Last Thursday, I revisited an old favorite pastime: Cupcake Decorating!
On this particular occasion, it was for the club, Circle of Friends, with which I’ve been involved for the last two years.

With only a day to decorate forty cupcakes, there wasn’t enough time to make fondant critters. I had to think of something quicker. So, after perusing the candy aisle at the grocery store, I came up with:

(Note to vegans: The Teddy Grahams are vegan. The Lifesaver gummies, however, are not. I didn’t even think about the fact that they might contain gelatin until after I’d gotten them home.)

But the cupcakes, themselves, are vegan (from VCTOTW), as is the Pillsbury icing. I thought I was so clever to put Teddy Grahams into lifesaver candies… but it turns out other people have had the same idea! Oh well; great minds think alike, I guess.
(The brown “sand” is maple sugar.)

Please excuse the messy edges. The nails were newly-painted.
Nail polish tip: Don’t worry about staying in the lines when you polish your nails, and don’t bother taking off the polish that gets on your skin. It’ll come off naturally by the next day (especially if you take a shower) and your nails will look perfect. Promise..















My best party dishes are either cupcakes (wooo… cupcakes!) or my vegan mexican dip. It’s guac, salsa and follow your heart cheese, then a tofu soy sour cream mixture with taco seasoning mixed in, then more cheese on top. Pop in oven for 10 minutes and you’re in HEAVEN.
Just found your blog. You are beautiful! Hope you check out my blog too :).
Those cupcakes are adorable! Love them, Katie. You are so creative.
Yes, I’ve made food for parties and potlucks lots of times. I usually make a vegetarian chili, or a big fruit salad. I’m more into cooking than baking, so I stick to healthy main dishes and sides.
two things i must add to my life list:
1. get katie to paint my nails
2. beg katie to make me a batch of muffins which i will pretend im sharing with a group or party.. then secretly devour them all to myself!! <3 <3
can i just tell you how adorable the 'side swimming' teddy bear is. haha
the fact that you are a part of 'The Circle of friends' makes me an even bigger fan of yours. im so glad to know generous selfless beautiful people such as you!
Now aren’t those the cutest li’l cupcakes! You always have that adorable way about you and it clearly rubs off on your kitchen creations.
And as for your famous hug-a-fat campaign, does frosting count as a fat?? 🙂
Your cupcakes are so cute, you are so creative! And I love Desperate Housewives 🙂
So cute! I love chocolate Teddy Graham’s 🙂
I love them! Chocolate bears in life saver rings on the beach. I’d say it’s definitely one of the most creative decorations I’ve seen. 🙂
I love decorating cupcakes too, actually. And all baked goods. I usually bring cupcakes or cookies to parties or events. Then I can eat the batter while I’m baking 🙂
I tend to be the from-scratch cook or baker for get-togethers. Lots of pies, tarts, tamales, homemade pasta, etc.. I’m essentially Grandma in 28 year old form, and I blame living on a mini-farm for perpetuating a wholesome, pioneer, I-bake-bread-everyday-image. It amuses me – I’m from NYC, and I didn’t cook a darned thing until I was at least 18. Let alone milk a goat.
Oh my gosh Katie, those are the cutest cupcakes I’ve ever seen. You are so darn creative – I love it, and I’m sure the cupcakes tasted great as well.
My go-to party dish is my homemade pimiento cheese. I serve it with Stacy’s pita chips, and if I show up without it, people get mad…which I take as a compliment. 🙂
What a fun cupcake presentation, Katie! You really went the extra mile. 🙂
I never go to a gathering empty-handed. Though it would be smart to use a go-to recipe, I usually take the opportunity to experiment with a new dish. The results are usually pretty good, though I err on the side of too healthy (according to my husband)! I rarely bring home leftovers, though!
“I get that a lot”
that is depressing.
I am so glad that bear-shaped items can still be vegan. no matter how many animal products one cuts out of their diet, bear consumption remains. honey too! but not gummy bears I guess
Love the idea of using Teddy Grahams for decoration! (Tasty decoration, I might add).
I usually bring guacamole or one of the sweet dips (don’t remember the name) from Eat Drink & Be Vegan. They usually go over well:)
Well, I’ve never seen teddy grahams in gummi lifesavers, therefore I will believe you invented it.
I make dishes for gatherings all the time. And either everyone is just being nice to me, or they all really like them. Not to toot my own horn or anything 😉
Hey Katie!
Is it ok if I hug my favorite deep fried food? I know “deep fried” isn’t healthy, but it’s mushrooms, so it’s not like it’s cheese sticks or anything ;). If not, I understand and I’ll be happy to hug something else!