Cupcake Smash 2013 and 300 Piggy Mary cupcakes

On Saturday, April 27, I competed with 40+ other bakers in the 3rd annual Cupcake Smash, co-sponsored by Philabundance and PYT. One of the things that is so great about the event (and why I participate) is that 100% of the profits benefit Philabundance, Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization. This year, Cupcake Smash had approximately 500 attendees and raised more than $14,000 to help hungry families.

Like the other years, the competition is broken into amateurs and pros, but this year saw a few excellent changes:

• Bakers were required to bake at least 300 mini cupcakes.
• Judges (1 set for pro, 1 set for amateur) would visit every table, trying each cupcake and scoring.
• Prizes would be awarded for 1st-3rd place, as well as people’s choice for each group.

I was excited to know that I was going to be able to present my work before the judges, so I stepped up my game with my table decor, creating a colorful Cupcake Friday bunting hung above, and of course, had Ray design another cupcake character and sign for me.

From the beginning of the Smash back in 2011, I have always selected an inspiration item off of the burger and sandwich side of PYT’s menu. Why? Because I feel like the adult shakes aren’t a real challenge. Turning a Butterfinger milkshake into a cupcake is a snap … and I actually already HAVE a Butterfinger cupcake recipe that is slamming. What’s important to me is to push my limits and to be as creative as possible. Hence, the Piggy Mary cupcakes.

The Piggy Mary is a Bloody Mary cake, made with my own Bloody Mary mix and a horseradish-infused vodka that I infused myself, frosted with a sweet horseradish buttercream, and topped with brown sugar candied bacon crumbles and a sweet onion caramel.

I was blown away by how well these cupcakes worked … they were moist and balanced sweet and savory very well. And while I may not have won (I tied for 7th place), it was a cupcake I was proud to put out. I even made some without the bacon for vegetarian attendees (or those who don’t care for bacon) and I received so many thank yous for my thoughtfulness. I also had a lot of people at my table utterly shocked that, yes, I made a Bloody Mary into a cupcake. I think approximately 95% of the people who were brave enough to try my cupcake were totally wowed. Many dropped their “people’s choice” votes into my vote bag, and even more came back for seconds. It was very validating.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get out from behind my table much, though Ray did bring me a selection of cupcakes to try from the amateur division. We were between 2 very talented bakers, with a ?uestlove Milkshake cupcake to my right and a wild chocolate cupcake topped with a cheddar and jalapeno frosting and tater tot to my left (trust me, it worked). Next year, I’ve REALLY got to get out from behind my table and socialize. And make a winning cupcake.

Now, you might be wondering why I made Piggy Mary a queen, and well, it’s because I’m a huge nerd for the history and literature surrounding the War of the Roses, the Tudors and the like. See, I married 2 concepts: “Bloody Mary” (actually known as Mary, Queen of the Scots, the only daughter to King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon) and a Bloody Mary cocktail (the 2 actually aren’t related). See, Queen Mary was called “Bloody Mary” because of all the Protestants killed under her (short) reign as Queen (she was a DEVOUT Catholic who thought she was saving souls). So, there you have it: the inspiration for my much more chill Queen of the Barnyard and lover of morning cocktails.

Check back for my recipe, including my Bloody Mary mix recipe and instructions on how to infuse your own vodka!