African Vanielje on May 21 2009 at 8:43 am | Filed under: Kassia & Figg, amazing cakes, baking, sweet kitchen
i heart cupcakes
Actually, we call them fairycakes. And from the pics below you would be forgiven for thinking my love goes beyond normal into the realms of obsession. Not true, although I do know of some complete cupcake queens. (Cupcakes take the cake, cupcaketastic, Cupcake Bakeshop by Chockylit , to name but a few).
We just make them a lot in the deli, which gives us plenty of time to play with the decorations, and I do love photographing them. Somehow, they always look just right in our old-fashioned, shabby chic, seaside deli. And although the actual cupcakes and the buttercream icing are all organic, the colouring isn’t.
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- i heart cupcakes
Yet, it seems to be the colouring that silently beckons to the inner child, whispering: ‘pick me up. I’m yours’. And they do. I’ve know grown men to go weak at the knees when eating one of our cupcakes, and last week, at the end of the day when I only had one pink fairycake left, a surfer fought his girlfriend for it. Clearly no problems with getting in touch with his feminine side. (It was really PINK).
It’s not just the grownups who are drawn to these fairytale creations. Kids adore them, and between the cupcakes and the giant oat, peanut and smartie (like chocolate m&ms) cookies, children entering our cafe seem to wear permanently glazed looks. We have made boxes and platters of these for parties, press shoots, kitchen teas, and I filled a pink, three tiered stand with mini cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday cake this year. They were, as requested, multi-coloured, topped with handpainted icing berries, hearts, leaves and bees. It’s like edible crafting, such fun!
Some of the dedicated cupcake blogs have some amazing cupcake combos, which are truly inspiring. At the deli we like to keep it simple. We make giant cupcakes with a foolproof victoria sponge batter, then we top it off with the perfect buttercream. Mostly it’s just really good butter and organic vanilla, but sometimes it’s orange, lemon, rose or coffee. Simplicity is the key here. And these fairycakes make for a shot of pure nostalgia.
Don’t forget to click here for the recipe, and have a look at some other cupcake blogs for more inspiration. Or just visit the deli and we’ll happily ply you with ours along with a cup of All -African organic coffee. In fact, I think I’m just off to have one now… 
Aww, how you make me wish I were in Cape Town so that I could come down to the deli for a good skinder, a cupcake and a cup of coffee. Beautiful photos – and I think I own that same plate that looks like a paper doilly in cream! I’m pretty sure I carted it back in my suitcase from Mr Price Home one time…
Jeanne’s last blog post..Emergency tomato & cheese bread
They look so gorgeous – it is something about the rich colours, that make them look almost painterly. We’re feeling the tug to come over to Kalk Bay very soon!
Kit’s last blog post..Orange
Jeanne, I’m looking over a purple grey sea at the moment, with a warm berg wind gently blowing, and I’m wondering why we all don’t live here…
Kit, that’s the bit that I love, the arty part. You guys are always welcome, so put on those new shoes and mosey on over. Bring fishing nets and make it a day!
Your cupcakes are so pretty, all wrapped up like a gift waiting for someone to open.
Thanks Andrea. We try to bake up an atmosphere of pure enchantment at the deli. It’s nice to know that others can see it too.
I am quite sure I would gravitate towards these as well Inge. Who knows one day we might just be able to visit your shop…one can dream:D
They looks delicious and I love the colorful pallet that you used on it.
Sylvia’s last blog post..Coconut and dulce de leche sandwiches
I am from Australia and my family and I are staying in Kalk Bay for 3 weeks from mid December, I can’t wait to visit your Deli and am thinking we are going to be spending quite a lot of time there!!! Your meals look absolutely delivious and it is good to see the comments about your coffee!
Valli, you would be so welcome. Imagine, we could sit and look at the ocean, eat cupcakes and drink bellinis! sigh….
Sylvia, thank you. Any chance to get kitsch, I take.
Ann, I hope to meet you here. Have a good stay!
african vanielje’s last blog post..The last line of defense – peanut, oat and smartie cookie giants