. jAmmy dOdger cUpcakes . { cUpcakes with added cOokie cUteness } .

it's monday morning . it's a grey drizzly day . maybe you are still wishing it was the weekend ? maybe you are still wishing it was summer ? maybe you are mourning the end of National Cupcake Week ? maybe you are mourning the end of The Great British Bake Off as we know & love it ? fear not . whilst i may not be able to bring back the weekend . or . summer . or . the Bake Off back to BBC . i can bring you cupcakes . & . who can be sad when they're holding a cupcake ?

and these aren't just any old cupcakes . oh no . these are { my attempt } at creating a shOwstOpping cupcake for Bumpkin Betty's Baking Club challenge for September . after much deliberating about what to bake for this months Showstopper challenge once again the baking gOds looked down upon me & threw me a cupcake case sized clue in the shape of last weeks National Cupcake Week . in order to save myself from days weeks of further flavour deliberation an sOs message was dispatched to my sister who speedily replied with a suggestion of raspberry or lemon .

so how do you make a cupcake into a shOwstopping cupcake ? i'm still not sure i have the answer to that . but if the time it took to make these is anything to go by these are well & truly of the shOwstopping variety . and by the way . apron's off to those in the Bake Off tent working under those time constraints . i was baking these All Day Long ! though granted you don't see the Bake Off bakers faffing & styling their ingredients / batter / cupcakes / cookies to get the best instagram & blogging shot do you ?

taking my sister's suggestion of raspberry i decided on a simple vanilla cupcake with a hidden centre of homemade raspberry jam . a vanilla swiss buttercream . & . topped with a homemade jammy dodger . because what's better than a cupcake ?  a cupcake with a cookie on top . obviously !

 

making your own jam can seem scary . but it really isn't . & . it's super easy to make a small batch too . the roasting in the oven brings out all the juices & it really is worth taking the time to sieve those pips out too .

 

the homemade biscuits come together in no time at all though it's worth taking the time to chill the dough as instructed in the recipe . & . i also chilled it again when it had been cut into individual biscuits as i think it hold's it's shape a little better in the baking .

 

this was the first time i'd made this recipe . which is the { infamous } Magnolia Bakery's vanilla cupcake recipe . verdict . sO so sO good . this is now my go to cupcake recipe . { sorry hUmmingbird bAkery ! } . i baked mine in baking cups rather than cupcake cases as they're a little more sturdy and you don't need to bake using a baking tin . not to mention that they come in cute colours & patterns .

 

a final dusting of icing sugar . & . there you have it . 

& maybe we haven't solved the problem of mOnday mornings . rainy days . or . the demise of the Bake Off . but please tell me these cupcakes have cheered you up . just a little ?

thankyOu to Bumpkin Betty for another challenging challenge this month . & . as always if you fancy joining in with the baking then pop over to the Baking Club's facebook group . where you can see what all the other bakers have been baking for this month's challenge .

. have a chEery dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . a beautifully illustrated list of aUtumn essentials . { blankets & boots are ready } .

. 2 . think i'd be happy spending my aUtumn wrapped up on a blanket & bonnet .

. 3 . a perfect aUtumn outfit . { puts bow blouse & braces on to buy list } .

. 4 . i lOve gOrgeous has gone wild with a boys cOllection launching this aUtumn .

. 5 . Fall . 2016 . { illustrated in a wonderfully surreal style } .

. 6 . how incredibly cosy does this lUxe blanket look ?

. 7 . note to self . { mUst learn how to crochet } .

. 8 . hEllo aUtumn .

. 9 . to add to my " to read " list . { " to read " snuggled up under blanket . see above } .

. & . finally . it's bOtanical week on the BakeOff .

. & . i'm being inspired by this Quinntessential woodland wonderland cake .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy weekEnd .

. 1 . a little in lOve with this knitted Miffy .

. 2 . a little in lOve with these striped jumpers .

. 3 . a little in lOve with this baby heart blanket .

{ ok . maybe the baby too ! } .

. 4 . already thinking of cosy coats .

. 5 . jUst a little bit adOrable . Small Steps are Giant Leaps .

. 6 . jUst a little bit adOrable . Drawn By Rebecca Jones .

. 7 . in need of some instant comfort . & . a little bit of sparkle ?

. 8 . my thought for today .

. 9 . in need of an excuse for cake ?  National Cupcake Week starts on Monday .

{ yes . a whole week of cupcakes ! } 

. & . finally . it's Pastry Week on the BakeOff . starting with the Danish Breakfast variety .

. have a very sweet weekEnd .

. hAppy weekEnd .

. 1 . lOving this painted by Eithne Roberts . 

{ showing at the AffordableArtFair in bristol this weekend } .

. 2 . wAtching this being created by Sam Pierpoint .

. 3 . drEamscape . dreamers can't be tamed .

{ beautiful new editorial for PapierMache }

. 4 . stOp & smell the roses whilst sUmmer still lingers .

. 5 . create your own blooms ready for aUtumn . 

{ embroidered blooms from bOtanical artist Fleur Lyon } .

. 6 . a touch of grandeur for Autumn from MarMarCopenhagen .

. 7 . cOunting down to Roald Dahl Day on the 13thSeptember .

{ if you are good . life is good . Matilda } .

. 8 . thOught for today .

. 9 . prObably The prettiest coffee pot i've ever seen .

{ from one of The prettiest blogs i've even seen } .

. & . finally . it's bAtter week on the BakeOff . hellO churros & chocolate . yUm !

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . starting to think about fAll . with all the new aUtumn cOllections .

{ sweet floral blouse by Caramel . shared on instAgram } .

. 2 . lOving these aUtumn colours . with the cUtest squirrels !

. 3 . this made me smile . beacuse it's so true !

{ lovely letter board by Letterfolk . shared by Christine } .

. 4 . when skies are dark . look for the stars .

. 5 . plAying this on loop at the moment . 

{ gUilty flOwers . by . WardThomas } .

. 6 . dreAming of next years holiday already ? be inspired by Beth of Local Milk .

. 7 . hOld onto the last of summer with these lovely sUnflowers .

{ accompanied by one of the Midland Candle Co's affirmation candles . be bOld } .

. 8 . my thought for sEptember . 

. 9 . lOvely back to school stationery shouldn't just be for littleOnes !

{ did you know sEptember is the new January ? better get making those resolutions } .

. & . finally . it's bread week on the BakeOff . & . i may just practice with this rather lovely rye loaf .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hEllo sEptember .

{ do all things with kindness }

hEllo sEptember

. lOving reading Jane Eyre .

{ i would always rather be happy than dignified }

. doodling & drawing .

. baking along to the BakeOff .

. window shopping the new season in London .

&

. wistfully dreaming of a little shop of my own at Top Drawer .

. enjoying a stitch&bitch session at SewBrum .

and

. ending the month with coffee and cake .

. have a hAppy & kind dAy .

. lOvely lemOn viennEse whirls .

isn't it a wonderful thing when the stars align & you know that things are just meant to be . particularly when the thing that's meant to be is a baking lovely, light, buttery biscuits, filled with wonderfully tangy lemon curd and an ever so light & fluffy frosting ? this months baking challenge from Bumpkin Betty was to make one of the recipes baked by someone else . adding your own little twist . there were a few that made a { not so } short list . Betty's white chocolate & blackberry cake . 

Jaclyn's sweet potato brownies . Sophie's greek honey & pistachio cake . & . Jennie's Hong Kong coconut tarts . to name but a few . 

but . then . i took a peek at this week's BakeOff . biscuit week . with a technical challenge that sounded suspiciously like a Viennese Whirl . which i remembered spotting amongst last month's family favourite bakes . Joyce baked Viennese Fingers dipped in dark chocolate with a sprinkling of gold dust . { doesn't a sprinkling of gold make everything so much better ? } . with a lovely write up on her blog Happiness is Handmade . on how these brought back happy memories of afternoon tea . 

what better bake to make than these then . with . my own twist ?

a lovely fresh lemony addition of homemade lemon curd . an absolute favourite of mine . & . a super simple recipe from Nigel Slater . { which you can find here } . & . it pairs wonderfully with a light buttercream . making these viennese whirls a lovely light indulgence . { if light indulgence isn't too much of an oxymoron ! } .

i spy with my little eye the circles i marked out in an attempt to make them consistent in size . { yes, how very Bake Off of me ! } .

spot the odd one out ?  i may have also made a batch of chocolate orange whirls . if you swap around 25g of the flour for cocoa powder you'll have lovely chocolatey biscuits . then make a simple ganache by grating the zest of one orange into 100ml of double cream . heat it to just before boiling point then add 100g of finely chopped dark chocolate . leave to stand to allow the chocolate to melt in the heat of the cream then stir to combine . i added the juice of half an orange too . place in the fridge to harden . then pipe as before . 

very very very lovely . 

and so . along with a cup of tea . i'm ready for biscuit week on the Bake Off .

thank you again to Bumpkin Betty for another lovely baking month . if you'd like to join in the baking head over to her facebook page . & . you can drool over all the other sweet treats the other bakers have been making .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . crUshing on MattCrumps cute cAndy world .

. 2 . sisterly love snapped by house_of_douglas . & . shared by HelloLittleBirdie . 

. 3 . pink . gold . glittery . loveliness . with . unicorns !

{ gorgeous girliness by ModernQueenKids } .

. 4 . every girl needs her own sUper hEro cape . don't you think ?

. 5 . sUper cUte cOnfetti cAts . all . printed & produced by the sUper Julia Staite .

. 6 . despite the cuteness of the cOnfetti cAts . yEp . i'll be a plant lady before a cat lady . 

. 7 . everydAy mAgic . from . EnfantsTerribleMagazine . & . thegirllikesrainbows .

. 8 . lOng lOng lOng week . but . yay . lOng weekend ahead .

. 9 . is it time for big cOsy knits yet ? 

{ sunshine cardigan by LoopyMango } .

. & . finally . next week is biscuit week on BakeOff . & . i spy a whirling technical challenge .

{ these cranberry viennese whirls look just the thing to scoff whilst watching ! } .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . lOving this picture of such sweet siblings . shared by Katrien @growingwildthings .

. 2 . qUirky new label from Sweden . Civilliants . 

{ weirdly wonderful prints & cute photography } 

. 3 . gOrgeous new label from PuertoRico . NicaNica .

{ contemporary style & perfect for twirling in }

. 4 . gEtting in the Olympic Spirit with a little Stadium Glam from MiniMaven .

. 5 . On my weekend tOdO list . to create a bUllet journal .

{ track the past . organise the present . plan the future }

. 6 . On my wish IhAdOne list . to keep those threads tidy .

{ I heart Stitching . & . I heart Knitting }

. 7 . anOther beautiful image from Katrien with a lovely print from Frau Ottillie .

. 8 . my thought for today .

{ beautifully illustrated by Jessica Andriany }

. 9 . this weeks InstaCrush . @lianne.scher . of 1701CopperKitchen .

{ perfect serendipity in finding this just in time for the start of the BakeOff ! }

. & . finally . lOving the look of these lemon pOppy seed muffins . from Milk and Honey .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hEllo aUgust .

{ celebrate the little things }

hEllo aUgust

i'll be

. reading Where my Heart Used to Beat by Sebastian Faulks .

. enjOying a day in the 1950's at Compton Verney .

. making cards and buying gifts for family & friends birthday's .

. hoping the sun shines long enough to enjOy a picnic at Bakewell .

before ending the month

. watching the new series of The Great British BakeOff .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. prEtty prIntables . bAking bIts&bObs .

as i'm writing this post . i've also got one eye on the final of the bAke Off . i think i'm getting old as it doesn't seem five minutes since we were eagerly anticipating the first episode of the new series . as ever with the final it seems impossible to decide who will . & . who should win . one thing that never fails to surprise me though is how fickle bAking is . stAr bAker one week . out on your ear the next ?

but where baking might be a fickle thing . a not so good cake can always be pimped a little with a sUper cUte cake topper . or . some mArvellous mini bunting . so after a little bit of baking today { well it had to be done ! } i've put together some pretty printables for you .

{ tOo tOo cUte cAke tOppers }

download here . & . print onto a4 cardstock . 

cut out the cAke flags . & . use a 2" punch for the toppers . 

glue to cocktail sticks . & . adorn your cakes .

{ mArvellous mIni bUnting }

download here . & . print onto a4 cardstock . 

cut out the bUnting flags . & . fold in half .

glue to a piece of baker's twine . & . attach the twine to skewers . or . to some pretty straws .

{ rEally lOvely rEcipe cArds }

download here . & . here . & . print onto a4 cardstock . 

print ingredients one side . & . print instructions on other side . 

trim . & . scribble down your favourite recipes .

just watching the final three put the final touches to their shOwstOppers . who will win ? we'll have to wait & see . 

nO spOilers here !

. have a sweet day .

. hEllo oCtober .

i can't quite believe that we are on, what feels like, the countdown to the end of the year . the shops are filling up with wInter wOolies . with scAry gOodies for hallOween . & . chrIstmas crAckers and cArds .

oCtOber

a last bit of baking for the GreatBritishBakeOff final next week

{ but which classic british cake to make ? }

another trip down to lOndon town to see Audrey

&

just maybe a treat of afternoon tea at Bea's

after which i'll be running 13point1miles

{ to run off all that cake eating ! }

&

then it's onto making & baking lots of scariness for hallOween

{ another fun month }

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . the perfect aUtumn satchel in gorgeous aUtumnal colours from The Little Picture Company .

. 2 . keep your littleOne cosy in this uber cute fox duffle coat from Olive and Vince . { oh, & take a peek at the back of the jacket too ! } .

. 3 . lOving this fox art print from Studio Noodles . 

. 4 . adding this gorgeous tea towel from Orla Kiely onto my wishlist . { oh, & they are celebrating their 10th anniversary of their Covent Garden store on the 1stOctober } . 

. 5 . this aUtumn BonnieBaby gets all grown up into the BonnieMob with a fAb new collection . 

. 6 . the very lOvely Emma Lamb's book Crochet Home is out today . { including this beautiful blossom wreath } .

. 7 . start embracing aUtumn & make yourself a lovely leaf garland . 

. 8 . a thought for the weekend . { & thankyOu to Holly Becker for sharing } .

. 9 . start knitting your own faux deer with a super kit from Sincerely Louise . 

. and last . it's chocolate week on the GBBO next week . so lets celebrate & make this { very } indulgent chOcolate meringue pie . 

. have a very hAppy weekend .

. lOcal lOve . iced jems .

a few weeks ago . on a very rainy day . i entered a shop which immediately made me forget the grey & gloomy day i'd just stepped out of . a perfectly pastel haven of baking loveliness with an equally lovely owner.  Jemma is the very lovely proprietor behind Iced Jems . a self confessed baking & sweet obsessive she began blogging about her baking in 2011 . sharing her recipes . her baking successes { & a few not so successful experiments } & her wonderfully pretty baking bits & bobs . in particular it was these lovely baking accessories that seemed to catch people's eye & Jemma soon realised the opportunity for turning her hobby into something a little more .  

in 2012 Jemma opened a little on-line shop . that grew . & . grew . & . grew . 

& . grew into that pastel haven of baking loveliness . even though i don't know Jemma all that well, it's obvious that Iced Jems is Jemma to a T . quiet, lovely & welcoming, she looks so perfectly at home in her 50's pink kitchen that sits alongside the shop . as she says herself, this is her dream 50's pink kitchen, where she continues to bake up lovely cakes & sweets . & . also holds classes . everything from beginners classes on basic piping & frosting . to . iced cookies . & . { the cutest } mum & child cupcake decorating classes . 

the shop is a small slice of heaven for any baker { i was like a child in the proverbial sweet shop ! } . everything from aprons . to . sprinkles . & . cupcake cases . to . cookie cutters . Jemma tries every product she sells . often taking the opportunity to bake new things to feature on her blog . she is also collaborating with & supporting local businesses by developing products for the shop using local expertise . the shop itself is the combined efforts of Jemma & her family . all played a big part in building . painting . & . decorating Iced Jems into the treasure trove it now is . & . i think this sense of community & friendship is something that comes across when you are shopping in the store . 

i was going to apologise in advance for the length of this blog post . but . there were just too many lovely aspects of the shop to photograph & in the end i couldn't bear to leave many out . so . no apologies . just lOts of lovely pics . 

{ iced jems }

. Jemma's favourites .

. baking product . baking cups with lids .

. new product . Sugar&Crumbs flavoured icing sugar .

{ the strawberry milkshake flavour is sO good }

. thing to bake . cupcakes .

. cupcake flavour . red velvet .

. for foolproof frosting . 2D piping nozzle .

you can find Jemma's gorgeous shop here . or . shop on-line here . as you can see i couldn't resist leaving with a few pretty things for my baking . & . with a few more weeks left on The Great British Bake Off . plus Halloween { not to mention * whispers * Christmas } on the horizon . there are plenty of opportunities for baking & making in the weeks ahead . 

a big thankyOu to Jemma { & also to her mUm } for such wonderful hospitality . { not to mention the lovely little taste testing too ! } .

. have a sweet day .