Bake Sale: Tuxedo Cupcakes

I'm always looking for excuses to bake.  There's something about baking that I find simply therapeutic as well as creative.  And of course, the sweet reward that comes out of the oven isn't too bad either.  I mean, the baker always has to sample what she's made to make sure it's safe for others to eat, right?  It's a sacrifice I've taken to like a little too much.

So this week, my excuse to break out my apron and spatula can be credited to a company bake sale, which was organized to fundraise for soldiers at Fort Rucker.  I signed up for cupcakes for a few reasons.  One, who doesn't love cupcakes?  Two, it had been wayyy too long since I'd made them.  And three, who doesn't love cupcakes?

The next step?  I had to figure out what recipe to make.  I've made many different homemade cupcake recipes, but I love to try new recipes and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to test a chocolate cupcake recipe by Sally's Baking Addiction.  I pinned her Death by Chocolate Cupcake Recipe months ago, and was glad to finally have an excuse to try it!  For frosting, I turned to I Heart Nap Time for a classic buttercream to create a black and white tuxedo cupcake.

I've got to say, I was very pleased with the results: a classic cupcake with a rich chocolate flavor and moist, fluffy texture.  The frosting wasn't too sweet and was the yin to the chocolate cake's yang in this black and white beauty of a cupcake.

So I made the cupcakes, but for a bake sale, I also had to think about packaging and presentation.  I wanted the packaging for the cupcakes to be functional, but also appealing.  What good is a delicious cupcake if it's smushed or doesn't attract the attention of hungry bake sale customers?  I bet you can guess where I turned for inspiration...Pinterest never fails.  Never.  Anyways, I found many pins showing cupcakes packaged in plastic cups with lids or covered in cellophane.  I thought this was brilliant!  Putting the cupcakes in individual cups makes transport easier and keeps the cakes from crushing each other.  Also, the little cups wrapped in ribbon or bows adds attractive details that draw the eye to the delicious treat inside!

With a packaging plan in mind, I hit the Dollar Store for solo cups and Walmart for cupcake liners.  I found a pack of patriotic liners at Walmart...perfect!

After grabbing some ribbon from my craft drawer and plastic wrap from the kitchen, I was ready to assemble the cupcakes in their little cups.

Here is the final product ready for sale:

And yes, I saved two for Harrison and me to have some dessert!  Hubby approved and ideal for a bake sale, I think it's safe to say I'll be back in the kitchen to get fancy and make more tuxedo cupcakes!

For Sharing...

Well, we've started a blog.  But when I say we, I mean that I decided to start a blog and Harrison came up with a witty name...I guess you could call that teamwork, or crew coordination (for all our aviation friends out there)!

So why am I suddenly compelled to start blogging?

There are a few reasons for why I'd like to share snippets of our life with friends online.

For one, I wanted to have an outlet to communicate with friends and family about our married journey in the Army.  With all the moves, exciting opportunities, and curve-balls the Army will undoubtedly throw our way, I hope to keep friends and family "in the know" when it comes to major milestones or day-to-day happenings with the Greens.

For instance, this photo is from Family Day, a flight school event that invites families to finally see their aviators fly!
I had such a great time trying to spot and film Harrison as he flew around the stage field.

Another reason for starting our blog is to share a few passions of mine that often turn into projects for homemakers, culinary enthusiasts, and crafters.  In starting our first home together, I discovered that I love to tackle home improvement projects, try new recipes, and entertain my hobby of crafting.  I hope that I can share a few tips, ideas, and DIY projects that will be useful to my friends and family, and even encourage them to entertain their own hobbies and talents.

Here is another example of the subject of a post you might see on H & R blog.
This is a snapshot of what my cake prep looked like before making a sugary mess in the kitchen...guilty!
The cake, from Southern Living Magazine, was a Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake that I made for my Papaw's birthday.  It was sweet, tart, moist, and delicious!  I highly recommend it as the perfect dessert for a summer party!
Southern Living: Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake

My Papaw's cake before it disappeared!

In all, this blog is for the purpose of sharing.  Whether it's major announcements, favorite recipes, or crafting projects, H & R Blog will share the moments, memories, and milestones of our life together...sorry to those who thought we might be offering tax prep services!