What's inside these ice cream cone cupcakes?

The answer is...chocolate cake layers with banana cream and chocolate ganache! They look amazing. I love the layering; I've only ever eaten ice cream cone cupcakes that had plain cake inside (not that there's anything wrong with that). I think the magic of the ice cream cone cupcake is that it looks like one thing but is actually another. With all the cupcake/ice cream mashups happening at bakeries all over, I'm waiting for someone to make ice cream cone cupcakes with actual ice cream on top and cake inside! These by Toronto's OMG Baked Goodness, via their Facebook page; find out more at omgbakedgoodness.com.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Today only at Swirlz: cupcakes with candied jalapeños!

Today only, get these special Cinco de Mayo cupcakes at Chicago's Swirlz Cupcakes. Via their Facebook page. Visit swirlzcupcakes.com for more information. Official description:

Mexican Hot Chocolate: Chocolate cayenne pepper cupcake, layers of chocolate ganache and candied jalapeños, topped with a cinnamon buttercream

Tonight: Learn how to make hi hat cupcakes at Trophy Cupcakes

There are a few spots left in this Easter cupcake decorating class at Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes tonight at 1814 N. 45th Street (Wallingford)! And don't forget: join Rachel on Saturday, April 7th from 11:30-1 at Trophy's Wallingford Center Party Room for a very special Cupcakes Take the Cake meetup and the annual debut of Trophy Cupcakes' hi hat cupcakes! Visit trophycupcakes.com and Trophy Cupcakes on Facebook for more information.

Each year on Easter weekend we offer our Hi-Hat cupcake; a Valrhona chocolate cake topped with a sky-hi swirl of pastel marshmallow meringue frosting that is dipped in Belgian chocolate ganache. This coveted cupcake is gorgeous and delicious, but a bit tricky, so we only offer it for 2 days a year! Now, you can learn how to make Hi-Hats at home with our founder, baker and party-maker Jennifer Shea and Trophy's head decorator, Nicole Familetti.

Join us for a night of marshmallow meringue, dipping ganache and hands on decorating instruction in a party atmosphere that will include Trophy cupcakes, prosecco, yummy hors d'oeuvres and lots of fun!

Guests of this special class will learn how to make Trophy's marshmallow frosting and dipping ganache as well as all of the tips and tricks for making beautiful Hi-Hat Cupcakes. Guest will also learn the basics of using pastry bags and tips, how to hand-frost with an offset spatula, how to create professional looking cupcakes, how to make custom colors of sparkly sanding sugar and the tricks of the trade that make Trophy’s Cupcakes so beautiful. In addition to receiving cupcake-decorating instruction, Jennifer and her team will also share recipes and their favorite Easter decorating ideas.

Each guest will take home the two Hi-Hat Cupcakes and the two Easter decorated cupcakes that they create in a signature Trophy box. This class is appropriate for intermediate (and above) bakers/decorators.

The class is $65 per student. To sign up please call our party line at 206-390-0900. Please note *Our class size is limited and we tend to sell out quickly.