Sunday, February 13, 2011

Spring Fling Strawberry-Pineapple Cupcakes

Yesterday I made cupcakes - not just any cupcakes, though, as these ones:
  • were made to have with family and friends along with some champagne to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary,
  • were a trial-run of the recipe that we'll be using for Malcolm and Christie's wedding in May,
  • and were used by me to practice taking food photographs.
If you recall in a previous post (here) I looked at eight ways to take better food photos.  I have never taken a picture of food that I was happy with, until now that is.  I'm not looking for perfection, just photos that make you want to try the food.  I knew I had done just that when William walked by the computer and said that my pictures made him want to go and eat a cupcake.


The cupcakes tasted fantastic and just in case you want to make some for your sweeties for Valentine's Day, I've posted the recipe. 


The recipe is from the recent Kraft Canada What's Cooking magazine.  Christie's Grandmother has used the recipe in the past and recommended it.  It's one of those recipes that is easy to make, yummy, and looks good.


The original recipe called for using an angel food cake mix, but I used a white cake mix - either way would be good. 


To make the icing you mix together:
1 pkg (4-serving size) Jell-O Vanilla instant pudding
1 can (14 fl oz/398mL) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping

You gently stir the ingredients together and then spread it on the cooled cupcakes.  Top each cupcake with a half strawberry.



The photo-shoot of the finished cupcakes was a lot of fun.  Here's a look at my set-up.   I taped some craft paper to a chair and then changed the backgrounds in the pictures by using a couple of pieces of scrapbooking paper, a paper doily, and some different plates.  I made sure the light coming in from the window was at 10:00 as per the tips in my food photography post.  And that's as fancy as I got.


And just so you know - the cupcakes were sampled and come with our stamp of approval.


Linked to Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style 
and Bokeh Party at Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures
and Friday Photo Challenge at Razmataz

21 comments:

  1. The things we do to get a good shot!

    Love the roll fo Kraft paper....have to try that one.

    They look amazing. I was at a wedding this summer and they had beautiful cupcakes, but they were disappointing as the icing was that cheap bakery shortening stuff. Love that you are making homemade and testing them ahead.

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  2. congrats and gorgeous pictures!
    Love, Maaike

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  3. The recipe sounds great and easy. Your photography tips are paying off because those strawberries, especially in the first picture are perfect and look so yummy.!

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  4. YUMMMMMMOOOOOOO!!~ Fantastic photos. And yes I wanted one really bad LOL! XO

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  5. Your pictures look fantastic, Grace! You are soooooooo good with the camera. Thanks so much for posting the icing recipe. I think I should make a batch for my grandmother because she would love these! I am so happy that your taste testers approved of them. What an adorable idea for a wedding, especially a May wedding!

    xoxoxo,
    Ricki Jill

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  6. Oh my gosh your pics are awesome! Good job...I felt like I could reach out and grab one. They look delicious. Thanks for your nice comments on my blog re-do. I think I'm finally finished. It turned out better than I thought it would. Looking forward to your next post!

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  7. Wow! Your strawberry cupcakes looks heavenly and delightful!

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  8. Oh my! Those delightful cupcakes makes me go crazy about strawberries!

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  9. Nice food styling. They look delicious.

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  10. Oh! Those look soooo yummy! Mail me one please! Angie xo

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  11. Love cupcakes! And, these are so pretty - bet they were yummy too!

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  12. I love your cupcakes. They are wonderful. I have Cupcake Sunday on the fourth Sunday of each month. I would love to have you join. Great tip about the photo shoot.
    xo
    Betty @ My Cozy Corner

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  13. Oh yummy!! That icing looks delish & I plan on using it soon.

    Love the photography.

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  14. Gorgeous pictures! The cupcakes look so beautiful. Thanks for the icing recipe can't wait to try it out. Congratulations on 30 years!

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  15. Grace those sure look yummy. May have to whip these up. Thanks for sharing this yumminess.

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  16. Heading over to your tips, can see there is much I can learn from you.

    Congratulations with your anniversary. We should hear more often of people who want to stay married!

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  17. Your tips were handy Grace. I moved my chocolate so I could get the light at 10 oclock. Thanks for those. This shot should be on the cover of Canadian Living.

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  18. Grace, Happy Anniversary!..and these look delish,wish I had about three now. I am visiting from Razmataz Friday photo challenge..FOOD!
    ~Jo
    LazyonLoblolly

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  19. What great ideas you had for filming! I will have to try some of those. And those cupcakes look fantastic! Kit

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  20. Okay, you are so great. I just read the post below again, about light between 10-2 and commented...and now with the photo...it just clicked! Thanks! :)

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