Saturday, January 13, 2007

Cupcake Workshop I & Cupcake Workshop II at Shermay's Cooking School

A belated Happy New Year to everyone!

As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, I'll be teaching classes at Shermay's Cooking School. Below, some of the highlights of Cupcake Workshop I and Cupcake Workshop II (PS: A Macaron Workshop and an Ice-Cream Workshop respectively are also in the works, tentatively slated for the second quarter of 2007!).

Cupcake Workshop I will be held on 24 February 2007 (Saturday), 25 February 2007 (Sunday), 10 March 2007 (Saturday), and 11 March 2007 (Sunday), while Cupcake Workshop II will be held on 24 March 2007 (Saturday) and 25 March 2007 (Sunday) - the February schedule and March schedule have all the details (for inquiries, call +65 6479 8442 or email shermaycs@yahoo.com.sg). I've recently learnt from the school that the February classes have been almost fully booked and there are limited spaces available for the March classes - I'm thrilled (and excited, and thankful, and relieved), to say the least. To everyone who signed up and am reading this, a huge thank you and I sincerely hope you'll find the classes as rewarding as I have found the planning process to be.

CUPCAKE WORKSHOP I
Based on a collection of recipes I truly love, and have been testing and re-testing exhaustively in the past months. The workshop is built around the idea that a few essential recipes, "master recipes" so to speak, can be the foundation of a cupcake repertoire as varied and as exciting as your imagination (and knack for mixing-and-matching) will allow. These include:

Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Cupcakes
Valrhona Dark Chocolate Cupcakes
Simple but Stunning Cupcake Variations: Raspberry Swirl; Nutella Swirl; Marbled
Swiss Meringue Buttercream: Master recipe & Variations
Basic Icing: Master recipe & Variations
Dark Chocolate Putty: How to make & shape
Creating Marzipan & Dark Chocolate Putty Designs

Think of the fluffy, tender vanilla cupcake and the darkly seductive chocolate cupcake as the equivalent of a classic white shirt or little black dress in a chic capsule wardrobe - just as all a clever girl needs is some additional savvy separates and choice accessories to create a wealth of looks, versatile recipes such as a Swiss meringue buttercream (which can be flavoured in a great variety of ways) and a basic icing (equally variable) allow you to create many variations, smartly finished with decorations rendered in malleable marzipan and dark chocolate putty, manipulated much in the same fashion as you would model clay.

CUPCAKE WORKSHOP II
This collection of recipes is very much inspired by two of my favourite things - madeleines and financiers. Specifically, the ingenious idea/technique of folding melted (and browned, in the case of the financier) butter delicately infused with spices, teas, herbs or flowers into a batter base in order to create a spectrum of flavours.

As I found out early on whilst recipe testing, it wasn't going to be as simple a matter as applying a straightforward madeleine or financier recipe to a cupcake format - madeleines and financiers may be utterly moreish freshly baked, but are notoriously quick to turn stale and stodgy with every minute that passes upon their exit from the oven. Cupcakes, on the other hand, while usually best eaten on the day they are baked, are most certainly not supposed to be quite so sensitive in constitution.

After much re-working and tweaking, I finally arrived at a recipe template that not only allowed flavour variations via the use of different infused butters, but kept well, in fact improved with keeping - the result is a cupcake with a divinely moist and finely knit crumb that, for lack of a fancier name, I've christened the Very Buttery Cupcake. Why mini cupcakes? In deference to the original inspiration for the recipe, and also because the flavours are sufficiently elegant so much so that you may well be tempted to serve an assortment as petits fours. Depending on the infused butter used, the following can be created:

Lavender Cupcakes (with Lavender & White Chocolate Frosting)

Earl Grey Tea Cupcakes (with Orange Blossom & White Chocolate Frosting)

Chai Spice Cupcakes (with Vanilla Bean & White Chocolate Frosting)

Lemon Cupcakes (with Lemon Curd Filling and Golden Meringue Topping)

58 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Joycelyn - how very very beautiful these cupcakes are - I so wish I could take your classes! I especially love the look of earl grey ones, but I have no doubt that all of them taste fabulous! Very best of luck (although I know you'll do a wonderful job :)) and looking forward to hearing more.

2:52 am, January 13, 2007  
Blogger *fanny* said...

Hi Joycelyn,
these cupcakes are simply stunning. I do so wish I could fly to SIngapore to take every single class you're going to give. You're such an inspiration.

PS what a great idea to infuse butter with chai tea!

Love
- fanny

4:16 am, January 13, 2007  
Blogger Anita said...

J,
Count me in as wishing I could be in your class! best of luck - although with that stunning display, I am sure you will do more than fine!

6:28 am, January 13, 2007  
Blogger Sigrid said...

J, these cupcakes are absolutely fabulous, really, I have no words... Instead, I feel a lot of envy:-) (aĆ²so for these beautifull moulds, it seems there's no way to find them in italy...) Really great job!!!

6:31 am, January 13, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what a wonderful selection of cupcakes! really a delight to the eyes and the tummy, I'm sure.

7:20 am, January 13, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

boohoo... i want! i want! but i am in america and your classes are in singapore!!! rawr! can u conduct more classes after june 07 pl pl?

2:42 pm, January 13, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What beautiful cupcakes! They are almost too beautiful to eat. Gorgeous, simply gorgeous!

3:59 pm, January 13, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful creations J. They are made so artistically.

Happy New Year to you, an much luck for this new project of yours!

12:13 am, January 14, 2007  
Blogger Brilynn said...

Wow! I wish I could be there...

2:34 am, January 14, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

absolutely stunning creations J! I want to take your classes...:( . Wish you can do a video broadcast over the internet...

10:16 am, January 14, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absolutely amazing! I wish I could participate in the classes, but living in Australia makes it a bit difficult :(

6:26 pm, January 14, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These are just amazing Jocelyn. Looking forward to hearing more about your classes!

7:49 pm, January 14, 2007  
Blogger Cathy said...

Oh my gosh Jocelyn, they are all so beautiful. Like everyone else I am wishing it was possible for me to attend your workshops. You're just going to have to take this show on the road!!

12:37 am, January 15, 2007  
Blogger Parisbreakfasts said...

WOW WOW WOW !
Very beautiful.
Your students must be thrilled!
I would be thrilled to be one of them...

8:42 am, January 15, 2007  
Blogger Bekah said...

sigh, I wish I could attend your classes. Like Veron said...you should do internet broadcasts!

These cupcakes are the most beautiful cupcakes I have ever seen. They must taste magnificent.

Fabulous

3:50 pm, January 15, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm sure an edited you-tube-ish broadcast would not be completely out of the question considering your other half's expertise in the film department. C'mon, if the people at tastetv.com can do it, so can you.

4:22 pm, January 15, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh how I wish I could join your workshop! Those cupcakes are truly works of art! And flavor-infused butters you use sound divine :)

Beautiful...these look like the princesses of cupcakes!

7:05 pm, January 15, 2007  
Blogger Lattemama said...

I can only reiterate what everyone else have alrready commented. Stunning! And inspiring.

I want to ask where you found those cakestands you presented the first cupcakes on, the white one with the ribbon threaded around it. I've been looking for something similar but cannot find it.

Thanks! And good luck with the cooking classes.

8:25 pm, January 15, 2007  
Blogger Jeanne said...

OK, there are no words. These are just the most gorgeous edible things I have ever seen. I have now developed a total and utter craving for the lavender ones and the lemon meringue ones. How abotu coming over to teach some classes in London?? ;-)

11:35 pm, January 15, 2007  
Blogger Connie said...

i will echo jeanne. beautiful. i would feel ashamed to even eat one... like marring a piece of art, however the 'swiss meringue buttercream' may persuade me to dig in

12:56 am, January 16, 2007  
Blogger Valentina said...

Joycelyn, I am truly sad for not being able to attend these classes. Your work is so fabulous, your manners so warm..all the success. I will have to be happy about coming to visit your blog and reading about your adventures. Gorgeous post by the way. I can't stop myself from looking at these gorgeous photos.

8:39 am, January 16, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those are the most adorable cupcakes I've ever seen! They're all so bright and happy (if a cupcake can be happy) and of course delicious looking!

9:21 am, January 16, 2007  
Blogger Anne-Marie said...

Your cupcakes look delish! I'm sooo glad I signed up for both your workshops. I can't wait!

10:02 am, January 16, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

absolutely wonderful... congratulations! I've never seen that in Paris, and neither in Roma!

4:49 pm, January 16, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absolutely wonderful! Am totally looking forward to the class!! Signed up for both the minute I heard about them :)

5:35 pm, January 16, 2007  
Blogger chris said...

hi quick question, where do you get your cupcake cups from?

10:46 pm, January 16, 2007  
Blogger Naile said...

wonderful!

11:45 pm, January 16, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

J, Happy New Year to you. And congratulations on a fabulous venture! How i wish i could join your class. The cupcakes looks fab and gorgeous as always.

I can't wait for a 'Gateaux Fabulous' cookbook... :)

Mae

12:48 am, January 17, 2007  
Blogger Yuzu said...

The cupcake classes sound so interesting! And the photos in this post were like cupcake heaven to me. :)

7:12 am, January 17, 2007  
Blogger kitchenangel said...

Hi Jocelyn. Pending a babysitter and immense planning, I too might see if I can get to your clasees ( got Shermay vouchers for Christmas). I am very taken with your cake stands - have been wanting these since I saw something very similar in Peggy Porschen's cake book. I am praying you got them here in Singapore.........

11:18 am, January 17, 2007  
Blogger obachan said...

Oh, J, I'm dying for the earl grey tea cupcakes! But all other cupcakes look wonderful, too.

8:03 pm, January 17, 2007  
Blogger Callipygia said...

Jocelyn, everytime I think I've seen the most amazing thing on your blog, I come back to find myself knee deep in smitten!

7:27 am, January 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wish I could attend the classes !!!

3:24 pm, January 20, 2007  
Blogger the baker said...

Those are the most gorgeous cupcakes I've ever seen. Your pure talent is something I wish I had! Yes, I agree with what everyone else has said - you should have like a baking/cooking show of your own. Think Rachel Ray or hmm.. Nigella Lawson. haha. anyway, all the best in your latest endeavour J; I will definitely look out for more classes from you in the future. I wish I had the time to actually attend your classes now!

10:21 pm, January 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These cupcakes looks absolutely magnificent. Makes me want to throw my new year's resolution straight to the bin. If I didn't live all the way in the Netherlands, I would attend to your classes to learn a few things about desserts.

5:44 am, January 22, 2007  
Blogger Jen said...

Wow, all I can say is that I am in cupcake heaven. They look so cute!!

3:34 pm, January 23, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gosh J, .. such utterly lovely creations! *Sigh*...when will I ever even come close to your brilliance??...So attending each one of your future classes is a MUST for me! :) You have one real eager-to-learn student here! :)

7:35 pm, January 23, 2007  
Blogger Ruth Daniels said...

Everything looks beautiful - no surprises there! And very lucky are those living in Singapore who can attend.

Best of luck with the project.

8:22 pm, January 23, 2007  
Blogger Aspirations In Motion said...

Oh my heavens...how absolutely decadent! I, as well, wish I could fly to Singapore to take your classes! I'm in the middle of Culinary school, and am doing a project on Lavender - so I have a fond-appreciation for your Lavender cupcakes!

Absolutely stunning work!

12:40 am, January 24, 2007  
Blogger nina said...

This is the magic world in which I would like to stay forever...
Ciao :)

1:49 am, January 24, 2007  
Blogger La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Too bad I live in Canada. I would take a class. Beautiful work. When you have a chance to answer I would like to know where you got those sugar balls that are sitting on the cake on your post on Oct. 14 when you talked about: A Pair of Paco Torreblanca Desserts. Waiting for your answer. Thanks

8:12 am, January 25, 2007  
Blogger Rachael Narins said...

OH my goodness, what fun. Teaching is the best.

4:49 am, January 27, 2007  
Blogger Julie said...

How I would love to take your class! It is so much fun to come up new and surprising cupcake flavors. I love your lemon, earl grey and lavender.

3:25 am, January 29, 2007  
Blogger veronica said...

why doesn't you organize a lesson in Italy?
we need someone like you who can teach somithing of pastry...
p.s. I accomodate you in my home!!!!

1:52 am, February 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i just feel like booking a flight to singapore and join your classes J... I will bring you anything you wished from here in exchange for having me in your class ;-)

11:47 pm, February 06, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wahou! this seems so delicious and looks so beautiful!

12:54 am, February 15, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Joycelyn, i enjoyed your cupcakes workshop, your dark chocolate cupcakes are fabulous!!
your demostrations & recipes are so clear & in details. You make it so simple to bake.
you are great!! keep it up Joycelyn.
waiting for your next cupcakes workshop in March :)its a bit too long, but its worth waiting. for those from overseas, come here for holidays and attend this cupcakes workshop u will never regret. Looking forward to more workshops....macarons, desserts etc.
thank you so much Joycelyn

1:35 pm, February 26, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's how to make delicious chocolate covered strawberries. First of all ensure that the strawberries you are intending to use are dry, then allow them to be room temperature warm prior to making them. After the strawberries have been covered in chocolate, put them in your refrigerator to cool, but do not store them in the fridge. Consume within 1-2 days.

5:54 am, February 27, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All sooooo lovely!! I gona join ur class!

3:55 pm, March 08, 2007  
Blogger OraeOrae said...

Dear Joycelyn,

The cupcakes look all so tempting and it's regrettable that my two teenage daughters are unable to fly in on April to participate in your classes as we are California residents. However, we are planning to visit Singapore for a month from July 6. Hence, would you please let us know you gonna conduct another session. My email is laysun@gmail.com. I look forward to hear from you soon.

7:58 am, March 31, 2007  
Blogger Kajal@aapplemint said...

Can u please tell me if they have these classes in Hong Kong as well ???

11:01 pm, April 14, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel like crying out loud :'(

I so wanted to be in that workshop.. I love cupcakes :'( yrs looks so delicious & yumy!

well done

10:27 pm, October 08, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really wanted to attend. but the workshopI and workshopII are in feb and march. im from the philippines, it will be expensive if ill fly to singapore twice. i hope there will be a schedule where the workshop are in two consecutive dates.

Regards,
Sasa
Manila, Philippines

2:53 pm, February 10, 2008  
Blogger Lizzy said...

Hi Joycelyn,

I been wanting to attend the Cupcake Workshop I. Everytime I called the lady told me that is full. When I look at the Aug Schedule, the is no Cupcake Workshop I. Sobssss. I wonder when I am able to attend your class...

Love
Liz

2:10 pm, July 17, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Joycelyn,

Your cupcakes look enticing and I'm sure they're tasty too.I experienced the same thing as Liz when I called Shermay,I was informed there isn't any forthcoming cupcakes classes. I would really like to join your class.

Hana
90671506

9:35 pm, August 11, 2008  
Blogger Shari said...

These cupcakes look delicious!
~ I am having a bake sale soon I wish I could attend your workshops.

11:39 pm, October 26, 2008  
Blogger Cathie said...

they all look FABULOUS!!! I wish I wasn't so far away..:(

8:41 am, June 11, 2009  
Blogger Antara2Hati said...

Hi Joycelyn,

I/We would like to know if the Cupcake workshop 1 will be repeat again at Shermay coking school ???

Thank you

Rgrds,
Sue

7:13 pm, January 11, 2010  

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