bridal shower blossoms

I didn't do any new recipes for these cupcakes, but the design was new. Vanilla cake with coconut buttercream, and chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. And cherry blossoms. Because they are Amber's favorite, and after all, it was her shower. The cupcake papers were AMAZING - Bake It Pretty rocks. We also put glitter dust on the cherry blossom petals, which were made from fondant and punched into shape with a ball tool and foam. The branches were melted chocolate.

better than just girl scout cookies - amber's birthday cheesecakes

For many a long month, we had some Samoa cookies sitting in the cupboard. They were being saved for the right moment - and that moment was Amber's birthday. I tried out a new pan (mini tart pan with removable bottoms) and it was FANTASTIC. I took a basic cheesecake recipe and improvised a little to come up with a crust that would work. My first crust was an epic fail, since using the actual cookies proved to be a big mess when the chocolate in them melted. Not good for crust. So here's what I did.


My improvised crust was made from coconut (toasted of course)


Chocolate graham crackers...


Add some butter. And behold the deliciousness (which actually looks like a pile of mud, but tastes like heaven).


Fill the crust in the little wee pockets. (I lurve this pan. I'm telling you.)


The filling comes next. The usual. Cream cheese, sugar, and some cornstarch (to prevent cracking - which actually didn't work b/c they all cracked, but it worked to my advantage. but i'm getting ahead of myself).


Cream it together and add the eggs.


Crush some Samoas and mix them in. Like a blizzard.



Chop some Samoas into little baby pieces for garnish...


Once the cheesecakes are done, push the baby Samoa piece into the crack at the top. Sprinkle some leftover toasted coconut on the top. And....


Heaven.

And birthday heaven.