While cupcakes were once limited to kids birthday parties and children's events, well-decorated cupcakes can now be found at weddings, corporate events and other formal occasions. Cupcakes are even sometimes used as centerpieces or in place of a wedding cake. Beautiful cupcakes, however, can be costly if you buy them in bulk at a patisserie or bakery. Thankfully, specialty stores often carry decorating materials that allow you to bake and create professional-looking cupcakes from your home. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Buy detailed and well-made cupcake liners for your cupcakes. These can be found in many specialty pastry stores.
Use any mix or recipe for your cupcakes, but fill your cupcake cups approximately 2/3 to ¾ full, depending on the kind of cupcake you are trying to make. Flat cupcakes should be filled about 2/3 of the way up the tin, while cupcakes with domed tops should be about ¾ full.
Buy a piping bag with exchangeable tips.
Frost your cupcakes after they cool.
Fill your piping bag with frosting. Choose a tip. Star tips can be used to make delicate rosettes around your cupcake; small writing tips will allow you to write or make small dots.
Find a piping pattern that you like on the Internet or in a magazine, and follow the instructions to create your cupcake design.
Practice your piping technique on a piece of wax paper before you begin piping onto your cupcakes.
Add sprinkles, chocolate discs, or fondant decorations on top of your cupcakes. These can all be found at a pastry store or specialty baking store.
Tips
- If may choose to bake your cupcakes without liners, then place them in your specialty liners after they have baked. Grease your cupcake cups well to prevent sticking.
Warning
- If you frost your cupcakes before they have cooled, the heat will melt your frosting.
