Starbucks Cake Pops

Thesis countdown: four days! It's finally inching up to the big day! What's a good thesis without tasty refreshments? Let me assure you, readers, I've picked out the cutest post-defense treats for all my guests.

The menu:
    Pink Lemonade
    Grapes
    Starbucks Cake Pops

 photo from here

 Jesse and my dad even made me a custom cake pop stand! Photos to come after the defense. I got a vintage 7-Up crate that all the drinks and food fit into perfectly. My mum isn't sure what I'm more excited about: cake pops or the actual defense.

 Custom cake pop stand made from a 1960s 7-Up soda box. Thanks Dad & Jesse!

Have you had the new petite pastries from Starbucks? They're all under 200 calories and perfect for parties and events (and thesis defenses, apparently). My cousin is using them at a baby shower she's planning, too. Here's an interview with the man who created the recipe and concept for Starbucks' three cake pop flavors from the Starbucks official blog.

Valentine's Day Desserts

I'm digging the pink & red love in all the stores and bakeries this week. Some of my favorite Valentines sweets from around the web this year:

X and O S'mores (internet exclusive from Williams-Sonoma). 

Each batch is made from scratch in San Francisco at Two Hearts Bakery.

Perfect surprise for a special someone who's far away this Valentines Day.

Heart shaped sprinkles: Yes please.

Buy them at shopbakersnook.com for just 99 cents!

Photo from here.

Get a tutorial and recipe from I Am Baker to make 

this hidden heart cake.

This Valentine's Party is full of love! Check out the dessert

bar behind the kids! :) See more pictures of this

party at Hostess with the Mostess.

What are your plans for Valentines Day? Jesse and I are celebrating a day early since we've got classes all day on Monday. 

Polka Dot Cheesecake

My mother scored a legitimate Italian cheesecake recipe from an Italian woman that's in her TOPS chapter. The coveted recipe is rich, creamy and delicious. However, I might have to cheat on that recipe and try this polka dot cheesecake on The Baker's Daughter. It's so prep cool and well, my style!

Photo from The Baker's Daughter

Let me Eat Cake!

This weekend is my birthday--anticlimactic 22 year birthday. But, I'm still excited. See, I adore celebrating birthdays (not just my own, everyone's)! Have you ever visited Birthday Girl? Her blog has the best of the best birthday parties- I love seeing the beautiful decorations and fun themes featured on her blog.

I'm most excited for birthday cake. JRM loves white on white cake, but I love double chocolate. Can't wait for a beautiful, chocolate cake! This one-bowl chocolate cake recipe from Martha Stewart looks amazing. Saturday can't come soon enough!

Photograph: Dennis Gottlieb/Getty Images/StockFood

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter, softened, for pans

3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder, plus more for pans

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk

3/4 cup warm water

3 tablespoons safflower oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract



Get Cookin'

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and dust with cocoa.

Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a mixer. Beat on low speed until just combined. Raise speed to medium, and add eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Divide batter between pans. Bake until set and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Turn out from pans. Transfer, faceup, to wire racks. Let cool completely.

Spread 2 cups chocolate frosting onto top of 1 cooled layer. Top with remaining layer; frost top and sides with remaining 2 cups frosting.

Cupcake Art

photos: here

Craving cupcakes? Head over to Ming Makes Cupcakes for beautiful cupcakes and tasty, original recipes for them.

Teddy Bear Cake

There's a hilarious old lady who lives across the street from Jesse's house. We love her.
Her birthday is tomorrow and Jesse's mom asked me to make a cake for her with two specific directions: make it low sugar (she's diabetic) and have some sort of teddy bear theme.

Piece of cake, right?!

I thought so! Here's my low sugar, diabetic friendly, teddy bear cake.