Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts

Monday, December 30, 2013

Upcakes!


The upcake is the sweeter big sister to the cupcake. It has no wrapper, and when frosted, looks like a little cupcake mountain. Why make the switch to upcakes? More icing! There are a few tricks to baking these adorable sweets, so read on!


The ingredients are the same as a cupcake, but rather than being baked in cupcake tins, I baked mine in little tomato sauce tin cans. There's a good reason for the smaller size of the can, aside from the preportions. You'll find out about that later. To prep the cans for baking, spray the inside with cooking spray, and cover the side in a cut roll of parchment paper. I put in about 1/3 cup of batter into each tin, and mine slid right out after baking!

To frost, hold lightly at the top and the bottom, like you're pinching it, and roll the upcake around while slathering frosting on the sides. (If you use a standard size can for baking you won't be able to manage this move, your upcake will be too wide to hold and frost in this way.) Load up those sides with sprinkles, before you set the upcake down. 


The frosted sides make the upcake really hard to move after frosting, so I set mine down on squares of parchment paper so that I could transport them to storage after decorating. 

Now it's time to frost the top... lay that icing on, and try to smooth out the place where the top and sides meet.

Upcakes are really too messy to pick up with your hands, you'll want to use a fork, and I know where you can get some really cute ones

I don't know about you, but my whole family is ready to make the permanent switch from cupcakes to upcakes! My favorite vanilla cupcake recipe, and the one I used, is from Cupcake Project, and I love their vanilla frosting too.

Do upcakes really exist? Yes! I searched to find what I could and came up with a lot of "Up" movie themed cakes. But I first saw an upcake, as shown above, on my Instagram feed. I can't remember who posted it, but they were visiting a diner in Pennsylvania called Dixie Picnic, and I think they are the ones who created the upcake. I've changed the shape a little to make them much more vertical.

Go forth and tell all of your friends about upcakes!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Ranch Oyster Crackers - The Best Neighbor Gift

My mom never liked to bake like I do, but she still managed to make these ranch oyster crackers every year. It's because they're super easy and yummy, and everyone needs a little easy and yummy in their life. 

I make a huge batch every year and run around to all the neighbors houses handing them out as holiday gifts, and they're always happy to see me. Or maybe it's just the oyster crackers!

photograph by J. Pollack Photography

INGREDIENTS

1/2 tsp. dill
1/4 c oil
16 oz. oyster crackers
1 packet (1 oz.) powdered ranch mix
1/4 tsp. lemon pepper or garlic powder (optional)

Add all ingredients to gallon size zipper bag and toss to coat.
Bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

For fun gift tags and other holiday packaging and gift items, check out our store!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad - yes, it's SALAD!

Image courtesy Lulu The Baker


Crunchy/creamy/salty/sweet in one dish? Strawberry Pretzel Jello "Salad" is a little bit different, and totally delish. You will literally not be able to put your bowl down. Literally.

We have been working our way through a tray of it for the past few days - hey, it's salad and therefore healthy, right? - and now it's all gone, I feel bereft.

If you're a fan of salty and sweet together, visit Lulu The Baker and see how she makes this awesome salad.


Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th, Sucre Shoppers!


A picture of 2 bowls of delicious Eton Mess, as seen on sucreshop


In honor of Independence Day, we’re making an appropriately colourful - yet somewhat historically inappropriate - dessert: Eton Mess! Named after the super-posh British boys’ boarding school Eton College, it’s a divine combination of juicy fresh strawberries, fluffy whipped cream and sticky crushed meringue that’s the perfect summer dessert.