Thursday 7 October 2010

Can you keep a secret?


Firstly let me apologise for my photos - I still haven't replaced my broken camera so am relying on a pretty crappy phone camera - sorry - I hope to get a new camera this weekend.

I was approached via email a couple of days ago by We are Social asking if I was interested to receive a cupcake with a mystery ingredient

Given your expertise, we’d like to put your taste buds to the test by sending you one of them to try out as soon as they arrive. Rest assured there are no nasty surprises in store!

I was intrigued so gave them my work address and waited patiently for my cupcake. It arrived today much to the delight of our reception girls -they were ever so excited by the little mysterious note on it. I took a pic of the cupcake all nicely wrapped on  the kitchen table at work -  I should've incorporated more of our view in the photo - we have a wonderful view from our office.


Here's the cupcake slightly squished from a bit of a horrific journey home on the bus. Sorry cupcake. Still quite a pretty looking cupcake - and it had glitter on (my camera picks up naff all but it was there I promise), and I do like a cupcake with glitter on.

I spent a while sniffing it before eating it. Mainly to check it wasn't anything gross. I meant to confirm with them there was no seafood in there just incase I nearly died after a bite but I forgot. After a good five minute sniff I decided it definitely wasn't seafood. I could however smell something a little unpleasant but difficult to place. Not something sweet. Not something that should be in a cupcake.

I unwrapped it and it was quite an orangey/red colour with flecks of red in it. I got a bit excited that it may be chilli. It wasn't. I took a little nibble. Not a lot of flavour if I'm honest. But a massive lingering after taste of something wrong. I gave it 10 minutes (could still taste something) and went back for some more. By now I'd pretty much decided on either tomato soup or tomato ketchup from the after taste. I actually tried to make some tomato cupcakes on Sunday using the recipe from Baked and there was a similar after taste, although my tomato cupcakes were incredibly tomato'y and bright red so the after effects were much worse.

I had a little bit of the frosting to see if there was anything secret in there but it seemed to be cream cheese frosting and nothing else - very sweet though.

All in all the cake wasn't very appetising. The base was quite dry and the top was too sweet. And the odd smell was a little off-putting.

I shall post back when I find out what the secret ingredient is and why we were chosen to test these cupcakes.

In the meantime - what's the weirdest thing you've had in a cupcake? Or the weirdest thing you'd like to try and bake with? I think mine is still the bacon cupcake from Batch...shudder.

Oh and thanks to We are Social for thinking of me!


Update 9th Oct: I got an email yesterday from We are Social - the secret ingredient was indeed tomato ketchup so I was (kind of) correct! It is part of Heinz's Secret Ingredient campaign and the recipe for the Tomato Ketchup Cake can be found here (it's for a cake rather than cupcakes but you can adapt if you wish).

10 comments:

The Caked Crusader said...

Now I'm scared - they emailed me too and are sending me one! I am never keen on tasting the unknown. Wonder what it is?

Nic's Notebook said...

Oooh I don't know if I would fancy that! I'm dying to know what the mystery ingredient was lol.. :)

Sarah @Scrumptious Sally said...

I've just finished testing mine. It didn't come with a note and by the time my mail sorting ofice had had their fun, it arrived with the icing squashed into oblivion. I can only concur with your conclusions; not a very nice cake (tasted old to me). I'm going with pumpkin as the secret ingredient.

I heart cupcakes said...

Hi Sarah
That's a shame it arrived so squished. I assume mine was hand delivered as no postage etc on.
Mine tasted old also - it always worries me when cakes taste old as when I bake they still taste quite fresh a couple of days later. It was quite difficult to tell what the flavour was as wasn't fresh - wonder when we find out (must check my mail!)

Lucy said...

Oooh this is so intriguing! I think I'm with you on this one, I can think of much more tasty ingredients to go in a cupcake! But it still sounds like fun :)

Scarlett said...

Wow-you were brave to try it! not sure I'll be trying a tom ketchup cupcake anytime soon!

Manny said...

I thought the mystery ingredient was gravy, like Bisto. Mind you I had a cold so my tastebuds weren't at their best! I won't be rushing out to have any more tomato soup or ketchup cakes!

Choclette said...

Hum, think I'll leave that one. Everyone thinks I'm being mega adventurous when I use chilli in my cupcakes. But then we are tucked away in a little corner of England.

I heart cupcakes said...

Lucy - I'm not sure if I'd bother to make the ketchup cake but it was nice to try something different, and take part in an interesting PR exercise. Btw I love your blog!

Scarlett - believe me I did a LOT of sniffing before tasting it, just incase! I can't see them taking off I have to say! Just going to check out your blog - thanks for posting!

Manny - bless you - I was pretty sure there was no Bisto near it but I do acknowledge you had a cold. My tomato soup cupcakes weren't great either I have to admit

Choclette - I do love a chilli chocolate cupcake but even in London people look at your like your odd when you mention it! I think my husband will be annoying me to make the fudge cake on the front of your blog if he sees it!

Manny said...

Ooh yes, that fudge cake does look great :) Chilli and chocolate is one mixture that works really well I find!