Monday, July 14, 2008

Jungle Animal Cupcakes

My friend Jessica asked me to make animal cupcakes for her 3 year old daughter's birthday party. I'm glad I was up for the challenge because I really love how they turned out.

Baking is cathartic. I love measuring out the ingredients, flour, cocoa, sugar, and skimming off the top to be perfectly even. I love things to be perfect. So shoot me. The whole process is very exact, precise. It makes me happy and whole. Pouring the vanilla is my very favorite part. Sometimes I let the vanilla spill out over the teaspoon and pretend I didn't notice. I'm rebellious like that. Oh, and I love pouring the batter into the cups, that's also my favorite part.Baking smells really good too. Question: Is there anything that smells better than chocolate cake right out of the oven? I can't think of anything. Not one. Now that I think about it, eating chocolate cake is my favorite part. Yep, that's definitely my favorite. My sis agreed to come help me take on the Jungle Animal cupcake endeavor. I LOVE being in the kitchen with my sisters, it's one of those joys in life that I hope never grows old, even when we do. Three dozen custom cupcakes is a big job, and I could not have done it without her! As you can see, we take this baking stuff really seriously.Decorating is really fun too. The icing on the cake is the paint on the canvas and allows for any and all creativity to be explored. For example, trying to get that perfect "jungle-y" yellow. I'm happy to say, we got it right.
I hear a stampede coming...
[drum roll please]
What is your favorite one? My favorite are the elephants. And the monkeys. No, the zebras. Well, actually the loins. Yeah, definitely the loins-zebras-monkeys-elephants are my favorites.

Inspiration from fish outa water and sara bakes cakes.

33 comments:

Two Wheeler said...

I only tasted the disfigured animals, but they sure did taste good too!

tjneumann said...

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to thank you again! I'm so excited you've already posted this! The cupcakes were a hit at the party. They were every bit as delicious as they were cute. Wow!! You should go on America's Got Talent, I wonder if they'd have enough time to allow you demo your mad-cupcake-baking skills!! My family sends their compliments and thanks you as well. How lucky are we to have experienced such art for a 3-yr old b-day party!!!??? By the way, Afton was a jabber mouth the whole way home last night & kept talking about the monkey-bears (she picks up on a lot when she sits there nice and quiet!). She couldn't wait to eat them and when the time came, she stood next to her initial decision that the zebra was her favorite! She gobbled that poor guy up (he didn't stand a chance). You're the best! And thank you to Brook, too. You are a dynamic duo!! I know you guys sacrificed a whole day on our behalf so thank you thank you thank you again!!! Much love- Jess

{lizzythebotanist} said...

very very cute. is it too early to put in an order for nash's second birthday party (november)? i'd like to see some toucans as well, though. i think you've got it in you.

{lizzythebotanist} said...

oh, and i like the monkeys and lions best. the elephants sort of freak me out if i look too long (just like the real ones).

The P*dunc's said...

I love them all, and the aprons, too!

You really need to open a cupcake shop. I would be your most loyal customer! Probably your chubbiest, too!

Jill & Seth said...

They are adorable. I wish I had some of that skill. :)

The Adams Family said...

Like always, your cupcakes were amazing! I hope that someday I can be half the chef you are. Okay, I would also settle for 1/8 of the chef you are.

Lisa P. said...

Gina- You are way too humble, you said they turned well. These are way beyond that, they are incredible, professional, absolutely delightful. Way-to-go, I am telling you GinaBina's cupcakes shop is just calling your name and needs to be established, ASAP!!

sarah marie. said...

did you seriously make these? sheesh! they are incredible. i think the elephants are my favorite.

Shauna said...

How cute!! I'm hiring you for Boston's birthday parties...ha ha. Looks like you had a blast making them. You're very talented cuz!

Persnickety Prints said...

You two are some talented chicks! Watch out Rachel Ray! :)

Mindi said...

are you freakin KIDDING ME???!!!

those were spectacular. really!

i hate that 3 year olds ate them, though. don't do that again. save them for special people. like me.

Devin Peirce Photography said...

Those are some good lookin' portraits of some cupcakes!
I'm sure they taste great, too! :)

Chris & Courtney said...

My heart fluttered with excitement when I saw your cupcakes! I love baking and have been inspired on more than one occasion by your creations. Thanks for sharing your work--it's fabulous!

Tuttles said...

You are amazing...Amazing! These are beautiful! You are so freaking talented, I can't even believe it. I agree with Lisa, when is this cupcake shop taking off?

Kim and Layne said...

Wow. You are amazing. I love them all, but have a soft spot for the elephants. I am going to have to have you cater Lily's 2nd birthday, because you are really good and what you do. Amazing. Really, awesome. I mean fantastic.

Debbie said...

How the crap did you make the elephants? Those look really hard to make, Good job!

Tiffani Ford said...

Are you freaking kidding me....UNREAL GINA!!!

Unknown said...

These are awesome! Happy to have provided some of the inspiration!

Jill & Seth said...

Well, I am posting a memory about you cause thats the rules of the game...There are many things I remember about you, like way back in high school watching you at the dances and wishing I could dance as cute as Gina. I also remember after you and Stacey came down to see Ryan, you came down again with I think your now sister in law to my apartment to say hi. Somebody parked behind you guys so you couldn't back out. Luckily there was some of their mail in their car with their apartment # so we could go tell them to move. I remember thinking how cool it was that you would take the time to stop by, even though you were with somebody else. Love ya girl!!

j e s s i e said...

You are so talented Gina!!!!!
I swear you can do everything and do it SOOO well!
For Tates BDay I am doing a Pirate theme party... any ideas?

Molly said...

OK, I think they're fantastic- OBVIOUSLY!- but I have a practical question. How do you make your frosting? I always have problems getting it just right. Will you teach me? Can I learn at your feet? I want to be like you!

Anonymous said...

HAHAHHA wow gina...looks like just from these comments, you could open up your own business! those are so so so cute! I can't believe how perfect they look-- hmm....move to chicago? open up a cupcake shop? i'm just brewing some ideas for us.... :) let's do it.

Jenn L. Stuart (Hall) said...

Oh My Gosh those are so cute :)

Allison said...

Okay now your just making me sick Gina...you've taken it way too far! Those are ADORABLE!!!

abbyjane said...

I HATE BAKERS! SO I HATE THEM ALL!

Okay, fine. I don't either. I like the lions-zebras-monkeys-elephants best too.

Heather said...

All I can say is WOW!! What amazing talent you have!

C*K*J said...

G---are you kidding me? These are AMAZING!!! You never cease to amaze me with your talents! I love them all!

Wildings said...

Are you SERIOUS right now Gina! You are way too talented to not do anything about it! I'd like to put an order in also. Hadley's 2nd birthday Oct. 14th, got it!?

CHUNTZ said...

THOSE ARE AMAZING GINA...your pics look like they are right out of a mag too!

Jana said...

Hi, Gina! I'm Lacy's sister-in-law, Jana. I saw this post a while ago and LOVE how the cupcakes turned out. Very talented chicas! Anyways, I'm having a party for my son, Cole, who's turning 6. It's a BEN 10 party and was wondering if you would want to make cupcakes for the party? You probably have NO idea what BEN 10 is (I didn't until about 6 months ago.), but you can google it. Let me know what you think.... and how much you'd charge. :)

Jana
jmd621(at)comcast(dot)net

gina bina said...

Jana,
Um...you're right, I have NO CLUE who the heck BEN 10 is! I'll have place a call to my 9 year old nephew, pronto.
But I'll email you so we can discuss what you have in mind.
Not sure whether I should kill Lacy or hug her for talking me up so much!!

Lacy said...

Just hugs for me G!!