5 Summer Ready To Roll Icing Cupcake Ideas

Summer is nearly here, and although the sunny weather hasn’t managed more than a sporadic showing it’s time to start getting ready for picnics and days at the beach. What better cakes to make for lazy summer days than cupcakes. Small, portable and oh-so tasty, cupcakes are great for including in picnic hampers and packed lunch boxes.

Here are 5 ideas for summer themed ready to roll icing cupcakes.

1. Bee Topper. What says summer more than the gentle buzzing of bees skipping from flower to flower. So why not create your own cute bumblebee topper. All you’ll need is some yellow, black and white ready to roll icing. Simply roll a flattened ball of yellow icing for the body and fix a few

Mini Makes #8 - Chocolate and Granola Muffins

I had two bags of granola hiding away in the cupboard fast approaching their expiry dates, and a packet of chocolate, so I decided to use them up while baking over the bank holiday weekend. The Mini Mes were happy to get involved while it was raining outside so we ended up with an activity to keep us occupied and some treats to eat at the end - win win!

You will need
(Makes approx 12)

Mini Makes #7 - Basic Biscuits Recipe

I regulalry head to the fridge and cupboards to gather ingredients, with something delicious to satisfy my sweet tooth in mind, before discovering I don't have everything required. It's usually eggs that I'm lacking which get used up quickly for breakfasts, salads and sandwiches so over the years I've created quite a few treats without them.

These eggless biscuits I make quite often as it's a quick and easy recipe and you can add fruit, nuts or chocolate (or just about anything you like) to give them flavour, coat them in icing or sandwich filling between a pair. It's something the Mini Mes make unaided too and they go well in lunch boxes.

You will need
(Makes approx 15)

Mini Makes #6 - Oreo, Caramel and Chocolate Tartlets

You know when you want to create something delicious but you just don't have the time, energy or skills to make a masterpiece, well this recipe is the answer to your prayers! You only need 5 ingredients for these delicious Oreo, caramel and chocolate desserts (or easy peasy pudding pies as I call them) and they are so incredibly simple to do that even a novice, or the kids, could give them a go.

This recipe will make 3 individual sized tarts but you can make a bigger version by multiplying the ingredients by 3 and using a 10" dish instead.

You will need

Cooking With Kids #SatCap

Today Jamster turns 9 - Happy birthday dude! I've been cooking a big cake to celebrate but usually the weekends involve lots of baking and my little production line is very handy to have at home...

.... even if they are a bit crazy and cheeky at times!

Summer Fruits and Almond Tray Bake

We baked a traditional Victoria sponge cake at the weekend and I had an idea to make a little more cake mixture and pop it into a tray to slice then serve as cubes. After a quick rummage in the cupboards I decided to use some leftover nuts for a crunchy topping and some berries from the freezer for a boost in flavour.

This was the result...

Mini Makes #2 - Muffin Breakfast Cups

With Mother's Day in mind, this simple idea transforms a standard breakfast into something a little more special and compact; it would make a nice meal to serve to mum on the 15th.

It's also great for those families that are often short on time in the morning as you can make these in advance and reheat as and when required. You can also adapt the recipe to suit your own taste by adding mushrooms, sausage or even beans. Whatever you fancy!

Silent Sunday

Reindeer Ginger Biscuits

I've managed to save so much time this year preparing for Christmas by shopping online securely with PayPal, that I've had a lot more spare time to enjoy other things. I've been able to snuggle up and watch movies, do some Christmas crafting and yesterday I shared my delicious triple chocolate brownie Christmas tree recipe. Today I've been baking some more seasonal treats too!

Chocolate Brownie Christmas Trees

With so much festive food in the stores ready for Christmas it's a pretty good time to indulge; you can always think about the calories in the New Year!

The Mini Mes have their end of term parties this week before they break up for the holiday so we have been making some treats of our own too. I'd normally pop to the shop and purchase some fruit, crisps and a few other nibbles for all of the children at school quickly but thanks to shopping online with PayPal this year I seem to be really organised. I have a lot more spare time to do some baking, something that I really enjoy and the Mini Mes do too, snuggle up to watch some Christmas movies and do some Christmas crafts. 

Chocolate Filled Christmas Pudding Cake

When it come to festive desserts I don't like Christmas Cake, mince pies or even custard so it can be a bit of a struggle to satisfy my sweet tooth at the dinner table!

I therefore decided to create a cake based upon a Christmas Pudding but with a completely different taste. This is a chocolate sponge filled with chocolate frosting and topped with icing - a lovely alternative to the classic.

Eyeball Cake Pops

31st October is all about the treats and these cake pops will certainly hit the spot. With a soft sponge centre combined with delicious frosting and a white chocolate coating they are frightfully delightful. 

We were sent some of the ingredients and a recipe from Rangemaster for National Chocolate Week but as they arrived a little later we transformed a standard cake pop into something suitable for the next big event on our calendar; Halloween!

Broken Glass Cupcakes

Halloween is just on the horizon and to celebrate there will be plenty of tricks and treats being made and eaten across the country, including a frightening feast of our own. These broken glass cupcakes are quite deceiving as they are completely edible! They are really effective for your buffet table and more importantly they are delicious.

Family Fun with Food *WIN*

Cooking is a great way for kids to get creative while having fun and learning valuable life skills.

With it being National Chocolate Week last week we were very excited to receive a Make and Melt kit from Choc on Choc, which gave us the opportunity to build a white and milk chocolate edible house! I'm not sure who was more pleased, the Mini Mes or my very sweet tooth!

The kit contained:

• White chocolate buttons 
• Milk chocolate butons
• Paper chefs hat
• Moulds for the house and trees
• Garden scene
• Instructions

Chocolate Brioche Bread and Butter Pudding

Our first Degustabox arrived a few days ago and buried within bubble wrap and pretty tissue paper were many delectable products including some croissants and brioche from Pasquier, a brand we often purchase ourselves. I decided to use the latter in a recipe, something I hadn't made in a while, and with its squishy centre and sweet crisp top, this bread and butter pudding was a simple success.

Ingredients

5 Pasquier brioche

Butter

Chocolate Orange Custard Tart

With the Great British Bake Off back on our screens I've been drooling over the delightful creations each Wednesday and I've once again been inspired to bake something of my own.

With custard tarts featuring last week I thought I'd make one, but with such a sweet tooth I felt I needed to throw some chocolate in too!

With a crisp pastry and smooth, rich centre this is truly indulgent.

It goes perfectly served with fresh berries and or whipped cream.

My Sunday Photo

Cookie Cups Recipe

We received some lovey Nigella Lawson Measuring Cups from Red Candy and what better way to test them is there than with a recipe from Nigella's website? These chocolate chip cookies are simply delicious, possibly the best I've ever made.

 We decided to make a batch to transform into cookie cups which can hold a scoop of ice cream perfectly. It is the summer holiday after all so it's a good excuse to indulge and double the treat! 

Cookie Cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter (4oz)

1/2 cup caster sugar (3.5oz)

1/2 cup brown sugar (3.5oz)

Crispy Spinach and Feta Pie

We recently returned from a family break in Kefalonia and although most of our holiday highlights involve sunsets on the beach and trips to some beautiful attractions, we certainly can't forget the amazing food we consumed.  While in Fiskardo, a beautiful harbour village on the Northern tip of the island, we stopped off at a bakery and The Mr picked up a pastry. For the remainder of our week away he mentioned went on and on about how delicious it was, so I decided to recreate the same at home. 

Roaring Rocky Road Recipe (Plus Outtakes) #Bahlsen Bake Off

Nothing beats a huge box of sweet treats arriving on your doorstep, so we were more than happy to accept a hamper from Bahlsen to enjoy. The idea was to create one of the recipes using the biscuits and books provided and to video it, so we had a browse at the recipes and because there were so many that appealed we just selected one by opening the book on a random page.
We ended up choosing Roaring Rocky Road filled with marshmallows and covered in chocolate!

Not only was it fun to make with the Mini Mes while filming, but we had some delicious food to indulge with at the end - a win win situation!

You can see the video we made here,

I think Minxy is a natural in front of the camera, even if she didn't let Jamster get a word in...

They both did a fantastic job (and the rocky road was lovely) but there were a few moments when