Christmas Pudding Cupcake

Today was the first day of the run up to Christmas proper as the Starbucks red cups were launched!

My afternoon at work was a bit blah so I popped over to get a coffee and spotted a new addition to their cakes range - well two actually - a black forest cupcake and a Christmas pudding cupcake. I had the black forest one last year so opted for the Christmas pudding one. The base was really moist and fruity and the frosting was nice but a little sweet - I managed to eat it all though which I haven't always managed lately with other cupcakes. Recommended.

Children's cooking gifts

with a couple of adult friendly ones too, all from Robert Dyas. The cookie jar and mug set are perfect for any cupcake lover, and the children friendly baking set, chef set and dining set (love the cupcake place mat) are all cute and I think the baking set is great for budding cupcake bakers!

Lots of cupcake stationery gift ideas from Hummingbird

Hummingbird Bakery make some of the best cupcakes in London (actually the world!) and their cakes are always gorgeous, as well as tasty. They are the kind of cakes that even people who don't like cupcakes (odd people) drool over. And if you, or someone you're buying a gift for is a fan there is a whole range of stationery available with their cakes on from Amazon (and from Waterstones (thanks Sarah)).

There are approx 10 items available in all but I've put a few of my faves on here for you - the full range is available here from Amazon or from the Waterstones link above. My favourite is the mini notebook and the notecards I think, but they're all just make your mouth water!

Also I noticed that a Hummingbird Cupcake Kit is available for pre-order (due out Feb 2010) which includes a cookbook and 100 cupcake cases - I'm assuming the cookbook is a edited down version of the original as it only includes 25 recipes.

And on a final Hummingbird note, don't forget their third store, in Wardour St, Soho, will be opening early December - perfect for a pre-Xmas shop treat :)

Percy Pigs

I love Percy Pigs, but I've not tried the Percy Pig cupcakes from M&S as they just look wrong and going on previous M&S cupcake experiences I won't like them. However this Percy Pig cupcake kit could be a cute little gift for a little girl to try and get them into baking - although you could be cheaper to buy the ingredients and do it yourself - it's £7.50 for a cupcake mix basically!

Simply Delicious

While other girls are getting excited about Heat and such I get excited about the new issue of Delicious - that kinda sums up my life now - it's all about the food ;)

This month's Delicious and its gorgeous Christmas Cupcake cover is like food porn to me! And inside there's even more, including this gorgeous festive ginger-spiced cake with ginger cream. The cupcakes are mince pie cupcakes with brandy butter icing - which I think I shall be making before Christmas for sure. Oh and all the cake recipes are by the ladies behind the Primrose Bakery.

Halloween cupcakes from Primrose

We had great plans to spend Halloween (our wedding anniversary) going round London scoffing Halloween cupcakes but alas the germs got me and I spent the day in my pj's stinking of olbas oil/vicks feeling sorry for myself.

Thankfully, we went on a day out date up town on Friday (It's not a cupcake place but I highly recommend Yalla Yalla!) and picked up a couple of Halloween cupcakes from Primrose Bakery - I had a vanilla one and Manny had an orange chocolate and as usual for Primrose both were gorgeous, moist and yummy. And ever so pretty :)

And talking of Primrose - they have some new flavours that sound rather fab - chocolate and marshmallow, cookies and cream and raspberry and white chocolate (yum!). Another visit is required soon :)

Thanks to Primrose for the pics of their new cupcake flavours.

and there's more...

It's all just so cute!!! Available in store and online.

Love the money jar and the sewing kit (if only I sewed!)