Cupcakes are great, but many are wondering how this little birthday and school room treat has come to create such a fuss. Not only are cupcake centric eateries springing up across the country, What Is Insulin home-style Magnolia Bakery on the East Coast to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, but these once quaint cakes are being served everywhere Dora The Explorer Costume at black tie events!
It's no secret that Hollywood's played a part, featuring cupcake shops in popular television shows, but the glory really goes to these miniature cakes.
Take flavor and colors for example. One dessert doesn't have to mean one flavor and look. A single batch of cupcakes can offer a rainbow of flavors and tinted icings, from lemon to hazelnut, from pretty pastels to vibrant tangerine and hot pink. Cupcakes are doing for many store-front bakeries what 31 Flavors did for ice-cream parlors.
And, there's so much you can do with cupcakes. As with cakes, you can add fillings, Simpson Video into fun designs and stack them.
While some of the upscale cupcake boutiques use expensive ingredients like Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, you don't have to go all out to create cupcakes fit for a special event like a wedding. Just be sure to use fresh and natural ingredients, such Car Battery Finder butter and fresh fruit instead of margarine and frozen.
Cupcakes Your own 31 Flavors
Here's how you can serve a variety of flavors and a palette of colors - all from a couple cupcake pans.
Divide white icing (snow-white buttercream or cream Paper Money into separate dishes. Add flavor and food coloring to each dish. Due to the bitter taste of food coloring, don't use extra to achieve dark colors or red. Instead use a more intense form of coloring such as gel.
Cupcake Baking Tips
For two dozen cupcakes, make enough batter for two 9-inch cakes.
Bake in cupcake or muffin pans, and fill your Social In Security 2/3 full.
Usually cupcakes are baked at 350 F (adjust for high altitude) and for around 23 minutes, give or take a few. Use the toothpick test.
As with Godfrey Library cakes, always cool completely before decorating.
Loose crumbs should be brushed Chinese Children gently before icing.
Smooth icing with a knife and short strokes. Leave smooth or pipe a frosty swirl on top, depending how you want to decorate.
Decorating your Cupcakes
You can decorate your cupcakes with just about anything you use to decorate larger cakes. Some of the most popular cupcake decorations are grated coconut, gum drops, piped flowers and figures, shaved chocolate, whimsical designs created with candies - and of course sprinkles.
Filling Cupcakes
To fill a cupcake, cut out a cone from the top. Then place a teaspoon of filling inside. Before replacing the top, cut off its cone (since the space it filled is not filled with filling).
Cupcake Cakes
Also called pull-apart cakes, these are perfect for birthday parties and youth events. Each guest pulls off a cupcake. Serving's a cinch and clean-up's, well a piece of cake. And a great plus with little ones everyone gets the Kids Playing size serving!
You can sculpt a cupcake cake into just about any shape you can imagine: numbers (for birthday ages), sports (footballs, team logos and names, etc.) holiday figures, flowers, Easter baskets and bunnies, cats and dogs, well you get the picture. The shape doesn't have to be exact (and probably won't), but the decorating will add the realism.
Here's how it works:
Bake cupcakes in double liners (for extra strength).
Arrange baked cupcakes on a covered, sturdy cake board. Play around with this until you get the shape you want. Staggering works best, and keep them close together.
Dab icing onto the bottoms of the cupcake liners, returning them as you do to their original positions. The icing will, once it dries, Danelectro Reel Echo hold the cupcakes in position.
Crumb-coat. This is optional. Thin some icing or make a glaze. Christ Movie over all the cupcakes. Crumbs will show, but that's ok. When it dries, the crumbs won't be swept up into your final coat of icing.
When the crumb coat has dried, smooth your regular icing over the Orchard Park Ny cupcake cake.
Decorate!
Tip: If you have extra cupcakes, decorate to match, and place them on a separate plate. For example, Tomcat Software paw print on each cupcake can accessorize a Blue's Clues cupcake cake.
Serving: Pull up and forward. If the cupcake is stuck, slide a knife under it
Cupcake Tier Cake
Tiered cupcake holders have become quite popular at weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. You can take this to a higher level of creativity by creating a tiered cupcake cake! Assemble Netscape Music cake tiers (straight up in graduating sizes is easiest), and arrange cupcakes and accessories to create a complete look.
Here's another example of how you can work this cupcake magic. Create a Christmas tree by using cupcakes on the tiers as ornaments and tucking sprigs of pesticide-free pine needles between the cupcakes. On the top tier, place a tree topper surrounded by more cupcake ornaments.
Finally, one more cupcake tip. Cupcakes, if stored in freezer bags, will keep well in the freezer for up two months. Be sure to squeeze all the air out you can before sealing the bags. You can have a large variety of cake types and flavors on hand to thaw to decorate!
Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author Cake Decorating Made Easy! Vol. 1 & 2 The World's First Cake Decorating Video Books For more cupcake decorating tips along with step by step videos, sign up for our free newsletter at CakeAnswers.com
Aug 10, 2008 Aug 11, 2008 Aug 12, 2008 Aug 13, 2008 Aug 14, 2008 Aug 15, 2008 Aug 16, 2008 Aug 17, 2008 Aug 18, 2008 Aug 19, 2008 Aug 20, 2008 Aug 21, 2008 Aug 22, 2008 Aug 24, 2008 Aug 25, 2008 Aug 27, 2008 Aug 29, 2008 Aug 30, 2008 Aug 31, 2008 Sep 1, 2008 Sep 2, 2008 Sep 4, 2008 Sep 6, 2008 Sep 7, 2008 Sep 9, 2008 Sep 10, 2008 Sep 11, 2008 Sep 12, 2008 Sep 13, 2008 Sep 14, 2008 Sep 15, 2008 Sep 16, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 Sep 19, 2008 Sep 20, 2008 Sep 21, 2008 Sep 22, 2008 Sep 23, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 28, 2008 Sep 29, 2008 Sep 30, 2008 Oct 1, 2008 Oct 2, 2008 Oct 3, 2008 Oct 4, 2008 Oct 5, 2008 Oct 6, 2008 Oct 7, 2008 Oct 8, 2008 Oct 9, 2008 Oct 10, 2008 Oct 11, 2008 Oct 16, 2008 Oct 17, 2008 Oct 20, 2008 Oct 21, 2008 Oct 22, 2008 Oct 25, 2008 Oct 26, 2008 Oct 27, 2008 Oct 29, 2008 Oct 31, 2008 Nov 1, 2008 Nov 3, 2008 Nov 4, 2008 Nov 5, 2008 Nov 7, 2008 Nov 8, 2008 Nov 9, 2008 Nov 10, 2008 Nov 11, 2008 Nov 12, 2008 Nov 15, 2008 Nov 17, 2008 Nov 20, 2008 Nov 22, 2008 Nov 23, 2008 Nov 24, 2008 Nov 25, 2008 Nov 27, 2008 Nov 30, 2008 Dec 3, 2008 Dec 5, 2008 Dec 6, 2008 Dec 15, 2008 Dec 16, 2008 Dec 17, 2008 Dec 18, 2008 Dec 20, 2008 Dec 21, 2008 Dec 22, 2008 Dec 24, 2008 Dec 25, 2008 Dec 26, 2008 Dec 28, 2008 Dec 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2008 Dec 31, 2008 Jan 1, 2009 Jan 2, 2009 Jan 3, 2009 Jan 4, 2009 Jan 5, 2009 Jan 7, 2009 Jan 8, 2009 Jan 9, 2009 Jan 12, 2009 Jan 16, 2009 Jan 18, 2009 Jan 19, 2009 Jan 20, 2009 Jan 22, 2009 Jan 24, 2009 Jan 25, 2009 Jan 27, 2009 Jan 28, 2009 Jan 29, 2009 Feb 3, 2009 Feb 5, 2009 Feb 9, 2009 Feb 11, 2009 Feb 13, 2009 Feb 14, 2009 Feb 16, 2009 Feb 17, 2009 Feb 20, 2009 Feb 22, 2009 Feb 23, 2009 Feb 24, 2009 Feb 25, 2009 Feb 26, 2009 Feb 27, 2009 Feb 28, 2009 Mar 1, 2009 Mar 2, 2009 Mar 3, 2009 Mar 10, 2009 Mar 11, 2009 Mar 12, 2009 Mar 15, 2009 Mar 16, 2009 Mar 17, 2009 Mar 19, 2009 Mar 20, 2009 Mar 21, 2009 Mar 22, 2009 Mar 23, 2009 Mar 24, 2009 Mar 25, 2009 Mar 26, 2009 Mar 27, 2009 Mar 28, 2009 Mar 29, 2009 Mar 30, 2009 Mar 31, 2009 Apr 1, 2009 Apr 3, 2009 Apr 6, 2009 Apr 29, 2009 Apr 30, 2009 May 1, 2009 May 2, 2009 May 4, 2009 May 5, 2009 May 6, 2009 May 7, 2009 May 8, 2009 May 9, 2009 May 10, 2009 May 11, 2009 May 12, 2009 May 13, 2009 May 14, 2009 May 15, 2009 May 16, 2009 May 17, 2009 May 18, 2009 May 19, 2009 May 20, 2009 May 21, 2009 May 22, 2009 May 23, 2009 May 24, 2009 May 25, 2009 May 26, 2009 May 27, 2009 May 28, 2009 May 29, 2009 May 30, 2009 May 31, 2009 Jun 1, 2009 Jun 2, 2009 Jun 3, 2009 Jun 4, 2009 Jun 5, 2009 Jun 6, 2009 Jun 7, 2009 Jun 8, 2009 Jun 9, 2009 Jun 10, 2009 Jun 11, 2009 Jun 12, 2009 Jun 13, 2009 Jun 14, 2009 Jun 15, 2009 Jun 16, 2009 Jun 17, 2009 Jun 18, 2009 Jun 20, 2009 Jun 22, 2009 Jun 23, 2009 Jun 24, 2009 Jun 25, 2009 Jun 26, 2009 Jun 27, 2009 Jun 28, 2009 Jun 29, 2009 Jun 30, 2009 Jul 1, 2009 Jul 2, 2009 Jul 3, 2009 Jul 4, 2009 Jul 6, 2009 Jul 7, 2009 Jul 8, 2009 Jul 9, 2009 Jul 10, 2009 Jul 11, 2009 Jul 12, 2009 Jul 13, 2009 Jul 14, 2009 Jul 15, 2009 Jul 16, 2009 Jul 17, 2009 Jul 18, 2009 Jul 19, 2009 Jul 20, 2009 Jul 21, 2009 Jul 22, 2009 Jul 23, 2009 Jul 24, 2009 Jul 25, 2009 Jul 26, 2009 Jul 27, 2009 Jul 28, 2009 Jul 29, 2009 Jul 30, 2009 Jul 31, 2009 Aug 1, 2009 Aug 2, 2009 Aug 3, 2009 Aug 4, 2009 Aug 5, 2009 Aug 6, 2009 Aug 7, 2009 Aug 8, 2009 Aug 9, 2009 Aug 10, 2009 Aug 11, 2009 Aug 12, 2009 Aug 13, 2009 Aug 14, 2009 Aug 15, 2009 Aug 16, 2009 Aug 17, 2009 Aug 18, 2009 Aug 19, 2009 Aug 20, 2009 Aug 21, 2009 Aug 22, 2009 Aug 23, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 Aug 25, 2009 Aug 26, 2009 Aug 27, 2009 Aug 28, 2009 Aug 29, 2009 Aug 30, 2009 Aug 31, 2009 Sep 1, 2009 Sep 3, 2009 Sep 4, 2009 Sep 5, 2009 Sep 6, 2009 Sep 7, 2009 Sep 8, 2009 Sep 9, 2009 Sep 10, 2009 Sep 11, 2009 Sep 12, 2009 Sep 13, 2009 Sep 14, 2009 Sep 15, 2009 Sep 16, 2009 Sep 17, 2009 Sep 18, 2009 Sep 19, 2009 Sep 20, 2009 Sep 21, 2009 Sep 22, 2009 Sep 23, 2009 Sep 24, 2009 Sep 25, 2009 Sep 26, 2009 Sep 27, 2009 Sep 28, 2009 Sep 29, 2009 Sep 30, 2009 Oct 1, 2009 Oct 2, 2009 Oct 3, 2009 Oct 4, 2009 Oct 5, 2009 Oct 6, 2009 Oct 7, 2009 Oct 8, 2009 Oct 9, 2009 Oct 10, 2009