The Crafting Chicks

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Chic Cupcakes

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**This giveaway is now closed**

oreo-cupcakes-thanksgiving-point

Ahhhh, cupcakes. How do we love them? These Chic Cupcakes are adorable, Let me count the posts. 🙂

Last week a few of the Chicks had a fabulous opportunity to attend a cupcake class along with several other Utah bloggers (Marcel Walker, Camille from Make It Work Mom, Allison of Petit Elefant, Melissa of ISLY to name a few) hosted by Utah Mama and the Emporium at Thanksgiving Point. Now, I have made hundreds of cupcakes in my life, especially since it’s practically part of the job description of motherhood. But I was eager to learn some tricks of the trade from a professional pastry chef! And this cupcake class did NOT disappoint!

Thanksgiving Point Emporium cupcake-class1

Chef Sara Voortmeyer shared her very own recipes, great baking tips and hilarious stories as she whipped up FIVE different flavors of cupcakes and delectable frostings! Talk about multi-tasking! She was fabulous and surely knows her stuff–at one time Sara was the head pastry chef at Tuscany and now is a private caterer in addition to teaching a variety of classes. We learned how to make Oreo Cupcakes, Citrus Cupcakes, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes (ohmygoodness), Mocha Latte Cupcakes, and Coconut Cupcakes—how to make them taste delicious AND look chic at the same time!

Here are the Citrus Cupcakes, made with zest from fresh lemons and limes:

citrus-cupcakes-thanksgiving-point

Before frosting (above) and now here they are after Sara made them super chic. 🙂 They tasted so light and fresh, perfect for summer parties!

frosted-citrus-cupcake-thanksgiving-point

Here are a few little practical tips Sara shared:

  • all ingredients for cakes and cookies should be at room temp (like eggs and butter)
  • all ingredients for pastries and things with crusts should be ice cold (this will help create flaky crusts that you want)
  • Scoop flour into measuring cup with a spoon to keep it light and fluffy
  • Mexican vanilla is yummy
  • use a pastry bag to fill cupcake liners as well as to add pretty frosting (use a pastry tip to make the fancy frosting)
  • to cream and fluff ingredients, use the whisk on your mixer
  • for cake, cheesecake and cookies, use the paddle on your mixer
  • how to use real vanilla beans
  • put an “indicator” on top of the frosting to give people a little clue as to the flavor of the cupcake (such as the mini Oreos as shown in the photo at the top of this post)
  • Sara’s favorite kitchen gadget (besides her beloved Kitchenaid) is her microplane for zesting!

One of my favorite recipes was the Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcake. Oh mama mia. I basically shoved it into my mouth, much like the way I tell my kids NOT to eat their food. 🙂 We’ll be sharing this recipe soon, so stay tuned for that! But here’s a little teaser. . . .

peanut-butter-and-jelly-cupcakes-thanksgiving-point

Mmmm, I can practically smell the peanut buttery yumminess through my computer screen. Thank you so much Utah Mama and Thanksgiving Point!

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and now we want one of YOU to enjoy a class too! The Thanksgiving Point Emporium has graciously offered a complimentary cooking class to one of our readers!

The winner receives one free cooking session of their choice from the great variety of classes available here at the Emporium at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Maybe if you choose wisely, you’ll get to take a class from the talented SaraVoortmeyer, but I’m sure all of the classes are amazing! 🙂

To enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post (make sure you include your email so we can contact you if you win). You must enter by midnight on Friday July 30, 2010 to be eligible. All entries after the deadline will not be considered for this giveaway. *Note: These classes are offered locally in Lehi, Utah, so you need to be able to travel here if you are the winner!

For extra entries if you are interested, you can also leave a separate comment for each and tell us if you:

  • Become a follower or subscriber of The Crafting Chicks
  • “Like” The Crafting Chicks on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/craftingchicks)
  • Follow us on Twitter (@craftingchicks)
  • Add our button to your blog (see sidebar)
  • “Like” Thanksgiving Point on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ThanksgivingPoint)
  • Subscribe to the “Today’s Mama” newsletter (http://www.todaysmama.com)

The winner will be announced on Saturday, July 31, 2010. And then they will have to invite us all over to show off their awesome new cooking skills. 🙂 Just kidding (sort of). GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanksgiving Point

3003 N. Thanksgiving Way

Lehi, UT 84043

About Brooke

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Comments

  3. Mollie says

    Oh I am so jealous! Can’t wait for you to share the recipe:o) I would love to take a class at Thanksgiving Point…the kitchen is amazing!

    Reply

  8. Ellie g says

    I was so inspired by your post…that I decided to watch an episode of cupcake wars on The Food network. I’m all about cupcakes. Even fancy ones. I even have bags and tips. But I’m not jumpin on the wagon for the bacon frosting yet. Bacon? In my frosting? I like bacon, I love frosting. But thusfar they have been my friends that don’t meet. It was an interesting evening. I will propose a demonstration by the party attendees however. You can all come over show off your skills Food Network style at my bar. Then I’ll have a panel of distingushed judges proclaim the winner. Yes? Let’s do it!!

    Reply

  9. Vicki R says

    Oh MAN! This is so cool! I get the TP emails but I never have taken any of the classes. I’d so love to give this a try 🙂 Pick me!!

    Reply

  10. Vicki R says

    Ok, so I’m a Fan on FB 🙂 How could I resist since I love to check out your website all the time?!

    Reply

  11. Vicki R says

    And, finally, I have become a follower…yes, its true. I should have become one long ago when J&J took our family pics 🙂

    Reply

  22. Brittany says

    I love cupcakes, I wish I would have gone to this class. Cooking is a favorite past time of mine and I would love to win.

    Reply

  26. Lynette says

    The cupcakes look delicious! I would love to learn more about cooking…I think my husband and kids would like if it I did also!!!

    Reply

  34. Alisa says

    I love to bake. I get into baking moods all the time, which is so fun but bad for my waist line. I would love to learn tips for making my baking better.

    Reply

  43. kim pennington says

    I am such a fan of your blog. I love it. so many cute ideas and fun crafts, food etc.. I would love a chance to win the cooking class.

    Reply

  48. Jen says

    This would be so awesome to win this! I’m turning 30 on July 30 and I have a list of 30 goals I really wanted to accomplish before my b-day. One of them included taking a cooking class, but I couldn’t find one within my budget, so this would be amazing!

    Reply

  55. Jennifer says

    I’ve been wanting to improve my cooking skills for awhile, so this would be wonderful! Love Thanksgiving Point too!

    Reply

  56. Jamie H says

    Oh boy do I need this class…

    I just put a frozen meal in the oven for the third time this week! Yikes

    Reply

  61. Kiersten Cooke says

    I love, love, love the cupcake obsession people are in lately….I would love to take one of these classes!

    Reply

  63. Merlene Barlow says

    It would be so fun to take a class at Thanksgiving Point. Such a fun place! Love the cupcakes and all your posts

    Reply

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