On our recent trip to New Zealand I watched the movie Twilight on the plane. Initially, I was only partially interested because I am interested in all things slightly dark but dismissed it as Teen Fiction. I am not a Teen nor do I read a lot of Fiction. What I didn’t expect was to be completely entranced by the movie and as a result the book. I was then inspired to make these by Cakelaw’s Edward and Bella cupcakes. I was particularly taken by the image of the apple in the hand on the cover of Twilight.
When the flight attendant tried to ask me what I wanted for lunch while Twilight was on, I simply didn’t hear her. I was too engrossed. And when she asked me again I felt like getting one of those “Do Not Disturb” signs. Speaking of which, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to wear one of those during the work day when you just aren’t in the mood for human contact or non human as your colleagues might be. I was discussing this with friends and we discussed the idea of a “no contact” option on home delivered pizzas whereby one could order and pay for a pizza online and then tick the “no contact” option and have the delivery person leave it at the front door. I suspect we wouldn’t be the only ones taking it up either for loathe of wanting to change out of your PJs or brush your hair in an effort to look presentable.
Back to the cupcakes – I knew a Red velvet cupcake would have to do for this. After all there’s nothing more Vampirish than the redder than red of a blood red velvet. I will warn you that there is a lot of red colouring used in both the cake and the frosting so if you have issues with this or have some potentially hyperactive kids, friends or significant others, you can certainly make a chocolate cupcake and then frost it with the red icing to avoid doubling up on the food colouring. I wasn’t exactly faithful to the cover in that I painted my nails but I felt the shade was appropriate: Chanel’s Vendetta. As for serving suggestion, there’s no better one for your resident Twilight fan than cradling the little cupcake in your outstretched hands.
Twilight Cupcake
An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 60ml liquid red food coloring eg Pillarbox red
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups flour-sifted 2-3 times with cocoa below
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup buttermilk
To decorate: 1 dozen apple stems
Method
1. Cream butter; beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Add food colouring.
2. Add salt, flour and cocoa and vanilla alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
3. Line cupcake trays with liners and fill with batter. These do not have a raising agent in them so fill them fuller than you would usually, without overfilling. Bake in for 15-20 minutes at 175 degrees Celsius. When throughly cool, remove from bases and slice in half and fill with frosting and then ice top with cream cheese frosting using star tipped nozzle and piping bag (recipe below) and add heart shaped motif (or not).
Cream Cheese Icing
- 30g butter, softened
- 60g cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tube of Wilton red food gel (yes I’m serious, otherwise it just won’t be red enough)
- 1½ cups (240g) icing sugar mixture
1. Beat butter, cream cheese and extract in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, gradually beat in icing sugar and red food colouring gel.
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56 Comments | Add your own
I may be one of the few who haven’t read the book or seen the movie. I really need to get with it! Such a fun post!
Wow, great cupcakes!! I love Twilight! I haven´t seen the movie yet, can´t wait till it comes out on DVD here in Holland!
I love your painted nails. I think it really adds to the effect. The “cover” shot looks great.
they look so great, i love the picture of the hands! brilliant!
That picture is really stunning! On the colouring side, Hannah from bittersweet (http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/seeing-red/) did some experimenting with getting a natural hue for red velvet cupcakes
I LOVE that first photo, it’s brilliant.
Lovely photo! The cupcakes look brilliantly red! I like the sound of a “no contact” sign too.
Great picture!
Your Twilight cover is so cool! Maybe you could replace the stem with a fang and serve the cakes at your next Halloween party.
Gorgeous photo!
I haven’t got into Twilight. I kinda get put off when things become too popular or there is too much hype. … maybe one day!
I have a craving for red velvet now… mmmmmm
x
WOW. you’re twilight cover picture is so awesome! i don’t think i’d be able to handle all that red.. the choc option sounds good. now i just need to find someone to bake it for me
Stunning first picture! It’s beautifully spooky.
i love that pic so much i have shared it on facebook!
I saw the movie on the plane too!
I haven’t read the books yet.
Love your photo……
I haven’t read the books or seen the movie yet but I think these are the best Twilight cupcakes I’ve seen! You’re an amazing cook NQN
How fantastic! I love Twilight!
I absolutely love your photograph, holding the cupcake!! Too brilliant!! Oh my, the cupcakes look totally tempting, too… Love love red velvet cake!!
And I was wondering where I had seen this. My teen is a Twilight fan & I think she’s gonna love you for this Lorraine…maybe I should read the book, & then watch the film, while collecting stems of course! That’s a neat way to do it…
Looks incredible!
Where do you get your gel colourings from?
I may not have liked either the books or the movie, but the fact that it’s a Red Velvet cupcake sold the idea to me. It looks so luscious and decadent!
NIIIIICE! im a bit of a closet twilight fan heh and love your nails!
Hah! I LOVE it. The color is spot on and the cupcakes look quite tasty.
I tried to love the Twilight series but I was just put off by the teen angst and lack of plot – it felt too much like reading fan fiction.
But I definitely think I could get behind Twilight cupcakes.
WOW. That’s a great idea! I have been wanting to make red velvet cake for a while, just just before reading this, thinking about ways to make cupcakes without the cupcake pan. (Old houseshare stole ours)
Looks wonderful
Wow!! Awesome photo. I’ve always wanted to try red velvet cake so i think i’m going to give this a go
I gave the book to my niece for christmas and she said it was the best book ever (and she is a bookworm) – I am sure I will read it sometime as I hear it is not just for kids!
Inspired post – would love to try red velvet cake some day but the red food dye does scare me a little! Did the cake look really red inside?
Oh and I would love one of those please do not disturb signs – am sure it would get a lot of use!
Noo…..Twilight is evil ><! But those cupcakes aren’t….*now torn between yumminess of cupcakes and dislike of angsty wannabe-vampire teens*
Have you read all the Twilight books yet? Better than the movie by far although it’s nice to put a (very gorgeous face) to Edward (R.P. is the best thing abt the film). Lol I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Twilight tragic.
But I digress.
Loving the cupcakes Lorraine. What a great tribute!
Amazing photo! Now I’m craving a cupcake AND a big juicy apple at the same time
It’s a bit freaky, the exact same thing happened to me – I saw Twilight on the plane, and unexpectedly got slightly obsessed and read the entire book series in four days!
omg twilight -___________________- Just want to establish, Cupcakes = awesome, half nekkid guy covered in glitter = not awesome
hee hee
I love that picture of your hands holding the cupcake;really impressive!
Seriously impressive Lorraine. That amount of red colouring will certainly have the kids “all sugared up”
Hi Barbara-It was one of those things that I didn’t actively pursue but once I was in, I was hooked! thankyou
Hi Marthe-Thankyou so much!
I loved the movie, especially the casting of Edward! 
Hi Y-I know that they weren’t faithfl but they seemed so appropriate!
thanks!
Hi Pamela-Thankyou so much!
Hi Melle-Thankyou!
That’s very helpful-thankyou for the link! 
Hi Su-yin-Aww thankyou so much!
Hi Anita-Thanks!
they were freakishly red 
Me too, ah the day when it becomes normal to use one!
Hi Renee-thankyou!
Hi belle-Thanks so much!
Haha yes! Although I would love to do a new cupcake for Halloween, I can’t help it 
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Thanks!
Haha yes that can be off putting but do give it a try!
Hi Betty-Thankyou!
Yes it’s a lot of red but one plus is that one cupcake is a relatively small amount of colour (although eating the whole batch would be a bit crazy 
)
Hi Arwen-thankyou! That’s an excellent compliment
Hi tara-Oh wow, thankyou so much!
Hi Dina-Haha what a coincidence! Thankyou so much
Hi Kathy-Aww shucks thankyou so much! You are too kind!
Hi Bria-Thanks so much!
Hi Astra Libris-Thankyou very much!
Me too, I adore it so much! 
Hi deeba-haha I hope she liked it! Definitely, it’s not just for teens
Hi milli-thankyou! You can get Wilton colouring gels from most cake supply stores although I prefer powder ones but they are harder to find
Hi Midge-Hehe really? Ah well, yes if all else fails, it’s still red velvet
Hi chocolatesuze-hehe why a closet one? Thanks so much!
Hi ModernDomestic-Thankyou! We really worked at getting the colour just right
Perhaps I am a teen at heart-I sometimes feel like it!
Hi Angela-thankyou!
Oh no they stole your cupcake pan? I’d be so upset! I find sitting the patty cases in ramekins sometimes helps 
Hi Jen-Thankyou! I’d love to know what you think!
Hi Johanna-Ah yes some people just adore them and I agree they aren’t just for kids
The cake was really, really red inside. Although you could use less and have it lighter inside if you want 
haha me too! Sometimes people just don’t get the hint 
Hi Chris-Haha noooo! Okay well as long as you like the cupcakes
Hi Karen-I haven’t read them all just yet but give me time. Maybe over Easter? Edward was perfectly cast and suitably full of conflict. I agree he is one of the best things about it. Thankyou!
Hi Steph-Thankyou!
hehe how funny is that? It made the flight pass by soo quickly doesn’t it! Well done, you’re a fast reader! 
Hi FFichiban-Haha you are too funny!
Hi yaelian-Thankyou so much!
Hi Gina -thanks, you are too kind!
Wow, the first picture is awesome!! Great details! Love your decantly colourfull cupcakes, Lorraine!
oh yes, red velvet is the perfect choice here. i love your blood red frosting most of all, and the dramatic photo.
I’ve heard many a mention of red velvet cake but never tried it! LOVE the photo, what a blast you must have had with this project!
What an incredible photograph!
So stealing that icing recipe because it is easy and simple. Plus I already have everything. Great post and love the intro poster!
great photo!
so inspired
goodness. you’re a baking goddess. nigella has nothing on you.
Does red food coloring really make people hyper? The cupcakes look bloody good! Get it?
LOL.. so you’re one of those Twightlighters. i haven’t seen the movie but I know of friends who have been sucked into the Edward/Bella vortex.. hahhaha… you did a good job.. very close to the book’s cover..
I love the photo! This is such a cute idea. I just finished reading the Twilight series
The photo looks great! I haven’t read Twilight or watched the movie…but I would like to…My friend and I are Harry Potter fans and she got obsessed with Twilight and told me I should read it…and your cupcake is inspiring me to do so right away
Hi Sophie-thankyou so much! That’s lovely of you to say
Hi grace -haha blood was definitely the theme here!
Hi Angela-I adore red velvet cake. it’s one of my favourite cakes not just for the amazing look
I did,
thankyou!
Hi Soma -Thankyou so much!
Hi Jeff-Haha cool! Yes it’s a reliably good recipe. Thankyou so much!
Hi leslie-Thankyou very much!
Hi Sophia-Hehe aww shucks, thankyou!
Hi Blond Duck-Apparently it does to some people, particularly kids! Haha yes!
Hi Jescel-I am indeed! conteplating seeing the movie again this long weekend
thankyou very much!
Hi Jillian-Thankyou so much! Oh cool, I will get there too one day soon!
Hi Alexandra -Ahh yes I’m a Harry Potter lover too! Some otherwordly parallels there I’m sure!
I was going to make red velvet cupcakes and you beat me too it! Great looking cup cakes though! You’ll always have a styling job somewhere I’m sure of it!
love twilight and i love these cupcakes!
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie but the movie posters are everywhere. Yours is just fantastic! Love dark nail polish (am a huge fan) and love the cupcakes.
Love, love, love your book cover mock-up – and those apple like red cuppies are just perfect for Twilight.
Hi Maria-Thankyou! Hehe I wish, I’d love the styling props though
Hi Spike-Thankyou, that’s great to hear!
Hi Cora-It’s omnipresent isn’t it!
Thankyou very much 
Me too, I can’t but gravitate towards the darker shades of nail polish.
Hi Cakelaw-Why thankyou and for giving me the inspiration for doing these!
This is a very cool cupcake but like put more details of twilight because my mom thought it was some ordinary cupcake.
Hi Princess-There’s a whole paragraph on Twilight!
Hello,
Where can I buy those nice paper cups you used for your berry cupcakes?
I live in Sydney cbd and I am unable to find those paper cups in the city or online either.
Hi melissa-I bought them from Kent Paper in Balgowlah which may not help but you can call them and do a mail order.
I just found this recipe this morning and decided to try them this afternoon. I will be linking to your recipe on my blog if that is okay. I love the cover shot you did. I have read all the Twilight series and love them and the movie!
Hi Kat-Sure, that would be great! So glad that you liked them. I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD and for the new movie!
Love your site & will be trying out a few receipes next week
I need to clarify something in this receipe, 60ml of red food colouring is a lot of liquid. I am planning to omit this & just stay as a chocolate cupcake. Do I need to make up the 60ml with another liquid say milk? I’m just afraid it will turn out dry.
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