Cupcake Wars

Good Morning!  I just wanted to post a super fun Young Women's activity "Cupcake Wars" that we did a couple weeks ago with our YW's group.  We have 36 girls and we divided the girls per age group; Beehives, Mia Maids, Laurels.  We took the premise from "Cupcake Wars" from Food Network. Since "Cupcake Wars" always has a theme, our theme was "Easter" since Easter was coming up.  Each group got the exact same items.  24 cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, and fondant.  If you have never made your own fondant.  It is quite simple and very fun to work with.  I always use a Marshmallow fondant recipe and I'll have to post many of our fondant cake creations in another blog.  Here's the recipe http://candy.about.com/od/fondantcandyrecipes/r/mm_fondant.htm I always follow the recipe exactly.  









 We left all the frostings white and each group received 4 food coloring colors, 3 cookie cutters, a couple zip lock bags for piping the frosting, crisco, wax paper & rolling pin to work with the fondant, knives, spoons, and we equally split any topping the girls brought to add on top.  (We had asked each girl to bring some type of cupcake toppings) We had m&ms, many different sprinkles, choc, chips, cookie bits, and a couple other candies.  We also gave each group items for their displays; 2 cardboard boxes, 4 pieces tissue paper, 4 colors of 4 each tulle circles, 1 pkg of 12 plastic Easter eggs, and 1 piece of wrapping paper.  They also all go scissors and tape.

We explained the competition and laid down the rules.  No looking at each others design and cupcakes.  We had our cupckae wars in the cultural hall and had each team divided by chalk board petitions.  The girls then had 45 minutes to create a display design, decorate their cupcakes, and clear up their tables for their displays. 

Everyone had so much fun.  The girls are all so creative and quite competitive.  It was a blast.  Many girls kept telling me this was one of their favorite activities ever.

We had the Bishopric come and judge the design and decorations and then everyone got cupcakes for refreshments.  Believe me, if you do this for an activity, it's going to be quite a hit!