When I was young, I was a little (ok a lot) obsessed with Lady Diana. I possessed a scrapbook, my most treasured possession, filled with clippings about the Royal Wedding. I don’t know what percentage of girls or boys grow up wanted to be princesses or princes (and I suspect more girls want to be princesses than boys want to be princes) but I was certainly one of them. I wanted my hair like hers (thankfully my parents ignored that, that would have looked incredibly strange on an Asian child) and I wanted fluffy angora sweaters like she wore-shame that I am fiercely allergic to angora. I think I just really wanted whatever it took to be a princess.
Not so any more. Whilst it would be nice to have a staff of twenty or more attend to you, I think that being a modern day princess is not all that it is cracked up to be. I wonder if Princess Mary is allowed to be stupid, act like a child, throw a Halloween party or just go wherever she wants without an entourage in tow? In a strange almost twist of fate, back in 2000 when she met Prince Frederick, I was offered a job at the advertising agency where she worked. Now I just let my princess fantasies simply extend to being invited to the wedding. Yes a wedding guest at a Royal Wedding, I could do that. I could behave myself and act appropriately for a day.
Poppy Ava
The timing for these cupcakes in relation to the Royal Wedding is coincidental. These were in fact to celebrate the birth of two babies-Aura Lily from Mr NQN’s sister Araluen and Poppy Ava from my buddy Christie. Both girls arrived within days of each other-sadly when we were both overseas so we had to wait until we got back to see them. And even though both girls aren’t related, don’t you think they look strangely alike? Christie’s Poppy Ava was fast asleep so we didn’t get to play with her but we did play with Araluen’s little girl Aura Lily.
Aura Lily
I am pleased to report that she has a healthy appetite! Auntie Lorraine is already making future plans to take her out to Afternoon Tea and other tasty morsels. I was rather chuffed to see that she looks quite like Little My from the Moomins. I secretly call her Little My-I hope her mum doesn’t mind but as grandmother Tuulia told me there is a Finnish saying “Rakkaalla lapsella on monta nimeä” goes “A dear child has many names”.
Little My and I-ahem I mean Aura Lily!
I’ve provided a tutorial on how to make these decorations-they’re really very easy although they are time consuming, particularly making the ropes that sit around the velvet pillow. Because of the drying time, the plus and the minus is that they need to be made a day or two ahead. That can be a good thing if you are wanting to make these ahead for a party but not so good if you are in a hurry. And these cupcakes are very Finnish in that they have cardamom which is a flavour I recall having quite a bit in sweets on our trip to Finland.
So tell me Dear Reader, did you ever want to be a princess or a prince?
Araluen and Aura Lily
Princess Crown Cupcakes
Cardamom and Sour Cream Cupcakes
- 2 eggs
- 220ml/8 fl. ozs. sour cream
- 3/4 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 1.5 cups plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate or soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
For white chocolate ganache
- 150g/5ozs white chocolate
- 1/4 cup cream
To decorate
- Coloured fondant in pink (or white which you can then paint gold)
- Red fondant
- White fondant
- cornflour to dust
- Marshmallows if you are making larger cupcakes
- Gold lustre dust
- 1-2 tablespoons vodka
You will also need a rolling pin ruler, paring knife, piping tip and cutters-you can improvise but I used a petal cutter and a diamond shaped cutter.
1. Make the crowns first. Have a medium sized parchment lined tray ready. These need to try overnight or for several hours. Dust a clean surface lightly with cornflour and roll out the pink fondant-not too thin, the crowns will have to sit up on their own. Using a ruler, cut out 10cm/4inch by 2.5 cms/1 inch strips. These are going to be your crowns.
Using the cutters to fashion the crown
Using the small round end of the piping tip to make small dots
2. Using the cutter, cut the pink fondant strips as shown. Then using the tip of a fine piping tip press down lightly to make the patterns as shown above. Then with a paring knife, cut out three diamond shapes. These will later be coloured in gold. Carefully lift them from a surface and place them on the parchment lined tray. Shape into a circle-either around a small rolling pin (I used a cannoli mold) or you can freeform them. Wet the two ends lightly and seal together. Allow to dry overnight.
Cut out diamond shapes
Seal the edges together with water
Ta da-crowns!
3. Make the cupcakes. Preheat oven to 160C/320F and line a muffin tray with 12 liners. In a bowl whisk the eggs, then whisk in the sour cream and caster sugar. Switch to a spatula and fold in all of the remaining dry ingredients i.e. the flour, bicarb, baking powder and cardamom. Mix until just combined. Using an old fashioned mechanical ice cream scoop (you know the kind with a sweep release), scoop out batter into liners and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool completely.
4. Make chocolate ganache. Melt the chocolate and cream together and then cool until it becomes a spreadable consistency. Spread over the cooled cupcakes and if you are making large or Texas sized cupcakes (I used the crown liners which were quite wide), slice a marshmallow in half horizontally and place in the centre of the ganached topped cupcake.
5. Now it comes to making the red velvet tassel edged pillow. On a clean surface, dust lightly with cornflour-or use a non stick silicon mat. I find this easier when working with highly coloured fondants so that the white cornflour doesn’t show up. Roll out the red fondant and cut out squares-around the size of the cupcake (see pics).
6. Wet the edges of the squares. Wash your hands carefully to get rid of any red fondant and using a very clean surface massage the white fondant into little balls. Roll it out into a long, thin sausage rope-if it gets too thin and breaks then just roll it up into a ball and start again. Make the sausage into a hairpin shape and gently twist the two strands around each other. Press gently but firmly along the wet edges of the red fondant cutting off any excess. Do that for all four sides of each cushion. Then fashion some tassels using triangles-using the paring knife just press down lightly to draw little vertical “strands” and affix these to the four corners of the red square. Gently place them on top of the cupcake.
Painting in the details with edible gold paint
Painting the ropes gold
7. Mix the vodka with the gold dust until you get a bright, shiny gold. Paint the diamonds and circles on the crown. Then lightly wet the base of the crown and affix this to the centre, on top of where the marshmallow sits. Paint the white rope and tassels gold.
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82 Comments | Add your own
They are so cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
Bless them, gorgeous little ones! Aren’t they just so perfect!!
The babies are beautiful, the cupcakes adorable, but I am totally loving your hat.
How adorable! I think every little girl always dreamed of being a princess, too bad there are only a handful of princes in the world.
Attending a royal wedding would be good though!
OMG!! You are just so clever!! I can’t image working out how to make crowns and rope, and you make it look so easy.
What gorgeous little babies, makes me want to squeeze them, they look so cuddly and content.
Oh these would have to be some of the most elegant and pretty cupcakes I have EVER seen!
Squeal! So cute! (and your niece is too
)
Congratulations! Those little crowns might just make an appearance at two-certain-almost-five-year-olds party this month
These are so very pretty! I just love the crown and the ropes on the “pillows” decorations!
How cute – both the cakes and the babies!!!
Another very inventive project!!!! Did you carry them in the car on a big red pillow?? I am remembering the jelly cake!!!
That looks gorgeous!! And the babies have such beautiful names!!!
Such a pretty way to celebrate
Awww, adorable – both babies and cupcakes. I never wanted to be a princess myself, but a friend of mine at high school wanted to marry Prince Edward because at the time, he was the last unmarried royal of marriagable age. LOL, Sophie Wessex beat her to it.
You are both so pretty
. These cupcakes are the most darling things. I love the braided edges. Talent and beauty, what doesn’t your family have?
Such cute babies. And you’re an aunt! Congratulations! Lucky baby has an auntie who bakes these beautiful cupcakes.
Excellent tutorial Lorraine!
Magda
What gorgeous cupcakes (reminds me of the birthday cake my boyfriend had made for me) and gorgeous lil bubs.
OH WOW! Beautiful cupcakes for the beautiful Aura Lily – What a lucky little princess!
Never wanted to be a princess but always want princess cupcakes even now. Gorgeous.
i do see her resemblance to little my!
adorable cupcakes, and yes, i am quite sure i once wanted to be a princess.
SO GORGEOUS!! The cakes & bubs.
Gorgeous Lorraine! Lucky little princesses! Love the cake recipe, mmmmmmm….cardomom!
They are such little cuties (the bubs AND the cupcakes).
I am sure that I wanted to be a princess too at some point, but most vividly recall wanting to be the Bionic Man’s girlfriend (gimme a break, I think I was 7). I later graduated to Rick Springfield and – ahem – the construction worker from the Village People.
Wow – these are seriously awesome creations! You have amazing patience! I always wanted to be a princess – still do actually!
Lorraine, these are incredible! Love the red “velvet” pillow! I an completely see you making the royal wedding cake! Congrats on your new cute little niece!
As a child, I never wanted to be a princess, but I did want to be Paul McCartney’s(or Davy Jones’) girlfriend:)
*can
I never thought Princess Ellen worked as a combination, but would have contemplated a name change to conform to royal name standards.
The babies are gorgeous! And don’t the babies ( and the cakes ) smell fabulous? They grow up far too quickly.
What pretty girls! Princess all the way for me – but Roman Holiday rebellion style
Beautiful cakes!
Lorraine, the baby is SO SO cute…and the cupcakes adorable…perfect for such an occasion
Beautiful! I will be making these for my daughters baby shower, she is after all my princess. Thanks heaps for the great ideas
babies too cute!!!!!
2 beautiful, beautiful babies! I have made cardamom cupcakes. They are delicious even without the princess icing – but that makes them pretty as well as yummy. Kiitos!
Awww…. I have two little princesses and photos like that make me want another one…
Like most little girls, I had princess fantasies. I distinctly remember, when I was 5, stretching out some bubble gum and making it into a crown on my head – even patting it down to make sure it stayed on.
I remember, even more vividly, my mothers reaction and the vigorous hair-washing session that ensued!!
How adorable, Lorraine! And how fitting, for 2 darling princesses.
Those 2 little princesses are sooo cute! Lovely pics, esp the one of her little feet
Oh my goodness, those cupcakes are beautiful! I wouldn’t be able to eat them, they’re so pretty!
And the babies are beautiful too
I never wanted to be a princess, but I wanted to be a lawyer – thank god that never happened!
Cute babies…and cute cupcakes!
I’ve seen so many baby girls this year it’s making me want my own
Poppy Ava and Aura Lily are gorgeous, I love their names as well 
I wish I can make cute cupcakes like you, I’ve never really tried making cupcakes…maybe I should get my friend to teach me, she works in a cupcake place hehe.
So happy for you, Lorraine! The little ones are absolutely gorgeous…they’re definitely both little princesses! The cupcakes are lovely…and the perfect way to celebrate!
Such tiny feet! So cute!
wonderful attention to detail in these – I think every little girl is a princess in her own way – I was quite obsessed with lady di but I can’t remember being that desperate to be a princess (or maybe that is because I once told a family friend I would have been a rich lady in a past life and he said I would more likely have been a peasant)!
Your cupcakes are fabulous, but definitely upstaged by the little ones. I love baby feet. Congratulations to all! xoxo Mum
i love the cupcakes! your design is absolutely gorgeous!
The babies look like little princesses! I love your cute little crowns and all the detailing.
Of course I did
But only ever in the play-games-where-I’m-a-princess sense. I don’t think I’m cut out for a paparazzi life! I’m far too fond of eating peanut butter from the jar with a spoon, and making a fool of myself in public, to be Royal.
Gorgeous babies, and gorgeous cupcakes, too!
Aw what beautiful little girls
& such sweet cupcakes! Very fitting.
I can’t remember wanting to be a princess but i’m sure I did once upon a time!
what beautiful little people! and your cupcakes are lovely- so much detail (and how did you anticipate the colors the babies would be wearing??)
your niece will love hanging out with you- princesses and cake all the time, what more could a little girl want
I think most little girls dream of being princesses.
Your cupcakes are definitely worthy of royalty. 
So cute!
Oh my, Lorraine, what an auntie you will be! Gorgeous babies, gorgeous cupcakes and gorgeous you.
I am in cluckiness overdrive!
What beautiful babies and cupcakes.
SSG xxx
Such beautiful, cherubic babies, and again, you have outdone yourself on the creative stakes Lorraine:)
Congrats on being an auntie too, and OMG, I loved their photos. I miss when my twins were little, but not the high maintenance that went with them! Maybe I needed to eat more cupcakes
xx Leisa
Ohhhh Wow.., such awesome little people your showing off there Lorraine, I kind of get all teary when I meet my friends new little babies, I sit there no doubt awkwardly holding them and thinking of their brand new lives about to start.
Just the thing to celebrate new babies – lovin’ them.
I kinda think I maybe am a bit of a princess actually….. ‘just sayin’
You are always so incredibly creative with your cupcakes. You should go on that show, “Cupcake Wars” and clean up.
OK, so we must ask: Are you starting a new scrapbook on Kate Middleton now? LOL
The babies look so delicious! How cute.
I would love an aunt to make cupcakes for me and take me to shopping and high tea!
Yeah, I always wanted to be a Princess, but I don’t think I’d like it now that I know what it entails. I really don’t think it would be worth giving up my freedom for pomp and protocal.
Thank you so much for making these cakes for my little Princess Poppy! You are the sweetest friend. CC xx
Perfect for a little princess!
Those cupcakes are insanely precious, as are those little girls. Be still my beating ovaries
I was so obsessed with royal weddings I remember putting necklaces on my head pretending they were tiaras…
what a DARLING child. the little cakes are darling too, but there’s really no comparison, is there?
Little Poppets! I loved the Moomin books when I was little too. I think that being a princess is all about attitude, and I’ve got that in spades!
aww they are so pretty! ps I still want to be a princess!
What a perfect cupcake for a perfect little princess
*kisses* HH
Omg, these two babies are too, too cute. Love your hat as well, Auntie Lorraine.
Never wanted to be a Princess but always wanted a pure white horse to ride around on
Absolutely adorable both the girls and the cakes, fondant’s a bit too sweet for my taste but I love the cardomom flavoured cake! I knew from an early age princessdom was not for me, I’m the woman warrior doing the dirty work out the back!
Congratulations Aunty Lorraine! I have to say, my couin’s wife recently had a baby and their little girl makes me extremely clucky~!!
These look absolutely adorable!
Awww, this post is filled with so much cuteness I think I might explode. Congrats Aunty! And the crowns are genius.
How darling – the babies and the cakes!
Adorable Lorraine! (Both babies and cupcakes..)
These are just too cute for words. Oh yeah, and the cupcakes are too.
I am a princess (in my own mind).
Oh my goodness! They are so so precious. Absolutely beautiful names too! I wanted to be a Princess so bad. Still do… just saw the Disney Exhibition at Fed Sqaure here in Melb. Still dreaming to be Cinderella/Snow White/Belle
Heidi xo
That is a lot of effort. You never fail to amaze me Aunty Lorraine!
I’m extremely impressed. Food is art. Bravo to you!
When you showed me a photo of Poppy Ava, I first thought it was a photo of Aura Lily – the 2 lovely baby princesses almost look like identical twins! Quite amazing as I have seen so many other babies lately and all the other babies look very different! When both babies grow up they surely will love to see the pictures of your pretty princess cup cakes which you did to honour their arrival to this world .
Lorraine,the alikeness you see in
these precious little ones is
probably the blanket of innocense
a sleeping person has. These ones
are perfect.
Frankly, I’ve always seen the
royals as a bunch of freeloaders.
Ooh Lorraine, I’ve been so busy the past week I haven’t had a single moment to check NQN until now, and I must say I’ve been having withdrawls!
These cupcakes are so cute they made me squeel in delight (and they sound delicious – sour cream and cardamom!). I had a princess obsession too, and though I’d hate constantly being watched, imagine the palatial bedroom and dressing room the job would come with! You made me literally giggle with you comment about the Diana hair (and your parents thankfully not letting you have it) – I had the same thing, can you imagine how strange her cropped boufy hair would have looked on a child?
Briony xx
How cute is this , honestly am sooo in love with ur creative cupcakes and they are simply sooo pretty!
and both the little gurls are adorable , i thought they were royalty too!
Hah, dreams , u have been so absolutely outstanding here and i hope to do atleast a little of this sometime:-)
OMG my uterus just shuddered.
Beautiful girls *sigh*
Such precious & beautiful little darlings.. yes i do think they look strangely alike.. odd hehe those cupcakes are soo cute!!
Very cute indeed! And of course I always wanted to be a princess when I grew up, and then I grew up…
My daughter is totally princess obsessed…so I can relate. She would have loved these cupcakes!
Really adorable cupcakes
Love the pillow!
What beautiful, gorgeous babies! Stunning ooooh and if I was 20 years younger…..
And how lucky for both to have such a romantic, talented-baker aunt such as you! They’ll learn to bake and eat from the best. I love the Princess Cupcakes, they are perfect for these two little princesses. And no, I can’t really see you as Princess Diana although I’m sure Mr. NQN treats you like a princess.
How cute are baby feet! I love babies hands and feet.
Those are absolutely adorable! I love them!
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