Castle Cupcake Tutorial

from the amazing Zalita. You can see the finished Castle cupcake here:

You will need 1 thick rectangular base for the castle no1, 2 rectangular flat pcs with little slits (2&3) on the top and markings for the windows, a long rolled out 'log' to which u will then cut out to make (4,6,&8) , 2 thin strips with small slits on the top to make (5&7), and a little triangular pc for the roof (9). i have forgotten to add a number by the door which u will stick last onto the front of the castle.once u have cut out these pcs stick onto the base no's 2 and 3, it will over lap a little on the top.wrap no 5 around 4 and do the same with no 6 and 7 and stick onto the side of the castle base with some edible glue.stick no's 8 and 9 and place on top of the castle.lastly add the door.i added a touch of grey to my fondant and i brushed it with pearl and soft rose pink. u can choose your own colours and adapt it to your own specifications.

Lemon, Almond and Pear Cupcakes

250g unsalted butter, softened
250g caster sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
50g plain flour, sifted
250g ground almonds
1 tsp almond essence grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
4 ripe pears, peeled and halved
icing sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl until soft. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding some flour after each addition, until all the eggs and flour have been included.Fold in the almonds, almond essence, lemon zest and juice. Cut small slices from the pears. Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth over. Top with the fanned out pears. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Icing Teddy Bears

Use tips 1, 3, 12.

Pipe top 12 ball of icing for body, add tip 3 dots for head and paws.

Using tip 1; add muzzle and ears; pipe dot eyes, mouth and string bow tie.

from www.wilton.com

Icing Bows

Fill bag half full with medium consistency Buttercream Icing.

Practice with: Tip 104 Icing: medium consistency

Positions: Bag: 45° at 6:00

Tip: Wide end touching surface, narrow end straight up

With narrow end of tip pointing straight up, squeeze, moving the tip up and around to the left and back to the starting point.
Continue around, making a second loop on the right.
The two loops will form a figure 8.
While holding bag in the same position, return to the center and squeeze out two streamers.

from http://www.wilton.com/