BakeBakeBake

My first idea was of honeycomb-topped cupcakes with little bees buzzing around them. I was initially going to make the toppers hexagon-shaped and have them all join up to form a large hive, but in the end decided circular toppers were cuter. The toppers are made from white-chocolate, tinted with yellow powder colouring. The bees are made from fondant. 




I made a dozen in all, but it turned out that they were too tall for all of my cupcake carriers. I had to use other containers, so a couple got left behind. 



I had thoughts about making the second half of the cupcakes florally with bees perched atop, but in the end decided to accompany them with lady birds. 

It also gave me a chance to practise some fondant roses, something I haven't tried since the very first time I gave fondant a go. Those early fondant disasters taught me some very important lessons about what not to do with fondant. It's only in the last few months that I feel I've finally learned to control it properly, so attempting something I've been too shy to try was really therapeutic.

I embossed the toppers and the leaves and gave them some blossoms. I also gave the lady bugs antennae for the first time, but I think I prefer them without. 

These cakes were cherry and choc chip coconut cupcakes, topped with a swirl of vanilla buttercream and fondant decorations.




The bees were honey flavoured cupcakes, topped with vanilla buttercream and then finally the chocolate discs and fondant bees. 

The whole time I was baking, decorating, making fondant flowers while watching the football on TV and yelling at it, and photographing the end results, I had a little fluff ball staring really intently at the bees. He wanted to nom some.