Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Gift

My friend Tracey over at A Cottage Industry did the cutest Easter gift I've seen in a long time.  I just had to give it a try to give to family and friends on Easter.  The little cupcakes fit with perfection into the egg carton just as Tracey had said. Give these a try I know you'll get rave reviews.  For my cupcakes I made carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting.  See recipe at the bottom of this thread.

Tracey had ordered egg cartons in pretty spring colors, by the time I saw what she had posted I didn't have time to do that so I used regular egg cartons.  At first I was going to try and spray paint them but then decided I was find with the look of the regular carton, in fact I think everyone thought I was bringing them a dozen eggs from our egg lady and they were pleased to find cupcakes instead.

 Since my cartons were ventilated I needed to put the cartons into a bag to keep the cupcakes fresh.  The single bread bags from King Arthur click here worked great, just the right size.  If you are a baker the three sizes of bags that King Arthur carries are wonderful to have on hand.


The tags were something I did on my Cricut, obviously I still haven't had time to figure this machine out but the cards were made with pretty paper from Hobby Lobby and I attached them to the ribbons but using an antique button.

Carrot Cake
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups cooking oil
3 cups shredded carrots
4 eggs

Sift dry ingredience, add oil and mix well.  Add eggs, one at a time and then add carrots.  Mix well and bake at 350 for 45 minutes for a 9X13 or two round cake pans.  For the mini muffins I adjusted the baking time to 20 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
 1 8oz. package of cream cheese
1 stick softened butter
1 lb. package powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream cheese and butter together.  Gradually add sugar mixing well after each addition.  Add vanilla.

I've joined Marty at Tabletop Tuesday

11 comments:

  1. What a creative way to package cupcakes. Great job Char!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks like a lovely gift. Who doesn't love carrot cake.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, I know I'd rather get a dozen cupcakes over a dozen eggs any day. Cute!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aren't your friends the lucky ones? This gift turned out perfectly and I'm sure was much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are beautiful and what a creative idea. Love it. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is one of the cutest ideas EVER Char. I know people enjoyed this gift! You are the best...

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love my Cricut, but I certainly don't use it to full advantage. Thank you for the neat gift idea and the recipes...and for stopping by for a visit. Cherry Kay

    ReplyDelete
  8. This was such a cute way to deliver your mini cupcakes, Char! I bet they were very much appreciated and enjoyed. :-)
    I'm saving this idea for next year. So where was your friend getting her colored egg cartons?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ms. Char, what a unique & darling delivery system!!! They are just as cute as can be. I am soooo going to copy this down for next year.
    Thanks!
    Rett

    ReplyDelete
  10. Char, This is just the cutest idea! The mini cupcakes are adorable.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  11. presentation is everything and yours is lovely.. I have a silhouette.. so i need to get using it more!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you, please take a moment to let me know you stopped by.