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Hello, Cupcake
Witty, one-of-a-kind, imaginative cupcake designs using candies from the local convenience store, no baking skills or fancy pastry equipment required. Spotting the familiar items in the hundreds of brilliant photos is at least half the fun. America's favorite food photography team shows how to create funny, scary, and sophisticated masterpieces using a ziplock bag and common candies and snack items. With these easy-to-follow techniques, even the most kitchen-challenged cooks can: • raise a big-top circus cupcake tier for a kid's birthday
• plant candy vegetables on Oreo earth cupcakes for a garden party
• trot out a line of confectionery "pup cakes" for a dog fancier
• serve spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for April Fool's Day
• bewitch trick-or-treaters with eerie alien cupcakes
• create holidays on icing with a white Christmas cupcake wreath, turkey cupcake place cards, and Easter egg cupcakes
• plant candy vegetables on Oreo earth cupcakes for a garden party
• trot out a line of confectionery "pup cakes" for a dog fancier
• serve spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for April Fool's Day
• bewitch trick-or-treaters with eerie alien cupcakes
• create holidays on icing with a white Christmas cupcake wreath, turkey cupcake place cards, and Easter egg cupcakes
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2008
128 people are currently reading
15846 people want to read
About the author
Alan Richardson
16 books12 followersAlan Richardson is the coauthor of the New York Times best-selling Hello, Cupcake! and What's New, Cupcake? He is also the coauthor of The Breath of a Wok, which won two prestigious awards from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). His photographs appear in dozens of best-selling cookbooks and leading food magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
November 2, 2009
I bought this hoping to find some cute Halloween cupcakes to make. I usually like to make some sort of cake for the younger relatives as they make the rounds on Halloween and it was getting harder to find ideas. I feel like I hit the jackpot! There are a lot of cute Halloween cupcakes, but there are plenty of ideas for all kind of occasions too. By the time I get through experimenting, the family may be tired of cupcakes! I will say that they give instructions for cutting the corners of a Ziploc baggy to decorate with frosting. I quickly got frustrated with that and dragged out my decorator bags and tips. Much easier. I'll also add that I have taken a cake decorating several years ago, but I only make a few birthday cakes a year and I'm FAR from being an expert. I think they're right when they say that anyone (with patience) can make these.
So, anyway, here's a pic of my first attempt at fixing up some of these babies! The werewolves are nothing but cupcake, frosting, marshmallow, fruit-by-the-foot, M&Ms, and a jelly bean.
So, anyway, here's a pic of my first attempt at fixing up some of these babies! The werewolves are nothing but cupcake, frosting, marshmallow, fruit-by-the-foot, M&Ms, and a jelly bean.
January 10, 2009
I just adore this book! ANYONE can learn to make fantastically designed cupcakes with store-bought items. While the authors rely heavily on plastic bags that are cut to shape for decorating, I defintely prefer my disposable frosting bags and metal tips. Store bought frosting is fine for decorating but, I think, too soft for much detail on the cupcakes and in the summer would wilt like President Bush up against the banking industry. Either make your own using Wilton's decorating recipe or buy a tub of their frosting at Michael's or the giant tub of Wilton frosting at Walmart.
The authors give you ideas and directions for making wonderful and, rather easy, ways to make great looking cupcakes. Their directions are easy and complete. Making candies and getting things ready is not always a short process but well worth the effort. I highly recommend this book for people who are looking for easy ways to decorate impressive cupcakes. Buy the Cake Mix Doctor book for cake recipes and you're set!!
The authors give you ideas and directions for making wonderful and, rather easy, ways to make great looking cupcakes. Their directions are easy and complete. Making candies and getting things ready is not always a short process but well worth the effort. I highly recommend this book for people who are looking for easy ways to decorate impressive cupcakes. Buy the Cake Mix Doctor book for cake recipes and you're set!!
January 8, 2012
This is the best book on cupcakes I've seen. It's beautifully illustrated with easy directions. Perfect for children and adults, alike. I don't know about the ability for a novice to make them, but definitely a joy to peruse through. At least we can pretend that our cupcakes look like the cupcakes in the book as we're attempting to make them.
November 19, 2013
Another excellent informational book that is in super high demand at my school library, along with his other 2 books, "Cupcakes, Cookies and Pie, Oh My!" and "What's New, Cupcake?" These books are SO much fun! The authors who often team together, Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, use the best of their skills as a food stylist and photographer/writer to create these beautiful books that inspire the young bakers/artists who read it. The books are clearly organized and formatted for ease of use for the young reader with easy to follow instructions and labelled photographs of tools and materials needed. Steps are vividly outlined in words and images that are always creative and fun. Not to miss!!
November 10, 2014
Great book for people who are not pros at cake decorating. There are lots of shortcuts like box cakes and store bought frosting.The authors have patterns and walk you through constructing the cupcakes. They also use easy to find ingredients. The results are stunning. The book is broken down by seasons and celebrations. For the more practiced cake decorators, I recommend that you look at the patterns and how to construct the cupcake but make your frosting and cakes from scratch. I highly recommend the book for both groups.
August 30, 2020
What adorable ideas! They break down the decorating into easy steps and give you all the ingredients to use.The recipes look yummy and there are a variety of icings to try. Then they list a place to order supplies if you cannot find them in your stores. Don't skip reading the acknowledgements either, it will give you smiles. Bet you go back and look at the family tree cupcakes again!. All very inspiring.
December 31, 2012
Even if you never make a cute cupcake, the almost-homemade vanilla butter cream icing & the chocolate icing are must have recipes. And if you make a cute cupcake? It's marvelous! Warning: if you make the Rabbit Holes cupcakes, the children will fight over the bunny butts. The green grass cakes will be left standing at the end.
March 17, 2019
Witty, one-of-a-kind, imaginative cupcake designs using candies from the local convenience store, no baking skills or fancy pastry equipment required. Spotting the familiar items in the hundreds of brilliant photos is at least half the fun. America's favorite food photography team shows how to create funny, scary, and sophisticated masterpieces using a ziplock bag and common candies and snack items. With these easy-to-follow techniques, even the most kitchen-challenged cooks can:• raise a big-top circus cupcake tier for a kid's birthday
• plant candy vegetables on Oreo earth cupcakes for a garden party
• trot out a line of confectionery "pup cakes" for a dog fancier
• serve spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for April Fool's Day
• bewitch trick-or-treaters with eerie alien cupcakes
• create holidays on icing with a white Christmas cupcake wreath, turkey cupcake place cards, and Easter egg cupcakes
• plant candy vegetables on Oreo earth cupcakes for a garden party
• trot out a line of confectionery "pup cakes" for a dog fancier
• serve spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for April Fool's Day
• bewitch trick-or-treaters with eerie alien cupcakes
• create holidays on icing with a white Christmas cupcake wreath, turkey cupcake place cards, and Easter egg cupcakes
October 13, 2025
Though somehow dated in this age of bake offs - the principles still stand as well as the creativity.
I enjoy the fake outs the best - tv dinner and spaghetti!
I enjoy the fake outs the best - tv dinner and spaghetti!
August 22, 2011
My older sister gave this book (and it's companion, What's New Cupcake?) to my little sister for her birthday last year... or two years ago. xD
Either way, I really just love paging through these two books thanks to the ingenious ideas that the authors came up with!
You think a cupcake is just a muffin with a bit of sugar coating? Think again! There seem to be unlimited ideas as to what you can do with a cupcake. Don't know any? Pick up one of these two books! If only to page through it and end up looking like =O because you can't believe that someone came up with THAT idea!
(My favorite? The cupcake garden! Cupcakes with little peas, carrots, planted plants... etc!)
Either way, I really just love paging through these two books thanks to the ingenious ideas that the authors came up with!
You think a cupcake is just a muffin with a bit of sugar coating? Think again! There seem to be unlimited ideas as to what you can do with a cupcake. Don't know any? Pick up one of these two books! If only to page through it and end up looking like =O because you can't believe that someone came up with THAT idea!
(My favorite? The cupcake garden! Cupcakes with little peas, carrots, planted plants... etc!)
March 11, 2012
This book is a simple reference guide to decorating cupcakes. It looks so easy to make these really cute designs... And is, in reality, easy to execute as well! :D
{Essentially, this book has a bunch of recipes for cupcakes, and then has a number of step-by-step procedures in decorating them.}
Caveat emptor: Make sure you know where to get items like decorating sugar, food coloring, etc., though.
{Essentially, this book has a bunch of recipes for cupcakes, and then has a number of step-by-step procedures in decorating them.}
Caveat emptor: Make sure you know where to get items like decorating sugar, food coloring, etc., though.
February 19, 2010
Fun...I hadn't decorated cakes in years but I saw this and decided to try it out. I had a BLAST! The instructions are well-written and the recipes are delicious. I gave a copy to my niece and she had fun making all the "snow people" with my brother. I love the fact that they have a website you can go to with videos to watch them doing some of the things they talk about in the book.
August 22, 2008
Such a fun book! Very creative ideas - wish I had it before my grandson's fourth birthday. Yes, it does use store-bought ingredients (no organic, p.c. baking here) - but it would be such fun to bring out some of these treats for your favorite kids' treats.
October 18, 2023
This book is incredible!! The pictures make it more possible to create when you see it done and tips for how to get there. (I don’t know if that makes sense, but it did in my head.)
I love re-creating some of the cupcakes and taking a picture of mine attempt next to the picture I the book.
I love re-creating some of the cupcakes and taking a picture of mine attempt next to the picture I the book.
August 18, 2008
These cupcakes are absolutely darling. Yeah, I photocopied a few of them, but seriously doubt I"ll ever have the time or inclination to get so creative with my food.
March 31, 2018
Not a book for beginners
February 4, 2018
It’s so cute! I just wish we had time to make them all!
July 7, 2023
I've never had the best luck with cupcakes
June 22, 2023
"Hello, Cupcake!" by Alan Richardson, co-written with Karen Tack, is a delightful and engaging book that takes the reader on an adventure into the world of cupcake creation. It’s a vibrant, color-filled guide that proves to be much more than just a recipe book; it's a source of inspiration for novice bakers and seasoned patissiers alike.
From the moment you flip open the pages, you're met with a cornucopia of imaginative and whimsical cupcake designs that cater to an array of occasions. From cute animal cupcakes to lavish holiday-themed ones, this book is a testament to the limitless creative potential of baking. Each recipe is accompanied by step-by-step instructions and vivid photographs, making it an easily digestible guide even for baking beginners.
Perhaps the book's biggest strength is its inherent ability to take something as simple as a cupcake and transform it into an artwork. Tack and Richardson's creative prowess shines through, making you see beyond the basic cupcake to envision it as a canvas for edible creativity.
However, in terms of practicality, some may find that the complexity and requirement for certain specialty tools and ingredients for many of the designs could be a bit overwhelming. While the finished products are indeed visually spectacular, some readers might find them too ambitious or time-consuming for regular baking sessions. This might make the book less appealing to those looking for quick, simple, and accessible cupcake recipes.
"Hello, Cupcake!" also takes a much-appreciated deep dive into cupcake fundamentals. It introduces the reader to basic recipes for a wide variety of cupcakes and icings, and delves into helpful tips and techniques. This makes the book valuable to both those new to cupcake baking, and more seasoned bakers looking to perfect their skills.
In conclusion, "Hello, Cupcake!" by Alan Richardson is a visually captivating, creative, and educative guide to cupcake creation. It might not suit those looking for simplicity, but for those who are open to a challenge and ready to view their cupcakes as an avenue for creative expression, this book is an absolute treasure. It's not just a baking guide; it's a tool to unlock your imagination in the kitchen. Prepare to embark on a delightful journey that transforms baking from a task into a fun, creative, and delicious experience.
From the moment you flip open the pages, you're met with a cornucopia of imaginative and whimsical cupcake designs that cater to an array of occasions. From cute animal cupcakes to lavish holiday-themed ones, this book is a testament to the limitless creative potential of baking. Each recipe is accompanied by step-by-step instructions and vivid photographs, making it an easily digestible guide even for baking beginners.
Perhaps the book's biggest strength is its inherent ability to take something as simple as a cupcake and transform it into an artwork. Tack and Richardson's creative prowess shines through, making you see beyond the basic cupcake to envision it as a canvas for edible creativity.
However, in terms of practicality, some may find that the complexity and requirement for certain specialty tools and ingredients for many of the designs could be a bit overwhelming. While the finished products are indeed visually spectacular, some readers might find them too ambitious or time-consuming for regular baking sessions. This might make the book less appealing to those looking for quick, simple, and accessible cupcake recipes.
"Hello, Cupcake!" also takes a much-appreciated deep dive into cupcake fundamentals. It introduces the reader to basic recipes for a wide variety of cupcakes and icings, and delves into helpful tips and techniques. This makes the book valuable to both those new to cupcake baking, and more seasoned bakers looking to perfect their skills.
In conclusion, "Hello, Cupcake!" by Alan Richardson is a visually captivating, creative, and educative guide to cupcake creation. It might not suit those looking for simplicity, but for those who are open to a challenge and ready to view their cupcakes as an avenue for creative expression, this book is an absolute treasure. It's not just a baking guide; it's a tool to unlock your imagination in the kitchen. Prepare to embark on a delightful journey that transforms baking from a task into a fun, creative, and delicious experience.
July 21, 2023
Hello, Cupcake" is a delightful culinary adventure that proves cupcakes are more than just sweet treats; they are works of art! Authored by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, this cookbook is a celebration of the joy and creativity that can be achieved with a simple cupcake.
From the first page, "Hello, Cupcake" sparks your imagination with its whimsical and inventive cupcake designs. The book is a treasure trove of clever decorating ideas that transform ordinary cupcakes into adorable animals, vibrant flowers, and even playful characters.
What sets this cookbook apart is its approachable and user-friendly instructions for creating these delightful designs. Tack and Richardson's step-by-step guidance ensures that even those new to baking and decorating can achieve stunning results.
The book is a visual feast, with eye-catching photography that showcases the intricate cupcake creations in all their glory. The vibrant colors and intricate details will leave you in awe of the artistry that can be achieved with frosting and a piping bag.
"Hello, Cupcake" is not just about stunning designs; it also offers a wide range of cupcake recipes to satisfy every palate. From classic flavors to inventive combinations, there's a cupcake for every taste and occasion.
Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice enthusiast, "Hello, Cupcake" encourages you to unleash your creativity and have fun in the kitchen. The cookbook proves that cupcakes are not only delicious treats but also a canvas for artistic expression.
From the first page, "Hello, Cupcake" sparks your imagination with its whimsical and inventive cupcake designs. The book is a treasure trove of clever decorating ideas that transform ordinary cupcakes into adorable animals, vibrant flowers, and even playful characters.
What sets this cookbook apart is its approachable and user-friendly instructions for creating these delightful designs. Tack and Richardson's step-by-step guidance ensures that even those new to baking and decorating can achieve stunning results.
The book is a visual feast, with eye-catching photography that showcases the intricate cupcake creations in all their glory. The vibrant colors and intricate details will leave you in awe of the artistry that can be achieved with frosting and a piping bag.
"Hello, Cupcake" is not just about stunning designs; it also offers a wide range of cupcake recipes to satisfy every palate. From classic flavors to inventive combinations, there's a cupcake for every taste and occasion.
Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice enthusiast, "Hello, Cupcake" encourages you to unleash your creativity and have fun in the kitchen. The cookbook proves that cupcakes are not only delicious treats but also a canvas for artistic expression.
October 26, 2017
Love this one! I once made the "Candy Stars and Stripes Forever" (American flag.) It was quite the process and now I know I'd do a few things differently (like not adding the candy until right before presenting and using tooth picks to secure the mini cupcakes) but overall it turned out really well for a first time attempt. The vanilla cupcake recipe I used was awesome!
August 23, 2018
This book has some of the cutest cupcake ideas. I picked it up years ago because I thought it would be fun to have ideas for cupcakes for my niece and nephew, but I just never seem to make them. I have a friend who owns a coffee shop and bakes cupcakes every day from scratch, so I picked this one off the shelf to pass on to her.
November 14, 2017
This is the perfect little book for families with kids who are old enough to cook. What’s more fun than cupcakes? Plenty of simple tips help the budding baker create edible confections that look fancy without requiring a ton of work. Cute and practical.
April 1, 2023
This book should come with a warning!!!
Warning: this book will help you succeed at making yummy cupcakes - even if you’ve never before!!!
And the best icing ever!!
No special ingredients needed- I made everything using what I have in the cupboard. !!!
Warning: this book will help you succeed at making yummy cupcakes - even if you’ve never before!!!
And the best icing ever!!
No special ingredients needed- I made everything using what I have in the cupboard. !!!
August 5, 2019
Cute...but some ingredients are a little gross.
April 17, 2020
I like the book I like like like
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
good book👌👌👌👌👍👍
January 5, 2022
this book is among the highlights of my childhood!
April 11, 2022
Nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2017
This was a great book to read about cupcakes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews