Note: I recently put together a video on how to do these beautiful swirled cupcakes. Check it out!
Recently, I traveled to Detroit, Michigan to learn all about the new Buick Encore. It's a brand new model that Buick is releasing in 2013 and as part of the promotion, they invited 10 bloggers from different genres to participate in the Buick Encore's Pinboard to Dashboard program.
Basically, we create a Pinterest pinboard to inspire the look of an actual Buick Encore – from the interior and exterior colors and even show where we would take the car, what we would listen to while driving it and who we would bring with us.
I was thrilled to be asked and of course had a blast! I met some great bloggers, Michael, Shannon and Katie (I love their blogs!). We learned all about the Buick Encore and we had amazing BBQ.
I learned a lot about Buick and the new Encore and even got to see it!
The Buick Encore is a crossover SUV, smaller than the Enclave and fits 5 passengers comfortably. When it's released, it will be the smallest crossover and I call it affordable luxury. Buick is not your grandparents' car, they have come a long way in the last 10 years. Their cars are comfortable, full of quality and even style.
It was really cold so a few of us piled into the cars and took advantage of the seat warmers! We were one of the few to actually get to see the actual Buick Encore…it's actually not in production yet.
Some of my favorite features of the Buick Encore…I love the second glove compartment. I love the music choices and the little screen. You can control the radio on the steering wheel too.
There's a center console where you can plug in your iPhone to connect it to the audio in the car and even charge it. Of course, other phones not just iPhones, it's a USB connector.
I also learned that every Buick has IntelliLink features to let you connect to your phone via Bluetooth…talk and make calls hands-free. And connect more than one phone to your Buick too!
So when thinking about how I would like my dream Buick Encore to look like…of course I found inspiration in food. And destinations that I want to take it to…all has to do with food.
I really really love blue, as you know from visiting my site. I also love the combination of chocolate espresso colors with blue. It's a really popular wedding cake color combination.
How to make Blue and Chocolate Swirl Cupcakes
I used Wilton's chocolate buttercream icing recipe and my favorite buttercream icing recipe. First add 12-inch decorator (piping) bags into two cups. This makes it easier to get the icing into them. Measure out 1 cup of each frosting and add to the bags using an offset spatula.
Remove the icing bags from the cups and squeeze the icing all the way to the small end of the bag. Tie off the bags with rubber bands and snip the ends – be sure to cut them both the same size.
Then, set up your large 16-inch decorator bag with a large cupcake tip and add both bags to it. Make sure both bags are lined up and to the frosting tip. And pipe as you usually would, be sure to squeeze icing down to the opening from the top and apply even pressure to both frostings.
You can do this with chocolate and any other color such as pink or two completely different colors…the sky's the limit!
Updated: Here's a video, I later made that has pink & chocolate swirled frosting!
So there's my inspiration and color combination for my dream Buick Encore. Blue and Chocolate! I would love this wood for a trim inside the car. Chocolate leather seats would be perfect…since we will be taking the dogs along with us, it'll be easier to clean the dog hair.
My ultimate feature would be to able to control the reusable shopping bags we all have and they just take up the whole trunk! For the exterior, I would love to have a light blue color.
As to who would I take with me in my Buick Encore? I would take my husband and my dogs for a long road trip. Our dream has always been to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway in California and to see the Grand Canyon. These cupcakes would make a great snack as well as these and these.
Check out my Pinboard to Dashboard pinterest board, I would love for you to like or repin anything you find interesting!
A huge thank you to the entire Buick Encore team (including Molly, Phil, Jeanne, Lloyd, Craig and Erin) for this great opportunity. Five finalists will be chosen out of the 10 pinterest boards and their boards will be sent to fashion & lifestyle magazine editors. The winning blogger will see their Buick Encore come to life as the Buick team will build it!
Follow Buick on facebook and twitter and be sure to follow the #PinMyEncore hashtag on twitter to see the latest!
Now tell me, what features would you like to see in your dream car? What's your favorite colors and where would you take your dream car?
Disclosure: Though this post is sponsored by Buick Encore, the opinions shared in this post are 100% my own. And there are a couple of affiliate links in this post.
Christina Miskam. says
I love the color combination. Fabulous.
Angie @ Big Bear's Wife says
I love brown and blue together. That’s the color’s i’m going for in our new living room 🙂 That encore looks amazing too!
lanell says
love the blue & brown swirl- i love blue–all shades of blue–but my fav color of blue is cobalt! if i had the buick–it would be a dark blue and i would take a trip to new orleans to cafe du monde for beignets & then to dallas!
Ruwani says
Hi Julie,
I love the way the swirls on the cupcakes :). You have a lovely blog.
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Love this frosting method! I’ve always wondered how people did that swirl…definitely trying it soon.
Carlas Confections says
I love those cupcakes. Great idea on how to get the frosting to look like that. I was always really curious what the best way to do that is. I love what you did with it
marla says
Beautiful cupcakes!
Nancy Provoncha says
Those cupcakes look really yummy! You make it look so easy!
Ashley T says
Those cupcakes look so delicious!
Felissa (Two Little Cavaliers) says
What a fun trip and fun idea. Love the chocolate and blue color combination you chose.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Wow how fun Julie – good luck! Love the cupcakes – they are beautiful – the colors are perfect.
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
How fun is that!!! You look so cute 🙂 And these cupcakes are stunning!!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Hahaha at Kerry’s comment.
These are beautiful and that sounds like a fun little time you had there! And that is most definitely a lovely color combination.
Carolyn says
I saw those earlier on Pinterest and I didn’t realize they were yours. Wonderful decorating tip!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
What a cool trip and program!! I pinned a few things from your board and shared. Best wishes!! If I could go on a road trip…I have yet to see Colorado, or Glacier and up to Banff…I think they would be great sites by car. Your cupcakes are beautiful – love that blue. If you have a moment, I’d love to know the exact size frosting tip you used, thanks!
addie | culicurious says
Looks like ya’ll had a great time 🙂 And those cupcakes look delightful!
baker street says
How exciting, Julie! And I love your 2 tone cupcakes! You did an incredible job with the presentation! 🙂
Jen @ Savory Simple says
gorgeous cupcakes!
Kerry | Yum and Yummer says
If you don’t win your blue and brown Buick, I will write a very sternly-written letter to the president.
Of the United States.
And maybe of Buick, too.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Those are seriously cute, and I am going to try that technique sometime. Thank you very much!
Paula - bell'alimento says
So exciting! Love those cupcakes!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
Ice blue and chocolate brown are one of my favorite color combinations! And I love how you swirled the icing–so beautiful yet so easy. Totally doing that! PS, I wouldn’t mind one of those snazzy new cars. Seat warmers? Hallelujah!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
The cupcakes are so pretty!!! And I think I need that Buick. We are looking for a 5 passenger SUV/Crossover and the Buick looks amazing!
Joanne - Inspired Taste says
So pretty! Your trip looked like lots of fun, too!
Diane (createdbydiane) says
I just love two tone cupcakes and these colors are just so pretty together. The Encore looks so nice too!
Aggie says
This is so so cool Julie. Love those colors so much and love that car! Good luck girl!!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
Gorgeous cupcakes! I am so bad with frosting–I can barely get one color to work right and here you are doing two! It sounds like a great trip!
Kristy @ Sweet Treas & More says
These cupcakes are beeaautiful!! And so fun!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I’ve always loved brown and that robin’s egg blue shade together — so beautiful! We actually considered getting a Buick Enclave when we were in the market for a new car. I loved it, but ultimately it just wasn’t big enough for our family of seven. 🙁
Angie says
Those are some pretty cupcakes! I think I still like the old Buicks better, but just personal preference. The older models hold lots of sentimental memories for lots of people, including myself. But the new ones are cute!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Wow! That is one awesome offer! A custom made Buick? Amazing! And I’m totally digging these cupcakes!
[email protected] says
Very very cool, Julie! So sad I missed it. 🙁
I am in LOVE with the icy blue and chocolate brown. I’d buy a car with these colors!
Marly says
I love blue and brown together…and it’s even better in icing format! That looks like an interesting car and would definitely be on my list to consider when it comes out. Thanks for sharing about it!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
I love how these look like the soft ice cream you can get at the fair! So cute.
Jenny @ BAKE says
That icing is so pretty! I always wondered how people got an entire batch done perfectly without the colours merging on the last few!
Robin says
Those cupcakes look deadly 🙂
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
Looks like a fun trip (are you EVER home?)! The cupcakes are SO gorgeous!! I love blue and chocolate together!!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
What a cute car!
And I love your cupcakes. The frosting looks perfect!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
What a fun experience! I agree, their style has come a long way in recent years.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
How fun! I love the picture of everyone in front of the car – you should totally be a car model! And the colors here are gorgeous! My dream car is a range rover and I would love it in black. I’m not sure where I would take it – maybe cross country for a road trip? 🙂
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Awesome colors on the cupcake!
Vijitha says
Wow that’s so exciting. I love the colors in your cupcake. Such pretty ones.
Alicia says
How exciting! Good luck!
Tasha @ Thatssoyummy.com says
Those cupcakes look scrumptious!
Linda | The Urban Mrs says
That’s so fun! SUV has been my favorite car – not too small for a family, and not too big, either. However, it might be too big for driving alone, hence this crossover SUV is such a lovely idea. I like mine in burgundy and black, hmmm…I wonder if that’s possible, hehehehe.
Can you add 1 more person (read: me) when you drive down the PCH? 🙂
MommyNamedApril says
how exciting julie! and those cupcakes are gorgeous!!!