Micro Cupcakes

 by kristylynn84
Featured
Edible cupcakes! :)  10-Calorie Cupcakes?  Haha.

These are my Micro Cupcakes AKA Thimble Cupcakes!  I really love making these, even though they take lots of time and consideration for detail and there is *little* room for error.  :]  (I've made them a few times, for a birthday, for family, for a graduation and my husband is taking a "dozen" into work today.  Hahah!

I set out to find the most true-to-shape way to make the smallest cupcakes possible, and, without making my own sheet metal pans with micro-mini divots and the ability to make AIR-Bubble-LESS cake mix...well, this is the way.  With thimbles!

Thimble safety - Mine are nickel-plated and this is what I found online - I did some research on nickel plating and saw that they do this for oven racks and people cook on those. Further research said that nickel plating would only be broken up by constant exposure to acidic properties. So I figured that as long as there is no acidic properties in the cupcakes, all is well. :)  My advice, is to check that the plating exists in the insides of the thimbles when you open them, not just on the outside.  Look for the shiny silver.  This is based on information from spending time on google and searching before I baked in them.

 
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Step 1: What you need!

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Cake mix, or your own batter recipe.
Thimbles (more will save you time!) - I got mine 3x- $1 at the dollar store!! Hale-yeah.
Toothpicks.
Pam.
A Pan to Pam and put the thimbles in.
Squeeze bottles from the dollar store or Michael's for condiments.
Icing.
Decorations!!!
An eye for detail, and PATIENCE.  :D
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HeavenBlueRose says: Oct 8, 2012. 10:54 AM
Aww there so cute! I think this is what me and my mom mite make for the holidays ^-^
kristylynn84 (author) says: Jun 19, 2011. 11:28 PM
this used to be rated a 5, and i guess a tornado of haters rolled in. lol.
AussieAnglerGal in reply to kristylynn84May 3, 2012. 5:52 PM
i read that and was like "what?!" so i rated it a 5!!!!
AussieAnglerGal says: May 3, 2012. 5:51 PM
omg so cute tiny cupcakes :D
AussieAnglerGal says: May 3, 2012. 5:51 PM
omg so cute tiny cupcakes :D
TSC says: Apr 11, 2012. 1:38 PM
They look yummy!!!
hudoo says: Dec 15, 2011. 1:10 PM
wow .. ur sooo talented and amazing idea !!
but i was wondering do u grease them first or u just add the cake mix ?
how do u remove them from there i feel like they'll be stuck and tear ..
i really luuuuuuuuuved them & for sure they will be on my must do list !
Jaysinkpen says: Oct 24, 2011. 10:20 PM
This was a lot of fun!
I had to up the temperature 350. It was taking 10 minutes instead of 4. And since I had 5 thimbles, I had to change it so I could save on time.
Other than that I loved it. Thanks for this fantastic Idea!
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kristylynn84 (author) in reply to JaysinkpenNov 16, 2011. 7:26 PM
so cute!! :D love the decor! :D
M4industries says: Jun 5, 2011. 6:15 PM
It's times like this when I wish I was a Pro, so I could write in small text "Om nom nom"
bhylak in reply to M4industriesJun 5, 2011. 6:55 PM
mwahaha

Om nom nom
bhylak in reply to M4industriesJun 5, 2011. 6:53 PM
just buy it.
M4industries in reply to bhylakJun 5, 2011. 7:21 PM
om nom nom
bhylak in reply to M4industriesJun 6, 2011. 3:25 AM
see, that was easy.
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to bhylakJun 27, 2011. 1:16 AM
thanks guys! now my husband won't stop saying this LOL. you sparked a new phrase. :P
s_jarmin in reply to lchinoyOct 22, 2011. 7:51 PM
Interestingly enough one of my Bootcamp Sydney clients runs a successful foodie blog although she considers herself a food stylist/photographer
mcorbin says: Jun 5, 2011. 11:33 AM
They're fantastic! I especially love the beautifully colored cupcakes.

You must have extraordinary patience.

Maybe you could make about a thousand of them and make a photo mosaic. : )
A self-portrait in cupcakes.

insuranceman1 in reply to mcorbinOct 21, 2011. 1:20 PM
These are totally wild cupcakes. I really like the eerie electric blue batter. Thanks for sharing.
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to mcorbinJun 6, 2011. 9:10 PM
I am not much of a baker, and more of a crafter, so I guess that was the part that kept me captivated! :D <3
Aegian2424 says: Jun 28, 2011. 4:30 AM
could I make moulds from kitchen aluminum foil?
I have a hard time finding cheap thimble.the only ones I could find had the tops cut off....
suayres says: Jun 8, 2011. 10:25 AM
Oh, yeah, you could! Amazon has a 30-cup silicone candy pan for $12.99! Check it out!
The nerdling in reply to suayresJun 12, 2011. 7:30 PM
don't like silicone baking stuff because it would deteriorate so you would be eating the silicon
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to suayresJun 8, 2011. 4:09 PM
Here it is! :) http://www.amazon.com/Freshware-Silicone-Chocolate-Peanut-Butter/dp/B003UDEKDM/ref=pd_sim_k_2

I wonder what the dimensions are on those?! They look like they would be bigger, maybe 2x the size of the thimbles, but they would still be an easy way to get some tiny cupcakes! Good eye! :D Now...we just need to get the mold and find out. I guess I should, huh? LOL. So I can give comparison photos.

Who votes that I get it? :P
suayres in reply to kristylynn84Jun 9, 2011. 12:53 PM
Well, I sure do! Go for it--I think, from what they're describing, you have the right idea on the dimensions. And in fact, the proportions are such that the resulting cupcakes will be be of similar proportions to regular, full-size cupcakes--which will make them even more mind-blowingly realistic. Though I have to say, I think your primary take on micro-cupcakes was brilliantly conceived.
cdawisconsin says: Jun 12, 2011. 7:51 AM
I am so in love with this idea. Added to favorites. Thanks =)
Acorn9881 says: Jun 6, 2011. 8:19 PM
Is there any way to make these with some thing other than thimbles? I've looked every where, and online, for cheap nickel plated thimbles but they all cost 2 or 3 dollars a piece and I don't want to spend that much . . . . These are seriously adorable and I have been obsessing over them!!
suayres in reply to Acorn9881Jun 8, 2011. 10:26 AM
See my comments above, about silicone candy molds.
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to Acorn9881Jun 6, 2011. 9:06 PM
if you have a dollar store, check there! :D
Acorn9881 in reply to kristylynn84Jun 7, 2011. 7:58 PM
I checked three dollar stores, g-street fabrics, and micheals and the only ones I could find cost 3 dollars a pop. :( As much as I want to make these adorable things, and I bought everything else and then couldn't find thimbles, I can't afford to buy a ton of thimbles at the cost of three dollars each. :(
Some day when I have more $ I will do this!!
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to Acorn9881Jun 7, 2011. 9:39 PM
here is a little secret - check amazon. :) i almost got them there. even ebay was too expensive!
suayres says: Jun 8, 2011. 10:21 AM
You know what else you could use? Go to a cake decorating store, and look at silicone candy molds. They have to be silicone, so you can bake in them, but the molds come in a bewildering array of shapes & sizes--and silicone is pretty non-stick, as a bonus. There would also be a lot less of the fiddling you have to do with the thimbles.
suayres says: Jun 6, 2011. 2:11 PM
Have you ever read "The Borrowers", by Mary Norton? If you haven't, you won't know who Arriety is, but she would LOVE your cupcakes--and your cupcake tins! And, btw, if you haven't read it (and the sequels), please look for them in your public library--they're great books.
kristylynn84 (author) in reply to suayresJun 6, 2011. 9:07 PM
no, i haven't! haha :D that's cool, thank you!
suayres in reply to kristylynn84Jun 8, 2011. 10:16 AM
The "Borrowers" were tiny people (5-6 inches tall) who lived behind walls, under floors, or wherever they could find acceptable places to live. They "borrowed" from the regular-sized humans whose homes they lived in. Such things as a sewing needle or a bottle cap were examples of the sorts of things they used, yes, and--ta-da,--thimbles! Which they used as drinking vessels. They're really fun books with really fun characters.
milkyway312 says: Jun 7, 2011. 7:16 AM
These are sooooooooooo cool. Awesome job.
kaitlyn. says: Jun 7, 2011. 3:18 AM
what sort of thymbles, just plain metal ones?
dyanii says: Jun 6, 2011. 11:54 PM
I think I'd try using brownie mix instead to decrease bubbles that make them misshapen because they're so tiny.
sillyzombie666 says: Jun 4, 2011. 3:30 PM
i actually really love this idea, this would be great to give out for samples for events or something
SlinkingFerret in reply to sillyzombie666Jun 4, 2011. 11:12 PM
That is a great idea for someone trying to promote their cupcakes!

Would you rather get a piece broken off or your own awesome micro cupcake? And they'd certainly draw attention
sillyzombie666 in reply to SlinkingFerretJun 5, 2011. 12:15 AM
ya because if your trying to impress a bakery the fact you can work that small and in numbers speaks to them more than just the taste. hell i wish i could do something like that with the ginger snaps im baking right now i've got about 8 dozen done now another 4
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