Cupcake Massacre

{The Challenge}

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for -- Grace's 10th Birthday Cupcake Wars Extravaganza!  Hahaha.  For the last month or so, the kids have been obsessed with watching Cupcake Wars on Netflix.  We used to watch it all together back in St. Louis (when the episodes were airing the first time around), but now that they've rediscovered it at the push of a button and without any commercials to interrupt, it's been love at second sight!

Since this isn't a friend party year, I didn't really have anything planned for Grace's birthday other than the obligatory sibling gifts and special request birthday dinner.  {And to be quite honest, I'm feeling pretty lame that I didn't even try and get a decent picture of Grace on her actual birthday itself.}  However, about halfway through the day on Saturday, as I was driving Jane to a friend's birthday party, the idea came to me to stage a Cupcake Wars simulation for the cake and ice cream portion of our celebration.  I figured all of the kids would have fun with it, and it would take care of the rest of the "party" for her. 

The ingredients.

After telling Grace my idea, she came up with 10 of her favorite things to eat {?} for the list of specialty ingredients that everyone would have to choose from as they created their cupcakes.  We agreed that only TWO flavors needed to be used in the final product, and then -- after having the three older kids brainstorm their ideas really quick -- I ran to the store armed with my list of items.

Grace quickly found a recipe online for Stawberry Shortcake Cupcakes, Sophie found the "Easiest Vegan Cupcake Recipe," and after much pulling of teeth and force-feeding of ideas, Ethan decided to go basic with a chocolate cupcake and Nutella buttercream frosting.  I'm not sure what exactly was going on, but he was SUPER slow to get on board with the whole concept I was trying to throw together here, and it wasn't until it was all over that he was quick to say that it was really fun even though it ended in tears and defeat.  But I'm getting ahead of myself here!  After googling a bunch of different chocolate cupcake recipes, I had Ethan choose one and then we were good to go.

In order to work with our limited kitchen and oven space, we staggered the competition across the three competitors with roughly 15 minutes of spacing and got to work!  First we mixed up Grace's batter and put it in the oven, then Sophie's, and finally Ethan's.  While waiting for the cupcakes to bake, Grace and Sophie got busy cutting up strawberries, and I cleaned up tons and tons of dishes and messes.  {The two ingredients used by Grace and Sophie were strawberries and lemon.}

Grace's Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes!

Sophie and her Vanilla Cupcake with Strawberry Lemonade "Butter"-cream Frosting!

Mmmm.  Mmmmm.  Gooood!

Decorating the top with cut up strawberries -- it's supposed to be a daisy.  :)

Jane was supposed to be in bed for the competition, but she wouldn't go to sleep and eventually entrenched herself downstairs and became one of the final Judges.

Things beginning to unravel...

Decorating his cupcake.

By the time we were wrapping this "party" up, it was almost 9 and the kids were TIRED and undoubtedly crashing from the sugar high of Halloween.  Expectations for the cupcakes were a bit too high -- I think they thought their finished products would be identical to the Cupcake Wars creations -- and as a result, there were a few meltdowns before the night was over.  Grace was the most upset because her cupcakes didn't LOOK the way she wanted them to.  I told her that whipped cream is notoriously unstable and difficult to work with and doesn't always do what you want it to do, but she wasn't satisfied with my explanation.  So, she crossed "presentation" of the list of judging criteria for the event.  Hahahaha.  Once she tasted her cupcake she wasn't any happier and declared that they were too dry and she didn't like them.  Not a good way for the birthday girl to end her night.  :(

Putting on the final touches!

The aftermath.

Ta da!!!

In order to appease Grace and try to cheer her up, we let her be the fourth judge for the final tasting and got on with our judging.  Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and Grace was STILL not a happy camper.  And neither was Sophie -- she had a meltdown of her own when her cupcake didn't win. The final results of the competition were:  2 votes for Grace {me and Scott -- and it was an honest vote, not a pity one, in case you were wondering}, 1 vote for Ethan {Grace}, and one vote for Sophie {Jane}.  Clearly, it's impossible to make EVERYONE happy at the same time, but I did find it hilarious that everyone's cupcake was someone's favorite.  :)  That's a win in my book.  Hahaha.

The massacre.

Grace finished off the evening by destroying the rest of her cupcakes before heading upstairs, and Scott carried a shrieking and screaming Sophie up to bed.  Fun times!  And Happy Birthday to Grace!  Hahaha.  Once in bed, a tearful and tired Grace hunkered down under her covers and gradually calmed down as I sat with her and talked to her about her day.  It was at this point that she outlined what her top three memories of the past year were.  So, to close this epic post, I give you the complete answers from that night:

1. Dog sitting Friday
2. The last day of school
3. Summer

Have a happy weekend everyone!!!

{In case anyone is wondering, the Nutella Buttercream Frosting was divine.  Here is the recipe, and please note that it makes a HUGE batch -- probably enough to frost about 3 dozen cupcakes which is how many chocolate cupcakes the recipe in the post made.

1 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
2 T. milk
1 c. Nutella
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. confectioner's sugar

In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy.  Add the milk slowly and blend until smooth.  Add the Nutella and beat well, scraping down sides when necessary.  Add the vanilla and beat another minute or so.  Gradually add the sugar and beat until the desired consistency.  Use and store at room temperature.  It can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.}