Cake: Panda Cupcakes

Last week was National Cupcake Week and I thought that I would make some cupcakes to mark the occasion – well, why not?! So it was debated which animal I should do next, after my pig cupcakes, and it was decided on pandas.

I used the last of the packet mixes I’d acquired from the USA, a Duncan Hines Red Velvet mix. From now on I shall make my cakes from scratch (unless someone sends me some more USA mixes, haha). I filled the cupcakes with cherry pie filling, and then baked them as per instruction. Once they had cooled I topped them with a buttercream frosting with added Marshmallow Fluff. Then it was time to get creative!

As you can see, I’m not the most skilled decorator, but I gave it my best shot and used the amazing coal dust crystals c/o The Gobstopper  for the fur around the eyes, and the nose, mouth, eyes and ears are all slices of Panda licorice (see what I did there?!).

The cakes tasted delicious and that’s not just me saying that! The buttercream tasted great and the cherry pie filling really complimented the red velvet cake. I’m so glad that I added the sherbert. It tasted so good on the cakes, and alone (with a spoon, hiding…. joking, only just!!). The sherbert is called ‘coal dust’ and I must admit I’d not seen stuff like it before. The lovely people from The Gobstopper sent some to me with a bag of delicious lemon sherbert too. I loved how well-wrapped the sherbert was and luckily for me it also turned up on my birthday, so it was a nice surprise.

Now I’m trying to figure out which animal I’m going to make cupcakes of next…. any ideas?!

PS sign ups for the penpal swap end this Sunday…. get on it right now!!