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YORK — “We have a couple of bakers in the house,” declared Carol Hofmann, instructor of this week’s 4-H cupcake decorating workshop.
The York County Fair is just a few weeks away and the 4-Hers are practicing how to bake the best sweet treats that will be on display for all eyes to see. Led by Hofmann, founder of Ruby Rose Cupcakes in Sutton, the youngsters learned how to decorate several summer-themed cupcake designs.
Cupcakes included a beach design with edible seashell “sand” frosting, an ocean design with teddy bear graham crackers floating on gummy rings, a campfire with pretzel sticks and roasted marshmallows, and everyone’s favorite, an “ice cream shake” with cherries and sprinkles.
Hofmann began baking 33 years ago as a hobby, stocking her family’s cupboards with cupcakes of all flavors.
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“I’ve always baked for my nieces, nephews and my kids, but it wasn’t a business,” Hofmann said. “When COVID hit, I started baking cupcakes for essential workers in care homes, schools and banks, for anyone who went the extra mile to care for others during that time. Then people started giving out my phone number and Ruby Rose Cupcakes was born. It was never planned.”
Hofmann has just over 80 different cupcake and topping combinations, with Salted Caramel Cupcakes being a favorite. Hoffman also makes homemade cotton candy, cookie cakes, filled cookies, specialty cakes, dipped pretzels and dipped oreos.
Her experience earned the respect of the 4-Hers on Tuesday afternoon. He hopes the workshop sparked creativity by introducing the youth to different designs. The 4-Hers learned about the tools used for decorating cakes, how to use different tips including round tips, star tips and leaf tips and learned how to make the perfect frosting.
Hofmann said, “I wanted them to use their imagination and create a cupcake that is theirs, not a copy of me, but whatever it is.”
Cupcake decorating and the York County Fair’s 150th workshop were the final workshops of the summer in preparation for the actual fair week. For the York County Fair exhibitor schedule, yorkcountyfair.com/4-h-schedule-of-events.