"cupcakes" news and stories

Whether your house is full of sci-fi lovers or you want to bake out-of-this-world desserts for a kids' birthday party, these Alien Invasion cupcakes are sure to be a hit. Encased in a 'spaceship' made out of cups, these aliens are ever ready for transport.

Get the recipe for Alien Invasion Cupcakes.

• It's Restaurant Week in the Windy City: Fancy meals at bargain prices.
• What's the next cupcake? (Some say it's...the cupcake.)
• Most Chicagoans have heard of top chef Grant Achatz -- but few really know him.
• Time for porridge! (Can you contain your excitement?)

Grown-up cupcakes are the best. And it doesn't get any more adult than a tiny cake spiked with whiskey. A handful of cupcake cafés around the country are celebrating St. Patrick's Day early this year by folding Irish whiskey into the batter or the frosting.

Here's where to find these delicious whiskey cupcakes:

-"Irish Coffee" at Sweets Bakeshop in St. Paul, Minnesota: Espresso ganache is tucked inside the chocolate cupcake, which is iced with Irish-whiskey buttercream and toasted hazelnuts.

-"Irish Whiskey" at Flour & Sun Bakery in Pleasantville, New York: Tasting a lot like Irish soda bread, the batter contains raisins and Irish whiskey, and the cupcake is topped with Irish-whiskey buttercream.

-"Irish Cream" at Sonia's Cupcakes in South Florida: These chocolate cupcakes are dunked in Guinness stout and whiskey. (Note that this appears to be delivery only, while the others have a retail presence.)

And they call it puppy love! OK, we couldn't resist a nod to the Paul Anka (and Donny Osmond) song, but we're all kinds of smitten with the Creative Cupcaking duo's pink pooch. All you need to make them (and to make your kids smile) are vanilla cupcakes, a can of frosting (or homemade) colored pink. Then simply add marshmallows, jelly beans, some coconut and nonpareils. This cupcake (thank you, Christopher Guest) is absolutely best in show.

Get the Pink Poodle cupcakes recipe and watch the Creative Cupcaking how-to video here.

See more ideas for Creative Cupcakes.

Crafty people, now is your time to shine! If you want to work the Thanksgiving turkey theme all the way from appetizer to dessert, give these turkey cupcakes a go, with the help of a video how-to from Creative Cupcaking team Karen Tack and Alan Richardson at KitchenDaily. And if you're the type to plan ahead, Karen and Alan's candy-spiked Dinner Party Cupcakes might be just the thing for New Year's Eve.

How-to: Turkey Cupcakes