Thursday 7 July 2011

Ladybird Cupcakes


I can't believe I've been blogging for almost 2 years now and have never made Ladybird Cupcakes before now! Well today's post addresses this most despicable oversight in Diary of a Ladybird's archives, and hopefully this mini-tutorial will guide you through how you can make them too.

The inspiration for these comes from the Planet Cake decorating book by Paris Cutler.


Bake your cupcakes
Bake your cupcake of choice. I chose my favourite chocolate cupcake/cake recipe, but you could also go for a classic vanilla cupcake.

Ganache the cupcakes
Using your ganache of choice, roughly ganache the tops of the cooled cupcakes. Allow to set for at least half an hour, then smooth over with a palette knife dipped in hot water to create a perfectly smooth and even cupcake surface. Allow to set for at least an hour, and once dry to touch they are ready for decorating.


Cover with black fondant
To cover and decorate the fondant you will need black and red fondant, as well as a very small amount of white fondant. Roll out your black fondant to a 3mm thickness, and cut out circles with a circle cutter to fit the top of your cupcakes. Lay and smooth the fondant on top of the cupcake.


Decorate with fondant
Now the fun part of decorating begins! Thinly roll out your red fondant and using the same circle cutter you used for the black fondant, cut out the same number of red circles. Then using the cutter, cut a small piece out of the circle, then split the larger portion in half with a sharp knife. The picture below should hopefully explain what I mean here...


Using the two larger pieces, dab/brush a small amount of water on the reverse of each and lay them on top of the cupcakes with the red pieces (wings) splayed apart slightly. Discard the remaining piece of red fondant.


Using a small circle cutter, cut out the ladybird spots from some rolled black fondant and attach them to the wings with a tiny amount of water dabbed beneath each spot.


Make the final touches
To make the ladybirds' eyes, roll tiny balls of white fondant and attach them to the cupcake (with a tiny touch of water if necessary). For the pupil in each, use a very fine paintbrush and a little black food dye.

Finally, press part of the end of a plastic straw (or a clean plastic pen cap) to create the smile indent in each ladybird's face.


So there you have it - simple and beautiful ladybird cupcakes. I don't know about you, but I find their little faces so cute that I can't help but smile back at them! :)


Till next time, dear readers...
 
Ladybird x

PS- Remember my salted caramel, peanut and chocolate tarts? I've entered my recipe into the Lurpak Callenge and I'd really appreciate your support in the final days of voting.  To vote for my original recipe, please click here!

18 comments:

  1. WOW! The best yet!!

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  2. omg the cupcakes are so cute! almost too cute to eat...almost

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  3. Wow, those are amazing! You will make the best birthday cakes/cupcales for your little one!

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  4. OMG, these are the cutest cupcakes I have seen in a long time! and yum, chocolate ganache :-D

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  5. A Perfect way to celebrate your theme! These babies would be a sell out! And in chocolate.. I'm sold.

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  6. So beautiful. Your attention to detail is awe inspiring (nb, happy blogging birthday!)

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  7. They are so cute, i really should have a go at fondant icing.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Hi,
    I fell in love with these cuties and made them myself. Put them up on my blog with a link to your blog :)Do lemme know your feedback :)

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  10. Hi Ladybird :) It's so nice to be here :) I also have a culinary blog named biedronkawkuchni, what in polish means "ladybirdatthekitchen" :) Its good to know that there are more ladybirds in the kitchen all over the world :D
    Feel free to visit my blog: www.biedronkawkuchni.blogspot.com

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  11. Love these cupcakes! You are so creative!

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  12. What fondant recipe do you use. Thanks

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  13. These ladybug cupcakes are so cute! Thanks for the how to.

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  14. لورباك
    توريد أشهر العلامات التجارية المتخصصة بالزبدة منها زبدة لورباك وانكور وبرزيدنت وجاردو الحيوانية

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