For my senior Economics Fair project, I opened a business with s'mores-themed desserts. It was called "Want S'more?" It was a really fun project, and my partner and I completely sold out of our desserts. This was one of the treats. S'mores are notorious for being sticky and messy. These can be eaten neatly and cleanly. They are also delicious because they are made with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, dipped in ganache, and rolled in graham cracker crumbs. They are just as fun to make as they are to eat!
Sometimes mini cupcakes seem more fun than standard-sized cupcakes. Bite-sized treats are very appealing! Holiday-inspired treats are enjoyable to decorate. These were for a church Halloween activity I was helping with. The kids loved these. The cake and frosting recipes came from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes cookbook, one of my favorites. Cupcakes are cute and adaptable, which explains the current obsession of them!
I can't count how many different scone recipes I have tried this past year. They have been my latest obsession due to their crumbly, moist texture, their not-too-sweetness, and their infinite add-ins. This recipe came from the cooking website Recipe Girl, which has many tasty-looking treats. These scones were more like dessert and they were delicious. They rose beautifully, which is sometimes a problem with scones if you over-mix the dough. They are incredibly moist. These are perfect for fall baking!
My favorite school projects are the ones that involve food. I designed these cupcakes for my AP Government class during my senior year. They were for a presentation on Dual-Federalism, the division of government between the national and state governments. This is why there are two colors of cake and frosting. These were really fun to design and make, and my class loved them! The recipes for the vanilla cake and frosting came from a church leader who also shares my love of baking. These cupcakes would also be perfect for the 4th of July!
There are several things that I liked about this cake. First, it was a birthday cake for someone, and I love to bake for others. Second, it's a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream, which is a combination that is often underrated. Third, it was a cinch to frost because it was more like painting to swirl the three colors. The sprinkles added a fun touch and nice crunch. This came from the Sweetapolita website, which is my favorite spot to look for cake ideas. She makes beautiful and delicious cakes. I hope that I will be as good as she is one day!
These were really fun to make. Making candy is like working in a chemistry lab! I do not find store-bought candy corn to be very appetizing-it tastes like flavorless wax. I was pleasantly surprised to find that homemade candy corn is much tastier and has a softer texture. This recipe came from the cookbook Sugarbaby by Gesine Bullock-Prado. She has fantastic recipes that got me interested in candy-making, and I've been cooking with sugar ever since!
