Kids and Cupcakes -- Maddies Birthday

A few weeks ago, I was commissioned (yes, commissioned--I'm practically an artist you know) to make my first official appearance as the Cupcake Lady. The mission was simple: bake cupcakes and teach the guests/kids how to make and decorate said cupcakes.

{And this before any sugar}

The mission also included a clause about having enough stamina to withstand the renewable energy of a gaggle of 7-year-old girls, but I seemed to have overlooked it.

{Set up for the cooking lesson}

Cupcake Lady's first appearance was in honor of little Maddie's 7th birthday. Per the request of the birthday girl, I was asked to bring chocolate cupcakes, undecorated of course, with a variety of frostings.

{Some tools of the trade--an ice cream scoop for the perfect amount of batter, a glittery
pink spoonular for scraping down the sides of the bowl, 2 1/2 sticks of room temp butter,
and of course, a pink hand mixer. The stand mixer isn't exactly portable.}

After a quick, messy, and surprisingly focused chocolate cupcake baking tutorial, the recipe for which you can get here,  the girls (and youngest child Jackson) took a break for pizza while the cupcakes baked...and I regrouped.

{This is probably how the world's leaders should have peace talks--over cheese pizza and Capri Sun}

{This adorable toe-headed girl had a gluten allergy. Although I wasn't prepared, she was able to enjoy the decorating experience}

Finally, with bellies full of pizza, popcorn, and Capri Sun, the girls and Jackson were ready to get their cupcake decorating on.

 

{Just some of the treats for decorating}

After a quick lesson in frosting tips, I could tell the girls really didn't care about the Cupcake Lady anymore. Let's face it--I was standing between them and sweet, sweet sugary sweetness.

And then finally, it was time to blow out the candles.

It really doesn't get more joyous than this.

I decorated the remaining cupcakes for each kid to take home as a party favor while the girls went in the basement to play dress-up. And then I passed out.