Cupcake Designs

Food, Hometown Cooking
on November 1, 2011

A decorated cupcake is like a mini time machine. Holding the little cake in its crinkly wrapper and taking that first bite can transport you back to childhood. Cupcakes are not just for kids! With the popularity of television shows like Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, cupcakes have been elevated to a new level of sweet treat.

Novice and experienced bakers can create unique cupcakes to delight any age with these fun and easy decorating ideas.

1. Buttercream frosting. Basic buttercream frosting combines unsalted butter, confectioners' sugar and whipping cream or milk. Cover a rich chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting for a classic flavor combination. Buttercream frosting spreads easy with a spatula.

2. Buttercream swirls. Pipe buttercream from an icing bag to create swirling designs. Icing bags and decorating tips can help the novice cupcake decorator create swirls worthy of a professional. Find disposable bags and tips in the cake decorating aisle of grocery and craft stores.

3. Flavored frosting. A basic buttercream frosting can be flavored with extracts, cocoa powder, coffee and spices. Cream cheese frosting pairs perfectly with a carrot cake cupcake, while a chocolate buttercream over a vanilla cupcake is a classic. A mocha frosting can be made by adding cocoa powder and instant coffee crystals. Consider peanut butter, orange, lemon, raspberry and almond as other flavors for frosting.

4. Ganache. Ganache is simply melted chocolate combined with heavy cream. Ganache differs from frosting, as it's poured over the cupcakes instead of spread or piped on. For an elegant dessert, flip your vanilla or chocolate cupcake upside down and cover with chocolate ganache. Garnish with three fresh raspberries and a mint leaf.

5. Fondant. Fondant can be purchased with cake decorating supplies. You can cover cupcakes with fondant, giving the cupcake a smooth surface to decorate. Before fondant can be applied to cakes, a thin layer of buttercream frosting must cover the cake. Purchase fondant in colors or simple white.

6. Cut-outs and shapes. Fondant, a pliable mixture of sugar, water and cream of tartar, can be rolled for easy cut-out shapes. Use mini cookie cutters and then place the fondant cutouts on a frosted cupcake. Fondant will also stick to fondant. It can be shaped to form three-dimensional objects such as flowers and cute bugs. Wilton.com has a page with more than 85 decorating ideas using fondant.

7. Gel icing. Squeeze gel icings come in tubes and a variety of colors. Use it for intricate designs or lettering.

8. Sprinkles. Sprinkles can add a splash of whimsy to buttercream-frosted cupcakes. Sprinkles can be found in almost any color. You also can get sprinkles in fun shapes such as hearts, butterflies and even letters and numbers.

9. Colored sugar, glitter and embellishments. Like sprinkles, colored sugar brightens plain frosted cupcakes. Colored sugar can be found in a rainbow of colors, or you can make your own with food coloring and white sugar. Edible glitter and edible gemstones are another way to add some glitz to your cupcakes.

10. Candy. Top frosted cupcakes with your favorite candies. M&Ms, Skittles, SweeTarts and miniature candy bars are quick, easy and tasty decorations.