Cool On A Rack Before Decorating

Preheat the oven to 220 C / Gas 7. Line and grease a 25cm (10 in) cake tin. Rub the margarine into the flour then add the sugar, spice, fruit and almonds. Pour the eggs into the mixture and add a little milk. Beat well so that the cake mixture should just be able to drop off a spoon, adding a little more milk if necessary. Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour, then reduce the heat to 120 C / Gas 1/2 for a further 2 hours until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool on a rack before decorating. In a bowl, combine the juices, zest, candied peel, dried fruit, almonds, half of the brandy and the liqueur and leave to soak overnight. The next day, preheat the oven to 160 C / Gas 2/3. Grease an 18cm cake tin and line with a double layer of baking parchment. In a mixing bowl beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add the eggs, one at a time, until well mixed. Add the vanilla extract, treacle and the soaked fruit. Sift in the flour then add the spices. Mix well. Pour into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven. If serving the same day, allow to cool and serve. If making in advance, when the cake is still warm, prick with a skewer and add the remainder of the brandy. Allow to cool then wrap in fresh baking parchment. Store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Create animal themed cupcakes, and place them on a cake board with plastic fencing along the edges, then create a grassy pasture for the animals. A little bit of creativity can go a long way just in decorating the packaging around your cupcakes to add dimension to the theme. Frost your cupcakes as normal, then take candy letters or frosting and decorator tips and spell out a special message on the cupcake tops for whoever the recipient is. Spell out "Happy Birthday." "Good Luck," "Congratulations" or whatever else you would like to say. If you have extra cupcakes left over, leave them frosted without letters, or add other decorations like stars and hearts to add to the design presentation. If you do not have enough cupcakes, fit several numbers or letters on each cupcake, then arrange them on a cake platter to spell out your saying. There is a lot that you can say simply and easily using cupcakes.

They are so delicious, can be customized with numerous different flavor combinations, and can be decorated for any occasion. They're a bit of work, but so worth it. Bake cake according to package and let cool. Crumble entire cake in food processor, in batches if necessary, and empty into mixing bowl. Mix in 1/2 can of store bought frosting or equal amount of homemade frosting until a dough forms (tends to be easiest by hand). Scoop and form into one inch balls, easiest if using a small cookie scooper. Melt Wilton Candy Melts according to package. Chill uncoated cake pops for at least 1 hour. Re-melt Wilton Candy Melts, and coat the cake pops one by one, dipping one side and turning to coat completely. After coated, stand the cake pop up in the styrofoam block or shirt box and decorate with sprinkles before coating is set. For a cute presentation, insert into lollipop treat bags and secure with a twistie tie or ribbon. You can also decorate with drizzled chocolate or candy melts, in whatever color you choose.

Toppings include confetti sprinkles, fudge syrup, whipped cream and a cherry. Create a mini banana split by adding a sliced banana and crushed pineapple on a dish or plate to accompany the ice cream cupcake. For an ice cream soda cupcake, a stick candy or wafer roll inserted into the ice cream acts like a straw. This watermelon cupcake offers no fruit or watermelon taste, but resembles a sliced melon. A white cake mix with red food dye and mini chocolate chips are baked in a standard muffin pan. White icing, with a small portion mixed with green dye, is spread on the top. Each iced cupcake is dipped into a small plate of red colored sugar. Use an icing bag with a round decorating tip to pipe green icing around the cupcake rim to look like a green rind. Mini chocolate chips are added into the red sugar topping to resemble watermelon seeds. Use green paper liners to also suggest the green rind. Watermelon cupcakes provide watermelon, but no cake. This fruit treat recipe may appeal to a person with wheat or gluten allergies. Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut the watermelon into rounds that fit into foil cupcake liners. Toppings can include whipped cream or non-dairy topping, plus colorful sprinkles or pieces of fruit. A neighborhood can inspire cupcake decorating ideas. Each cupcake could portray a detail from a home, street or garden. An icing bag with a round decorator tip can outline a colorful window, house or toy. Fashion a bird's nest from shaved chocolate and add candies as eggs. Even a street repair scene can be created from a dark icing topped with crushed candies and a yellow or white strip of icing for the median.

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