Directions for the Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer

Available through the Disney Store and other online shopping sites, the Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer comes in three varieties: a chrome-plated collectible piece, one with standard black ears on a red base or a "Best Of" timer with a larger, numbered base and magnetic bottom. As of January 2011, the Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer was priced between $10 and $15. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Remove your Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer from the packaging. Check for any damages prior to your first use.

Turn the timer by holding the base in one hand and twisting the ears to the left. Rotate the timer ears until you reach 60 (or 0).

Place the timer on a flat surface near your stove or microwave.

Allow the timer to run a 60-minute cycle before using it in an actual cooking situation. This will help ensure the timer functions and is keeping time accurately.

Set the timer by turning the timer's ears as described in Step 2. Place it on a flat surface near your cooking area. Listen for the bell to ring, which indicates the set number of minutes has expired.

Wipe off the timer with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or food spills. Do not submerge the timer in water while cleaning it.

Store your timer in a cabinet near the stove or microwave when not in use, or use it as a centerpiece or kitchen decoration.

Tips

- Check the Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer against an accurate source if you suspect it is not keeping time properly.

- Periodically allow the timer to run a 60-minute cycle to keep it running properly or if it seems to be lagging. This can help get the timer back on track.

How to Make Cupcakes With Regular Foil as Liners

Cupcake baking often involves paper or foil pan liners which prevents the cupcakes from sticking to the pan and also cuts back on cleanup time. Many cupcake bakers have come across the problem of not having enough liners, or simply forgetting to purchase the liners altogether. When such a problem occurs and there's no time to run to the store, aluminum foil can be used as a makeshift liner. While the appearance may not be as pretty, aluminum foil can get the job done. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Cut a 5-by-5 inch piece of aluminum foil. The foil must not be any smaller than this as it will not provide sufficient coverage in the cupcake pan.

Place the sheet of foil into one of the cups in the cupcake pan. Press the foil against the bottom and sides of the cup. Smooth the foil down as much as possible.

Cut the excess foil from the top of the cup, if desired. The four corners of the foil will likely stick up above the sides of the cup.

Repeat the process for all additional cups in the cupcake pan.

Pour the batter in the cups and bake the cupcakes according to the recipe's directions.

Tips

- A 5-by-5 inch sheet of foil works for a standard cupcake size. The amount of foil will differ if using jumbo or mini cupcake pans.

How to Put Ribbons on Cupcakes

Cupcake decoration does not have to be limited to sprinkles, frosting and candles. Decorate the outer base of your cupcakes with raffia ribbon as an accent. Select the colors of your choice for an extra detail. This type of ribbon can be added to cupcakes for any holiday or special occasion. Cupcake ribbon decoration is simple enough that children can get involved as well. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Cut 12 inches of raffia ribbon with scissors. Choose the color of your choice. You can use more than one ribbon per cupcake if you wish.

Wrap the raffia ribbon around the outer base of the cupcake where the cupcake holder is.

Tie the raffia ribbon in a knot. Do not pull too hard, or you will squish the cupcake.

Loop the raffia ribbon to form a bow, and tie it.

Trim the straight ends of the ribbon if they hang too far down from the bow.

Tips

- Other ribbon fabrics can be used, such as silk, but the raffia ribbon holds the bow shape best.

How to Decorate a Cupcake With a Cupcake Ring

Cupcake rings are often child-sized cake toppers that can be placed on top of a cupcake for a quick and easy decoration. They are similar to cupcake picks, but as an added bonus these decorations are also rings that serve as small party favors that your guests. This make them ideal for children's birthday parties. These rings usually feature cartoon characters, pictures or other designs to help you match your cupcakes to any holiday or theme. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Spread a large dollop icing over the top of your cupcake with a spatula or a butter knife. Approximately 2 tablespoons of icing should cover a standard-size cupcake.

Add any sprinkles or decorator's sugar desired to the cupcake while the icing is still soft and fresh. Most icings will harden and form a crust after a few hours and prevent these embellishments from sticking.

Place the cupcake ring on the cupcake with the hole in the ring horizontal to the top of the cupcake. You will only see the hole in the ring from the top of the cupcake when it is placed correctly.

Push the cupcake ring down gently to secure it to the icing. You can attach the cupcake ring after the icing is crusted but it will stay in place better if you apply it while the icing is fresh.

Tips

- Wait for your cupcakes to cool before you begin decorating. If you apply icing to a hot cupcake, the icing will melt and create a mess.

- Use one cupcake ring per cupcake.

Instructions for Wrapping Individual Cupcakes for Gifts

Cupcakes are easy, quick and universally well-liked. They can be elaborately decorated or nearly bare and still bring the same excitement for dessert that you had as a child. But today's cupcakes are not just for kids. There are a growing number of specialty bakeries dedicated solely to these mini-delicacies with extravagant fillings, specialty frosting and unique toppings. Whether store-bought or homemade, you can turn cupcakes into a one-of-a-kind gift. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Wrapped Cupcakes

Cut wrapping paper into strips that are approximately 1 inch higher than your cupcake liner and twice the length.

Wrap the strips of paper loosely around the cupcake's perimeter. Do not make it too tight.

Tape the paper together, forming a barrier around the cupcake.

Cut a piece of clear cellophane into a 13-by-13-inch square.

Slide the cellophane under the cupcake and wrapping paper cone.

Bring all four edges of the cellophane to the top and secure with a ribbon.

Boxed Cupcakes

Gently crumple a piece of tissue paper to fit a Chinese takeout-style box. You can use colorful or decorative tissue paper for extra pizazz.

Place the crinkled tissue paper in the bottom of the container, pressing your fingers in the middle to make a space that will fit the cupcake.

Place the cupcake carefully into the takeout box. Make sure you do not scrape any frosting off on the sides of the box. If it does not fit securely, add an additional piece of tissue paper around the perimeter of the cupcake wrapper.

Close the top of the box.

Wrap a ribbon around the box, making sure to keep it upright.

Tips

- Heavier wrapping paper works best for wrapping the cupcakes. If your paper is too flimsy, you can simply double it up.

- Make sure the cupcake's frosting has set before you begin wrapping to ensure that it will not be sticky.

A Love Bug Pattern Made With Two Cupcakes

A double-decker "love bug" cupcake makes a whimsical treat for two for Valentine's Day, anniversaries and engagement parties. Look for red and green paper cupcake cups around Christmastime, or use any solid-colored cups; paper cupcake cups printed with patterns can distract from the design. The materials needed to make the love bug can be found at craft stores in the cake decorating section and online. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Mix 1/2 of the white frosting with green gel food coloring until the desired color is achieved. Start with a toothpick dipped into a small amount of gel, and add more color gradually.

Fill a zip-top bag or icing bag with green frosting. Cut a tiny hole in the end of the zip-top bag, or attach a small round tip to the end of the icing bag. Press the tip gently on the surface of a cupcake and squeeze out a small amount of frosting. Release pressure on the bag and pull it upward, creating a "blade of grass." Repeat over the entire surface of the cupcake until it's fully covered.

Set 2 tbsp. of white frosting aside in a zip-top bag. Tint the remaining frosting red using red gel food coloring in the same way you tinted the green frosting. Use a rubber spatula to frost the remaining cupcake(s) with an even layer of red frosting. Allow the frosting to set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Melt the melting chocolate in a zip-top bag or squeeze bottle in the microwave. Heat at 50 percent for 30 seconds at a time until the pieces melt to a frosting consistency. Put the melted chocolate into a zip-top or icing bag, and make or attach a small round tip as you did with the green frosting.

Pipe the melted chocolate on the red cupcakes to make a ladybug: Make a straight line 2/3 from one edge and fill the small section to make a head, then make a line from the middle of the first line, crosswise to the other edge. Create heart-shaped chocolate dots on each side of the line.

Cut the tip of the zip-top bag containing the white frosting. Pipe two white dots on the head section of the ladybug cupcake to make eyes. Cut shoestring licorice into 2-inch pieces and stick two into the ladybug cupcake behind the eyes to make antennae, if desired.

Place the ladybug cupcake on top of the grass cupcake to make a double-decker cupcake.

Tips

- Use green paper cupcake cups for the grass cupcakes and red cupcake cups for the ladybug cupcakes.

How to Use Food Coloring for Tie-Dye Cupcakes

Tie-dye is made by mixing different colors in an uncontrolled pattern to color an object, such as a cupcake. Each cupcake made with tie-dye icing will come out with a different pattern of colors, creating a variety of appearances. However, you cannot create tie-dye cake batter by simply mixing different food coloring in a bowl. This will result in the colors combining and forming an unappealing gray batter. If you would like to make tie-dye cupcakes, you must use special equipment to ensure the colors stay separate until you mix them together in the cupcake tin. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Mix the white cake batter per the manufacturer's instructions in a large mixing bowl.

Pour equal portions of the cake batter into three small bowls.

Add five drops of red food coloring to one bowl of batter. Stir with a spoon until the batter is an even color. Wash and dry the spoon after mixing so you do not transfer the color to the next bowl.

Add five drops of blue food coloring to the second bowl of batter and stir with the spoon as before. Wash and dry the spoon before repeating with the green food coloring in the last bowl.

Lay a pastry bag flat on a table.

Spoon an even layer of red batter into the pastry bag, using 1/3 of the mixture. The layer should be along the side of the pastry bag rather than at the bottom. This layering process will allow all three colors of batter to exit the bag at the same time.

Repeat with the blue batter, layering it on top of the red batter, and then layer the green batter on top of the blue.

Lift the pastry bag up off the table, grasping it at the top with one hand and holding the tip in your other hand.

Hold the tip over a cupcake tin and squeeze the pastry bag from the top. As the batter flows into the tin, move the tip in a circular motion until it is 3/4 of the way full. Repeat this process for each cupcake tin until the pastry bag is empty.

Wash the pastry bag and repeat the layering process twice more to fill the rest of your cupcake tins.

Bake the cupcakes per the batter manufacturer's instructions.

Tips

- You can create tie-dye icing in the same manner as the batter to top the cupcakes.