AfewweeksagomymomandIhadthepleasureofmeetingKarinSlaughter,crimewriterandauthorofthe recentlyreleasedbookUndone,attheRandomHouseBookFair.Wegottospendsometimewithher,hear heramusingstories,andlaughoften.Aftertradingbookswithusshecameupwiththeideaofhavinga cupcakecontestforherfans.Ilovedtheidea,so,hopingtoinspireothers,Icameupwith5newcupcake designs.Andheretheyarewithstepbystepdirections. FormoreinformationonKarinscontestvisit:http://www.karinslaughter.com/cupcakes.shtml Enjoy! LivandKayeHansenfromTheWhimsicalBakehouse(www.whimsicalbakehouse.

com)

Karin Slaughters Cupcake Contest

Theamountandtypeofdecorations,icings,andcolorsyouneedmaydifferdependingonwhichcupcake designyouchoosetomake.Refertoindividualdirectionsforspecificdecorationandcolorneeds. Todownloadthetemplatesvisit:http://www.whimsicalbakehouse.com/img/karintemplate.pdf Cake:1224cupcakesofyourchoice Icing:1recipeKidsButtercream(seebake)and/orMattsFudge(seebake)accordingtowhatsappropriate foryourdesign Miscellaneous:one12moldmuffinpan,pastrycones,KarinSlaughtertemplates(download),1halfsheetpan orflatworksurface,parchmentpaperorcellophane

What you will need:

DAGGER CUPCAKE
Whatelseyouwillneed: Decoration:Approximately1/2cupdarkwafer chocolateand1cupswhitewaferchocolateon handtomakedaggersand1tuberedpipinggel Colors:Redliquidgelcolorandblackandyellow candycolor 1. Meltthedarkwaferandwhitewafer chocolatesseparately.Usingthetemplateprovided make1224daggersasillustratedintheChocolate Method(formoreinformationrefertoourbookthe WhimsicalBakehouseFuntoMakeCakesthatTaste asGoodasTheyLookortheChocolatePortraitin StepbyStep).Tomake24daggersyouwillneed approximately2tablespoonsdarkchocolate,2 tablespoonslightbrownchocolate,2tablespoons yellow,2tablespoonswhite,and4tablespoonsgrey chocolate.Setasidethecompleteddesignstoharden. 2. Bakethecupcakesandletthemcool completely.Forbestresults,freezeforatleast1 hour.Meanwhile,preparetheKidsButtercream. Icethecupcakes.Eachcupcakewillneed approximately2tablespoonsofbuttercream. 3. Preparebetween2tablespoonstocup redbuttercream.Ifyouhaveuntintedgel,tint2 tablespoonstocupred(ifnotpurchaseasmall tubeofredgel).Placetheredbuttercreamandgel intoseparatepastrycones.Cutamediumholeat thetipofeach.Pipearedamoebicshapewith buttercreamontopofthecupcake.Piperedgel aroundtheredbuttercreamasanaccent.

4. Ifneeded(toremoveanybumpsorirregulartiesinthepipedchocolate)gentlytrimthesharpedgeof thedaggerwithaparingknife.Pealthedaggeroffthecellophaneandinsertintothecupcakeabout 1/4icnhtoinch.Tofacilitatethis,andtopreventthechocolatefrombreaking,youcanfirstpressa realknifeintothecupcake.Pipeadditionalgeluppartofthedagger.

Whatelseyouwillneed: Decoration:Approximately1/2cupdarkwaferchocolateand1cupswhitewaferchocolateonhandto makegravestonesandhands,1tuberedpipinggel,andcupchocolatecookiecrumbs Colors:Redandgreenliquidgelcolorandblackandorangecandycolor 1. Meltthedarkwaferandwhitewaferchocolatesseparately. Usingthetemplateprovidedmake1224daggersasillustrated intheChocolateMethod(formoreinformationrefertoour booktheWhimsicalBakehouseFuntoMakeCakesthatTasteas GoodasTheyLookortheChocolatePortraitinStepbyStepand seepicturesfromDaggerCupcake).Tomake24handsand gravestonesyouwillneedapproximately2tablespoonsdark chocolate,2tablespoonswhite,2tablespoonsfleshcolor(can bemixedwithorangeororangeandmelteddarkchocolate)and 6tablespoonsgreychocolate.Setasidethecompleteddesigns toharden. 2. Bakethecupcakesandletthemcoolcompletely.Forbest results,freezeforatleast1hour.Meanwhile,prepareMatts FudgeIcing.Icethecupcakes.Eachcupcakewillneed approximately2tablespoonsofbuttercream.Sprinklecookie crumbsontopofeachcupcake.

BURIED ALIVE CUPCAKE

3. Preparebetween2tablespoonstocup greenbuttercream.Ifyouhaveuntintedgel,tint2 tablespoonstocupred(ifnotpurchaseasmall tubeofredgel).Placethegreenbuttercreamandgel intoseparatepastrycones.Cutamediumholeatthe tipofeach. 4. Pealthegravestoneandhandoffofthe cellophaneandinserteachintothecupcakeabout 1/4icnhtoinch.Tofacilitatethis,andtoprevent thechocolatefrombreaking,youcanfirstpressareal knifeintothecupcake. 5. Piperedgelblooddrippingfromthehand. Pipegrassaroundthecupcaketodothisplacethe pastryconesoitjustskimsthesurfaceofthe cupcake,squeezeandholdinplaceuntilasmallball formsthenpullupasyoubegintoreleasepressureso thatapintformswhenyoutailoff.

 Whatelseyouwillneed: Decoration:Approximately1/2cupdarkwaferchocolateand1cupswhitewaferchocolateonhandto makeskullandbones,andcupchocolatecookiecrumbs 1. Meltthedarkwaferandwhitewaferchocolatesseparately andpourintoseparatepastrycones.Usingthetemplate providedmake1224skullsandsetsofbonesasillustratedin theChocolateMethod(formoreinformationrefertoour booktheWhimsicalBakehouseFuntoMakeCakesthatTaste asGoodasTheyLookortheChocolatePortraitinStepby Step).Setasidethecompleteddesignstoharden. 2. Bakethecupcakesandletthemcoolcompletely.Forbest results,freezeforatleast1hour.Meanwhile,prepareMatts FudgeIcing.Icethecupcakes.Eachcupcakewillneed approximately2tablespoonsofbuttercream.Inverteach cupcakeanddipitintoabowlofcookiecrumbssothatthe entiretopofthecupcakeisencrustedwithcrumbs.

SKELETAL REMAINS

3. Pealthebonesoff ofthecellophaneand inserteachoneintothe icing(usethephotograph asreferencefor placement).Ifneeded pipeadotoffudgeonthe undersideoftheboneto makeitstick.

BRAINS, YUM!

Note:Ifyoubake24cupcakes,yourfinalyieldwillbebetween12and18cupcakes(seestep1). Whatelseyouwillneed: Decoration:Approximately1/2cupdarkwaferchocolateonhandtopipelinebetweenbrainhalves Colors:Redorpinkandpurpleliquidgelcolor 1. Bakethecupcakesandletthemcoolcompletely.Forbest results,freezeforatleast1hour.Meanwhile,prepareKids Buttercream.Usingasmallserratedknifecutthetopsoffof 6cupcakes.Cutthesetopsinhalftoformtwosemicircles. Spreadaspoonfuloficingononesemicircleandplacethe otherhalfontop.Adherethistothetopofanuncutcupcake withadotoficing.Ifdesired,pealthepaperoffofthe bottomhalfofthecutcupcakeandusingaserratedknife carvethecylindricalformintoahemisphere.Adheretothe toptoanuncutcupcakewithadotoficing.Ifyouchooseto onlyusethecupcaketopsyouwillyield12decorated cupcakes,ifyouuseboththetopandbottomyouwillyield 18. 2. Icethecupcakes,butitisokifcakeshowsthrough.Each cupcakewillneedapproximately2tablespoonsofbuttercream.

3. Preparethetintedbuttercream:1cuplightpink/mauve(pink combinedwithalittlepurple),cupmediumpink/mauve,and cupdarkpink/mauve.Usingasmallmetalspatula(orbutter knife)spreadathinstripofthedarkpinkuponesideofapastry bagorcone.Spreadastripofmediumpinkuptheinsideofthe bag/cone,adjacenttothefirst.Filltherestofthebag/conewith thepalepink.Cutamediumholeatthetip.

 4. Meltthedarkwaferchocolateandpouritinto apastrycone.Cutamediumholeatthetipandpipea linerunningfromthebaseofonesidetotheother, bisectingthebrain. 5. Pipesquigglylinesalloveronesideofthe chocolateline.Todothisplacethepastryconesoit justskimsthesurfaceofthecupcake,squeezeand holdinplaceuntilasmallballformsthenmovethe bagrandomlyaroundthesurfaceofthecupcakeso thatthelinenevercompletelyoverlapsitself,but alwaystouchesitself(sothatnocakeshowsthrough). ThispipingapplicationisavariationonCornellilace.

6. Repeatontheoppositesideofthechocolate line.

 Whatelseyouwillneed: Decoration:Approximately1/2cupdarkwaferchocolate Colors:Redorpinkliquidgelcolor(orcolorofyourchoice)

WHODUNIT?

1. Bakethecupcakesandletthemcoolcompletely.Forbestresults,freezeforatleast1hour. Meanwhile,prepareKidsButtercream.Tintthebuttercreamlightpink,oryourchoiceofcolor.Icethe cupcakes.Eachcupcakewillneedapproximately2tablespoonsofbuttercream. 2. Meltthedarkwaferchocolateandpouritintoapastrycone.Cutasmallholeatthetipand,ontopof thecupcake,pipeaseriesoffinelinestoresembleafingerprint. 3. Stickyourfingersintheicingandlick.Takeabitoutofthecupcake