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)
Oh man, I love Martha's cupcake recipes... hers are the only ones I've ever made that didn't turn out dry. Although I want to try Amy Sedaris' recipe, because the directions are hilarious: "cook until they look done." I'd love to enter your contest!
I love cupcakes so much! I made my best friend Katie cupcakes in ice cream cones for her birthday YEARS ago when we were in high school and she still talks about how they are her favorite to this day. That is definitely my favorite cupcake memory.
Wow, a Canadian-only contest! So rare, indeed! I want to enter, please. =)
We're quite new to this whole cupcake world, seeing as we don't bake much at all. We do like the standard yellow cupcake from America's Test Kitchen, even plain without frosting! We jazzed it up one time by flavoring it with jalapeno. =)
My son's first birthday is in a few months and I want to serve cupcakes at his party. So I would love to win a copy of this cookbook!
kjennings217@gmail.com
Drats! I wanted to enter your contest - I'm like you I have many many cookbooks and I read them like others read novels. I don't have a favorite - I rotate as my tastes change. This was a fun read! ~ Robyn
I love cupcakes and I want a shot at winning the cookbook, please! My most recent memory is enjoying a neopolitan cupcake (chocolate cake, with vanilla and strawberry buttercream) by the beach with a dear friend.
I don't have either of these books and would love either!
I live the Canadian Living Cooks cookbook. I love Elizabeth Baird!
What a great contest - count me in! I keep promising myself I won't buy any more cookbooks, but winning one (or two!) surely can't count, right?
My favourite memory of cupcakes are the ones from my wedding. Made by a local baker and every flavour was oh so amazingly delicious! They even convinced me to like chocolate-mint. sigh.
That such a cool contest, please enter me in! Maybe I'll win and add to my 2 book collection..haha. I only have 2 books, CI's BNR and Dorie's BRMHTY.
Birthdays are always fun excuses to bake cupcakes and a lot of them!
I love cupcakes! I love Martha! (PS I love your site!)
As I am, at this very moment, about to pull cupcakes out of the oven (vegan coconut, from kickpleat - second comment above), I am trying to think about why I love them. I don't know! They're cute and pretty and automatically a smaller portion that a big slice of cake. They're also the memory of grad school, when I'd walk to Swirlz in Chicago's Lincoln Park and buy whatever looked good that day.
I loved her cookie book, (It's on my too buy list), so I know I will love her cupcake book. Cupcakes are my new favourite thing to bake. To win them both would be sublime!
I would love to win these books. I make the chocolate gingerbread cookies on the front of the Martha Stewart Cookies book constantly, and everyone is always impressed. Next stop, cupcakes!
Ooh, I wouldn't say no to a Cupcake book! From the sounds of your cookbook collection and storage habits, it sounds like we may have been separated at birth...
And I do have a cupcake story. When I was about 7 I started the Kooky Cupcake Company with a $20 loan from my Mom. I used the One Egg Cake recipe from Joy, and labeled my ingredients so they didn't get mixed up with the rest. I sold them up and down my street and alley, and actually turned a profit after repaying my loan. (Most of the profits were, um, eaten up.)
Sounds delicious!
I plan to work my way through that cookbook as I did with the Cookies one.
I've been dying to give this book a try - consider this my entry to the contest.
I actually just received Martha's Baking Handbook in the mail today as an anniversary present, and will have to spend some serious quality time with that baby before I get another one.
Love the idea of a giveaway, but I'm in sunny Australia so do not qualify. But would be interested in what you think of the book. I haven't ordered it yet from Amazon but wonder how much is repeated from other baking books. I have pretty much everything else from Martha.
Yum, cupcakes! And how nice to have a Canadian-only contest.
My favourite cupcake memory is making them with my mum and sister. While my mum would clean up the mess we made mixing the batter, and after we had licked the beaters and the bowl, my sister and I would stare through the oven window watching the cupcakes bake. It always seemed like a little bit of magic.
The best part was decorating the cupcakes after they had cooled. I loved the sprinkles.
I just stumbled across your blog from The Wednesday Chef - it's perfect, exactly what I want my blog to be! I love how you mix your character with the recipes and add that personal touch. And gorgeous pics! Just wish I lived in Canada! Will be back to visit shortly!
My favorite memory of cupcakes is eating any of the ones my friend makes. She makes an awesome Red Velvet cupcake with Butter cream icing... Yum!
I am not a baker, but I like to try products. Being canadian, I always pick up stuff in the States when I visit that we don't have here. I picked up Duncan Hines German Chocolate Cake Mix and Coconut Pecan Frosting... These are five-star products: Easy peasy, fluffy, delish and inexpensive!
I would love to be entered in the giveaway! My email is rmussa@flynn.ca.
My sweetest cupcake memory is stopping for cupcakes and sharing one with my daughter after a saturday afternoon stroll in the park!
I love baking! I always bake my friend's birthday treats, pies, cupcakes, cakes, whatever they choose. I would love a new addition to my cookbooks!
i echo kickpleat's comment! so yes please, enter me into the contest. and i would very much like to hear about the cookbooks without which you'd be lost. i always love to see other's favourites.
amy (amy.rose@mail.mcgill.ca)
I'm a cookie gal by trade, but can't resist cupcakes either! (email is chiccookiekits@yahoo.com) I also posted a link to your contest on my edible crafts column (at ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com). Wait a minute...just increased my competition! What self-sacrifice for the greater sweet good.