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Weddings, Events, Planning, Styling & Speciality Desserts | Life is too Wonderful not to Celebrate each day!

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One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes with Hello Kitty Toppers + Assorted Pie Pops

August 14, 2012 · 11 Comments

It’s been awhile since I’ve been my usual self, immersed in the blogging world. It’s actually quite strange that it’s been days since I posted or spent hours getting inspired from so many great minds. But it’s been a crazy couple of days. Between meeting up with friends in New York City, spending hours in the kitchen baking for a Hello Kitty themed birthday and an impromptu road trip to Lake George. Yes, it seems like I’ve been all over the place lately. No one can seem to keep up with me, and well neither can I, as I’m completely worn out today! The truth is, I don’t mind it…had a great trip to a beautiful location, spent some quality time with a friend before we made big moves to different cities, met some fun people, all while experiencing some new things and having an absolutely fun weekend.

Isn’t that what summer, and well life really is about. To be carefree and enjoy it for what it’s worth, because what other chances do you have. I’ve grown to realize that life is an adventure. It requires a lot of spontaneity in order for it to be worthwhile. Let me tell you, I’m a planner to the tee, but I’ve learned plans don’t seem to pan out in my life the way I expect them to. When I started to let go of the idea that things should be a certain way, and just rolled with what life threw my way, good things began to happen to me. Now I’m experiencing even more wonderful memories. You definitely appreciate life much more after you allow yourself to completely enjoy it…Well back to some desserts…this past Saturday I baked some classic chocolate cupcakes topped with adorable Hello Kitty decorations along with some fun Pie Pops. These cupcakes are my go to basic cupcakes, since they require one bowl! You can’t get much simpler. I was very fortunate that I was allowed to be creative with these desserts, which is why I thought Pie Pops would be the perfect summer treat for a 4th birthday. I bought small pink buckets, decorated them with hello kitty stickers and ribbon, placed a block of foam to stick the pops in, and covered it with moss.

The Pie Pops were too cute, looking like delicious flowers. I have to say these were definitely one of my favorite things I’ve made because you can just do about anything to them. These are definitely a fun element for any celebration!

I combined white fondant to tone down the bright fuchsia slightly. Use a little confectioner’s sugar or corn starch whenever you work with fondant so it doesn’t stick. I used a heart cookie cutter to create Hello Kitty’s signature bow.With a small piece of fondant, roll a tiny ball for the center of the bow, securing it with water. I used the other cutters to create fun shapes. Use the back of your paint brush to make indents into the fondant. Make these pieces a few days before so they can harden a bit.The most perfect and prettiest blush pink buttercream fit for any little girl.I spread half of the cupcakes with the pink frosting using a spatula, then rolled it in granulated sugar. It’s the best way to make frosting look dainty and glittery, but also a tried and true trick for covering cupcakes with not so nice looking tops.How adorable are these cupcakes! 

One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients {Makes 2 dozen}

2 1/2 cups – All Purpose Flour

1 1/4 cups – Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder

2 1/2 cups – Granulated Sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons – Baking Soda

1 1/4 teaspoons – Baking Powder

1 1/4 teaspoons – Salt

2 Large – Eggs {plus 1 large yolk}

1 1/4 cups – Milk

2/3 cup + 1 1/2 teaspoon – Plain Yogurt {I replaced the vegetable oil, but you can use 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons if you wanted to use the oil}

1 1/4 teaspoons – Pure Vanilla Extract

1 1/4 cups – Warm Water

Recipe

Preheat your oven to 350*F and line your cupcake pan with paper liners. In a bowl of an electric mixer, sift all the dry ingredients together. With a paddle attachment, add all the wet ingredients, beating on low-speed until batter is smooth and completely combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed {about 3 minutes}.

Divide the batter evenly among the cups, filling each 2/3 of the way up. Bake the cupcakes, rotating halfway until a toothpick comes out clean from the center {about 20 to 25 minutes}. Transfer to a cooling rack, cooling slightly. Invert them from the pan, and cool completely with tops up.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream 

Ingredients {Makes 4 cups}

4 large {6 ounces} – Egg Whites

1 1/4 cups – Granulated Sugar

3 sticks – Unsalted butter (room temperature, cut into tablespoons}

1 teaspoon – Vanilla Extract

Recipe

Combine the egg whites and sugar in a heat-proof bowl of an electric mixer over simmering water {make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water} Whisk the mixture constantly until the sugar dissolves, and reaches about 160*F. With a whisk attachment, beat the egg white mixture on high-speed, until it holds a stiff peak. Continue to beat until it is fluffy and completely cool {about 6 minutes}

Switch to a paddle attachment, and on medium-low speed, add the butter several tablespoons at a time. {Make sure to beat well after addition} Beat in vanilla, on lowest speed to eliminate any air bubbles {about 2 minutes} and stir with a rubber spatula to smooth out. {Add any food coloring before mixing with the spatula} Decorate your cupcakes any way you’d like!

 

Pie Pops

Apple Variation: Combine 1 1/2 apples, peeled and cut into small pieces with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, dash of ground nutmeg, pinch of salt, sprinkle of cornstarch and teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Place onto dough rounds, and top with a small dot of butter.

Place your sticks onto the pie dough rounds before adding you fillings.

For all your pie pops, make decorative cuts onto the tops of each, brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with raw sugar. Crimp the edges really well so that the filling doesn’t bake out.  S’mores Variation: Top dough with small pieces of your choice chocolate, crouched graham crackers and a few mini marshmallows. Don’t make any slits in the top crust of these pops.

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Variation: Spread a teaspoon of peanut butter on the bottom crust and top with fresh strawberries.Peach Variation: Combine 1 to 2 peaches, peeled and cut into small pieces with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, dash of ground allspice, pinch of salt, sprinkle of cornstarch and teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Place onto dough rounds, and top with a small dot of butter.

Bake the pie pops in a 400*F oven until golden brown and juices bubble slightly, rotating halfway {about 25 minutes}.

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Filed In: Desserts, How To, Inspiration, Recipes, Special Occasions / Tagged: birthday dessert decorations, chocolate cupcakes, classic chocolate, dessert on sticks, girl's birthday, hello kitty birthday, hello kitty cupcakes, miniature pies, pie pops, pink cupcake decorations, summer desserts

Trackbacks

  1. Radish and Mint Salad | The Dreamery says:
    August 17, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    […] my desserts being enjoyed in someone’s life, well minus the childhood fighting over who got Hello Kitty‘s fondant face. How adorable is the birthday girl munching on her cupcake! Seeing people […]

    Reply
  2. Butterscotch Cookie Sandwiches | The Dreamery says:
    August 20, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    […] 2 cups – Buttercream {I used my go-to Swiss Meringue Buttercream} […]

    Reply
  3. Pistachio Tart with Peaches and Sabayon Cream | The Dreamery says:
    August 28, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    […] said it time after time, I’m a lover of pie.  It’s the flaky crust, the simplicity of using fresh […]

    Reply
  4. Friday Favorites | The Dreamery says:
    February 15, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    […] go-to chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting I made for a bake sale my co-workers help to raise money for our Bowl […]

    Reply
  5. Celebrating the 4th of July | The Dreamery says:
    July 1, 2013 at 3:03 am

    […] I’ve used these sweet and tart berries in my firework pie, all-american berry sundae, and pie pops and they make for great  sweet treats at any barbecue. {Stay posted on ideas for a healthy salad […]

    Reply
  6. Cranberry Heart Hand Pies | The Dreamery says:
    January 22, 2014 at 7:02 am

    […] because you can fill them with just about any flavor you seem to be craving, including one of these combinations. When winter days have us lazily cuddled underneath cozy blankets, these quick and simple hand pies […]

    Reply
  7. Food Trending {Meal Pops} | The Dreamery says:
    March 28, 2014 at 11:00 am

    […] and of course I had to feature her, as I’m a lover of hands-free treats, especially these pie pops. Read below for some of Shaye’s creative takes on the classic stick […]

    Reply
  8. Classic Vanilla Cupcakes + Summer Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes  | The Dreamery says:
    May 26, 2015 at 7:02 am

    […] to fit any theme, and can withstand the summer’s heat. One of my first and favorite recipes were these one-bowl chocolate cupcakes, that I decorated a la Hello Kitty for a little girl’s […]

    Reply
  9. Radish + Mint Salad – The Dreamery Events says:
    July 26, 2016 at 9:30 pm

    […] being enjoyed in someone’s life, this weekend’s adorable birthday girl loved her hello kitty cupcakes. Seeing people enjoy my creations like that always puts a smile on my […]

    Reply
  10. Frozen Chocolate Mousse – The Dreamery Events says:
    August 11, 2016 at 7:32 am

    […] do get heated over a double broiler, but they aren’t fully cooked, just like sabayon cream or swiss buttercream. {Before making this recipe make sure eggs you use are always pasteurized!}Essentially, mousse […]

    Reply
  11. Chocolate Mousse Ice Cream – The Dreamery Events says:
    August 11, 2016 at 9:18 am

    […] do get heated over a double broiler, but they aren’t fully cooked, just like sabayon cream or swiss buttercream. {Before making this recipe make sure eggs you use are always pasteurized!}Essentially, mousse […]

    Reply

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A Lover of Nature & Kindness, constantly smitten by the simple pleasures of life. Travel fills my soul with bliss & inspiration. Flowers are my weakness, a slice of homemade pie makes my heart sing. I love the outdoors & live for al fresco dinner parties, cozy candlelit romantic affairs with warm fires & blankets to share.

I dream about these things, it’s true. Yes, it’s all the small details in life that drive me & everything I do because we all deserve to celebrate every special moment in our lives…

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Physically, I’ve been here on this foggy & rainy Physically, I’ve been here on this foggy & rainy Sunday ... Mentally, I’m sailing along Porto’s Douro River feeling the warm golden hour sun, the bustling winds & picturesque sights⛵️

If you want to go on a little mental trip w. me, head over to the the Blog to read more about my lovely sailing trip in Porto. Sailing is one of my favorite ways to explore a city🤍🌊
Always embracing the subtle beauty that saturates Always embracing the subtle beauty that saturates the simple things🤍

I’ve found the less I share on social media the more authenticity thrives. The ever-dream & idea filled mind grows & flourishes. It’s been comforting knowing that other creatives I’ve admired for years, both event related & not, have in part felt the same. When one creative outlet was paused, the other creative ideas that had been hibernating in the mind, quietly waiting for their time, began to shine brighter & brighter. Yes, it’s been comforting feeling that commonality in change & perspective...

But the one thing that’s never changed for me, is celebrating the beauty in the simple things. Giving a new home, a new form of life to a simple treasure. Those subtle everyday moments that are beyond inspiring...
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“I’m in no hurry; the sun & the moon aren’t, “I’m in no hurry;
the sun & the moon aren’t, either.
Nobody goes faster
than the legs they have.
If where I want to go is far away,
I’m not there in an instant.

I’m in no hurry. What for?
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Hurrying is believing people
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or that, jumping, they can land
past their shadow.
No; I don’t know how to hurry.
If I stretch out my arm,
I get exactly where my arm gets --
not even a centimeter farther.
I only touch where I touch,
not where I think.
I can only sit down where I am.
& that’s funny, like all really true truths,
but what’s really funny
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& we live absent from our reality.
& we’re always outside it because we’re here.

Não, não sei ter pressa.” -- Fernando Pessoa 

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About Us

A Lover of Nature & Kindness, constantly smitten by the simple pleasures of life. Flowers are my weakness, a slice of homemade pie makes my heart sing. I love the outdoors & live for al fresco dinner parties, cozy candlelit romantic affairs with warm fires & blankets to share.

I dream about these things, it’s true. Yes, it's all the small details in life that drive me & evertyhing I do.....

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