Cupcakery inspiration; Martha Stewart's Cupcakes giveaway
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 6:32AM 
This photo was part of a series shot in January, the last time I baked cupcakes from Martha Stewart.
I have three (main) places I keep cookbooks.
There are those stored in the bookshelves that line our den (also where I keep my magazine back issues). I consider these the reference books, those that I turn to for a specific inspiration or if I am looking for a particular recipe. The top shelves are reserved for my most treasured-tomes, the coffee table styled works from authors I admire; they sit alongside the dog-eared, aged copies of cookbooks from my childhood and before.
The second is our dining room table, much to the chagrin of my dear husband. Our dining room is often the resting place of books in transit, those making their way from the kitchen back up to the den. I would be lying if I told you that books do not sometimes take up an extended residence on that table, or if I denied my errant desire to line that room with bookshelves as well.
The third cookbook habitat is our kitchen itself. Behind the closed doors of a built-in cabinet live those books I use most often. These are the books I feel lost without, the ones that best reflect the way I cook and the way we eat. The selection rotates now and again, with titles being promoted and demoted, but there are certain regulars that never lose their place.
I am not yet sure as to where Martha Stewart's Cupcakes will land up, but I'm aiming to find out. With William's first birthday next week (so big!) and celebrations planned, I will be turning to Ms. Stewart for cupcakery inspiration.
And here's the best part - you, my dear friends, will be able to partake in the fun. Below are links to the recipes from the book which are currently available online, so you can get out your muffin tins, cupcake liners and get to baking. But wait, there's more! Random House Canada has generously provided the booty for a contest to celebrate the book's launch. What's there to win? Hold on to your hats:
Grand prize: A copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and a copy of Martha Stewart's Cookies (one to be awarded)
Secondary prize: A copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes (two to be awarded)
To enter, simply comment at the end of this post; maybe we can chat about our favourite cookbooks or cupcakes or cupcake memory - you decide. But leave your comment by midnight Wednesday, June 10, 2009 (EST), and please include both your email address if not signed in, and a note of your desire to enter (this way, non entrants can still join the chat). If you do not want to sign in, nor do you want to publish your email, please comment then email me at tara [at] sevenspoons [dot] net, with the name you used to comment.
The winner will be selected by at random, and announced the next day. One note, due to distribution regulations, this contest is only open to residents of Canada. My apologies to international readers (this might be a good time to ask your Canadian friends to do you a favour).
Good luck!
Psst. It got mentioned in the comments, so I'll add a note - here's my review of Martha Stewart's Cookies from way back.
Recipes from the book:
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Tiramisu Cupcakes
Mrs. Kostyra's Spice Cupcakes
German Chocolate Cupcakes
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Black Forest Cupcakes
Triple-Citrus Mini Pound Cakes
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Candied Hazelnut Cupcakes
Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes
Martha Stewart, contest, cookbook, cupcake, giveaway 
Reader Comments (97)
Um...cupcake cookbook? Yes, please!
Hubby and I have a semi-tradition of making cupcakes on New Year's Day. Because what better way to start a new year than with cupcakes! :)
A Canadian only contest? I love it!! Sign me up! My favorite cupcake memory? The coconut cupcakes I made for my wedding (I also printed the recipe on a recipe card which also doubled as our program) were amazing and probably the best cupcakes I've ever eaten (but I was smitten with love that day!)
Ooooh! I would love to win this book!! I`ve just started making cupcakes and I love it. Next week my co-workers are getting a taste of them :)
Thanks for such a great contest!
Here are some pics of the ones I`ve made recently..as you can tell by the frosting techniques, I`m still learning...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37464109@N00/3457226812/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37464109@N00/page3/
Count me in for cupcakes. I've recently discovered the red velvet kind and they could easily be my favorite.
Well, I'm not eligible for this contest, living the the Northeast US, but did want to let you know that I totally can relate to your multitude of storage options for your cookbooks! Thanks for posting links to Martha's online cupcake recipes -- I'll bookmark this page.
- Zahavah
My cookbooks are forever around the house and I keep trying to put them back on their shelves!!!
I live in the States, but can I enter using my Tante Alice's address in Montreal? : )
To me there is nothing better than a classic yellow cake with chocolate buttercream frosting.
Do you know what kind of piping tip to use to make frosting swirls like professional bakeries? I usually spread frosting and then gently tap the frosting in quick little beats with the back of a spoon to make little peaks and curls, but I want big, lofty smooth swirls of frosting!
Hope you're well!
My favourite memory would have to be of making cupcakes at work. They are outright monsters. 4 inches high, topped with icing roses and leaves, sometimes sugar butterflies and ladybugs. They fly out of the showcase every time I make them. Too sweet for me, but I love to make them.
I would love to be entered!
At first I wasn't going to get this book because I figured my bookshelf was overflooded with them. But who can resist the beautiful pictures and recipes om martha?! I can't! I loved her one bowl chocolate cupcakes from her "Baking Handbook" so I don't think she will let me down with this new endeavor. Those were some good cupcakes for Christmas and everyone thought they were ultra moist and tasty...
There are no words for how much I want that cookbook. Enter me, please.
I also have multiple cookbook storage. The ones I have out from the library are right by the armchair where our library-book stash lives. The "reference" ones are in the main bookshelves in our living room, and the everyday ones live in my kitchen. There's a built-in microwave nook, and I have no microwave... and cookbooks look wonderful lined up in that nook.
Martha and cupcakes?! Count me in as these are my 2 favourite things! I have the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook and the one bowl chocolate cupcakes in there is THE BEST! Everyone loves them and they ALWAYS turn out no matter how hard to try to screw it up! I haven't seen the cupcake book yet but if I don't win, I might go check it out anyway!
OH! I love reading your blog and I would LOVE to win those cookbooks!
:) :) :) :)
I'm so happy to see a Canadian giveaway! Hahahaha I usually have to quietly turn away from US ones :( This is a lovely giveaway, thanks for having it :)
My favourite cupcake is, bar-non, vanilla bean + coconut with coconut icing! This is weird since I'm a total choco-loving gal, but soemthing about the moistness of coconut batter and then the flaky-sweet icing... gosh, can't control myself! I especially like the ones from Crave (Calgary) or The Cupcake shoppe (Toronto)
You should take a look at Martha Stewart cookie book. It's awesome! I've tried probably half of the recipes in the book and they're all divinely delicious.
I've checkout the link you added for different cupcake. Yours, the tiramisu and black forest ones are sooooo tempting!
What's not to like--cupcakes, Martha, and only in Canada, you say?
Your pictures are wonderful! Please enter me too!
Tiramisu cupcake... that sounds like a combination of two perfect things. I must try that one!
This is a great giveaway thanks!
Sorry, my email address is mussacaleca@yahoo.com. Thanks!
My husband told me two days ago "you have enough cupcakes books now" pfffff
I'd love to have Martha Stewart's book.
My favorite cupcake memory is my daughter's 3rd birthday. We organized a big picnic and I cooked a lot of cupcakes, her favorite ones ? vanilla batter with a lavender toping :)
I loved her face when she discovered these treats for her birthday.
I would love to enter this giveaway!
My favourite cupcake is chocolate batetr and choco-espresso icing. Perfection!
My email address is pelu140@hotmail.com
Thanks!
I'd love to win a copy of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes...I've created a page at http://www.squidoo.com/cupcakes-" REL="nofollow">Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Book Review all about the cookbook with the intention of adding my review. Please visit and let me know what YOU think of the book!
Please enter me too!!!
I love all of Martha's books and the cookie one is the next one my to-buy list... winning it would be GREAT!
Sweetest memorie would be when my big sister baked a GIANT cookie for my birthday, and I ate it all!
My email address is rad_stomaci@hotmail.com
I have various places I keep my books too and am running out of room!
Oooh I've been meaning to get a copy of Martha's books! My favorite recipe book so far is Dorie Greenspan's -Baking from my home to yours =)
I would love to win a copy of Martha's new cupcake book...been waiting for it to come out for months now!!
My favorite Martha Stewart recipe is her banana bread recipe (with sour cream mixed in...heaven!!!)...mmm. May just go make some right now.