Monday, December 13, 2010

Peppermint Marshmallow Christmas Tree Hi Hat cupcakes


I made these late at night with sore feet from a day of shopping and no will to decorate. I think you can tell.

But see what I did here, I used some free editing and pretty props to redirect your attention so you can't see what a bad job I did.

I've talked about it before I call it the pusscat dolls effect, and it works a treat until you look closely. 


Oh alright I know I didn't really trick most of you and they weren't really that bad but the dipped ones were a bit messy as I used some green wilton melts and didn't really thin the chocolate out enough.

Yup not taking my own advice, but I was really really tired. Please do what I say not what I do.

Oh and loooove these teensy weensy little edible stars I picked up at Little Betsy Baker. 



The marshmallow topping seemed to be a hit in my family, my daughter actually rolled her eyes saying yum as she licked it from her fingers.

If you don't love peppermint you can omit it and I think this topping would also make great 'snowball' cupcakes without the green colour.

Pussycat dolls redirection props
Pom pom from Ah-Tissue
Cupcake Wrapper co Christmas wrapper from Details Details
Single Cupcake Stand from Mon Tresor


 Recipe after jump

'Marshmallow' topping  based on a recipe from cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans

Cupcakes!
Cupcakes!

makes enough to top 12 really hi top cupcakes
1 3/4 cups sugar
60ml (approx 1/4 cup) water
3 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
green food colour

Bring the bottom of a double boiler or suitable saucepan of water to simmer, the water should not touch the bottom of the saucepan.

Pop the sugar, water, egg whites and cream of tartar in the top of double boiler (or a heat proof container that will fit snuggly on top of saucepan of water). Do not put over heat at this stage. Mix with handheld mixer for 1 min at high until opaque, white and foamy.

Pop over simmering water and beat at high speed for 12 mins, the mixture should be very stiff.

Remove from heat, quickly add vanilla, peppermint extract and food colour and beat for a further 2 mins at high.

Spoon into a large pastry bag filled with a large plain tip or pop into a disposable bag that you have cut the end off and pipe onto each cupcake in a spiral.

Or if you like pipe a center and starting at the bottom and working your way around pipe short bursts pulling our to resemble.....well they are supposed to be leaves but it kinda looks like a hedgehog.

Dipping
If you would like to make a true hithat then the cupcake should be chilled and dipped in melted chocolate thinned with a little canola or vegetable oil. The recipe in cupcakes! states around 340grams (12 ounces) to 2 Tbsp and 1 tsp (3 US Tbsp) oil. Just make sure the chocolate is very smooth and a suitable consistency for dipping.


Bakerella did a really great tutorial on dipping hi hats a few months ago, when I popped over this morning to get the link to my surprise she had updated the post to say that she actually uses the same recipe as I did.

Decorating
I decorated with edible silver stars
mini M&M's
and white flower sprinkles

18 comments:

  1. Aw Linda these look amazing!! Well done!! I'm still working on my piping skills so I don't think I could pull off anything so beautiful but I'll most certainly have a go! Thanks for the recipe! :)

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  2. I love both your trees! I have that same cupcake book by Elinor Klivans, and bought it specifically for the Hi Hat cupcakes, but have never made them. I actually thought of this same idea, only with a Santa hat, instead of a tree:) Hopefully I'll get around to it. I love the soft puffiness of your marshmallow tree and the color too. Love the snow scene!

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  3. I think they are beautiful, I don't care what you say. Aha. No seriously I do, I love the tiny stars and the cupcake stand.

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  4. Oh Linda they are so gorgeous - I don't know what they you are talking about! My, my and your photographic skills are second only to your superior creative baking skills. You are an inspiration!

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  5. I love what you did with the marshmallow topping. Such sweet little trees! Oh and those little star are too dies for. Love.

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  6. If that's the kind of work you produce when you're tired, I am ashamed to show you what I make when I'm fully energized. Those are absolutely stunning

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  7. Aww these are so cute!!! I love them and I love the marshmallow frosting. Yummy!!

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  8. 'pussycat doll effect' brill phrase! But I reckon you could have done a 'point and click' and these cakes would still look fab.

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  9. We are our own worst critics! They look pretty amazing to me and I would be pretty happy tp fall nose first into one!

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  10. Wahoo it looked like my redirection efforts worked a treat.

    Seriously thanks all, I know they are not so bad but they were not exactly as I wanted them. Now I feel like I was fishing for compliments. Blush.

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  11. WoW! I love those cupcakes! The details are meticulously made and the playful colors are perfect! They are just simply adorable. Thanks for the share, looking forward for your recipes!

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  12. These look really cute! You're making me interested in that cookbook- I may have to check it out. Thanks for sharing

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  13. gahhh~~ so pretty!! love your blog, now following you :)

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  14. Aww these are adorable and I love that first picture where they just sparkle!

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  15. Ooh, love the fronds of green marshmallow topping on the Christmas tree. Looks like a great frosting recipe!
    They're beautiful. We can be so hard on ourselves sometimes, but you've honestly done a great decorating job.

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  16. Adorable! I'm going to have to try that marmallow frosting. Chocolate and Marshmallow? Is there anything more delicious than that? Yum!

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  17. These cupcakes are absolutely amazing! I'm delighted with them! I've featured this recipes on my blog! I hope you don't mind! If you don't agree with that please contact me and I will remove it. All the best.

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