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Bake Sale Cupcakes
I can't remember if I posted this here or not. I need some ideas/feedback.
A woman I used to go to church with emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in donating some cupcakes to their church bake sale (same time as their rummage sale.) I was thrilled - no one's ever asked me to bake something for them before, so I jumped at the chance.
I need to take ~3 dozen cupcakes, so I was thinking three different kinds. Not sure if that's going to be feasible, but I'm going to try. I have some ideas, but am looking for others or feedback on what I've chosen. (Or even suggestions if you read and think of variations or differences I could make.)
Idea #1: 
Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter filling toped with peanut butter whipped cream frosting. I've made these... and they're typically a HUGE hit.
Idea #2: S'mores... so a graham cracker crust under a chocolate cake, filled with marshmallow fluff, then topped with some chocolate pieces with marshmallow buttercream on top, sprinkled with crushed graham crackers.
Idea #3: Vanilla Bean cupcakes, decorated like this 
. I feel like since I've gone with a filled cupcake theme so far, even the fancy look of these will still pale in comparison to the filled cupcakes. I could fill with a cream (kind of like a Bavarian cream or something?), or more of a sweet, almost-buttercream mixture. Or strawberry, raspberry, lemon, etc.
Or something entirely different... lemon cupcakes with lemon curd filling. Strawberry cupcakes (which I could still decorate with butterflies.)
Re: Bake Sale Cupcakes
I would stay away from the PB ones, they look really good but with peanut allergies, it's better to be safe.
I think the smore one sounds good too, how does it look. People always buy things based on looks, even if it doesn't taste the best.
The buttefly one's are CUTE but look like a lot of work
Someone else commented on the peanut allergy... but I've had more "OMG, I want one" type responses.
So I know they'd sell like crazy... but the peanut allergy is a bit frightening. Either way, I think I'm going to put a disclaimer on them saying "Made in a kitchen where nuts were present" as a CYA type thing.
I don't have a picture of the S'mores ones... I made them on the fly last fall for a party and never took pictures. My CW still raves about them, but I know what you mean with the looks being #1 selling point. FWIW, I'd pipe the frosting... I suppose I could torch it a bit, kind of like a marshmallow? But that's a lot of work, touchy, and could mean I have to start over if I burn any of the marshmallow.
The butterfly ones are labor intensive, but I have plenty of time (I've set aside next weekend, but also have a few nights extra built in, if necessary.) I'd make the butterfly pieces next week/weekend and then assemble like Tuesday for Wednesday delivery. So yes, a PITA, but impressive.
My first thought was the peanut allergy thing, but if you give people a warning it should be fine.
I think smores sound really good, I would just put a little card in front explaining what it is.
I agree with Mel though that sometimes people will turn their noses up at things that look "different" no matter how amazing they actually are.
Can you ship me some of the peanut butter ones? They look DELICIOUS.
That being said, I would just plainly put on the container "PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKES." Allergies shouldn't be a problem if that's on the container.
Yeah... I'm going to put a disclaimer on them all. I mean, because I'll have been working with nuts PERIOD... I can clean, but I can't guarantee that nothing can come in contact with some peanut residue or anything.
I was talking to Greg about it and he said "I'd question anyone who went to A CHURCH BAKE SALE with such serious nut allergies like that." I can't say as I blame him for making that statement. If my child or I are deathly allergic, I am pretty sure I wouldn't even risk it.