIMAL FACE on it? Hilarious!!!

Happy Birthday Monique's mom!! I hope the cake made it to Tofino in all of its shaggy glory!! :)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Thomas The Tank Engine Cupcakes







"Thomas! Thomas!" Says my nephew Brody. One of his current obsessions is crazy old Thomas the Tank Engine and the many train buddies Thomas has... What is it about Thomas that appeals to so many little kids? The basic friendly yet almost slightly mad face and myriad of expressions, the strong identifiable colours? Oh to see trains again for the first time through a little two year old's eyes... fascination!! Especially trains with FACES!

Sharn emailed good old Coco Cake headquarters with a request for two dozen Thomas themed cupcakes for her little guy's birthday! I thought they turned out pretty cute and Thomas-like... Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream in blue plaid cupcake liners, topped with sugar fondant Thomas, Percy and Gordon train faces! :)

I made an extra Thomas cupcake especially for my little Bro... !