Red Velvet Cupcakes...My First...

This was the first time I ever made red velvet cupcakes and to be completely honest...

They came from a box mix.

I honestly just wanted to try them before I went on a search for a good homemade recipe.

I was also just craving something sweet.

And wanting to play with my pastry bags.

So now...

My goal...

Is to find an awesome HOMEMADE recipe, now that I know I LIKE them!

Triple Salted Caramel Cupcakes...

I had heard of these cupcakes and had always wanted to try them.

So when I found this recipe, I KNEW it was time.

This recipe comes from "SprinkleBakes".

She is amazing.

You can find the recipe here.

Of course hers are much prettier, as I've only been baking/decorating for less than a year.

But she is the BOMB when it comes to dessert recipes!

You much check her out!

Mine may not LOOK pretty...but they tasted AMAZING!

My First Cookie Pops...And "Bouquet"...

This was my first attempt at cookie pops...

And a bouquet.

First and foremost, I was happy I had a good experience with the Royal Icing on this particular occasion.

Because, afterall...it was for my momma for Mother's Day!

I start out trying to insert the sticks into the dough...

Without much success.

And then...

I saw a tutorial online on how to just attach the sticks to the wrappers!

I'll have to find the link to that tutorial.

Because it has really helped me.

I think this was the first time...in my baking/decorating journey...

That I was actually PLEASED with the final outcome of my project.

You see...

I am a perfectionist by nature.

And not only a perfectionist...

I struggle with seeing any good in my work.

I always think everyone's is better and mine will never be as good as the professionals.

So you see...

For me to be happy with this project...

Was a HUGE step in my journey!

You wouldn't think so by looking...

You wouldn't think so by looking...

But these cookies were my THIRD attempt at Royal Icing.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever GET IT or UNDERSTAND Royal Icing.

I'm telling you...

It turns out different EVERY single time I make it.

Sometimes it's runny.

Sometimes it's fluffy.

Sometimes it's stiff.

I hear humidity plays a big role in it.

I don't know.

Maybe some day I'll get it.

Easter Cookies...Second Attempt At Royal Icing...

Easter cookies were my second attempt at Royal Icing.

I bought some colored sugar and experimented with that as well.

I have MUCH to learn about Royal Icing.

Consistency.

Drying time.

EVERYTHING.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever catch on to this baking/decorating thing.

Just Practicing...Birthday Cuppies...

These were just some practice birthday cupcakes I did.

Just simple yellow cake with chocolate icing.

Made them more fun with sprinkles for the kids...

Who am I kidding...

WE ALL LOVE SPRINKLES!

For Fun...School Fun Night...

These cupcakes were not pretty.

They were not elegant.

They were nothing special.

They were only baked in fun.

Pure fun for children.

They were done for my son's school fun night.

They have a cupcake walk each year and needed me to make a dozen cupcakes for the game.

They were fun.

The kids loved them.

And that's all that mattered in the end.

Am I right?!?

FINALLY...She discovered the secret...Royal Icing!

Finally...

After discovering many cookie decorating blogs and pages on Facebook...

She discovered the magic of Royal Icing.

She still has not found the "perfect" recipe or consistency.

She still doesn't know what makes some decorators cookies "shine".

She still screams in frustration when high heat and humidity ruin her Royal Icing.

But...

This was her first attempt.

Not bad for a first try.

She continues to practice.

Continues to get frustrated.

And would LOVE continued support and advice!

Yes...YOU!

So She Tried Again...

And so...

This baker/decorator "wannabe" was asked yet again by her son to make cookies for his "half-birthday" for school.

This "wannabe" baker STILL hadn't found out about Royal Icing and the magic it works on cookies.

So...

Yet again...

She used buttercream icing.

They were not pretty.

But once again...

The class full of fourth graders enjoyed them and Mr. Half Birthday Boy thought he was pretty darn special for the day with his "Birthday Present Cookies" at school.

First time "stacking" a cake...

Mom and I both share February birthdays.

So this year, we had the whole family over to celebrate our birthdays.

Since we have February birthdays, I thought I'd do a Valentine/Love themed cake.

This was the first time I ever stacked a cake, other than two rounds.

I'd say it went ok.

Everyone thought it was pretty.

Naturally I see all the faults in it.

For example the drop flowers aren't evenly spaced.

The piping on the edges of the cake are evident of my shakey hand.

But hey...

It tasted great!

It was a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream filling.

My mom had given me these little heart shaped cake tins and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them.

So I made a few little cakes.

And...

Voila.

They're not perfect either...

But I thought they were kind of cute for a first!

That's what this journey is all about.

Trial and error.
Learning.

Mastering.

Eating.

And fun!

Moving on to...Cookies!

These were the FIRST EVER cookies I ever decorated.

I made 30 of them.

My son wanted to take cookies to his school Halloween party and I had no idea what I was doing.

I didn't know what Royal Icing was at the time.

So...I figured, let's just use buttercream!

I did, but cookies decorated with buttercream icing aren't easy to transport.

I had to lay them all flat in multiple cardboard pastry boxes so that none would overlap or touch each other.

But it worked!

They weren't beautiful.

But I was told...

By one VERY amazing little lady in the fourth grade class...

"BEST...COOKIES...EVER!"

That was all I needed to hear...whether they looked good or not.

If at first you don't succeed...

If at first you don't succeed...

And you're terrified of trying again, LOL...

Try another method!

Haha!

So, as you read in my previous post, my first ever frozen buttercream transfer experience didn't go so well.

But my husband, and his love for his Lions...

Inspired me to try again.

So, I decided to go at it FREE-HAND!

Yes, I piped a Detroit Lion onto this cake free-hand.

Is it perfect?

No.

Is it pretty?

No.

But...

It was done in LOVE.

Love for my hubby...

And his love of his Detroit Lions.

My first ever frozen buttercream transfer...

My first ever frozen buttercream transfer was a Detroit Lion for a cake I was making for my husband.

I studied and read and asked for all kinds of advice from my baking friend.

Well, I did what everything and everyone said...

And I thought it turned out pretty darn good!

Until...

I went to peel if off the paper...
And it stuck...

And cracked...

And was a big, huge mess.

I cried.

I really did.

It started out so nice.

And then catastrophe.

But live and learn.

And then start over!

My fourth and final cake...Wilton Cake Basics Graduation.

My fourth and final cake for my "Basics" class was a birthday cake.

I did it in yellow and lavendar.

I just used a lot of basic drop flowers and did some piping.

I continued to struggle with getting cake crumbs in my icing because...

As I mentioned before...we weren't taught about "crumb coating".

But hey, I thought for only making four cakes (ever, in my life) and for having a brand new inexperienced teacher...it didn't turn out half bad!

Taking the Wilton Basics class was a fun experience last year.

I really enjoyed it.

My third class...cupcakes!

 My third Wilton class session involved cupcakes.

It was pretty basic.

Just doing basic "puffs" and "fluffs" (as I call them) of icing.

We also worked on some flowers/toppers for cupcakes.

As I mentioned before, the only gripe I had about taking this class last year, was the inexperienced instructor.

I just felt she lacked confidence when teaching and she read everything verbatim from the book.

Oh well.

I continue to learn on my own through much reading and tutorials online.

It's definitely a "sweet" journey!

Cake Number Two...

This was the second cake I ever made in my Wilton class nearly one year ago.

It was hands down better than my first cake.

But sill, I struggled with getting crumbs in my icing and giving it a smooth appearance.

One thing that I think was a bit challenging, was that our instructor was brand new.

She had never taught a class before.

I learned later from many baking friends that there were KEY skills she left out of our class.

For example, I mentioned I struggled with getting crumbs in my icing.

A baker friend of mine said, "You mean they didn't teach you how to crumb coat?"

Nope.

She didn't.

Since then, I have learned that crumb coating is THE way to go.

But...

For being only my second cake ever...
I don't think it was too bad.

And she practiced...and practiced...and practiced...

And so the Wilton course continued...

And she practiced...

And practiced...

And practiced...

She completed the course.

But continues to be a perfectionist.

And is very hard on herself.

And stresses herself out.

But she is very determined.

And unlike any other "hobby" she's picked up and let fall by the wayside...

Like stamping, scrapping, knitting...and many others...

She is DETERMINED to get good at this cake and cookie decorating thing!

She WILL conquer!