12:00a.m. 12th September 2007

| By Debbie Southern

Sue Tickner's Cupcake Cuisine creations are highly sought-after.

THEY look too good to eat! Delectable cupcakes – or pattycakes as we like to call them in Australia – might be old-fashioned but they’re making a big comeback on the party circuit.

Beautiful butterfly cakes, designer wedding cakes, cute christening cakes, even cupcakes tied up in bows ... these eye-catching creations are perfect for afternoon tea or a swish cocktail party dessert. The humble pattycake has come a long way from the days when it was smeared with plain icing and dunked in hundreds and thousands.

Today’s cupcakes are fun and fabulous, stylish and even sexy.

They’re topped with butter cream, fondant, fluffy marshmallow, fresh cream, and coloured sugar.

Cupcakes leap to life with pirates and fairies, petals and pearls, and sometimes even a little risque artwork (a special hen’s night request).

Putting her distinct mark on the cupcake scene is Eumundi’s Sue Tickner, of Cupcake Cuisine.

Sue and her husband Jeff moved to the Sunshine Coast with their three children, Maddison, 9, Caitlin, 6, and Lachlan, 4, earlier this year and established their cupcake business.

Sue has always loved cooking, and has wonderful memories of helping her mum and grandmother in the kitchen.

“My mum and grandmother were both known for their cakes and sponges and my grandmother decorated wedding and 21st birthday cakes and I can remember sitting watching her,” Sue said.

“It’s strange, but if that’s come back to me (a passion for baking), that’s lovely – and hopefully my daughters or son might like to keep that alive.”

As a busy mother, Sue knows how stretched for time people are – particularly parents hosting birthday parties for their children.

Making cupcakes for children’s parties has become a big part of Sue’s business, but cakes for weddings and christening/naming ceremonies have also become very popular.

Sue wanted to make sure that her cupcakes tasted as good as they looked. She was determined to get the perfect cake recipe – a light, moist sponge cake – before going on to the decorating.

“People are captivated by cupcakes,” Sue said.

“They’ll come up and say ‘I remember when mum used to make these’ – especially the guys with the butterfly cakes, that really strikes a chord for them and they get really nostalgic and have to buy one,” Sue said.

“It’s interesting to see the different types of cakes which spark memories for someone.”

Sue’s “tool kit” includes lots of cutters, shapes, colours and pastes, and, of course, her kitchen aid which she calls her “fourth child”. She bakes twice a week (more often for big orders) and sometimes gets the whole family involved in decorating.

Sue’s Cupcake Cuisine stand is at the Eumundi Market Square on Wednesday and Saturday from 7.30am-1.30pm and on Sunday from 8.30am-1.30pm.

Sue is also happy to assist people who would like to create the delicious little cakes at home, stocking a range of cake-making ingredients and accessories including cake stands, patty cases, cutters, colours, decorations and cake carriers.

You can also order online at www.cupcakecuisine.com.au or phone 0411 300 412.