BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

I've had this photo on my computer for a while and thought I'd share it with you today! I am not sure how many people would dare to have an Oreo Wedding Cake but I love the idea. As a matter of fact, I think white Chocolate Dipped Oreos make a beautiful cake if they were layered!



You can find them here but would you use them to make a wedding cake?

Edible crystals, cake jewels, sugar diamonds...whatever the correct term may be I know that there are brides who'll be fascinated by the fact that they can buy "edible bling!" Yes, you can add that platinum touch not just with the decor for your Diamond Wedding Theme but you can now add it to your cupcakes, cakes, candy buffet or dessert buffet as well.

Interested in purchasing some of these edible bling right now? Well, click here to find them at Diamond Party Confetti which carries all things bling!

I've been seeing Macarons a lot lately which may mean that they are getting just as popular for events as cupcakes. I, personally, find them to be very elegant and for Vintage Wedding Theme they are a must! Please understand though that Macarons are soft cookies with cream, frosting or ganache sandwich between two of them while Macaroons are dense cookies made with coconut and sometimes almond paste. It's easy to confuse the two when you search online so it's just a friendly warning.

You can find a recipe for French Macaron here at Martha Stewart and some gorgeous Macaroon Cakes below that you may be able to make for your dessert table.

S'mores are fantastic! They are chocolaty, crunchy, gooey and sweet! Cupcakes are moist and delicious! This recipe that I am sharing with you combines the two. I don't know if these cupcakes are ones you would want to make for your wedding reception but it's a recipe I just had to share!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp graham cracker crumbs (from 16 to 18 squares)
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped

• 1 cup PLUS 1 Tbsp sugar
• 3/4 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp flour
• 7 Tbsp cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Marshmallow Frosting (recipe below)

Extra chocolate or graham cracker pieces, to garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 standard muffin pans with 18 cupcake liners; set aside. Place the graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined. Place 1 tablespoon of the graham cracker mixture prepared earlier into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping. Place 2 teaspoons of chocolate in each muffin cup. Set pan aside.

Sift the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into a large bowl. Mix these together until evenly combined. In a separate large bowl, mix together the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add the liquid mixture into the flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.

Transfer the muffin pans prepared earlier to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with the remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer muffin pans to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.

Transfer marshmallow frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a large plain round, star, or French tip. Transfer cupcakes to a baking sheet or other heatproof surface. Pipe frosting in a spiral motion onto each cupcake. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the frosting, taking care not to burn the cupcake liners. Top each cupcake with a piece of chocolate or graham cracker, if desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Marshmallow Frosting

• 5 large egg whites
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Place egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set over a saucepan with simmering water, making sure the water is not high enough to touch the bowl. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat, starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix until combined. Use immediately.

Where did I find this wonderful recipe...right here at 6 Bittersweets with more photos of the process and notes that would come in handy if you are making S'mores Cupcakes for the first time.

Let's face it, we love cupcakes and if you are making cupcakes for your wedding I think it's a great idea to have surprising yet delicious flavors for your guests. This recipe is for Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes and I found it here at What's Cookin, Chicago!

Ingredients:

Cupcakes

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 2/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  

Filling

• 1 package instant banana pudding
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting

• 1 package instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 8-oz. container extra-creamy whipped topping
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Garnish

• 1/4 cup crushed cinnamon graham crackers
• banana slices (optional - fresh or banana chips)
• almond slices, toasted (optional)

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In another large bowl, with electric mixer, cream butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light. Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with -bananas and yogurt, mixing on low speed just until moistened. Batter will be lumpy; do not overmix. Gently fold in chopped walnuts.

Fill each muffin cup about three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool cupcakes 5 minutes in pan, then remove cupcakes to wire rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, prepare filling and frosting. Mix banana pudding with milk according to package directions, adding vanilla. Chill for at least 30 minutes. For frosting, mix vanilla pudding with milk and vanilla; fold in whipped topping and confectioners’ sugar until frosting is creamy. Chill for at least 30 minutes to set.

Once cupcakes are cool, insert a paring knife into top of each cupcake, making a small hole in the center. Spoon filling mixture into a zip-top plastic bag. Snip off a small corner of the bottom. Squeeze about 1 Tbsp. filling into the hole in the top of each cupcake. Swirl frosting on top of each cupcake; sprinkle with graham-cracker crumbs. Top each with banana slices as desired. Keep chilled.

Want a cupcake holder or cover that will show off your cupcakes and one that your guests can use to carry their cupcakes home with them? These clear, Cupcake Holders from CupcakePeddler.Etsy.com will allow you do just that and you can buy 50 of them for $26.00! They are 3 1/2 inches around to fit regular or jumbo size cupcakes; they're recyclable; foolproof and can be easily dressed up with a ribbon.



They come with a pretty label at the top and if you want more or less than 50 Clear Cupcake Holders you can find the...

-12 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72101199,
-20 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/64626497,
-40 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63850367,
-50 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63845005,
-60 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63844557,
-80 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/64619123 and the
-150 Cup listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/71654802!

Cake pops are simply bite size cakes on a stick. They are easy to make as you have seen in the video and all you need to make them are cake, frosting, candy melts and lollipop sticks! They are a hit at any event so you can make cake pops for your engagement party, bridal shower and for your wedding reception!

Here are some cake pop displays that I hope will inspire you to make these delicious balls for your event!

I made these football cupcakes for my son's 4th birthday because it's what he said he wanted just one day before. The frosting was nicely applied at first, you can see a perfect one there on the right but when I realized I was running of frosting I had to use another technique. So, they could have looked better but I decided to share them with you anyway because they cost about only $7.00 to make around twenty four!

This is how it breaks down:

Sports Cupcake Wrappers - $1.50
Chocolate Cake Mix - $1.00
Vanilla Frosting - $1.00
Shredded Coconut - $1.00
20 Peanut Butter Filled Wrapped Chocolate Footballs - $1.00

These would work as Superbowl Party Cupcakes too so now you have something cheap, chocolatey and easy to add to your list.

It's Winter and what's more perfect for a Winter Wonderland Wedding than these snowflake cupcakes. I would admit that after reading the recipe I realize that these may not be the easiest cupcakes to make since you'll have to make the snowflakes too but with a little practice you can have these cute cupcakes at your wedding that will fit right into your theme. If you are interested in making them you can go here to Glorious Treats to learn how for Winter Wedding or bridal shower.

If you want to dress up your cupcakes further than the frosting, these cupcake toppers are definitely an option for you. You can even have a custom order made to match your theme but of these four, my favorite is the beach theme.  The purse toppers I can see at a fun bridal shower!

Find 12 for $14 right now at Two Sugar Babies  on Etsy!