For my nieces first birthday in July, my sister had told me that she wanted to do a ladybug themed birthday. I had been warned way in advance so, I had time to practice and look for the ingredients I needed.
The first thing I practiced was making grass out of butter cream frosting. I had a good opportunity to practice making grass with making cupcakes for Easter dinner.
Cute, eh? Now the cupcake is just a basic chocolate cupcake. And the grass is a green dyed butter cream. It does take a bit of practice with piping grass. I used a Wilton tip #233. Now the trick to piping grass, is to do it in a quick motion, that's how you get those wispy grass leaves. In the beginning mine looked like long grass blobs but if you quickly pull away the piping bag you'll get your grass. It just takes practice, trust me and once you get it you will feel so proud. Another tip is that butter cream melts pretty quickly if left out in the heat for too long so, make sure you leave it a cool place so your grass still looks like grass and not blobs of green.
So, I had mastered piping butter cream grass. Now I had to find marzipan, that was the hard part. I went around and asked in Steveston, my Mom and my friend Tanya and they all had seen it usually around Christmas time. Now with being July that didn't help me. Then about a week before my nieces birthday my Mom called me and told me that she had found it at London Drugs of all places. So she got it for me and I saved it until I was about to use it.
A couple of days before the party, I decided I was going to tackle making the ladybugs. I had my red and black dyes, some plastic vinyl gloves; to wear so, I don't dye my hands, confectioners' sugar to help with the stickyness of the marzipan. I was set. I opened the wrapping of the marzipan only to discover that the marzipan was covered in chocolate, it was more a candy/dessert not something to make ladybugs with. I must admit I was a little freaked out about it. What was I going to do? I tried calling my Mom and she wasn't home. I needed a recipe for making marzipan. So, I called Tanya and she helped, between the two of us we found a good recipe for making marzipan. Luckily I was going grocery shopping the next day so, I could get the ingredients that I needed.
Making marzipan may seem a bit daunting and hard but, it actually isn't at all. Super easy and messy. I made a huge mess, with confectioners' sugar everywhere. And I was happy to say that at least I had made ladybugs.
I know they're a little big, but for my first time I am pretty happy. I was just happy to have ladybugs and show my sister and niece.
The large cupcakes were on a cake stand and I had the little ones on a three stand tray. The cupcakes were blueberry, my nieces' favorite berry and they were delicious.
Thanks for stopping by and please let me know of any tips you may have for working with marzipan. Have a sweet day!!
