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!