Check this sweet site: bakerella.com

Carrie Widder / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

I don’t know if anyone out there agrees with me but some of the most fascinating shows on television are the Food Network’s baking challenges and Ace of Cakes. I could sit and watch them for hours, actually, I already do that. I’m not even close to being any sort of chef or baker; my impatient habits lead me to seriously microwave just about everything. However, I have a huge amount of admiration for people who do create these edible works of art. So, this week’s column is dedicated to my new favorite web blog: Bakerella.

Bakerella.com was created by Angie Dudley, a baker from Atlanta, Ga. whose “Cupcake Pops” were featured on the Martha Stewart Show last April. She started her blog about a year ago to learn more about baking after taking a class in 2007. I find that inspiring for us non-talented bakers and decorators like myself because her creations look incredibly professional for someone who has only been at it for a year.

Dudley’s blog is dedicated to testing out different recipes that she finds, complete with beautiful pictures of her creations and witty commentary about the process. Updated almost weekly, you can expect to find delicious recipes for cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies and everything you can imagine within the realm of sweetness. Using recipes from books, family members or just ones she cooks up in her head, Bakerella tests it all out.

Some of my favorite creations she’s made are her tattoo cupcakes for Mother’s Day, pink panda cupcakes and Oreo Kiss treats. I also enjoyed her foray into testing out the newest addition to the baking world, Break n’ Bake cupcakes. They actually look delicious and might be right up this impatient girl’s alley.

The recipes range from sweet and simple to pretty wacky, such as chipotle chocolate cupcakes. In the midst of all the experimental baking, Bakerella also has fun giveaways for users who comment on the site such as cookbooks, decorating sprinkles and cupcake themed shirts. Overall, it is a fun website that will keep you wondering about what she’s going to make next, at least that’s what I’ve been doing with my free time.

This is definitely a website to check out if you love to bake, want to bake or like me, don’t even bake at all! Who knows? I’m a little inspired to get some ingredients and bust something out on my own right now.
Either way, you’ll be craving a little something sweet after visiting her blog, I’m off in search of a cupcake right now. In the meantime I’ll leave you with her recipe for Super Easy Mini Cherry Cheesecake. I’m a sucker for anything with “mini” in the title – get used to it:

Ingredients:
2 packages (8oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Vanilla wafers
2″” aluminum mini baking cups
Cherry pie filling

Instructions:
Place a vanilla wafer in each mini baking cup.

Spoon approximately 3 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture over each wafer. Makes about 4 dozen.

Bake at 350 degrees farenheit for 15-20 minutes. Let cool and top with cherry pie filling. Refrigerate. Enjoy!

Go to Bakerella.com, to check out pictures of the recipe for clearer instructions.