How NOT To Make a Polka Dot Cake (and How-To)

Oh, Pinterest... you evil, evil website, you.

I saw a cake like this polka dot one on Pinterest from a blog called Once Upon a Pedestal. It's beautiful, and an awesome idea.

However, she uses a cake pop pan to make the polka dots. I don't have one of those, and the last thing in the world that I need is another cake pan! So, I decided to try some other options.

It took me four cakes, and five days, but I finally got it! (Well, mostly.)

Cake Trial #1
The mini-cupcake pan

I thought, oh, sure, I will just pop some multi-colored mini-cupcakes into the batter... they're round, it will be perfect.
Not. So. Much.

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A-B-C and 1-2-3 Cookies

Some simple cookies for you today... presented to a Kindergarten Student Teacher at my boys' school. She is leaving the class this week, and they had a little party to celebrate her.

I used my new Chocolate Sugar Cookie Recipe for these... you know, because who doesn't like chocolate?

I tried to keep these really simple by making just three colors of Royal Icing: red, blue and yellow. (I guess four, if you count white.) I skipped filling any of the cookies with blue, just to help the teachers avoid the blue-icing-mouth.
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Tip for Tuesday - Vinegar

I know it's been a while since I've offered a "Tip for Tuesday." Sorry about that.

This one, it's kind of like my Ode to Parchment Paper... it's all of the reasons why you should keep some white vinegar around... and actually use it.

I used to only use vinegar for cleaning. But then I started using it to make my own "soured milk," instead of keeping buttermilk or buttermilk powder around.

Using soured milk makes most of my cakes and cupcakes more fluffy, I think, so you'll find buttermilk as an ingredient for most of those, but you can always substitute soured milk: 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp. white vinegar.
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Chocolate Roll-Out Cookies {Recipe}

I'm a big fan of good, old Vanilla Cut-Out Cookies.
But, living in a chocolate-crazy family, I am reminded that not everyone is happy if their treats are any color other than dark brown!

What You Need:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
4 oz. melted chocolate*
1 large or extra large egg (at room temperature)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. white vinegar

*I recommend semisweet or milk chocolate (depending on your taste). When I used unsweetened chocolate, the cookies tasted a little bitter to me, although some of my taste-testers thought they were good. I liked the less-bitter variety best.

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MY Favorite Ideas of 2012

I had a lot of fun creating treats in the last year. I realize when I look back through my blog that choosing favorites is very hard for me.

But... below you will find my favorite cake/cookie/cake pop decorating ideas from 2012.

Click here if you want to see my favorite recipes for the year.
And here if you want to see YOUR favorite posts for the year - as judged by what was clicked on most.

#10- Easy Monster Cake

The result of a little leftover this, and a little extra that. He's so cute! (And seriously easy!)

#9- Back to School (Caramel) Apple Cupcakes

Mostly, I love the cupcakes and icing recipes, but these were perfect gifts to bribe my guys' Kindergarten teachers with.

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MY Favorite Recipes from 2012

I know I'm a tad late with this, but I was resisting the "year in review" stuff.

Below are my Top 10 Recipes from Beki Cook's Cakes Blog in 2012.

Click Here for YOUR Favorite Posts of 2012 - Based on pageviews.
Click Here for My Favorite Decorating Ideas of 2012.

#10- Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This cake was pretty special, for our neighbor, who saved a bunny that got trapped in our window well.

#9- S'Mores Cake

Soooooo good. Not the easiest cake to make, I'm not going to lie, but so worth the effort!

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Your Favorite Posts from 2012

The top posts of 2012 have a little bit for everyone... Cake Pops, Recipes, Cakes and Cupcakes.
Don't see your favorite here? Leave me a comment and tell me what it was!!

#11- Banana Split Cake Pops

I know, 11?! But they're just so good, I couldn't cut it off at #10.

#10- Leftover Royal Icing as Buttercream

 It's easier than you think.


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