Horse Themed Goodies

If I had to do something other than spend my days at the barn riding my horses, I would choose baking and cooking. I find both to be very relaxing and there is something gratifying amount serving people something they really enjoy to eat. That is why this week I was inspired by Pintrest with the horse related baked goods I could find. I picked my two favorite horsey cupcakes and made an effort to recreate them to see if they could turn out just as good as the pictures made them seem. I will start out with the cowboy hat cupcake.

I first bakes some some chocolate cupcakes. I usually am a homemade kind of girl but since this was more for looks rather than taste I chose to go the easy route. I then frosted them using a can of chocolate frosting that came with a special tip to make the pretty design. You can also buy plain store bought cupcakes and decorate them. 

For the rim of the cowboy hat you add a Pringle or Pringle type chip to the top so the sides are facing up. Then you take your sugared candy and cut a slit in the top with a scissors and using a little frosting to secure it to the center of the chip. Next comes the licorice that wraps around the center of the Hat. Lastly, for a little something extra you can add a piece of decorative twine. 

What do you think?!?! Personally I think my cupcakes turned out pretty good but my photography leaves a bit to be desired.

Next I will show you the horse cupcake. This one is a little more involved but when I shared these with my friends on the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Equestrian team, the horse ones were definitely a hit. I started the same way as the cowboy hat ones by baking chocolate cupcakes and frosting them with chocolate frosting. Then you need to add the Nutter Butter cookie to the top. Next you split a cashew in half and each half is used to make one ear. Then you use black food gel to draw on a forelock, mouth and nostrils. I used white food gel with a dot of black in the middle for the eyes even though the directions on Pintrest told me to used edible sugar eyeballs. I could not find them at the grocery store so I improvised. I tried to make each one slightly different and after you look at them you will obviously see that I am not an art major. I need to hone my horse face drawing skills if I intend to make these in the future.

Here is the finished product with the original on the right. Once again, I think my photography and lighting doesn’t do them justice and the faces need work but I am pretty impressed with myself.

I hope you enjoyed this fun idea for a horsey themed birthday party or a super cute dessert for those potlucks you are always invited to by your barn friends. Even the most novice baker could pull these off with just a little time and concentration. If you try your own version at home share your pics with Kimes Ranch on their Facebook, Instagram and twitter with #KRJcupcaketime!!

-Kerry

Ingredients needed for cowboy hat cupcakes:

• 12 chocolate cupcakes, baked (or flavor of your choice)
• Chocolate icing (or flavor of your choice)
• Red licorice (the kind you peel apart)
• 12 large sugar-coated jelly candies
• 12 Pringle-type chips

Optional: Pieces of brown string/twine

Ingredients needed for horse cupcakes:

• 12 chocolate cupcakes, baked (or flavor of your choice)
• Chocolate icing (or flavor of your choice)
• 1 regular package of Nutter Butter cookies
• Small package of cashews
• 1 tube of black decorating gel
• 1 tube of white decorating gel*

*Optional: pre-made icing eyeballs. If you get these you do not need the white gel.

Pictures Credits:
http://m.ricardocuisine.com/recette-detaillee.php?id=3561&lang=en#&ui-state=dialog
http://xxx.ycgtransport.lv/welcome/index/272942