The goodie bag contained a £30 voucher for Bibis Restaurant and a cupcake recipe book, we also had a free entry giveaway for the judges. The 12 cupcakes entries were all superb as usual, have a look at the winner and the other great entries below

1st Place – Jess’s Flower Pot Cupcakes

1st time baker Jess smashed it with her Flower Pot cupcakes. These were a chocolate sponge with chocolate icing and handmade flowers. She also had a worm in a cup! Jess won first place and took home the IronCupcake:Leeds goodie bag. Well done!

2nd Place – Ann’s Superfruit Cupcakes

Another 1st time baker at the competition was Ann. She came from Manchester to win 2nd place with her Superfruit Cupcakes. These were acai, manuka honey, raspberry, apricot and passion fruit sponge, with a blueberry and blackberry topping made into a flower.

3rd place – Michelle’s Sunflowers

One of our regulars, Michelle, came 3rd this month with her Sunflower cupcakes. The cakes were chocolate and honeycomb sponge with a honey filling, and chocolate frosting topped with a sunflower

The remaining entries

Larraine’s Lavender Cupcakes

Kimberley’s Orange and Blossom Water cupcakes

Krystyna’s Lemon Cakes

Rhianna’s Flowery Cupcakes

Hazel’s Flower Power Cupcakes

Charlotte’s Wonderful Waterlilles

Rachael’s Lemon & Elderflower

Joanna’s Lemon & Poppyseed

Stacey’s Blueberry Bouquet

Thank you to everyone who helped raise £225 for St Gemma’s Hospice. I hope to see you in June!

If you’ve never been to IronCupcake:Leeds before, then you’re missing out on a treat. Its a friendly fun evening, with bakers battling it out to win the 1st prize IronCupcake:Leeds branded goodie bag and certificate, and judges lining up to taste the yummy entries. Anyone can enter, anyone can be a judge! Just register for a ticket and show up on the night. If you want to see a small film about one of our previous competitions, ‘So Macho’ cupcakes for Men, then check out our You Tube video! Or if you would like any further info, then use the contact form on the website, or send an email: contact@ironcupcakeleeds.co.uk

IronCupcake:Leeds Easter had 13 great entries, all the bakers wanting to get their hands on the goodie bag which included a £20 voucher for Posh & Swanky and a £30 Jamies Italian voucher.

1st Place – Andrew’s Creme Egg cupcakes

Andrew beat his 3rd place position from last month and went all out with his Creme Egg cupcakes. The presentation was stunning, I don’t know how he managed to carry everything with him on the night! The cupcakes were a chocolate sponge filled with a hidden creme egg topped with chocolate and vanilla frosting and a mini creme egg on top. Well done Andrew.

2nd Place – Ames The Last Cuppa cupcakes

Ames put her own take on the Last Supper, and went all out making these cupcakes which were tea scented, filled with blueberry compote and topped with lemon infused white chocolate ganache. She won a Making Cupcakes with Lola recipe book.

3rd Place – Lizzie’s Egg Hunt cupcakes

New baker Lizzie came 3rd and won a recipe book by making these cute lemon cupcakes topped with white chocolate buttercream

The remaining entries

Larraine’s Easter Sticky Toffee cupcakes

Zoe’s Cherry Amaretto cupcakes

Rachel’s Hot Cross Cupcakes

Jo’s Battenburg Cupcakes

Katie’s Cherry & Almond Delights

Joanna’s Citrus & Thyme

Catherine’s Easter Egg Hunt

Lauren’s ‘Where’s Bunny Gone?’ Cupcakes

Charlotte’s Creme Egg Cupcakes

Charlotte’s Mini Simnel Cupcakes

Many thanks to everyone who came to the night, hope to see you next month!

Up for grabs at IronCupcake:Leeds Crunch was Afternoon Tea for 2 at Sebby’s Cafe Deli in Headingley and a 3 tier stackable cupcake rack, which I think is such a great little contraption I had to get one for myself!

We had 14 entries with a variety of flavours that all somehow crunched, the ideas were all brilliant.

1st Place – Becky’s Lemon & Ginger Meringue Delights

Beckys cupcakes wowed the crowd and won her 1st place. The cakes had a ginger biscuit base with a lemon meringue cake topped with a mini gingerbread man.

2nd Place – Joanna’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Joanna’s cupcakes were a delicious chocolate sponge topped with peanut butter frosting, covered in nuts and brandy snap fragment. Crunchy!

3rd Place – Andrews Triple Chocolate Crunchy Cupcakes

Andrews cupcakes were a stunning dark chocolate-orange sponge with chocolate buttercream, homemade chocolate cornflake crunch, white chocolate stars and orange crunchy balls! The real name of the cakes were: Triple Chocolate Crunchy-listic Valencian Orange Cupcakes, quite the tongue teaser.

The other fabulous entries

Katies Vanilla, Chocolate and Honeycomb Crunch

Austin’s Nobody Better Lay a Finger on My Butterfinger Cupcakes

Larraine’s Double Chocolate Crunchie

Helen’s Apple & Pecan Crunch

Tamsin’s Lemon & Ginger Crunch

Joanna’s Blueberry Breakfast Crunch

Emma’s Nuts

Zoe’s Orange & Hazelnut Cupcakes

Christina’s Krunchy Kupcake

Emma’s St Patricks Day Pistachio Crunch

Amy’s Rosewater & Pistachio Cupcakes

Many thanks to all the bakers and judges who came on the night. Next competition is Easter, on 1st April. Get your tickets now!

1st Place – Laurens 24 Carrot Gold Cupcakes

Laurens cupcakes were actually called ‘Madam Von Fabulosa’s 24 ‘Carrot’ Gold Steam Powered Wonderments’ which is probably the longest name we’ve ever had. The cakes were a carrot, ginger and golden syrup sponge, covered in cream cheese frosting topped with a gold gear and top hat! Lauren attended the competition last February, then waited a year to come back and take the competition by storm! A well deserved winner. In the IronCupcake:Leeds goodie bag was a £25 Blackhouse restaurant voucher, a signed copy of Eric Lanlard’s Home Bake recipe book and free entry to next months competition

2nd Place – Helen’s Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Helen’s entries in the competition were these salted caramel & toffee cupcakes. Simply a toffee sponge with salted caramel frosting, but definitely a favourite amongst the judges as she was awarded 2nd place and won a Martha Stewart recipe book

3rd Place – Rachel’s Rocky Road

Rachel’s cupcakes were a delicious chocolate sponge smothered in chocolate buttercream topped with a mixture of maltesers, marshmallows and fudge. Well done Rachel.

The remaining fabulous entries

Joanne’s He Love Me, He Loves Me Not

Laura’s Hot Love

Roshni’s Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Claire’s Monkey-Tastic Cupcakes

Maria’s Orange Delights

Christian’s Rose-Mary’s Galaxy

Jo’s Cherry Boom Boom’s

Larraine’s Carrot Cupcakes

Andrews’s Rum & Raisin cakes

Michelle’s Cherry Bakewell Cupcakes

Catherine’s Sunshine Cakes

Rebecca’s Pop My Cherry Valentines cakes

Anthony’s Rhubarb & Custard Cupcakes

Isobel’s Raspberries & Cream

Charlotte’s Sticky Toffee Puddings

Tamsin’s Chocolate Cherry Treats

Emma’s All American Breakfast

Lots of brilliant cakes, so many delicious flavours. Next month the competition is CRUNCH. Come up with something crunchy and I hope to see you there

After 28 consecutive months, I have made the decision to have a month off! There will not be an IronCupcake:Leeds competition in January, which should help those of us who are planning on starting a New Year diet! I would just like to wish everyone who has been to a competition in 2011 a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope to see you all again in February 2012, and it will be good to see some new faces too. Big thanks to all the people who have helped and contributed to the competition, Mum & Dad, Jo, Paul, Em, Anji, Charlotte & Jonny, Rhonda & Scott and last but not least, thanks to the wonderful Adelphi for having us!

In the IronCupcake:Leeds goodie bag this month was a £20 meal for two at Distrikt bar, if you’ve never been, I’d recommend a trip, there was also a Christmas recipe book, Martha Stewart’s Cupcake recipe book and a 2012 Diary. We also gave away a meal for two at The Sunshine Bakery in the free raffle and there were also 10 cupcakes up for grabs!

1st Place – Becky’s Eggnog Cupcakes

Congratulations to new baker Becky! She scooped top prize with her Eggnog cupcakes which were a vanilla and eggnog sponge with eggnog custard in the centre topped with spiced buttercream and beautifully decorated with handmade flowers. Well done!

2nd Place – Michelle’s Christingle Cupcakes

Michelle was 2nd with her Christingle Cupcakes. These cakes were a chocolate orange sponge with chocolate orange buttercream, orange frosting and decorated with sweets and a candle

3rd Place – Charlotte’s Peppermint Xmas Trees

New baker Charlotte came 3rd place with her Peppermint Xmas Trees. These cute cupcakes were a chocolate orange sponge with an iced peppermint Xmas tree decoration on top.

The remaining entries

Katie’s Chocolate & Peppermint Cupcakes

Katie’s cupcakes were a Devils chocolate fudge sponge with peppermint frosting with candy cane and after eight decorations

Julie’s Xmas Tree Cupcakes

Julie’s Xmas cupcakes were chocolate sponge and chocolate buttercream made with Kirsch and black cherries

Roshni’s Candy Cane Cupcakes

Roshni’s cupcakes were a Devils food cake sponge topped with peppermint candy cane striped frosting

Amy’s Holidays Are Coming

Ames created these Coca Cola flavoured cupcakes with cherry brandy buttercream finished with sweetie decorations

Heather’s Roast Dinner Cupcakes

Heather’s Roast Dinner cupcakes were a Chai cupcake with apple & cinnamon stuffing, mashed potato icing, ‘Starburst’ peas, and a butterscoth gravy

Tash’s Candy Cane Cupcakes

Tash’s cute cupcakes were a strawberry icing with crushed candy cane, on top of a white chocolate and strawberry sponge.

Joanna’s Tipsy Santa Cupcakes

Joanna’s cakes were a Mulled wine sponge, with vanilla frosting topped with a port soaked cherry

Fay’s Festive Treats

Fay’s cupcakes were a cinnamon and orange sponge with cinnamon buttercream and a piped Xmas tree on top

Larraine’s Xmas Cupcake

My mums cupcakes were a mincemeat and rum sponge topped with icing, silver balls and a marzipan Xmas tree, from LoveMarzipan

Becky’s Rudolph’s Xmas Carrot Cupcakes

Becky’ cupcakes had a little sugarpaste Rudolph sat on top of a carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting

Rachel’s Oh Xmas Tree

Rachel’s cupcakes were chocolate sponge and meringue with a buttercream tree

Many thanks once again to all who came on the night! Hope to see you in 2012!

The delightful flavours of bonfire night were present in all the cupcakes from this months competition. 11 delicious bonfire entries from the talented bakers. Thank you to everyone who came on the night, cake was eaten, beer was drunk! We also had a gorgeous selection of Christmas cards on sale from Anji and some Christmas cupcake decorations from LoveMarzipan.

The lucky winner of the competition won an IronCupcake:Leeds canvas bag, with a meal for 2 at Hummingbird Kitchen & Bar in Chapel Allerton, the Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days recipe book and free entry to next months competition.

1st Place – Rosey’s Bonfire Night Parkin

Rosey’s been to the competition as a judge before, and decided to enter as a baker this time. She pulled it off and was crowned winner of IronCupcake:Leeds Bonfire! Congratulations!

The cupcakes were parkin sponge, with treacle toffee frosting with homemade ginger cinder toffee honeycomb embers

2nd Place – Jemma’s Toffee Apple Crumble

Jemma came 2nd place with her Toffee Apple Crumble cupcakes. These were a toffee apple sponge with brown sugar cream cheese frosting, a crumble topping finished with spun sugar and a red apple

3rd Place – Mels Gimme S’More

Mels entry was a Devils Food sponge with a biscuit base and a marshmallow fluff centre with a topping of marshmallow buttercream

The remaining entries

Larraine’s Ginger OnFire

My mums cupcakes were ginger sponge and ginger icing with a chocolate flake bonfire on top and some crazy firework style decorations

Rachel’s Sticky Gingerbread

Rachel’s cupcakes were a gingerbread sponge with a toffee centre, vanilla icing and spun cinder on top

Jon’s Toffee Apple Bonfire Treat

Jon’s creations had a toffee apple sponge with toffee frosting, treacle toffee logs and boiled sweet flames on top!

Amys Toffee Apple

Ames baked an apple sponge with a toffee filling, topped with red sparkly toffee buttercream and a liquorice stork

Charlotte’s Bonfire Cupcakes

These cupcakes created by Charlotte were a parkin style sponge with vanilla frosting and matchmaker logs around the edge

Sarah’s Apple Bonfires

Sarah’s cupcakes were an apple and cinnamon sponge, with vanilla icing and a bonfire style decoration made from Mikado’s

Becky’s Parkin & Cinnamon

Becky’s cupcakes were parkin & cinnamon flavoured sponge with explosive popping candy buttercream, a toffee drizzle finished with a sparkler!

Charlotte W’s

Apologies to my cousin Charlotte as I didnt write down what her cupcakes were, however the topping was delicious! Update to come soon!

Next month the theme is Christmas, tickets available now

1st Place – Riley’s Mint Choc Sparkle

Riley’s cupcakes were a deliciously rich chocolate sponge with mint buttercream, chocolate ganache, a sprinkle of green glitter topped with a mint sprig. A worthy winner, I thought they were very tasty, and certainly looked wonderful.

2nd Place – Emma’s Vegan Dream

Emma baked a tasty banana sponge with a peanut buttercream, banana drizzle and chocolate covered banana chips.

3rd Place – Charlotte’s Chocolate Orange

Charlotte created these delicious chocolate cupcakes with chocolate orange frosting and a chocolate orange segment on top.

The other delicious entries

Larraine’s Autumn Cupcakes

My mum’s cupcakes were a cocoa cake with peanut frosting topped with cherries and walnuts.

Roshni & Tanith’s Caramel Cupcakes

Roshni & Tanith’s cupcakes were a caramel fudge, (homemade using condensed soya milk) with vanilla frosting and a homemade peanut toffee.

Zoe’s Peanut Butter Cupcakes

My cupcakes were a peanut butter sponge with peanut butter frosting and a dollop of peanut butter on top

Zoe’s Little Lime Bites

My other entries were a small lime cake with lime icing and a sugared lime slice

Amy’s Gingerbread Cucpakes

Ames made these gingerbread cupcakes with orange blossom frosting and a mocha drizzle with a dark chocolate skull

Flo’s Ginger Spice

Flo’s Ginger Spice were a ginger and chocolate sponge, with a splodge of chocolate on top and a beautiful fresh nasturtium on top

Many thanks to all who attended, I hope to see you at the next competition

Its been 2 years since I first gathered a handful (7 to be exact) of people (friends) at Mojo’s to join in with a baking competition which I had stumbled across on the internet. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and, to be honest, it was just an excuse to bake, eat cake and have a vodka with my mates. Somehow, through the power of Twitter and word of mouth, it grew too big for Mojo’s and The Adelphi welcomed us to their top floor. Now, with the help of a swanky new website, we’re selling out each month, having people-traffic jams trying to get from one side of the room to another, and showcasing the talent of around 17 bakers a month!

Big Thank-you’s go to…..

First and foremost, my Mum and Dad for helping me each month (when they’re not in a hot country somewhere enjoying their retirement). I also want to thank Jo for being my right hand man, Paul for making my fabulous website, Em for taking pics when my Dad’s working on his tan, The Adelphi for being awesome, having great staff, and providing goodies for the judges this month, Anji for providing some great goodies from her stall for the winner, David at the Sunshine Bakery for spreading the word of the comp at every possible opportunity and for the top prize this month, all of the sponsors of the past 12 months, each of my regular bakers, the new bakers tonight, and all the judges who have come and enjoyed some fantastic cupcakes! I do this as a hobby, I don’t make any money, I am just having a ball and hope there will be another 2 years to come! (Although I think I deserve a month off next year!)

In the goodie bag this month there was a Meal for 2 at the Sunshine Bakery and a signed copy of TheBoyWhoBakes (Edd Kimber) first recipe book and some goodies from Anji’s stall. There were also prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, plus a special LoveMarzipan treat for all the bakers and a special one off raffle for the judges!

1st Place – Faye’s Starry Celebration

What a cake! What a photo! A fabulous entry from Faye which was a deliciously simple vanilla sponge and frosting, with a star shaped cookie and sparkler. Very effective and a worthy winner, congratulations!

2nd Place – Robert’s Black Forest Gateau Cupcakes

We went back to celebrating in the 80′s with Robert’s cupcakes. These were a chocolate sponge with a cherry center, chocolate frosting, a swirl of fresh cream topped with a chocolate covered cherry and some starry sprinkles.

3rd Place – Rachel’s Champagne & Strawberry Cupcakes

Rachel’s entries were strawberry cupcakes filled with strawberry puree, topped with champagne buttercream, a fresh strawberry and chocolate pieces.

The remaining entries

Chris’s Celebration of Life

These cute little cakes were lemongrass and white chocolate sponge with vanilla icing and starry decorations

Sarah’s ‘Nearly New’ Cucpakes

Sarah made chocolate and vanilla swirled sponge, with vanilla icing, topped with a cookie number 2 covered in 100′s and 1000′s.

Amy’s Champagne & Strawberry

Amy’s cupcakes were champagne flavoured, with a strawberry buttercream, a giant number 2, and balloons!

Jemma’s Cupcakes

Jemma’s cupcakes (I didn’t catch the name) were a chocolate ‘Celebrations’ flavoured sponge, bursting maltersers, and a candle

Laura’s Starry Eyed Surprise

Last month’s winner Laura baked a chocolate sponge with white chocolate center, a nutella frosting, white chocolate stars and a star shaped sparkler.

Shanti – Raspberry Pavlova

Shanti entered her pavlova cupcakes which were a vanilla sponge with raspberry and vanilla buttercream which had a pearly sheen to it, topped with a meringue and fresh raspberry

Stacey’s Champagne & Strawberry Celebration Cupcakes

Stacey’s entries were vanilla sponge with a cream cheese frosting topped with strawberries and chocolate

Emma’s Celebrate Decadence

Emma’s cupcakes were vanilla sponge filled with pink champagne jelly, strawberry and meringue frosting and pink champange and strawberry jelly on top

Lindsey’s Mr & Mrs Chocolate -Beetroot

Lindsey created these fabulous Mr & Mrs cupcakes, which were chocolate and beetroot sponge topped with sugarpaste outfits

Charlotte’s Celebrations

Charlotte’s entries were a brownie sponge with a ‘Celebrations’ sticking out of chocolate frosting

Larraine’s Sticky Toffee

My mum baked a sticky toffee sponge, topped with caramel buttercream, and chocolate 2′s with a champagne candle

Michelle’s Chocolate Surprise

Michelle’s cupcakes were a chocolate sponge with dark chocolate chunks filled with a white chocolate surprise, chocolate frosting, gold candles and stars and an edible glittery no.2.

Amy’s Ice Cream Celebration Cupcakes

Amy’s cute entries were neapolitan flavoured sponge baked in the cone, with a vanilla frosting, strawberry sauce and sprinkles and a flake. Proper party food!

Zoe’s Strawberry Fizz

My entries were a chocolate sponge filled with a strawberry coulis, topped with pink champagne buttercream, glitter and a fresh strawberry

Next Month

Next month we’re going Vegan for our friends who do not eat meat and dairy.

We’re celebrating all things British with the theme in June.

Interpret this theme as you wish, please bring 12 identically flavoured cupcakes, the decoration can vary slightly

In the goodie bag:

£30 Bibis restaurant voucher

+ recipe book

Couture Classes

Midnight Velvet – contemporary collection to impress at any dinner party
Flowers & Pearls – learn how to make a fabulous array of sugar flowers
La Mademoiselle – modelling of 3D mini shoes and handbags
English Romance – inspired by vintage jewellery and shabby chic
Weddings & Favours – cakes for larger scale events and packaging

Posh & Swanky’s online shop contains all the equipment you would need to reproduce their cupcake designs – and more!

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