My First Cupcake Decorating Book

If you're looking for a special gift for a child just setting out on their cupcake journey, My First Cupcake Decorating Book might just be the answer. Containing 35 recipes for decorating cupcakes, cake pops and cookies this easy-to-use book begins with the most basic methods and then progresses, step-by-step, through to really impressive decorations as they become more confident. Making cakes is fun... decorating them is even better!  Available from The Book People for £3.99 + p&p.

So Much More Than Cupcakes!

So much  more than just another recipe book, The Perfect Afternoon Tea features over 160 classic and contemporary recipes for appealing sandwiches, cakes and bakes (the shallot, thyme and garlic cheese muffins sound yummy!), biscuits, bars, pastries, celebration cakes, gateaux, and of course... cupcakes!

This lovely hardback book also features some 650 step-by-step photographs, as well as wonderful pictures of the finished treats, so you really can't go wrong!  There's even a brief history of afternoon tea traditions and etiquette, a guide to classic and speciality teas from around the world, and information on how to choose, blend and make the perfect pot of tea.

Available from The Book People for £4.99 + £1.95 p&p.  That's an amazing £12.00 off the RRP!

It's Here, It's Here!

Although it wasn't expected to be available until late May, the latest Peggy Porschen book, Boutique Baking: Delectable Cakes, Cookies & Teatime Treats is here!  Although the whole book sounds amazing, the Amazondescription tells us that, 'the third chapter focuses on the most desirable cake phenomenon of the decade - the cupcake, and Peggy gives away the secret of her incredibly scrumptious repertoire of gourmet cup cakes'... just what we've all been waiting for!  You can get hold of your own copy from Amazon for £12.79 including free UK delivery.   I've just ordered mine, althoughI don't know whether I can bear the excitement until it gets here on Monday!

 

Saved by Cake

'Saved by Cake' is an extremely honest account of one of Britain's favourite fiction writers, Marian Keyes, recent battle with depression.  A complete novice in the kitchen, Marian decided to bake a cake for a friend and that was it!  She realised that baking was what she needed to do to get her through each day, and as she baked she wrote her recipes down... 'Saved by Cake' is the result.

Marian's recipes are aimed firmly at baking beginners, are never patronising, but are always honest and witty, accessible and full of fun... especially the shoe and handbag biscuits!  As one reviewer so eloquently puts it... 'two magnificent combinations come together - Marian Keyes and baking!  What's not to love, seriously.'  Available from Amazon for £8.33 including free UK delivery.

Dress your cupcake!

Do you remember Joanna Farrow's Kinky Cupcakes book in an earlier post?  Well, Joanna doesn't just do 'kinky', she also does cute, funky, cool, pretty... and all in one cupcakey book! Whether you want to whip up a batch of fairytale faces, or pile a plate high with adorable animals, with this book by your side it's easy to give your cupcakes a makeover!  There are even four foolproof cupcake recipes and a comprehensive introduction to ingredients, icing techniques and equipment! Available from Amazon, for £5.50 including p&p.

Oooh, Kinky!

It's really not long now until Valentine's Day and although many men claim not to love cupcakes I'm sure that they would quickly change their mind if you presented them with a Kinky Cupcake.  You can indulge his (and your!) fantasies from a mouth-watering selection of flirtatious and alluringly decorated cupcakes, including stylish stockings and sexy knickers!  Written by Joanna Farrow, a food stylist and cookery writer who has a passion for creating tempting treats, Kinky Cupcakes is available from Amazon for only £5.19 including delivery throughout the UK.

*** GIRLS LOVE CUPCAKES CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN ANY  WAY FOR ACTIONS ARISING FROM BAKING OR EATING KINKY CUPCAKES!

The one to read!

If you search Amazon for 'cupcakes' you'll find that there are 105 fiction books with cupcakes in the title.  And although I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do, if you're going to read just one cupcakey book you should definitely make it this one!  With an amazing average of 4.5 stars from a total of 50 reviews, chick-lit favourite Sophie Kinsella describes it as 'Sheer indulgence from start to finish'.  It even has recipes, well, it sort of has recipes.  When you read it you'll see what I mean!

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe, written by Jenny Colgan, is priced at £4.92 for the paperback edition, or you can get download it right this minute for £4.49 if you're one of those very lucky Cupcake Lovelies who have their own Kindle.

Getting down to business

If you're reading this the chances are that you love (cup)cakes.  You might love making them, decorating them, or just eating them... or maybe all 3!  Some of you might  make and decorate cakes for friends and family, and some of you are sure to be running a cake-related business.  Undoubtedly some of you will be thinking (wishing?) that you could do the same.  If you fall into this category never fear as help is at hand!   Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation (a small business support company) shows you how to make money from doing what you love, even if that isn't cake-related!  Packed with case studies and top tips from people who have successfully made the leap,'Turn your Talent into a Business' is available from Amazon for £8.44.  Definitely worth a look!

If your dream or passion is cake-related you could do a lot worse than check out what is described as 'The equivalent to a bible for anyone wanting to start a cake business!' Kathy Moore's book, 'Starting a Cake Decorating Business from Home', available from Amazon could be the best £8.44 you've ever spent.

 

At only £1.99 it would be wrong not to!

What's this we've found?  Only the prettiest pink, beaded, tasselly, cupcakey bookmark.  So, if you splashed out on the Hummingbird Bakery book earlier you might just need to have this too!  And although it looks expensive it really isn't, it's only £1.99 from Amazon ... and delivery is free if you use Amazon Prime!  There's even a matching journal if you really feel like treating yourself!

An Absolute Bargain!

The Hummingbird Bakery is the destination bakery for Londoners with a passion for great cakes. Hummingbird recipes not only taste great but also look spectacular - and all without having to spend hours in the kitchen. This pretty, hardback gift book is a perfect pick-up-able gift and light enough to post making it great to send to friends as a sweet surprise, or to pop in a gift bag with a card for an instant birthday gift.  Or to keep for yourself of course!  Available from Amazon at the unbelievable bargain price of only £4.00... and that even includes delivery!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our cupcakey followers!

If you haven't got yourself a 2012 diary yet you might like to have a look this little beauty handcrafted by Diane Taylor.  Diane has used recycled materials, mixed with offcuts using raw edge applique and patchwork techniques, embellished with machine freehand embroidery and buttons.  Available from Diane's Etsy shop and priced at c£18.50 + p&p, it would it be a lovely way to start 2012, and as the cover is reusable it would actually be an investment!

Wondering what to do with all your new Chrismas books?

If Father Christmas brought you lots of lovely new books this Christmas what better way to keep them all neat and tidy than with these cuter-than-cute cupcake bookends.  At only £8.50 (including p&p!) it would be wrong not to treat yourself!  We've already ordered ours! Find out how to get yours by popping along to Amazon while they still have them in stock!