Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


June 21, 2010

Make a wish



As the refrains of Happy Birthday concluded and the knife touched the cake, a small voice interrupted the all-important wish.

Wish for a duck, suggested Bargy.

So sincere apologies to Bargy's auntie, who may shortly find herself in the possession of a waterfowl instead of a tropical holiday, sports car or lotto win.



I made these cupcakes to accompany a magnificent birthday cake from Arnold's Swiss Cakes. The kids got the cupcakes; the adults the Sacher Torte. The children are still none the wiser about the injustice.

40th birthday cupcakes
250g (½lb) butter, melted
1 cup caster sugar
4 eggs (I used an egg replacer, which works very successfully)
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons milk

Preheat the oven to 160ºC (325ºF)
Place the dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine
Add the butter and process until combined
With the motor running, add the milk
Spoon into 12 large paper patty cases and bake for about 20 minutes

Buttercream
75g (3oz) cocoa, sifted
300g (⅔lb) icing sugar, sifted
1 teapsoon vanilla
125g (4½oz) unsalted butter
125g (4½oz) white shortening*
Edible decorations

Beat the butter and shortening until fluffy
Beat in the cocoa, sugar and essence until well combined
Ice cakes (I piped the icing) and decorate

* In Australia, you could try Solite which is a commercial product available from cake decorating stores. Crisco, a shortening produced in the USA, would also work very well.

15 comments:

  1. Is there no end to your talent? I think I may have asked that before...but, really, is there? They are delightful and look scrumptious. I think the small folk did quite well out of the deal. Lisa x

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  2. I don't think I have ever seen such fancy cupcakes! And I've seen (ahem) quite a few. As a lover of ducks I can see the appeal, but then again, tropical holidays at this time of year sound pretty damn good too xo

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  3. yummy :D look great
    and ducks can make great pets (and if you get sick of it, you can make a stew out of it ;p)

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  4. I wonder if a duck will really magically appear after that amazing wish! It's great weather for ducks after all.
    Hope you're starting to feel a little better. Those cupcakes look delish indeed.

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  5. happy birthday. i hope it was wonderful

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  6. At least it wasn't an elephant. My sister wished for an elephant for every birthday from the age of 4.

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  7. I think the cupcakes would be a serious competition for the sacher-torte, even with some adults. Truely gorgeous.

    And Bargy is a man after my wee girl's duck-struck heart.

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  8. Would that be a Ric-Rac stylee Milligan perchance?

    Those cupcakes are so pretty. I think I'd have had the cupcake. Although it is hard to eat a cupcake without making a mess and getting all sticky. 'Cept that's probably half the point for the tiddlypeeps!

    Does Bargy know this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp8hhBGNFZM

    Cheers,
    AJ

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  9. Gorgeous cup cakes. So so so wonderful. Amazingly pretty.

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  10. That is absolutely priceless! I bet the kids thought they were the lucky ones - they got to have their OWN cake each! (I won't tell them if you don't).

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  11. we would've wished for a truck instead!
    now they are some seriously fab looking cupcakes Ms L!! and a Sacher Torte..WOW.
    don't go selling them at a market near me though..I'd lose my customers to you.
    happy weekend ♥

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  12. Wow! Those are extremely fancy. Great stuff!

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  13. These are great. Love the idea of the kids getting the cupcakes whilst the adults truly indulge!

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