Cupcakes Decoration
Cupcakes: Decorating Cupcakes by Tom A Lingle
Choosing the right technique and the proper tools and equipment are important when decorating cupcakes. Depending on which type of topping is being applied, it can be spread, piped, dipped into, or sprinkled on to the tasty treats. Knowing which methods work best with each topping is the key.
Frostings are most often used to cover cupcakes. Thick frostings are hard to spread, and therefore it is best to pipe them directly onto the little cakes. Remember not to make the mound of frosting too high or the sweetness might overpower the taste of the cake. Thinner frostings should be used as they are without adding extra powdered sugar to try to make them denser; the additional sugar could cause a grainy consistency. Instead, use an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly over the top of the Cupcake. The angle of the offset spatula keeps hands and wrists safely out of the way and makes spreading the frosting easy. If frosting sticks to the spatula, dipping the tool in a glass of room temperature water before using it can help. A layer of thin frosting can be easily dressed up with the addition of sprinkles, colored sugar or shapes cut out of fondant.
A nice change from frosting cupcakes is to apply a generous layer of powdered sugar. This works especially well with spiced cupcakes, apple flavored cupcakes, and nutty cupcakes. A stencil can be used to create a fancy design, or the sugar can be sprinkled over the entire cake. Glazes can also be used in place of traditional frosting, and can be liberally drizzled over the top of the little treats. Another option is ganache. To apply ganache, tip the cupcake upside down and dip it into the smooth mixture. Shake gently to remove excess coating before tipping the cupcake upright and allowing to set. Fondant can be rolled out, cut to shape, placed on top of the cupcake, and carefully pressed in place. Extra fondant can be cut into designs and used as cupcake decorations.
Cupcakes can be frosted individually, or they can be placed closely together with their sides touching and frosted all at once as if they were a cake. The clustered cupcakes can be set in standard square or rectangle shapes, or they can form a variety of designs like trees, cars or animals. Whether you choose to decorate them individually or in a cluster, knowing the proper procedures and using the correct tools makes decorating cupcakes fun and easy.
About the Author
Baking gourmet mini cakes has never been easier or faster. Create a gourmet masterpiece using a step-by-step Cupcake Recipe, complete with tips and techniques for success. Artfully decorate your delicious treat with a frosting recipe from our growing collection of the best taste-tested flavors.
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December 23, 2011 8:35 pm 
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