Fun Cupcake Ideas-Delicious Designs
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Delicious Designs for Cupcakes
I just love a good cupcake... who doesn't? Something about biting into a decadent moist cake with creamy sweet frosting that can take you to your own little personal haven of happiness.
Cupcakes are fun, inexpensive and decorating them is easy. Start with a theme for your special occasion or your everyday sweet tooth and go from there. The delicious design possibilities are endless!
Cupcakes are fun, inexpensive and decorating them is easy. Start with a theme for your special occasion or your everyday sweet tooth and go from there. The delicious design possibilities are endless!
Cupcake History
The term 'cupcake' was first noted in E. Leslie's 'Receipts' of 1828. During this time ingredients began to be measured in cups because it saved time in the kitchen when hearth ovens took a long time to bake large cakes. Before muffin tins, tea cups were used to bake individual cakes. Prior to the cupcake, ingredients were measured by weight and the cupcake brought about ingredients being measured and not weighed for the first time. Cupcakes were also called "number cakes" because of the measurement of ingredients: one cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs and one cup milk and a spoonful of soda. Through the 1900's cupcakes became popular treats for children due to their ease of baking. Today cupcakes are not only a hit for kids but for adults as well with bakeries all over the land dedicated just to this wonderful delight. Billy's Vanilla, Vanilla Cupcakes
IngredientsMakes enough for 30 cupcakes
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
2. Combine flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix with electric mixer on low
speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
3. In a large measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla.
4. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides
of bowl before each addition. Beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not
over beat.
5. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full.
6. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until cake tester inserted in center comes
out clean. About 17 to 20 minutes.
7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, use a small spatula to
frost the tops of each cupcake.
Billy's Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
Makes enough for 30 cupcakes
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
2. With mixer on low speed, add 6 cups sugar, milk and vanilla; mix until light and fluffy.
3. If necessary, gradually add remaining 2 cups sugar to reach desired consistency.
Popularity of the Cupcake
The cupcake craze has continued to sweep the nation. Some have credited this enthusiasm to a "Sex and the City" episode where Sarah Jessica Parker bit into a pink-frosted cupcake outside Magnolia Bakery on Bleeker Street. Like the little engine that could, the cupcake knew it would get to the top. The delicious aroma of the small wonder brings back memories of an innocent, cherished childhood to some. To others the introduction to a world without care if even for a few moments for the first time ever. No matter the background, people all over cannot resist this modest delight. There's a sweet anticipation as you peel down the liner to savor the first morsel of either the frosting or cake or both. They are personalized, portable and convenient. There's not much guilt that accompanies them since they are not as large as a piece of cake. Sizes do vary though, from mini to a super sized 4 inches. Not only are the sizes fun but the flavors are,too. The sky is the limit. With a variety of flavors they can be enjoyed morning, noon and night. Because of its popularity, cupcakes are found at bakeries, trendy restaurants and even weddings. The cupcake trend train has turned into a locomotive industry with no end in sight. So hop aboard and enjoy the ride. Great Books on Amazon
Of course Amazon has a lot of wonderful information that you can have at your finger tips. Here are some great books to assist you with ideas on your cupcake-making journey.
Cupcake Decorating With Fondant and Gum Paste
- Fondant and gum paste are easy to work with. Fondant is edible with ingredients of gelatin, glucose, shortening, glycerin and sugar.
- You don't have to make your own. Fondant is sold in ready-to-use packages in white, multi packs of pre-tinted pastel, neon, natural and primary colors. If you want to tint white fondant, add a bit of gel icing color. This can be applied with a toothpick in several areas but remember not to double-dip into the jar for risk of contamination. You can also combine colors, kneading them together producing a marbled look.
- Coat hands with vegetable shortening and knead the fondant. It needs to be pliable before you can roll it out. Slightly coat a clean surface with vegetable shortening or dust lightly with a mixture of cornstarch and confectioner's (powdered) sugar before rolling out the fondant.
- Make sure to keep the fondant covered with a damp cloth when you set it aside to start your decorating because it dries out quickly. If you have extra fondant, coat it with vegetable shortening then wrap in plastic wrap and place in a zip lock bag or airtight container.
- Mixing fondant evenly with gum paste makes for more durable decorations. You can dissolve a small amount of gum paste in a tablespoon of water to make "gum glue". This is a terrific way to attach fondant creations onto your cupcake or to one another. A similar glue can be made by dissolving some fondant into water.
- When the fondant is ready, mold and create to your heart's content and your best creativity is achieved. The appreciation for fondant is of personal preference but can make for a dazzling display.
Cupcakes and Bakeries
Despite the economy, cupcake sales have been on the rise and so have Cupcake Bakeries. Known as Cupcakeries, these shops have popped up all over the nation from Albuquerque to Washington DC in response to the current demand. The Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan, New York, was the first to start the cupcake craze in the 1990's and tourists still flock to it today. It is reported that New York, for instance, is passionate about cupcakes with cupcake classes, tours to different bakeries and lines that flow around the block to get into these bakeries. Cupcake teas are being held at five-star hotels like the Ritz Carlton that offer tea, hot chocolate, milk and chocolate milk to accompany the gourmet treats. Some bakeries have a coffee house ambiance where friends and family can gather and converse. And a bakery does not have to be the traditional brick and mortar establishment. A truck called the Cupcake Stop in New York has hits on Twitter to find out its next location for people to feast on the freshly made fare. In New Haven, Connecticut there's the Cupcake Truck where it's not unusual to see a hundred people in line waiting for the freshly baked goodies as well. Bakeries suite every taste from vegans to those who enjoy sugar to classy connoisseurs. Yes, the cupcake has become a mainstream delicacy. Baking Pans
Cupcake Tips
- When preparing batter properly measure the ingredients.
- Can mix other ingredients into batter such as chocolate chips, nuts or candy for texture.
- A zip lock bag can be used to fill paper liners with batter. Just pour batter into bag, seal and cut a small hole in the corner so it looks like a piping bag and fill cups to about 2/3 full.
- After cupcakes are cooked and before frosting you can insert icing, chocolate, cream cheese or jam into the cupcakes.
- Can use a spatula to cover the tops with buttercream. A quick and neat method.
- Can cover the top with poured fondant or rolled fondant plus gum paste and different candies to make dramatic effects.
- For more tips check out Wilton Cupcakes
Turn Cupcakes into Cash
More Cash with Wedding Cupcakes
Make beautiful cupcake designs for weddings, showers or any occasion just like the top bakery chefs. If you want this in-depth video guide to help you take your cupcake business to the next level! Click Here!
Neat Little Helpers from Amazon
Flavorful Combinations
Cupcakes can display a wide variety of flavors for the cake and frosting.
Let your imagination run wild. Be adventurous and try all kinds of combinations.
- Vanilla cake with Caramel Buttercream
- Carrot cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate cake with German Chocolate Frosting
- Red Velvet cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
What Flavor Cupcake Are You?
Are you sweet and mellow vanilla, richly intense chocolate or complex carrot cupcake? Take a look at this tantalizing test to find out your flavor.
- blogthings. com
- Just a short, fun quiz to find out what flavor cupcake you are.
Cupcake Decorating Parties
Do you or someone you know love cupcakes and like to decorate? Then a cupcake party is the way to go. Wonderful for all ages. All you need to do is set up your cupcakes, bowls of different flavor frostings and toppings in their own little decoration station. Fun toppings like marshmallows, small candies, sprinkles and edible toppers will surely get the creative juices flowing. You could even be adventurous with fondant for guests to construct savory showpieces. They will enjoy creating their own appetizing arrangements. To really get the party going for adults, have decorating contests to see who can come up with the most unique ideas. When the festivities are over there's no better party favor than the ones they make and can take home. So grab the essentials, invite some friends and family and let the decorating party begin. Guinness Book World's Largest Cupcake
In Manchester, New Hampshire a 4 foot, 1,224 pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting has set the record for the world's largest. It was unveiled on Saturday, August 16, 2009, at the Woodward Dream Cruise classic cars event in Royal Oak, Michigan. A Guinness World Records adjudicator from London certified the cupcake. It took 12 hours to bake and included 800 eggs and 200 pounds each of sugar and flour. Samples of the cupcake were served in exchange for donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Organization. Ryan Abood who owns New Hampshire-based Gourmet Gift Baskets made the cupcake, with help of course. He told the Detroit Free Press that it estimates at a whopping 2 million calories.
curated content from YouTube
Just for Kids
Giant Cupcake
Cupcakes aren't just small anymore. Introducing the giant cupcake.Now the joy can be shared with this 3D giant cupcake thanks to the Wilton giant cupcake cake pan. You bake the top and bottom halves separately then connect them with icing and decorate. Viola! The Wilton website gives recipes and instructions on how to create this massive masterpiece. Great idea for birthdays and other special events. So supersize your cupcake. Would you like giant sprinkles with that?
Items for Giant Cupcake
Great Stuff on eBay
Cupcakes For Holidays and Special Occasions
Valentine's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas plus special times like weddings, baby showers and graduations, cupcakes can be for all occasions.
Stands and Cake Plates to Display Your Masterpieces
Items To Carry Your Tasty Treats
Vegan Cupcakes
Watching what you eat? No problem, cupcakes are also Vegan. These dairy free delights with use of vegetable related ingredients are just as good as regular cupcakes. Soy milk can be used instead of cow's milk and the eggs and butter are excluded and no, they don't taste like cardboard. The cake is just as moist and the frosting just as sweet and creamy as its more established counterpart. No more do Vegans have to miss out on the velvety goodness of this delicate dessert. There are just as many varieties as regular cupcakes, from vanilla cake with chocolate frosting, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, cookie dough, cookies and cream to more creative concoctions like watermelon, chocolate sundae and cotton candy. Most people when they taste one don't even recognize it is Vegan and some prefer them over Non-Vegan cupcakes. Bakeries all over are jumping on the Vegan cupcake bandwagon. These are from a bakery in Anchorage, Alaska. They are delicious. So try a Vegan cupcake, you might just like it.
Vegan Amazon
Unique Cupcakes
Imagination is the spice of life with these cupcakes.
Cupcake Wars
A look into the ranks from the point of view of Dollhouse Bake Shoppe.
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Cupcake Caboodle at CafePress
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Tote Bag
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Cupcake Blogs
Which blogs are your best?
Cupcakes Take The Cake
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Cupcake Bakeshop by Chockylit
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http://www.allthingscupcake.com/
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Hello, Cupcake! BLOG
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52 Cupcakes
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Cupcake Indulgence!
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More Accessories from CafePress
Cute Cupcakes Large Mug
Price: $14.99
Cupcakes Stein
Price: $24.99
I Love Cupcakes Ceramic Travel Mug
Price: $24.99
Quick Cupcake Facts
- Cute
- Delicious
- Affordable
- Portable
- Personalized
- Small commitment of calories
- Quick to make
- Easy to bake
- Are now everywhere
- Tranquil
- Called Fairy Cakes mostly in the United Kingdom
- In 1919, Hostess debuts pre-wrapped cupcakes
- National Chocolate Cupcake Day is October 18
- National Cupcake Day is December 15
Helpful Links
- Crazy About Cupcakes
- Offers inspirational recipes and decorating techniques.
- Cupcakes with Martha Stewart
- Can't go wrong with these helpful techniques and creative decorating tips.
- Taste of Home
- Top 10 cupcake recipes
- Wilton Cupcakes
- The leader in everything cupcake.
- Food Network Cupcake Wars
- Exciting recipes from famous Cupcake Wars show.
Frosting Fav
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Tell Me What You Think
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miaponzo
May 9, 2012 @ 7:11 am | delete
- These looking amazing!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!! Blessed!
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KateHon
May 8, 2012 @ 9:55 pm | delete
- So many cupcakes, so little time! Love this article - kudos on a great job!
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cupcakeideas2011
Feb 27, 2012 @ 9:27 am | delete
- This should be the design for every cupcake in world! So beautiful.
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Petalm
Jan 10, 2011 @ 4:42 pm | delete
- Amazing ideas. I try to avoid butter when I make frosting so I often combine cream and melted dark chocolate or cream and instant vanilla pudding!
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lzc
Jan 12, 2011 @ 10:46 am | delete
- Thanks for the great tips.
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by lzc
I'm a stay-at-home mom right now. I love writing and I'm just doing my thing. AKA Leslie Cole
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