My Cake Corner: End of the School Year Thank You Cupcakes

Since it was my son, Caleb's, last year at the elementary school I made these cupcakes as a thank you for the staff and teachers that had been part of his elementary years.

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Angled View

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Group Close-Up 1

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Overhead View

For these cupcakes I started out baking chocolate cupcakes and letting them cool completely. I wanted the cupcakes to have a nice round dome shape to them, so I was happy that they cooperated and turned out that way. :)

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Group Close-Up 2

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Close-Up View 1

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Close-Up View 2

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Close-Up View 3

I made all my red and blue fondant flowers and let them dry. I decided to dip the tops of these cupcakes in chocolate instead of icing them. I wanted that smooth shiny look to them (and I could try out my new white food coloring again :) ). So, I needed everything that I was going to top them with to be ready.

Teacher and Staff Thank You Cupcakes - Group Close-Up 3

I used chocolate almond bark as my cupcake topping. I melted the almond bark according to the package directions in a small bowl that was deep enough to dip the cupcake tops without touching the bottom. I dipped the cupcake tops in the chocolate and then placed my flowers and pearl sprinkles before the chocolate hardened. Once they were all dipped and hardened I used white gel food coloring to paint 'Thanks!' on the cupcakes.

I was really pleased with how these cupcakes turned out. I thought they looked pretty classy. :)

This is a cupcake that I made for my daughter, Carissa, to give to her GT teacher. I ran out of little red flowers.