Colourful Cupcakes of Newbury

New Stage 2 Class date added

2012-02-13T18:32:00.002Z

New date for Stage 2 Cupcake Class

Saturday 21 April

9.45am - 12.15pm

£60

During this class we take the skills you have learnt in the Stage 1 Class a little further.

We get more creative with the sugarcraft side of decorating, try different nozzles to the usual classic star shape, make sugarpaste flowers and petals and buttercream flowers, it's great fun!

Places go very quickly, so book soon!

A great Cupcake Class and Birthday

2012-02-12T17:49:00.003Z

We had a really fun time this weekend at the Saturday Cupcake Class, not only was it a birthday for two of our ladies (twins!) it was one of those afternoons where I could have baked and chatted for hours! A great bunch of people and they really did create some beautiful cupcakes.

Future class news: there are 2 spaces left on Wednesday 29 February, Stage 1, 10.30am - 12.30pm and 1 space left on Stage 2 Saturday 24 March 10am-12 noon.

Cupcake Class Monday 30 January 2012

2012-01-31T08:15:00.000Z

A lovely way to start the week, a relaxing Cupcake Class.

Pretty pastel colours, flowers and butterflies.

With a touch of Valentine love hearts and new rice paper butterflies.

21 January Stage 1 Cupcake Class

2012-01-21T19:24:00.000Z

A fun afternoon with a group from Wash Common, using plenty of colours and sprinkles.

Their buttercream was beautifully whipped, light and delicious.

Hope to see you back at Treetops again, probably for the Chocolate Class?!!

January Stage 2 Cupcake Class

2012-01-21T14:47:00.001Z

The morning started early with me making some gorgeous Red Velvet Cupcakes with a vanilla creamcheese frosting, sprinkled with cake crumbs.

We enjoyed eating them whilst talking about the recipe and the frosting!

Today's group were here to take their skills a stage further. We looked at a new nozzle that created the beautiful buttercream flower below.

Using gum paste and fondant paste we made small rose buds and large petalled rose flowers.

Fiddly and time consuming but fun!

Practice practice practice.....

Then it was the fun part, decorating! Swirling, glittering and sprinkling.

Here are today's AMAZING cupcakes that were taken home.

Chocolate Cupcakes

2012-01-20T16:02:00.000Z

These chocolate cupcakes were so light and moist, with a deliciously creamy chocolate buttercream.

Topped with a milky way star!

Lavender Cupcakes

2012-01-20T08:51:00.000Z

I made these pretty lavender cupcakes yesterday, I have had some lavender sugar infusing in a jar which I used in the cake mixture, also adding just a few drops of lavender extract (from Planet Bake).

Lavender cupcakes do have quite a distinct flavour, so as to be not too overpowering I made vanilla buttercream for the top coloured with grape violet paste.

Topped with a lilac sprinkle mix and a dried sprig of Treetops lavender.

Chocolate Valentine Cupcakes

2012-01-18T15:25:00.000Z

I was having a play today with new chocolate cupcake recipes and some deliciously smooth chocolate ganache.

Chocolate and Red go beautifully together for Valentines Day.

Happy New Year - Class News

2012-01-02T14:49:00.001Z

There are some spaces available on the following dates for Cupcake Classes

Monday 30 January 11am - 1pm

Wednesday 29 February 10.30am - 12.30pm

Both classes cost £50 and include all of your ingredients and materials, and a box of 6 of your decorated cupcakes to take home.

The class covers baking the cupcakes, making buttercream icing, using fondant icing and playing with lots of glitter and sprinkles!

Honeybee Cupcakes

2011-12-21T18:43:00.001Z

I loved making these birthday Cupcakes today!

It made a nice change to move away from Christmas colours and back to vibrant pink, purple, green and turquoise.

The little bees were quite fiddly, especially the small hearts I attached for their wings, but they are very cute and well worth the effort.

Happy 12th Birthday Honey, I hope you had a great party.

Christmas Cupcake Class

2011-12-10T17:47:00.000Z

We had the last class of term today.

Still festive, sparkly and smelling delicious.

Today's class really enjoyed creating their buttercream rose swirls.

Happy Christmas!

Cupcake Class

2011-12-08T07:54:00.000Z

We recently had a Christmas Cupcake Class, there were plenty of lovely fondant icing shapes created.

Along with all of my sprinkles and glitters, there was a huge choice of sparkly things to decorate the Cupcakes with.

Christmas Cupcake Class - 29 Nov 2011

2011-12-01T09:11:00.001Z

We had our first Christmas Cupcake Class of the year on Tuesday, the smells of mixed spice, cinnamon, oranges (and the rum!) were fantastic.

We made some delicious orange and spicy cupcakes with mixed fruit finely chopped inside, and then we made various flavours of buttercream icing.

We had a great production line of snowflakes, stars, trees, robins and reindeers to decorate the cupcakes with afterwards!

2012 Cupcake Class Dates - NEW!!!

2011-11-14T20:50:00.003Z

Saturday 21 January: Cupcakes Stage 2 10am - 12 noon

Monday 30 January: Cupcakes Stage 1 11am - 1pm

Saturday 11 February: Cupcakes Stage 1 2pm - 4pm

Wednesday 29 February: Cupcakes Stage 1 10.30am - 12.30pm

Saturday 24 March: Cupcakes Stage 2 10am - 12 noon

Saturday 24 March: Easter Cupcakes 3pm - 5pm

(Please note that you must have attended a Stage 1 class at Treetops before booking a Stage 2 class).

All classes cost £50 and include all materials, ingredients, a top tip/recipe booklet to take home, along with 6 of your beautifully created cupcakes!)

Cupcake Class Saturday 13 November 2011

2011-11-13T17:50:00.001Z

A great cupcake class today, using an array of colours, all the boxes looked so different.

We baked the Cupcakes, and whilst they were in the Aga, we made some fondant decorations and then covered the kitchen with a cloud of icing sugar as we made the buttercream icing.

It's really tricky to get the swirl right, but with the right nozzle and some patience some lovely swirls decorated the cupcakes.

Chocolate Heaven Cupcakes

2011-11-13T17:45:00.000Z

A lovely sweet smelling start to the weekend.

A gift box of Chocolate Heaven Cupcakes.

Adorned with rolos, minstrels, maltesers and Green & Black chocolate chunks.

Stage 1 Cupcake Class - Saturday 3 December - Book Now!

2011-11-05T09:05:00.002Z

Come and learn how to bake, make and decorate some beautifully iced Cupcakes in December.

The Stage 1 Cupcake Class is on Saturday 3 December from 3pm - 5pm.

Children aged 12 and over are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

We will cover baking, make some fondant icing decorations and learn the skills for great buttercream.

You will then decorate 6 Cupcakes to take home with you, with the great array of sprinkles, glitters and decorations that I have at Treetops.

The class costs £50 and includes all your ingredients, a recipe/top tips booklet and 6 cupcakes to take home with you.

Stage 2 Cupcake Class in January!!

2011-11-04T16:41:00.000Z

For those of you who have been to a Cupcake Class at Treetops this year, I have a date for the Stage 2 Class, it is on

Saturday 21 January

10am - 12 noon

£50

To book please contact me as soon as possible, as the places will go very quickly!

Colourful Birthday Cupcakes

2011-11-04T16:38:00.000Z

Back to work after a half term break, to make some colourful cupcakes for a birthday girl at Downe House School.

Happy Birthday!

Last 2 Christmas Cupcake Class spaces .....

2011-10-14T22:17:00.000+01:00

The final TWO spaces are available on our Christmas Cupcake Class on Tuesday 29 November.

The class runs from 11am - 1pm.

Cost £50 to include all of your ingredients, a recipe and top tips booklet and 6 of your beautifully baked and decorated cupcakes to take home.

Cupcake Class Saturday 8 October 2011

2011-10-08T20:36:00.000+01:00

A great class this afternoon.

Plenty of baking questions as our golden cupcakes came out of the Aga.

Clouds of icing sugar as we whipped up the buttercream.

And pretty colours used to tint the fondant shapes.

Bright and Beautiful!

Stage 2 Cupcake Class

2011-10-08T13:51:00.000+01:00

We started the day off with a Stage 2 Cupcake class, sat around the kitchen table with lots of new nozzles and tools to play with.

Using flower/gum paste and fondant we shaped some flowers and butterflies, then went onto small bud roses, and then the larger fondant rose. Making each little petal and gently shaping them into place. Everyone did so well today, the flowers and colours were fantastic.

We then moved onto our little flower nail and new nozzle and made some beautiful buttercream roses and carnations. Great to practice before putting them directly onto the cupcakes.

Here are the boxes that left Treetops today - I'm so impressed!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2011-10-08T13:42:00.000+01:00

This is a colour to wake you up in the morning!

I was up so early, I could hear the owls in the woods.....

This is the mixture, vibrant and red for Red Velvet Cupcakes.

There is a mix of cocoa, buttermilk, white wine vinegar and bicarbonate in the cake mixture.

We talk about these cupcakes (and eat them!) in our Stage 2 Cupcake Class.

Here they are going into the Aga.....

.... and here they are after 20 minutes

Red Velvet Cupakes have a classic cream cheese frosting, with some cake crumbs (and red glitter!) sprinkled on the top.

Delicious!

Golden Wedding Anniversary Cupcakes

2011-10-07T19:35:00.000+01:00

I made two dozen golden cupcakes for a Golden Wedding Anniversary today.

They were decorated with golden flowers, love hearts, sprinkles, balls, glitter and the couple's initials.

They looked really pretty and sparkly.

Congratulations!

Chocolate Birthday Cupcakes

2011-10-07T19:31:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Holly, I can't believe your birthday has come around again so quickly!

Holly chose chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and chocolate tops, and her other choice was vanilla cupcakes with chocolate buttercream and white chocolate tops!

With lots of glitter.

Enjoy your party

Cupcakes for Christine Scott Interiors

2011-10-07T09:02:00.000+01:00

Christine was having another Open Day at her lovely studio, tucked away in the countryside near Newbury, with tea and cakes.

It was a chance to see all the beautiful fabrics, ask for advice and pick up some interior design tips.

And yes, having delivered them I did succumb to some gorgeous warm curtain fabric and a curtain pole!

Christine Scott Interiors

Home Made Turkish Delight

2011-10-07T08:55:00.001+01:00

Having made some Cupcakes recently with the buttercream icing infused with Rosewater, I've not been able to get the thought of Turkish Delight out of my mind.

I found a great recipe in November's copy of Good Housekeeping Magazine, once I'd got over the 700g of caster sugar (!) it was quite easy to follow and I left it to set overnight, and now I have a tin of delicious pink and sparkly (obviously having so much glitter in the house I had to use it) Turkish Delight.

My next step will be to make some more Cupcakes with a small piece of Turkish Delight sitting on the top. Yum!

Latest Cupcake Class Availability

2011-10-05T10:05:00.004+01:00

I have taken lots of bookings lately, so here is the up-to-date list of availability:

Tuesday 29 November 11am - 1pm

Xmas Cupcakes: 2 spaces left

Saturday 3 December 3pm - 5pm

Stage 1: 5 spaces left

Saturday 10 December 2pm - 4pm

Xmas Cupcakes: 1 space left

The classes cost £50, this includes all your ingredients, materials, recipes and 6 cupcakes that you have decorated to take home.

The classes are held at Treetops in Wash Common, Newbury, 5 minutes from Newbury Station and 10 minutes from Junction 13 of the M4.

For other classes at Treetops, such as Watercolour, Sewing, Flowers and Aga Cookery please visit the website above or my other blog:

treetops-newbury.blogspot.com

A Beautiful day for a Wedding

2011-10-01T16:03:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to Georgina and Chris on their Wedding today.

What a perfect sunny day.

The room at Donnington Valley Hotel in Newbury looked gorgeous.

The themes for the Cupcake Tower were vintage colours, flowers, butterflies, berries and it tied in so well with the flowers on the tables.

Congratulations also to Elsie who was being christened today and had her highchair throne at the top table!

A Hot Cupcake Class!

2011-09-30T17:57:00.000+01:00

First thing this morning you could tell it was going to be a hot and sunny day!

I love the sunshine coming through the trees in this photograph.

We had a full class for Cupcakes today, I made some raspberry and vanilla cupcakes for our breaktime. Raspberries picked from the garden, they were inside the cupcake as well as on the top of the pink raspberry icing .... delicious.

Today's Cupcakers did brilliantly because it was ever so hot, I just kept pouring everybody more water!

Here are some of their creations:

We had a boy theme going today, because we were all Mums with boys, not a girl between us!

Birthday Cupcakes

2011-09-27T15:40:00.000+01:00

Birthday Cupcakes made this morning, here a just a few of the 50 I made.

There were some Oreo Cupcakes, some Chocolate Heaven Cupcakes and some Pinky Vanillas.

The Chocolate Heaven Cupcakes had 70% fair trade chocolate mixed into the buttercream and were topped with Minstrels, Munchies, Maltesers and Chocolate Buttons.

I delivered them to the birthday girl at Downe House in time for the birthday celebrations!

The Making of Nicola's Wedding Cupcakes

2011-09-24T17:33:00.002+01:00

Today started very early with the baking of 130 Vanilla Cupcakes and 12 gluten free vanilla cupcakes for Nicola's Wedding.

Nicola has been to both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Cupcake classes, and despite everything that needed doing today, she was determined to come and decorate her wedding cupcakes!

I prepared all the different coloured icings; flavoured with fresh orange juice and zest, vanilla, blueberry, raspberry and rosewater, all coloured in pale vintage coloured colours and got swirling.

Nicola and her friends arrived, I handed over the iced cupcakes and they set to work decorating the cupcakes, whilst also eating some, obviously!

In the Stage 2 class we make the petalled flowers, and Nicola's looked fantastic today, made in pink and peach.

There were high swirls and low swirls and flat iced cupcakes, a real variety today.

And as the bride herself needed the gluten free cupcakes, I made the blue icing for "her something blue" and I thought they looked stunning with the little flowers that her and her Mum had made.

I can't wait to see the photographs of them set up on the cake stand tower at Donnington Grove Hotel.

I hope you have a great time!

Update on Cupcake Classes

2011-09-23T09:54:00.001+01:00

Cupcake Classes are filling up for Autumn and Christmas, below is a list of classes with spaces available on them:

Saturday 8 October: 2 spaces available on Stage 2 class 10am - 12 noon and 2 spaces available on Stage 1 3pm - 5pm

Saturday 12 November: Stage 1. 1 space left. 2pm - 4pm

Tuesday 29 November: Xmas Cupcakes: 3 spaces left. 11am-1pm

Saturday 3 December: Xmas Cupcakes: 2 spaces left. 10am - 12 noon

Stage 1 Cupcakes: 5 spaces left. 3pm - 5pm

Saturday 10 December: Xmas Cupcakes. 1 space left. 2pm - 4pm.

All classes cost £50, last for 2 hours and include baking, learning about 2 types of icing, decorating and you take home 6 beautifully decorated cupcakes that you have made. Plus a Colourful Cupcakes recipe and top tips booklet.

Please contact me to book a class

emily @treetops-newbury .co.uk

Happy Birthday Cupcakes

2011-09-20T17:58:00.001+01:00

I made these delicious cupcakes today for a Thatcham Town FC birthday boy!

With an extra chocolate gift box for him to take into work.

I used Maltesers, Green & Black's dark chocolate, their white chocolate, new Crunchie rocks, chocolate shavings and anything else chocolatey I could find (!), with a small sprinkle of glitter.

Happy Birthday

Birthday Girl Cupcakes

2011-09-17T15:13:00.001+01:00

A pretty mixed box of Cupcakes for a birthday girl.

Busy making lots of fondant icing decorations today for forthcoming orders.

Cupcake Classes start soon, there are still 2 spaces left on Saturday 8 October 3pm - 5pm.

Party Cupcakes

2011-09-09T22:22:00.000+01:00

I had a busy day making 120 Cupcakes for a party this evening, a joint party to celebrate a Silver Wedding Anniversary and a 21st Birthday.

I made 60 chocolate and 60 vanilla, with colour schemes of navy and silver.....

...... and an entire pot of glitter!

Congratulations, I hope you have a great evening.

10 Year Celebration Cupcakes for Bravo Hair

2011-09-04T12:52:00.000+01:00

Bravo Hair of Newbury are celebrating 10 years in the business this weekend.

Congratulations!

I made some vanilla cupcakes with cases and decorations in the colour scheme of cerise, orange and bright green.

This was to tie in with their balloons and flowers at their party lunch.

I delivered them to Newbury Manor Hotel, the room (and the menu!) looked lovely.

www.bravohair.com

www.newbury-manor-hotel.co.uk

Pink and Girly Birthday Cupcakes

2011-09-01T10:29:00.002+01:00

A box of pink birthday cupcakes ready to go ......

Fizzy Sweet Cupcakes

2011-08-24T11:49:00.000+01:00

Colourful Cupcakes has been busy making Colourful Cupcakes!

Vanilla Cupcakes topped with a variety of fizzy sweets.

White Chocolate Cupcakes

2011-08-24T11:45:00.000+01:00

I made two dozen of these gorgeous white chocolate cupcakes this morning for a 40th birthday.

White chocolate chips and vanilla extract in the cake mixture.

Green & Black's White Chocolate melted and mixed into the vanilla buttercream icing.

Topped with white sparkle glitter, a white malteser and white chocolate stars.

Strawberry and Chocolate Wedding Cupcakes

2011-08-13T12:15:00.000+01:00

Here a selection of some of the Cupcakes I made early this morning, my bride wanted half to be chocolate and the other half vanilla topped with a fresh strawberry.

I used Green and Black's Cocoa Powder to get a kick of chocolate in the cake and 72% dark madagascan chocolate melted into the buttercream icing.

The cupcakes were then topped with an assortment of chocolate buttons, maltesers, chunks of chocolate, honeycomb sprinkles, grated chocolate and silver glitter.

The strawberries smelt delicious this morning, their flavour mixes beautifully with vanilla buttercream.

I delivered them to the Halfway Bistro (http://www.thehalfwaybistro.com) on the A4 between Newbury and Hungerford, the Wedding table looked lovely.

(and having looked at their reviews on tripadvisor it looks a great place to go for a meal, it's currently 2nd in Newbury Restaurants, I think I will be going back!)

Birthday Vanilla & Chocolate Cupcakes

2011-08-13T12:06:00.000+01:00

Yummy Vanilla and Chocolate Cupcakes.

Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Icing, topped with 70% madagascan dark chocolate, honeycomb chips, grated chocolate and maltesers.

Party Pink Cupcakes

2011-07-18T10:07:00.000+01:00

How many cupcakes can you fit on a party table? I've never had so many little hands desparate to help me, and I'm amazed so many cupcakes did make it onto the table and cake stands!

There were cupcakes, fairy cakes and minis with a pink and cream theme, covered in butterflies and flowers, they looked very pretty and summery.

Here are some of them ready to go to the party!

A Busy Few Days....

2011-07-16T09:34:00.000+01:00

Now that classes have stopped for the Summer, I've been busy making lots of little flowers and love hearts that I can use for decorations, they looked very pretty en masse all over the kitchen table.

I made these pretty rose cupcakes, that looked too good to eat on my Grandma's cake stand.

Here are a batch of mini cupcakes that were ordered for a party, I haven't made mini's for a while now, they are so cute and a delicious mouthful of flavour, these were vanilla.

More baking in the days ahead, some parties and weddings ......

Final Summer Class

2011-07-12T19:14:00.000+01:00

We had our last class before breaking up for Summer.

A great group, who enjoyed trying out all the different colours, cutters, sprinkles and glitters available.

They looked fantastic.

Bookings are being taken for our Autumn and Christmas Classes.

Don't leave it too late!

Pretty Pink Cupcakes

2011-07-12T19:11:00.001+01:00

Pretty Pink Cupcakes, a present for teacher.

Star Cupcakes

2011-07-12T19:09:00.000+01:00

Some pretty vanilla star cupcakes made for the end of term.

Chocolate and Malteser Cupcakes

2011-07-01T21:24:00.000+01:00

Some chocolate, malteser and oreo cupcakes made for the birthday boy Jono.

Happy Birthday!

Summer Garden Cupcakes

2011-07-01T21:18:00.000+01:00

Three large boxes of these pretty cupcakes went out this morning.

Pale pinks, yellows, lilacs, creams and blues.

Adorned with pretty flowers and butterflies and a subtle glitter effect.

Orange Birthday Cupcakes

2011-06-26T13:37:00.000+01:00

What a beautiful sunny day!

I made some orange birthday cupcakes this morning, the sponge and buttercream both have freshly squeezed orange juice and zest in them.

They smell really fresh and zingy.

Even in this hot weather, do not store your cupcakes in the fridge, as the cake will go stale. Keep them in the coolest place you can find, garage, shed or a room in the shade.

Sea Themed Birthday Cupcakes

2011-06-25T16:14:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday to Mia who is having a Swimming Party today.

I made some Sea Themed Vanilla Cupcakes.

They were decorated with fondant crabs, fish, starfish, coral, shells, seaweed, glitter, pearls, jelly sweet fish and pink prawns.

Lavender Cupcakes

2011-06-20T18:50:00.000+01:00

I picked some lavender this morning and made some gorgeous Lavender Cupcakes.

You can either place some lavender inside a jar of caster sugar and let it infuse over time and then use that in your baking, or finely chop it and add to your cake mixture.

I don't flavour the buttercream, keep it simply vanilla and add a fresh sprig of lavender on the top.

Keeping the lavender theme, I visited Long Barn in Alresford today, they are growers and distillers of Lavender. www.longbarn.co.uk

They sell lovely toiletries, homewares and plants in a beautiful oak framed barn, but the best secret is Sally hidden upstairs who does a variety of treatments using their products. I can definitely recommend her top to toe treament; facial and massage. www.sallycurson.co.uk

Cupcake Class Saturday 18 June 2011

2011-06-18T17:30:00.000+01:00

It was a great day for a class, whilst the wind and rain hurled itself around the house, we were busy baking.

There were some beautiful cupcakes baked and decorated today.

There is 1 final space left on the next class, Saturday 9 July, and then we break up for the Summer.

For Autumn Term dates, visit the dates page at www.treetops-newbury.co.uk

LAST SPACE REMAINING - SATURDAY 9 JULY

2011-06-14T20:48:00.000+01:00

There is just 1 space left on the Cupcake Class being held on:

Saturday 9 July

2pm - 4pm

£50

BOOK NOW!!

Birthday Party Cupcakes

2011-05-22T20:59:00.000+01:00

It was my birthday party on Saturday evening, great fun, lovely weather, wonderful friends, twinkly lights and pretty cupcakes!

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

2011-05-13T21:30:00.000+01:00

Delicious, delicious, delicious!

I finally got round to making these delicious Chocolate Orange Cupcakes today.

A Chocolate sponge with some orange extract and orange zest added.

The buttercream has two small bars of Terrys Chocolate Orange added, along with some Green and Blacks Cocoa powder and orange zest to add depth to the flavours.

A segment from a Terrys Chocolate Orange, (which fortunately left me with half of one to enjoy later!) popped on the top.

Stage 2 Cupcake Classes

2011-05-10T11:56:00.000+01:00

For those of you who have been to a class already, I have a Stage 2 class, just for you.

Working with flower paste, and buttercream, we will work on some pretty flowers and also different nozzles for piping. Come and learn how to take your skills further.

Dates are:

Friday 24 June 11am - 1pm

Saturday 8 October 3pm-5pm

£50 to include all your materials and 6 cupcakes to take home with you.

Chocolate and Oreo Cupcakes

2011-05-09T15:25:00.000+01:00

A rather peculiar aerial view, sorry!

These are some Cupcakes I made this morning for Emily's 8th Birthday.

Five are Oreo Cupcakes, half an oreo baked in the bottom of a chocolate cupcake, with vanilla buttercream stirred into finely crushed oreo biscuits. Topped with a mini oreo. They are delicious!

The other 5 are chocolate cupcakes with 70% plain chocolate melted and stirred into the buttercream, the chocolate flavour is gorgeous. Three are topped with maltesers and two with the fondant pink and purple flowers.

Cupcake Class Saturday 7 May

2011-05-09T15:20:00.000+01:00

It was a very humid day on Saturday for making buttercream, but everyone did really well.

The Cupcakes looked lovely, when we had them altogether at the end; "pretty" summed them up, lots of pastel colours, delicate flowers and sprinklings of glitter.

I've got 1 space left on Saturday 18 June and 1 space left on Saturday 9 July. Both classes are from 2pm - 4pm and cost £50.

Space Cupcakes

2011-05-07T18:03:00.000+01:00

These Cupcakes were made for Ben's party at INTECH near Winchester

(www.intech-uk.com)

A Science Centre and Planetarium

The Cupcakes are vanilla with a variety of sugarpaste stars, moons, earths and flying saucers. Rice paper alien faces, and gummy sweet astronauts, rockets and aliens. All with a covering of silver balls and glitters.

I also customised a 3 tier cardboard stand with space and planet images, with two stretchy aliens waving from the top!

Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes

2011-05-03T15:44:00.000+01:00

A sunny day needs some strawberries and cream cupcakes

A vanilla cupcake with vanilla cream, a fresh strawberry topping and a sprinkling of red sugar

Delicious!

They looked very pretty in their gift box

White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

2011-04-24T18:10:00.000+01:00

I made these delicious and pretty Cupcakes today.

I used these lovely new White Chocolate Raspberries from Marks and Spencer, they are scrummy.

(Inside is a freeze dried raspberry surrounded with white chocolate)

Some new Class Dates for you!

2011-04-18T11:33:00.000+01:00

New Saturday Cupake Classes are:

8 October: 10am - 12 noon (stage 1) or 3pm - 5pm (Stage 2)

12 November 2pm - 4pm

3 December: Christmas 10am - 12 noon or 3pm - 5pm

10 December: Christmas 2pm - 4pm

Weekday Cupcake Classes are:

Friday 30 September

Tuesday 29 November - Christmas

Wednesday 30 November - Christmas

11am - 1pm

All classes cost £50, they all include all ingredients, refreshments and a top tip/recipe book to take home with you. Plus 6 Cupcakes beautifully decorated by you!

Keep your eye on the blog, as class dates may be added as the term develops and classes fill up.

Union Jack Cupcakes

2011-04-13T18:23:00.000+01:00

Union Jack Vanilla Cupcakes for our friend's Citizenship Ceremony.

Congratulations Bradleys!

Griffins Girls come to Treetops

2011-04-09T18:48:00.000+01:00

This afternoon we had a full class from Griffins in Newbury

(www.griffins.co.uk)

They made some very bright, sparkly and glittery cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Cupcakes

2011-04-06T21:36:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday to Susan!

Easter Chocolate Cupcakes Class 2 April 2011

2011-04-02T19:43:00.000+01:00

We had a really colourful cupcake class today, with everything being used to decorate our Cupcakes!

Chocolate eggs, chicks, sprinkles, glitter and fondant decorations that had been made earlier in the class.

We also used the new nozzle, that makes great grass and chocolate nests.

They all looked so lovely in their boxes at home time!

(I'm very sorry but I forgot to photograph one of the boxes, sorry if it was yours!)

Fudge and Toffee Sauce Cupcakes

2011-03-31T20:37:00.000+01:00

I made a lovely big batch of fudge and toffee sauce cupcakes today.

Easter Cupcake Class 29 March 2011

2011-03-29T14:46:00.000+01:00

We've just finished today's Easter Chocolate Cupcake Class, whilst the sun was still shining.

We made a delicious Green and Blacks Cocoa Cupcake, with chocolate buttercream icing and vanilla buttercream icing.

We used a new nozzle today to make the green grass and the easter nests, it really gives a great effect.

But my favourite bit is when the little eggs and chicks come out!

Looking forward to seeing those of you coming this Saturday.

Vineyard Wedding Fayre Biscuits

2011-03-27T10:51:00.000+01:00

Billions of biscuits!!

Well, 200 glittery pinky ones, made for today's Wedding Fayre at The Vineyard hotel.

Hello, if you came to this blog via the Fayre.

I make Cupcakes for Weddings, birthdays, parties and gifts in my Aga at home (which is registered with West Berkshire council). I also hold a Level 2 Award in Food Safety, from the Institute of Environmental Health.

There are lots of photographs on the blog, but please contact me for any further information.

I also run classes at Treetops in Newbury, where over 2 hours you can learn to make, bake and decorate your own Cupcakes. You receive plenty of advice and tips and can enjoy the abundance of sprinkles, decorations and cutters that I have here.

Current classes with spaces are:

Tuesday 29 March - Easter Cupcakes 11am-1pm

*NEW* Wednesday 11 May - Cupcakes 11am - 1pm

*NEW* Friday 24 June 11am - 1pm (Stage 2 for those who have been to Stage 1)

Saturday 7 May - Cupcakes 2pm - 4pm

Saturday 18 June - Cupcakes 2pm - 4pm

Saturday 9 July - Cupcakes 2pm - 4pm

Cupcake Biscuits

2011-03-23T15:54:00.000Z

I've been playing around with something different today - Cupcake Biscuits.

There is a Wedding Fayre this Sunday at The Vineyard Hotel, Stockcross near Newbury, organised by local Wedding Planner Julie Tooby of Essentially You (3 times winner of "Best Wedding Planner" at the Wedding Awards).

Running from 10.30am - 5pm the day includes

• 3 Fabulous Fashion Shows (at 11.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm)
• Bridal Coaching (at 12.15pm & 1.45pm)
• Photography Workshops
• Floristry Workshop
• Planning Workshop
• Beauty Workshop
• Charity Raffle
• Wedding Design Zone
• Canapes & Wine Tasting
• Live Music & Magic
• Handpicked Suppliers
• Goodie Bags

http://www.essentially-you.net/

The Goodie Bags are where I come in, I didn't want a sample Cupcake to get crushed with all the lovely things that the Brides will be picking up during the day, so thought biscuits would be ideal.

Come to Easter Cupcake Class

2011-03-21T10:06:00.000Z

There are some spaces on next week's Easter Cupcakes Class, running from 11am - 1pm.

We will be focussing on chocolate, eggs and chicks!

It will be great fun, come and bake, ice and sprinkle.

Cost = £50.

Cupcake Class 5 March 2011

2011-03-05T18:04:00.000Z

Some beautiful cupcakes were made today, we had a full class of six who all made very different and very lovely designs.

Some two-tone swirling was achieved in this box.

Six cupcakes baked and decorated ready to take home.

Thanks for coming everyone, hope to see you at a Stage 2 class later in the year.

New Saturday Cupcake Class Dates

2011-02-27T12:17:00.000Z

Summer Saturday Cupcake Classes

Saturday 7 May

Saturday 18 June

Saturday 9 July

All classes are from 2pm - 4pm

Cost = £50

Bake, make and decorate 6 cupcakes to take home with you.

Cupcake Class Saturday 19 February

2011-02-19T19:54:00.000Z

We had a very successful class today, the colours and creativity were brilliant.

Everyone went to town on trying out the colour pastes.

This butterfly cupcake is so pretty layered up with ribbons of buttercream.

I always seem to take photographs at the end, but I made sure I took photographs at the very start today, during the baking phase.

A gold and red cupcake with a gold and red hand, very artistic!

Well done, it was a great afternoon.

Macaroons

2011-02-19T19:43:00.000Z

I enjoyed making these pretty pink macaroons this morning.

Some are filled with fresh whipped cream and the others with various shades of buttercream.

They are delicious, quite a few of them didn't quite make it to the sandwiching stage!

Cupcake Class - Friday 18th February

2011-02-18T17:56:00.000Z

Here are some photos of today's lovely Cupcakes, baked, decorated and ready for home.

Hard at work decorating!

I'm now trying to get rid of all the glittery remains and coatings of icing sugar ready for tomorrow's Cupcake Class ....

Valentine Cupcakes

2011-02-09T18:17:00.000Z

Here are some Valentines Cupcakes, using my new little red heart sprinkles from the Kitchenmonger.

The other hearts I made from fondant icing.

The Kitchenmonger also has these cute love heart cases.

Come to a Beginners Cupcake Class

2011-02-07T10:53:00.000Z

Come and learn how to make, bake, ice, decorate Cupcakes.

Friday 18 February

11am - 1pm

£50

Spaces available!

further details www.treetops-newbury.co.uk

or see photographs of past classes on this blog.

Stage 2 - Cupcake Class

2011-02-05T20:16:00.000Z

This afternoon was our first Stage 2 Cupcake Class.

This class is for people who have already been to our Stage 1 Class and the idea is that we are able to take the skills and techniques learnt forward to another level, and give ourselves time to learn some useful (and slightly more complicated!) skills.

This shows a section of the kitchen all set up and ready to go. I had already baked this morning, so we could concentrate on decorative skills and icing techniques.

We spent some time with fondant icing and gum paste, we made cut-out flowers and did some shaping and styling of them. They looked fantastic.

We made some miniature fondant roses, very fiddly but they just take practice and then we made lots of petals to create a large rose (shown above). Despite the nerves, they looked beautiful, really impressive!

Below are some of the beautiful boxes of decorated Cupcakes that went home this afternoon. (We had a bit of a Valentine February theme going on!)

Happy 1st Birthday

2011-02-05T20:05:00.000Z

Happy 1st Birthday to Isla!

My favourite sort of morning; baking and decorating with a chocolate and pinky theme......

Colourful 50th Birthday Cupcakes

2011-01-31T17:58:00.000Z

100 Colourful Cupcakes were ordered to take into the office to celebrate a 50th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Pete!

Classes that are coming up soon ....

2011-01-23T20:28:00.000Z

There are some Cupcake Classes coming up shortly with availability:

Saturday 5 February - Stage 2 - for if you have been to Treetops before - 2pm-4pm

Friday 18 February - Stage 1 - 11am-1pm

Wednesday 9 March - Stage 2 - 11am-1pm

Wednesday 23 March - Stage 2 - 11am-1pm

I will also be doing some chocolatey Easter Classes:

1 space remaining on Saturday 2 April - 2pm-4pm

4 spaces remaining on Tuesday 29 March - 11am-1pm

All classes cost £50, this includes all your materials, 6 cupcakes to take home, refreshments and a recipe/top tips booklet.

Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Black and White Party Cupcakes

2011-01-10T12:17:00.000Z

These were so cute and fun to make, mini black and white cupcakes, for a themed 50th birthday party. Not only did I get to do the cakes, I got to go to the party too.

We had great fun, dancing to The Tremeloes whilst eating delicious food from Vanessa of Top Nosh Cuisine (www.topnoshcuisine.co.uk).

30th Birthday Cupcakes

2011-01-08T15:22:00.000Z

I have just delivered these very Colourful Cupcakes to the Lord Lyon in Stockcross, for Cathy's 30th Birthday. I hope you have a great party.

The Cupcakes are chocolate and vanilla with a mixture of chocolate icing, vanilla, pink and purple. I made some vibrant decorations in the week, these were accompanied by sprinkles, glitters, sweeties, chunks of chocolate and some great big chocolate buttons!

Winter Wedding Cupcakes

2010-12-29T17:20:00.000Z

I had a busy morning making 80 pretty and sparkling Cupcakes for a Wedding at The Canarvon Arms just outside of Newbury.

There were 40 of my favourite lime & coconut, with 40 simply vanilla.

The Carnarvon Arms was definitely a warm and cosy place to be this evening, it was a foul and foggy journey to get there.

Christmas Cupcake Gift Box

2010-12-26T14:19:00.000Z

Happy Christmas Everyone!

I hope you had a lovely day yesterday.

I spent Christmas Eve baking........

Christmas Day cooking.........

and Boxing Day chilling!..........

Car Birthday Cupcakes

2010-12-22T12:15:00.000Z

Happy 30th Birthday to Martin

I took a break from Christmas Cupcakes today and made 30 Car themed cupcakes.

15 Vanilla and 15 Chocolate.

The Chocolate Cupcakes are made with Green and Black's gorgeous cocoa powder and the icing has Lindt's 70% dark melted chocolate stirred in. Just inhaling the chocolate smells whilst baking gave me my fix for the day!

School Staff Room Mini Cupcakes!

2010-12-15T12:30:00.000Z

A box of Christmas Mini Cupcakes for the Staff Room.

Christmas Gift Cupcakes

2010-12-15T12:27:00.000Z

I made these for a little boy to give to his teacher on the last day of term.

Final Cupcake Class of 2010

2010-12-04T21:32:00.000Z

I'm so pleased that the snow melted and we were able to have today's Christmas Cupcake Class, it was a lovely class, with lots of pretty sparkly designs.

Much better to be mellow and swirling/glittering in the kitchen than battling around the shops!

I'm going to miss my snowflake cutters after Christmas, they are so pretty.

Spring Class Dates for 2011

2010-11-27T09:18:00.000Z

Saturday Dates:

(2pm - 4pm)

5 February - Stage 2 Cupcakes (if you have been before, this will take you a stage further)

19 February - Stage 1

5 March - Stage 1

2 April - Easter Cupcakes

(SPACES ARE DISAPPEARING ALREADY, PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT)

Weekday Classes:

(11am - 1pm)

Wednesday 26 January - Stage 1

Friday 18 February - Stage 1

Wednesday 9 March - Stage 2

Wednesday 23 March - Stage 2

Tuesday 29 March - Easter Cupcakes

Classes cost £50 and include all materials, 6 decorated cupcakes of yours to take home and a recipe/top tips booklet.

Christmas Cupcake Class 23 November

2010-11-24T12:27:00.000Z

We were definitely multi-tasking today, as we had festive cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes on the go, as well as gluten free AND dairy free.

After taste-tasting, we decided they were all delicious!

Christmas Cupcake Class 22 Nov

2010-11-23T09:17:00.000Z

Another Festive Cupcakes Day!

And still there are some great and original designs being created.

6 very sparkly boxes of cupcakes were taken home.

Amended Saturday Dates

2010-11-21T18:38:00.000Z

I have had to make a slight change to Saturday dates, they are now:

Saturday 19 February

Saturday 5 March

Saturday 2 April - Easter Cupcakes

All Saturday classes run from 2pm - 4pm and cost £50.

Cupcakes for Triplets

2010-11-19T20:22:00.000Z

Here is a selection from a box I made today, of 3 different shades of Cupcakes.

They were a gift for some Triplets.

I finished them with some silver glitter and a white chocolate button.

2011 Spring Cupcake Class Dates

2010-11-19T14:25:00.000Z

Finally, the dates are now arranged for Spring classes:

Wednesday 26 January

Friday 18 February

Wednesday 23 March - Stage 2 Class (for those of you who have been before)

Tuesday 29 March - Easter Theme

Weekday classes run from 11am - 1pm

As mentioned before the Saturday dates are:

19 February

5 March - Stage 2 Class (new date added)

12 March

2 April - Easter Cupcakes

Saturday classes run from 2pm - 4pm

All classes cost £50 and include all your ingredients, materials, 6 Cupcakes for you to decorate and take home along with a recipe booklet with tips and advice.

To book, please contact me asap as these classes book up very quickly.

(gift vouchers are available for Christmas presents, they are valid for 6 months)

Final space for 2010 available!

2010-11-18T17:33:00.000Z

I've got one space left on next week's Tuesday Cupcake Class.

10am - 12 noon

Tuesday 23 November

£45

Learn to bake, decorate, swirl, sprinkle and more!

Decorate 6 cupcakes to take home with you.

Birthday Boy Blue Cupcakes

2010-11-18T12:25:00.000Z

Bright and beautiful Cupcakes for a 4 year old boy's birthday

Topped with haribo sweets, maltesers, chocolate buttons, mini smarties and glitter.

Have a fun birthday!

Coffee, Chocolate and nuts!

2010-11-18T12:23:00.000Z

Here are some birthday cupcakes I made this morning, 6 with chocolate and nut sponge, topped with dark chocolate buttercream, nuts and chocolate.

The other 6 are coffee sponge with vanilla and coffee swirl buttercream icing, topped with chocolate coated coffee beans.

Delicious!