the obsession began when we borrowed an animated version of the very hungry caterpillar from the library and mischaela watched on repeat for as many times as I'd let her. it was then solidified on the dark drives back to my parents' place during our most recent visit when she actually saw the moon, a sight she often misses since she sleeps at 7pm, and requested I tell her the story over and over again of the little egg that lay on a leaf.
it seemed appropriate that I incorporate the very hungry caterpillar somewhere in her birthday sweets.
here are the ingredients to make babycakes' famous (incredibly famous if you've ever been to new york apparently) vanilla cupcakes. I think this spread cost 5 bagillion dollars, something like that.
gluten-free baking requires anal precise measurements. I don't tend to cook or bake this way, so this is me being really, really disciplined. look at that plateau!
the batter all mixed up and always runnier than wheat cake batter.
and bam! baked, moist, and yummy. no graininess, no crumble, amazing. thanks babycakes.
for the cupcake toppers I started by rolling out some white fondant, then cutting out 1.5" circles.
then poked some straw holes for 16 of the 20 circles.
I present to you my no. 1 paintbrush. I think it consists of 2 bristles, something like that. plus a smattering of food colouring, and yes, thar blows a fine bottle of fermented potato juice. vodka helps thin out gel food colouring so it's easier to paint on but still retains the intense pigmentation. the alcohol evaporates. true story.
painting the hungry caterpillar.
after 1.5 hours, here are the 20 completed cupcake toppers, ready to be dried.
I iced the cupcakes with some berry flavoured buttercream icing, topped them off with the little painted circles and sang our little girl a birthday song.
here are some close-ups. apple and pear.
strawberry.
piece of chocolate cake.
the big fat caterpillar.
and the butterfly. note the thin legs.
it's so much fun creating for my daughter.
it seemed appropriate that I incorporate the very hungry caterpillar somewhere in her birthday sweets.
here are the ingredients to make babycakes' famous (incredibly famous if you've ever been to new york apparently) vanilla cupcakes. I think this spread cost 5 bagillion dollars, something like that.
gluten-free baking requires anal precise measurements. I don't tend to cook or bake this way, so this is me being really, really disciplined. look at that plateau!
the batter all mixed up and always runnier than wheat cake batter.
and bam! baked, moist, and yummy. no graininess, no crumble, amazing. thanks babycakes.
for the cupcake toppers I started by rolling out some white fondant, then cutting out 1.5" circles.
then poked some straw holes for 16 of the 20 circles.
I present to you my no. 1 paintbrush. I think it consists of 2 bristles, something like that. plus a smattering of food colouring, and yes, thar blows a fine bottle of fermented potato juice. vodka helps thin out gel food colouring so it's easier to paint on but still retains the intense pigmentation. the alcohol evaporates. true story.
painting the hungry caterpillar.
after 1.5 hours, here are the 20 completed cupcake toppers, ready to be dried.
I iced the cupcakes with some berry flavoured buttercream icing, topped them off with the little painted circles and sang our little girl a birthday song.
here are some close-ups. apple and pear.
strawberry.
piece of chocolate cake.
the big fat caterpillar.
and the butterfly. note the thin legs.
it's so much fun creating for my daughter.
14 comments:
I was all, 'Why are their holes in the pictures?" and then it struck me, "DUH!!! The Caterpillar ate them!!!"
I love them!!! Super, super impressed! Looks just like the pics from the book (I enjoy that book!). Anyway, great job!
Holy moly, you have outdone yourself yet again. Also: I love that M got her love of this book from the Library video! Yay libraries!
W.O.W. that's all I have to say.
OH. MY. GOD!!!!!!!! This is so cute! In the light of the moon, the little egg lay on the leaf...that's my favourite part too - Happy Birthday Shay Shay!!!!
How many did you let her eat?
HOLY CRAP YOU ARE AMAZING.
that is all.
(also, it is surreal to me that mischaela is already two!!)
AMAZING cupcakes, Deb. I loved your tweet, about her being "worth every tiny paint stroke." What a blessing you each are to the other! xo
I need to try these! make me some!!!!
Amazing Deb.. your detail is fantastic!!! Wow.. Has M seen the book... it is FUN with pages that have holes.. both in board and in paper versions.. Blessings. Susan
amazing! i don't know how you do it... well, i do, but i wanted to refrain from using the word insane :) i'm convinced M will grow up to be just like you
@shellieos - just one cupcake but I gave her my cupcake topper in addition to hers since she loved them so much. :)
@elisha - I can send you the recipe - they're really good!
@susan - of course we have the board book, that introduced M to the very hungry caterpillar at the early age of probably 5 months. it's one of her favourites.
@tabitha - thanks for refraining. ;)
thanks for the encouragement and well wishes to little M everyone.
such a fine, detail drawing. the fat caterpillar is so cute! Mischaela is blessed to have you, Deborah!
DO IT!
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