The Battle of the Cupcake

Cassidy participated in her first cupcake competition at the 2012 Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair in Evansville, IN. It was the very first "Battle of the Cupcake." Cupcakes and frosting were to be premade and brought in as well as a display with no specified theme. The cupcakes needed to be frosted, decorated, and arranged in the display in less than one hour. We decided to do the chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter and marshmallow buttercream frosting since we knew it was so incredibly delicious and likely flavors that most would enjoy. We also thought we needed to add a filling to the cupcakes since that is very popular these days.

Well, we tried our best . . .

 Cassidy is cute as a cupcake and ready for some fun!

 Our display: pictures of Cassidy baking cupcakes 

with the cupcakes arranged on a bottle drying rack.

 Chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate buttercream filling,

topped with peanut butter, swirled with marshmallow buttercream

frosting, and topped with a fondant baby bottle.

 

Mommy made these fondant baby bottles.

 Baby bottle cupcakes

 Mommy and Cassidy are always having fun!

We didn't get a ribbon, but who cares when you've got a kid this cute?

So, here's what happened. The judges' comments were that our cupcakes were "Oh, so good!" BUT, it was really hot in the building we were in, and our buttercream melted right off the cupcakes. I know! I'm just like the bakers on Cupcake Wars who crumble under the pressure of stiff competition. I was so embarrassed! I knew they tasted good, but there was no way I could win with the frosting sliding off the cupcakes. I'm assuming the other competitors used a canned frosting or one made with shortening. I didn't want to do that, though. I say, "Go homemade or go home!" I was the only one that made fondant decorations, so I was really proud of myself. I think Cassidy was proud of me, too.