There are certain things that you remember from childhood. Seeing your friend’s mother naked is one of them.
I should explain. My parents were and are very conservative. Particularly on some topics although on others, they don’t really care. But getting naked was not something that we as a family did (unlike Mr NQN’s family whose photo album has page after page of naked bottoms). My mother was a strict, knitting, cross stitching mother who cooked food that my father liked and I thought all parents were like them.
I remember when I would visit a friend Erica’s place. Mother would say that Erica’s mum was “alternative” or “European”but as for me, she just seemed cool. I enjoyed being over there because Erica was allowed to do pretty much anything that she liked. Erica could eat donuts. Erica could play wherever she wanted. Erica could eat ice cream (are you sensing a food theme?). Until one day, we were playing and the electricity went out and we went squealing to her mother. She was in the bathroom and stepped out of the shower stark naked in front of us.
I had my first encounter with what I now know to be hippies.
Erica seemed nonplussed, as if she had seen her mother like this many a time. Her mother carried on a conversation as if she were talking to the bank teller about getting some money out for the grocery shopping while I freaked out silently at the fact that Mrs K. was naked in front of me. My eyes fixed on the plain ceiling trying to burn out the image that I just saw. Erica must have sensed my discomfort because she dragged me away and Mrs K. never got naked in front of us again.
That day I think I was actually glad that my parents weren’t that sort. I’m still not really into random displays of nudity (ok True Blood is an exception and those scenes are crucial to the plot! 
) but alas I didn’t really follow my mother and get into things like cross stitching either. It required patience and dexterity that I didn’t have. But it doesn’t stop me from making cupcakes inspired by cross stitching.
The idea came to me while I was sitting on a chair covered with patterned material. After sitting there for a while my lower arm looked as though it was cross stitched with the pattern and I thought that perhaps I could do the same for a cupcake (my first instinct with anything is to cookie-fy or cupcake-ify it). I gave it a go and tried a few different methods before finally settling on one that I thought was an approximation.
And there were no naked hippies involved…
So tell me Dear Reader, were your parents strict and conservative or did you have free thinking permissable parents? Or something in between? And what is your policy on random nudity?
Cross Stitch Cupcakes
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Raspberry and coconut cupcakes
- 125 g/4 ozs butter softened
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/3 cup milk
- 150g/5 ozs frozen raspberries
- 1/2 cup raspberry jam
- White fondant
- Round cutters
- A metal sieve with a cross hatch pattern-larger holes are more ideal
- Edible colouring textas or food colouring gel and some small paintbrushes
- I also used some floral pattern stamps as I am rubbish with free hand drawing
1. Preheat oven to moderate 180C/350F. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper cases.
2. Beat butter, sugar and eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in sifted flour, coconut, milk and frozen raspberries. Divide mixture among cases, smooth surface.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool. Cut out a cone in the centre of the cupcakes and then fill them with raspberry jam and then place the cone back in.
4. When cool, roll out white fondant onto a non stick surface and cut out circles. Press the stamps into the fondant and then press firmly against the sieve trying not to spread the fondant out too much but you want to indent the cross hatch pattern well-the deeper the better the cross stitch look.
Cut out discs to fit the cupcakes and then press down on the stamp (you can also draw these freehand and do it without stamps)
Press the side with the patterns against the mesh from a sieve
5. Now you have to leave this to dry for a few hours to a day if you are using edible textas. Textas tend not to work so well on soft fondant as they drag the fondant. If you are using colouring gels (not a liquid) you should be able to paint these sooner. Just get a few ramekins and a few small paintbrushes and place a little of the gel in each-do not dilute or it will get watery and it will run into the cracks-you want the cracks showing as that looks like cross stitch. Gently paint over the patterns with the paintbrush taking care not to paint too deeply. Allow to dry. If you are using edible textas do the same once it is dry.
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98 Comments | Add your own
These cupcakes are so pretty!!! You’re so creative Lorraine
And you’re mum should be very proud that even though you’re not into the real cross stitching you at least you made cupcakes 
My parents were in between i think ~ they use to be really strict until I was about 12 then they just gave up hahaha and given that I got my homework done and didn’t fail anything I was practically allowed to do anything ~
As for nudity…no thanks hahaha i feel SO SO SO uncomfortable when people are naked in front of me
Pretty! A great idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
Very cute! Perfect for my grandma who is a hardcore cross-sticher. I don’t normally have the patience for decorating cupcakes, but these look doable.
I used to do cross-stitching as a kid. I remember gleefully going to the craft store to pick out one new kit after another. I haven’t done it in eons. But these cupcakes look like a far tastier alternative.
Oh, these are so beautiful Lorraine! Your creativity never ceases to amaze me.
Magda
Oh no I can only imagine the shock! My parents were strict but lenient in many ways. As for random nudity…no I am not ok with it and each to their own is my policy.
Love the tribute to cross stitch cup cakes…..so so gorgeous!
These are like little works of art ! What a great idea!
Hahahha people at work are looking at me funny coz I’m laughing out loud while reading your post! These cupcakes are works of art. (and I totally agree, the True Blood scenes are critical for character development
) x
Adorable idea Lorraine… how do you come up with these things! They look absolutely perfect. What a great cupcake. I am inspired to give cupcakes a go again!
What a lovely effect. I like how your mind works turning everything into food – marks on arms hmmmm that would make an awesome cupcake
what delightful and artistic cupcakes!
haha my parents were pretty strict and conservative – so I dont recall any random nudity in our house!
Yum yum yum. These are gorgeous!!
These are so lovely – they combine two of my favourite things, baking and cross stitch. My family was very conservative, hence random displays of nudity that are not on screen are not my thing.
really nice!!
What a clever idea! And they look absolutely lovely as well
They look great. How clever to use the sieve!
My parents were pretty strict but we did have lots of yummy food in the house all the time. There was always access to lollies and chocolate. One time we had a friend over and couldn’t find them anywhere. They were in the pantry digging into the treats … no such treats at their house!
These look so beautiful. You are very creative. We weren’t a walk around randomly nude people and I still don’t like it. Particularly cooking nude. What is that about?! Can anyone say oil splatter injury!
That is sooooo neat….looks so real. Great work!
These are really clever, I love them. As to random nudity, my mother was much like your friends mum. Walking around the apartment naked; I thought that was normal until I went away to boarding school. Imagine my husbands horror when she walked into the bathroom, whilst he was in the bath, to have a chat with him! GG
These are so gorgeous! I love them!
gosh those are so pretty….
What a cute idea! I have a box of half finished cross stitch projects, but these would be finished off quick smart
My family was (and still is) very conservative indeed. I have never seen my dad in less than full pyjama pants, or my sisters either- probably best this way!
These may be the cutest ever, Lorraine. You are very clever indeed.
My parents were somewhere in between, but always supportive and loving.
Oh really cute cupcakes…. what a good idea. I used to have a family I visited as a child that were across the road from our house. Julie was an only child and she could also do whatever she liked, it was so much fun
These are such lovely, feminine cupcakes and too clever of you! My parents were odd, neither conservative nor hippie (heavens, not hippies). Dad was intellectual and rather reclusive (though a passionate baker), mom was all modern working woman even before it was common. And a woman with a (mysterious) past. There are still a lot of secrets. They walked around in their underwear, never naked, so can we say they were somewhere in between?
Heya Mrs NQN
Where did you get those cupcake liners. They would be handy for all sorts of things?
Hi Bec-the white liners are French pleated liners from the Donna Hay store
Very creative cupcake design, it looks so real.
I saw a relative nude by accident, that picture is permanently ingrained even though it happened years ago. BTW I recall reading a blogpost somewhere about some neighbours seeing someone nude too…
So pretty! My Mum used to threaten me with cross stitching as a form of punishment….it always worked, I couldn’t think of anything WORSE to do!
What a cool, innovative idea! These look gorgeous- I think I would like to try making them for an upcoming tea party
My parents were quite conservative when I was a child, but over a decade living in Australia have ‘loosened’ them up somewhat. My siblings are definitely getting a different upbringing to what I had. Still, gratuitous nudity is generally frowned upon in this household, lol. Unless there’s a really compelling reason for it – like happening upon a giant wasp in the shower!
OMG – they’re stunning! I even like them without the colour
Lorraine, these are wonderful. You come up with cupcake ideas the way I used to come up with faux finishes. If I were to look at my arm with a cross stitch on it, I would think, Oh this makes a cool wall. This is surely one of your more clever ideas. And, the naked bottoms of the Mr’s family…I need this humor in my day.
LOL re hippies. I would have been very startled if I saw my friend’s mum naked. Did she have bushy underarms? Love your cross stitch cupcakes! Such a cool idea and it looks so different!
These are absolutely beautiful Lorraine, you are so clever and I love your ability to think laterally. I love the flower pattern stamps, can you please tell us where you purchased these?
You are so clever. I love how you achieved the texture of cross-stitching by using a strainer – very inventive. We always ran around the house naked (but we didn’t have any brothers if that makes a difference) but put our clothes on to leave the house and I think that’s the crucial difference between being ‘normal’ and being ‘alternate’.
Thanks Wendy!
Sure I bought the flower and leaf stamps at An Iced Affair in Camperdown 
I forgot to comment on the random nudity displays. My best friend also came from a ‘free thinking’ family who were all happy to wander around the house naked, and did so in front of me. Like you Lorraine, my parents were strict (prudish) and uptight Scots who never talked about sex let alone displayed any naked ‘bits’, so this was quite a shock to sensitive, over protected little me!! To this day I still do not really like random displays of nudity. But each to their own.
What a fun idea! Much above my ability level, but your cakes look amazing!
They look so cute, such a simple but very clever idea.
I love these! What a super pretty idea. I can’t wait to make them. Thank yooooo! xx
These look amazing!! I like how you cookie-fy or cupcake-ify everything! lol My parents were pretty liberal and cool growing up – they still are
All that is in my mind at the moment is : OMG, all that work!!! These cupcakes DO look so pretty and I happen to have crosstitched like mad in my chikdhood days
! Now, my parents were reasonably conservative [what would you expect from a high-ranking military lawyer and an accountant 
?], but nudity was/is so common in N Europe that nobody gave the proverbial ‘stuff’. Of course we all regularly went to the sauna and then dove into the nearest pond, lake whatever, usually in mixed company, so . . .? But it was and is a very natural nudity, not there for ‘show off’. I remember the main beach in Estonia’s biggest spa town was divided into three: centre mixed nudes, one side more prudish female nudes and on the other side males: well, most stayed in the center1 No big deal 
! In the summer months I usually walk around the house nude and always sleep thus: well, the bodily contours leaving s’thing to be desired these days, do wrap a towel around when I answer the door 
!
These are adorable! They would be perfect for Nanna’s at Mothers Day don’t you think?
Lovely cupcake idea.
These would be beautiful paired with those embroidery cookies you did last year! Very clever, Lorraine!
My mom is the classic tiger mom. My dad is the traditional Chinese patriarch. You get the picture, N.
How very creative of you Lorraine -those look so cute and dainty!
I think my parents fall into the conservative category too, although they are much more outgoing than most Asian parents..
now that is my kind of needlework
Very very clever – great idea and so yummy
Gorgeous
Using the mesh from a sieve is so clever! I always have issues with my cupcake cases peeling away from the cupcake after baking so I’m going to try your recipe.
LOL at your story. I grew up in a free living home that sounds quite like Erica’s actually
Most definitely conservative. That would have made me uncomfortable as well. These cupcakes are so dainty! I love the cross stitch effect.
You are ridiculously clever Lorraine
My folks are strict, and conservative on certain things and others very relaxed. I think I was a very lucky girl to grow up in a house like that.
I’m with you, random nudity makes me a bit….uncomfortable. I couldnt even BF my daughter in public without feeling awkward. But it is absolutely necessary on Trueblood esp for Alexander Skarsgard!
A modern story: not of cupcakes or embroidery, but that other unmentionable
! You have to be Australian methinks to savour this? A dear gf was the Honorary Consul General for my birth country for 15 years until recently. Lot of VIP visitors: she was a wonderful hostess and a great driver and oft hired a mini-bus to take groups of Estonian visitors up the Pacific H’way > Noosa, Toowoomba via Brisbane. Learned a lesson the first time around, with a v distinguished group of 5-6 on board. From morning on they begged to be allowed onto the beaches passed. After lunch, about the level of Mr NQN’s parents, she stopped the bus. Staying back to don her own costume she was somewhat perturbed to find piles of clothing on the beach [where did they change: there were people on the beach!] and see v v happy bodies jumping in-and-out of the waves, the v free family jewels clearly dancing along 
! Too long a story to describe the exit, which the guys could not believe: but OZ was such a wonderful country, surely people could not be such ‘sick’ prudes here? What was wrong with them? OK – peace & quiet restored, trip resumed, the guys wanted a repeat performance in the pm: ‘Not unless you are covered’! Well, they kept their jocks on 
! Oft old, not of the best quality [E Europe at the time!] etc, it was NOT much of an improvement! Arriving at ‘posh’ Noosa a day or so later, M insisted on treating her crowd [short of exchangeable brass] to OZ style swimming gear they did NOT like one iota: not natural and free 
! Methinks most garments were left behind ‘for the next unfortunates’! Loved OZ, could not make out its prudery 
!!!!
A very clever idea, Lorraine, and beautifully executed, too.
I was bought up in a household of women and shared a room with my grandmother when young, so naked women have never bothered me too much.
The Husband & I are both quite relaxed about being naked, but usually just when rushing from the shower to the laundry to hunt for clean undies. The kids are mortified by our behaviour & plead for more coverings.
You are so creative Lorraine! Your cupcakes are so pretty!
When I get quiet time, I love to sew. I used to also do knitting and embroidery. So now I’m so enthusiastic to make your cupcakes.
Somewhere in between for my parents, I think. Also, I clearly need to say that I’m all for free nudity as have just realised that I’ve spent the past few weeks walking around my apartment topless in the heat, completely forgetting that even though I’m on the third floor, people can see into my place not only from the other apartment blocks but the carpark as well.
Ooops.
I should offer them these AMAZINGLYINTRICATE cupcakes as an apology
P.S. I miss cross-stitching! Stupid RSI!
These look exquisite; just too pretty to eat!
I came from a weird sort of household: my dad was rather conservative, staid, and religious while my mom had all these fabulous gay friends and encouraged me and my siblings to read and question everything!
OMG.. what a great idea. I love how creative you are. They look great, well done. x
Very innovative, these must have taken you hours! Still no-one sees the time put in but everyone sees the end result is what my grandmother used to say
My dear 82 yr old ( young at heart) mother has recently finished one of four cross-stitch projects for me. It took her nearly a year and 135,000 stitches later it hangs proudly on my wall 
I daresay she has patience beyond the realms of normal !
My parents were conservative so no displays of nudity around the house , a fact I’m happy about. What child/teenager wants to see their parents on the nude ?
Am not comfortable with random acts of nudity by people that practice it either. There are nudist beaches and such for said people . It’s funny how different cultures view nudity , how it’s accepted by some and undesired by others. Vivre la difference!
My parents were ultra conservative. As for my kids, they are old enough that I now try to keep certain things personal. But they still seem to need my attention urgently whenever I am either going to the loo, having a shower and/or getting changed. My son now knows Not To Look or Not To Enter, but my daughter still will slyly sneak in and say ‘it’s okay because we’re both girls…’ She still doesn’t get the idea of personal space. I am sure that will change in a few years!
Those cupcakes are so cute and yummy looking! I’m going to have to give it a go. I’m into crafting, I do crocheting, sewing and I love working with plastic canvas (which you kind of cross stitch over), so these fall right into my line of things I love… food and art.
As to the nudity… I have to admit it doesn’t bother me. I was raised in a large family with five girls and one bathroom… it’s kind of hard to not end up seeing someone nude at some point.
My mother in law made me a beautiful cross stitch for Christmas. Maybe I will cook these in return for her birthday, they look exquisite.
Your post made me laugh out loud. I’ll definitely be embarrassed and won’t know where to look if I see my friend’s mum naked!
These cupcakes look great! it really does look like it’s cross-stitched.Your mum must be really pleased that she inspired these!
Awesome cupcake! super amazing and super cool hhaha.. i think i cant eat that cupcake coz i will decorate it for sure. stunningly beautiful,hope its not that hard to make one.
Those cupcakes look just beautiful, make a very pretty gift for someone indeed. My family was always pretty relaxed about many things, we could eat what and when we liked and we never went overboard. My parents exposed us to lots of different cuisines, tv shows, movies, events, locations, destinations, people and it made us very open minded. I’ve always kept my bits and pieces to myself, but my mum was never worried about us seeing her popping out of the shower when we were little, and between her and me we still aren’t fussed, it definitely doesn’t happen in front of my brother anymore to shield him from the horror and embarrassment. I, however, could have done without seeing the bums of my dad and brother so many times, as they were and occasionally still are, partial to a bit of “mooning” from time to time. I’m not mad about randomly nuding up or seeing others do the same, but to each their own
Love the stitch pattern on your cupcakes. Cupcakes are more of an anglo thing, and until recently couldn’t be found in Paris at all. Now it seems few specialized stores such as “Le Bon Marché” or Galeries Lafayette’s Gourmet store have them. Also Marks and Spencer just came back and they might have some. Probably should think about opening a franchise of a cupcake chain in Paris eh?
Anyhoo, love these fashionable cupcakes. They look too good to be eaten!
Other than that, I also had extremely strict parents when a kid. Being the only Chinese girl at school and spotting other French kids with cooler parents who gave them much more freedom was harsh but gets that’s a way for Chinese parents to show love!
Lorraine, you are amazing, these cupcakes are so cute…so original…I could not take my eyes of the screen.
You are so funny…as for me, I grew up in a very conservative family therefore not much skin was exposed
Have a wonderful week!
What a gorgeous idea. Just love it. Would be so neat to do some of these for a Craft ladies special morning tea!
Hi Lorraine, they are so unique and too pretty to eat !
Love the hidden centres!
My parents were pretty strict although i’ve known stricter. I’d have been mortified if my parent got nekkid in front of a friend! I think i’m fairly liberal but random nudity? I just don’t see the need!
My mother was very strict when it came to manners and such things but was quite open minded and easy going about other things (although she was definitely not a hippy). I love how different you and Mr. NQN’s backgrounds are…
Very pretty cupcakes, you have such an incredible imagination.
we saw some random nudity at the hospital the other day when this young boy wrapped up in a towel and bandages was not quite covered up……quite a surprising site!
you are so talented, i would love to make these for my dear aunty
these are soooo Cute! very artistic!
Wow, being naked in front of someone else’s child? That seems a bit inappropriate :s
My parents were in between. There were strict rules of privacy, but my parents believed we should be well informed and answered any questions we ever had. Thus, I had the S-E-X talk at age 6
Hi! What a great idea! I love cupcakes, I love cross stitch and I would want to replicate your idea if I may.
May I know therefore where I can buy those flower stamps?
Thanks a lot! More power to you!
PRECIOUS!
What a brilliant idea! These are fantastic!
Absolutely gorgeous!!! Love those cupcakes.
How funny! My parents were much more like yours, but oddly enough my sister’s name is Erika, lol! The cupcakes are truly gorgeous…this is definitely my kind of cross-stitch!
MY GOSH! I shouldn’t be surprised at your creativity by now after seeing so many of your creations but you still continue making us us surprised! I pinned these beautiful cupcakes right away. Amazing! My mom was very strict too. I didn’t get too many sweets and TV games and I remember I envied my friends. But how funny, I’m doing the similar thing to my kids.
I must say, that naked episode surely got me cracking!!
Hopefully you are not scarred for life 
Lovely cupcakes — soooo creative
I’ve stumbled it on stumbled upon and pinned it on pinterest 
These are truly adorable, Lorraine, I love how you replicated the fabric pattern, just lovely!
Ja (Ha), strict and conservative are my parent last names, both words were invented for them.
Something that you don’t know is that I’m a cross stitch adict, well, that is the words my husband uses, specially when he wants to talk and I only have eyes for my pattern, my floss and my stitch…
You’ve done it again Miss NQN…wow, these are gorgeous. I actually used to do needlepoint and have many pieces hanging around my home to prove it, but food blogging took over…this is amazing!
Such a pretty cupcake. I’ve done a little bit of cross stitching in my time too. And our family is much more like yours on the nudity issue too. xoxo Mum
Looks like you fitted in well with the hipsters although not sure how well a drink called “This drink is a riot in London” would go down with Londoners.
Oops put the comment on the wrong post – sorry Lorraine – hopefully you know what I am talking about!
these look fantastic – I remember being envious of friends who could eat whatever they liked but I can’t remember parents being naked – maybe all my circle was more prudish than hippyish!
cross stitch is one of the few crafty things of which i’m capable, so i’m LOVING these!
These cupcakes are stunning! I’ve never seen a cross-stitch topping like this before, and clearly I’ve been missing out
I have featured your post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup. Let me know if you have any objections and thanks for the inspiration…
What a lovely idea – these would be so cute served at a tea party! Have a great weekend.
ButterYum
These looks like absolutely terrific cupcakes. I’ll be book marking this recipe to try out soon.
Thank you for posting such funny stories too!
Cheers
Thanks for sharing your ingenious idea with us, Lorraine! It really does look like cross-stitch!
My parents were permissable and liberal when I was growing up, which is kind of funny because as an adult I am pretty conservative. More conservative than they were, that’s for sure!
This is such a great idea. I’m pretty happy with the way my parents raised, I don’t think I’d be able to tolerate naked moms about!
So pretty! I remember doing cross stitch as a child, it all seems like a very long time ago. I much prefer these sort of ‘edible’ cross stitch though.
I’m you to repeat what all the others have said: so pretty!
And we were a conservative household too. Well partially. I can couldn’t on one hand e amount of times my dad walked around without a shirt, and they happen to match the hottest summer days. Mom, on e other hand… But never in front of nonfamily
What a brilliant cupcake idea. I am a real cross stitch addict. My parents were born in 1918 and 1920 respectively. Any display of or reference to nudity was unthinkable. You couldn’t even mention “those body parts”. My children, however, were taught that sex and sex education were very important things and were taken seriously.
How clever, creative, and intriguing! Love the hippie story. I think I will turn out like Erica’s mum
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