Be the queen of cupcakes in time for your next kid birthday party

We are seeing the popularity of cupcakes at birthday parties, baby showers and even as wedding cakes.

The Cupcake wave caught Montreal over the last twelve months with the opening of several cupcake shops; we had none before. We are more used to the taste of French pastries here. So we may judge cupcakes from a different viewpoint than most Americans.

My mom often baked cupcakes for me when I was a little girl. The icing was a nicely done frosting of the right thickest and she even put sprinkles. So I fully understand the nostalgia and the deep feeling towards cupcakes that is all over the cupcakes industry. But the stylish hostess is worried.

Go for stylish cupcakes

Nostalgia is one thing but the world has evolved and even more on how we present food. I am showing you different alternatives in cupcake decoration in order for you to avoid my DON’T version taken from the style shot of Sur La Table Web site.

The stand can work but I do prefer tiered cake stands. The Wilton Cupcakes ‘N’ More Dessert Stands are available in two formats: one for mini cupcakes, ones for standard size cupcakes.

Why the DON’T cupcakes are bad and should be avoid at all costs? From a taste and health matter, there is far too much icing and sugar treats. Style wise, the decoration has no focus. It seems chaotic at best. You can do better than that when entertaining children and grownups.

So I crossed the vast universe of cupcakes to find you nicer alternatives. Strangely, a small cupcake shop in Malaysia called Cuppacakes is the winner of my style competition this morning. All pictures from the left are Cuppacakes’s creations. You have to admit that we are on a higher plain of cupcake design here.

This book (top pictures) with different cupcake decoration ideas can teach new tricks. So people complained that the recipes in Cupcakes by Joanna Farrow are so so but everyone agrees that the decorations were great.

The art of mix and match cupcake designs

What is great about cupcakes are an event is that you can mix and match flavors and decorations. The key elements are that all your decorations must share a common theme and the same color palette.

Apply the same theory that when you mix and match patterns when decorating a room to cupcake design. The effects are more interesting if you do not limit yourself to a single decorative look on all your cupcakes. Cuppacakes’s pictures clearly illustrate that fact.

Stylish with healthy choices

There is more in frosting than the rich butter cream icing. Be creative and use ingredients in moderation. Why not top your cupcake with a delicious Mango meringue, a Matcha tea cream cheese frosting or a Raspberry flavored handmade whipped cream icing? These will add new flavors for the guests to enjoy.

Making whipped creams for icing

Personally, I used icing sugar instead of superfine sugar to add consistence and put it back to the fridge before icing my cake.

Others cooked 2 tablespoons of flour and 1/2 teaspoon of milk while stirring continuously, let it cool down and add the mixture at the end to the whipped cream. I also discovered that you can stabilize whipped cream with gelatin.

If you are new to whipping cream, start with an extremely cold stainless steel bowl to whip your cold whipping (heavy) cream. Use an electric beater or an immersion blender with special attachment. Stay alert to not overbeat because you will end up with butter. Always store whipped creams in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

The commercial formula Oaetker Whip It is a popular method to stabilize handmade whipped cream. Many use gelatin, so I give you the recipe here.

How to make stabilized whipped cream?

The steps from Baking911.com to stabilize your whipped cream are:

• Use 1 teaspoon gelatin soaked in 2 tablespoons cold water for 2 cups of cream.
• Place water in a small pan. Sprinkle plain gelatin over its surface. Let it sit for 5 minutes while the gelatin absorbs the water and softens.
• Stir the gelatin over low heat, until completely dissolved. Let cool, but not get cold.
• Then, whip the heavy cream with superfine sugar until barely stiff. Add cooled gelatin all at once to cream during whipping. Stop whipping when it forms soft peaks.

I gave you enough ideas to start making stylish cupcakes. I will continue to inspire you as I will come across other amazing design ideas or recipes for your cupcakes.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Wilton Cupcakes n More Dessert Stands available at Sur La Table store
Cupcakes: For COACH 65th anniversary / legacy collection soiree designed by Cuppacakes on Flickr
Cupcakes: Baby’s day out soufflé by Cuppacakes on Flickr
Cupcakes: Secret garden – special engagement with satin ribbons by Cuppacakes on Flickr
Buy online: Blog of Cuppacakes
Buy online: Cupcakes by Joanna Farrow at Amazon.com
Recipe via: How to make you own whipped cream on Baking911.com

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