I was woken early by roadworks. And as I’m likely to do when I have some spare time on my hands, I baked. I have lost many hours of precious sleep to the roadworks happening outside my door and it makes me very cranky so something soothing like baking gives me the balance I need. I noticed that they parked this enormous contraption during the day (a road ripper outer-er?) alongside my building to use it at night when the road is less busy. If I lose precious more sleep, I may have to consider listing the enormous thing on ebay-”to be picked up between the hours of 9-4pm only”. That’ll teach them to wake me!
Anyway, on to more important matters: cupcakes. I have an issue with florists around Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, the flowers seem to die a lot quicker when you buy them on either of those days as I think they must buy them a day or two earlier than they normally would to ensure that they get enough stock for patrons. So I prefer to save my pennies and buy flowers before or after those days. It annoys me when they only last 3 days and you’ve paid a premium for them.
Anyway I’m babbling off topic again, back to cupcakes. The foam and skewers are easy to do-all I used was the base from an Edible Blooms bouquet I received although the instructions are pretty simple to use a foam ball and skewers. I couldn’t find any hyacinths to stick between the cupcakes as it is approaching Mother’s Day and carnations and roses seem to have take over so I had to make do without.
I wasn’t able to get any orange rind so I used glace peaches. Cutting the sticky fruit up and placing it was actually the thing that took the longest so do put time aside for that if you’re in a hurry. The cake mix is a cinch and I found it made me exactly 24 of the tiny mini cupcakes that cooked in 10 minutes without a drop of cake mix to spare.
Orange peach cake
- 3-4 whole glace peaches
- 75 butter softened
- 1 teaspoon finely grated rind
- 1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons self raising flour
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 3 tablespoons yogurt or sour cream
Decorations
- 15cm polystyrene ball
- 24 skewers or double ended toothpicks
- 2 sheets tissue paper
- ribbon
- fresh flowers
- florist tape
- 2 x 12 mini cupcake baking trays lined with 24 mini cupcake liners
1. Cut each peach in half horizontally and then each half into small, thin strips-you will need to place 5 petals and 1 small piece as a centre for each flower so you’ll want at least 120 petals and 24 centres so it will take a while. Try not to cut them too thick.
2. Preheat the oven to 180c/160c fan forced.
3. Beat butter, rind, sugar and egg in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Before being baked
4. Stir in sifted flours and then yogurt or sour cream. Divide mixture among cases; smooth surface. Top each cake with 5 petals and a small centre piece.
After being baked, the cake has risen and because it’s on 160c it didn’t brown
5. Bake for 10 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
6. Using a serrated knife, cut about a quarter of the ball away, so that ball will sit flat. Using toothpicks or skewers, secure cakes to ball. Place bouquet on small stand, wrap with paper and ribbon. Blind ends of fresh flowers with florist tape, position flowers between cakes
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14 Comments | Add your own
I think the world is divided into two camps: those who find baking a chore and those who find it soothing. Although I’ve never made anything as fabulous as this on the spur of the moment, if deprived of sleep I am quite likely to get up, put on the radio and bake something. Similarly, when my children were small and I was stuck at home I would often ease my boredom by baking something fabulous in the afternoon, then I’d give almost all of it away to the neighbours or my husband’s workmates. Isn’t it lovely to step into a kitchen and create something delicious for both the eyes and the stomach?
By the way Lorraine, your food styling and photography is definitely improving. It was always very good but I can see a definite improvement over time.
You’ve got a lucky mummy!
Hi SydneyGal-Hehe you sound just like me, I try some of what I make and then just give most of it away. It’s my way of satisfying my creative side.
Thankyou so much! I’m trying to improve so it’s lovely to hear that you’ve seen an improvement. It’s hard to be impartial when it’s your own photos, I am my own worst critic!
holy mackerel, that’s an awesome bouquet. i’ll take a bouquet of cupcakes over silly ol’ flowers any day!
meanwhile, i’m sorry about the roadworks. i don’t have to deal with that (knock on wood), but there is a stupid mutt that barks at all hours of the night. so inconsiderate.
What a gorgeous presentation. I can think of so many people who would just love to receive something this unique and fun for Mother’s Day (especially me)
Awww, that’s lovely! I haven’t a creative bone in my body and could never successfully make a cupcake bouquet in a million years. Nice job!
Hi grace-thanks so much!
Oh yes, a dog is just as annoying, probably more as it’s not constant like drilling. I fully sympathise!
Hi giz-Thankyou! We had some people pointing to it and whispering when we brought it today. I think it was good whispering (well I hope anyway!
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Hi LisaRene-Thanks so much
Haha I’m not very creative, just frantic and I hope that everything works out in the end 
Ugh! I hate roadworks.. it really stresses me out to live with any kind of construction nearby. I don’t know how people living in brand new estates cope with all the new places being built around them?
A lovely idea for Mother’s Day, well done Lorraine! I don’t think I’ve ever seen glace peaches.. or maybe I’ve just not paid attention? Did you get yours from the supermarket?
I love yoghurt of sour cream in any cake batter (hence my banana bread recipe had it!).
This would be an excellent table centrepiece for *any* occasion!
The orange/peach combo sounds very good to me also.
You really have an artistic vision to create such a beautiful bouquet of flowers… it just looks too good to eat!
Hi Maria-I know, it’s so stressful and noisy. Thankfully tonight they’re not doing it. It doesn’t help that I’m a very light sleeper
Thankyou! I bought glace peaches from my favourite dried fruit stall at Paddy’s markets. They’re so fresh and good there. I don’t often see them where they’re purchased by weight, usually only the packs of glace fruit at health food stores.
I think yogurt and sour cream lend the cake a softness, apparently some chemical reaction? I don’t know but I always sour my milk in cakes with lemon juice. That’s my biggest hint for soft cakes.
Thanks again for your lovely comments!
Hi Tuulikki-Thankyou! Hehe I’m no artist but thanks for the compliment
OK…GORGEOUS ALERT…how clever you are. And I’m sure they taste as good as they look. Congrats and did you know you are on Food Buzz without being ON food buzz? That’s food fame!
Hi Tenina-Thankyou so much!
I had no idea I was there, thanks so much for letting me know 
This is a 1 year delayed comment, but these are perfect for mum’s day this year. Thank you thank you thank you – you are a genius!
Hi trisha-Hehe thankyou so much! You’re welcome and I hope your mum likes it
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[...] sure to use the best butter you can find. I was relieved to say that they were so much easier than last year’s cupcake bouquet which took a lot of time but was probably a more spectacular looking effort than these. However I [...]
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