I love the idea of gender-reveal cupcakes to let everyone know if you’re having a baby girl or boy. I first learned about it from my friends Sophie and Katherine who own Georgetown Cupcake and star on DC Cupcakes on TV. Katherine revealed she was having a girl by serving her shower guests pink-cream-filled cupcakes. But that’s not the only surprise you can add to a cupcake! I admit it: I like to keep my friends and family guessing…

A Cupcake Inside a Cupcake

How cool would it be to bite into a chocolatey cupcake and discover a mini vanilla one inside? Simply bake the inner cupcake first. I like to bake a flat cake in a sheet pan, then use a round or heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a “mini” cake. When you are filling your cupcake liner with batter, only fill it halfway. Place the mini inside the batter, then cover with more batter on top. Bake for about 20 minutes. This is a great trick to use for Valentine’s Day! You can put red heart shapes smack in the middle of your cupcakes!

Go with the Flow!

After your cupcake is cooled and baked, use an apple corer or a butter knife to cut out the center of the cupcake. Fill with pudding, caramel, marshmallow fluff, fudge, fruit preserves, or anything that has a gooey or oozey texture. Now frost and “cover up” your surprise. When you bite into it, the filling will pour out!

A Sweet Treat

I like to bake my friends’ and family’s fave mini candy bars right into the center of a cupcake. Dad’s is a peanut butter cup or a mini Snickers, but Mom and I prefer Twix! I’ve even done a rainbow marzipan cookie inside—colorful and cool, don’t ya think?

Mix It Up

I like to add texture to my cupcakes, so I’ll mash up candy bars, cookies, even bananas, and add them right into the batter.

Whip It Up!

Instead of plain frosting, try something a little lighter—like fresh whipped cream or meringue. It really lets the flavor of the cupcake shine through, especially if it’s rich and chocolaty.

Serve It Up!

Instead of an ordinary dinner, serve your family something hearty and savory baked in a cupcake pan! I’ve done baked ziti cupcakes, spaghetti and meatballs, even meatloaf topped with mashed potato frosting. Simply bake your meatloaf or meatball recipe in a muffin pan (spray with non-stick cooking spray first so it slips out easy), then top with “mashies” and a little gravy. Yum!