Tutu Cute Ballerina-inspired Birthday

I know, I know, "tutu cute" is offensively puny, but I couldn't help myself. It's late, I'm running on fumes, and frankly, I think these cookies are some of the cutest I've made to-date. 

Adelyn, the daughter of my former coworker, turned 5 today and requested a ballet-themed birthday party. I think it was kismet, because just a few days prior, I watched a tutorial video by the fabulous Mary of Emma's Sweets on piping tutu-inspired ruffles and couldn't wait to try it myself. How's that for timing?

These were made using my FAVORITE SUGAR COOKIE and ROYAL ICING recipes -- no need to mess with perfection -- and styled to be sweet and delicate. I wanted a variety of visual interest for the cookie platter, which led to seven different designs. 

I think my favorite is this little ballerina, with her perfect dark pink tutu and little flower in her hair. I hand-piped these after seeing them on Love Bug Cookies Instagram feed. It was important to me that I represent a young ballerina as part of the cookie set, and these were just too perfect.

Here's a closer view of the name plate and hand-drawn ballet slippers; these were the accent cookies -- I did three of each of type. I love the long strings on the ballet slippers, and yes, I just can't seem to stay away from piping little roses on at least a few of my cookies. 

Other notes:

• As always, Amazon is my go-to resource for cookie cutters, and I got both the tutu and ballet slipper cutters from the site.
• The ballet slippers and little ballerina were piped on the Maryann Plaque cookie cutter from Whisked Away Cutters
• The little rose accent cookies are inspired by the now infamous whimsical roses by The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle. The cookie cutter is available in two sizes from Whisked Away Cutters. 
• I used Americolor's Soft Gel Paste Food Color in shades Soft Pink and Dark Pink for all five shades of pink, as well as Peach for a soft flesh tone on the ballet slipper.

Strawberry Cupcakes

What comes first -- the recipe or the baking cups? In this case, it was the super sweet, shabby chic liners and accessories my daughter "made" me buy at Michael's during one of our mommy-daughter outings. Her criteria is pretty straight-forward -- pink and pink...and a little more pink. Nothing other than a strawberry cupcake would do, of course. 

I used a late afternoon family visit as an excuse to try a new strawberry cake recipe, but for whatever reason, they ended up being pink-colored hockey pucks. Never have I seen cake batter react the way this recipe did. Obviously I missed a step or something like my oven was too hot (or it was just a bad recipe); regardless, I had several hungry people waiting for cupcakes, including one very pink and strawberry-obsessed little girl. So I tried again, this time following a simpler recipe inspired by one of my all-time favorite bakers: My Baking Addiction.

Sure, it took two hours longer than it should have, but In the end, everything worked out. I stumbled upon a new go-to recipe, my family loved the cupcakes (especially the amazing buttercream frosting), and, according to my daughter, I finally got to use "the prettiest cupcake holders in the whole world". But seriously, look at that super cute baking cup!

Find the recipe here: STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES