Cupcake decorating is fun and easy once you get familiar with the basics. One of the biggest advantages of making cupcakes versus making a whole cake is that you can have much more fun with these bite-size morsels by getting creative with your frosting ideas.
With simple familiarization on how to bake cupcakes, the kinds of frostings and where to find the best edible cupcake toppers is all you need to have your own home made cupcake business. Listed are some of the most common frostings that one can use to start cupcake decorating.
Frosting is the most popular choice when decorating cakes and cupcakes. There are different types of frosting: buttercream, whipped cream, royal icing, cooked frostings, ganaches and glazes. It is important that you know the difference before you start decorating.
The classic form of frosting is the glaze. Made from sugar, water and cream or milk this will create a smooth thin texture which by itself can be poured over or drizzled for that hard sweet crust. Chocolate and vanilla can also be added for flavors.
Buttercream frosting is made by blending together butter, powdered sugar, liquid, and other flavoring. The powder sugar helps stabilize the mixture and easily dissolves during the beating process. It is favored because of ease in making, and because the more you beat this mixture, the creamier and fluffier your results are.
Glazes
Whipped Cream Frosting
As the name implies, whipped cream frosting is made of whipped cream instead of butter with powdered sugar and other flavorings. With this frosting, mix the mixture until the frosting separates from the beater when pulled out. To maintain consistency, this mixture should be refrigerated.
Cooked Frosting
Cooked frosting mainly consists of egg whites, sugar and other flavorings that will add flavor like vanilla and chocolate. Depending on the recipe, cooked frostings are usually being cooked around 7 minutes to at least 140 degrees. To avoid burnt taste use a double boiler. The shape of this frosting is caused by the heated egg whites and is thus a little weak. If not eaten within the first 24 hours, the frosting can be absorbed or will lose its consistency and hold.
Royal icing is most commonly used frosting for cake, cookie, and cupcake decorating. It's easy to make with powdered sugar, egg whites, and other basic ingredients. This frosting is easy to make at home and to color with food coloring so you can get more inventive with your decorating ideas.
To do this, just mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and egg whites. It's also advisable to use meringue powder instead of egg whites. Beat until you get the consistency of a pancake mix. Apply this to the cupcake as soon as possible as it dries out quickly.
Ganache Ganache sounds like something fancy but it's just a mixture of heavy cream and dark semi-sweet chocolate. The mixture is stirred or blended thick enough to make truffles or just thin enough to be used as frosting. This frosting by itself can be simple as well as elegant.
Glazes
Glazes are the most simple and easy frosting. Combining powdered sugar and water, milk, or cream creates a thin mixture. Glazes are most often used to pour or drizzle as a topping. Once hardened, the glaze forms a hard shiny crust. Melted chocolate creates the same effect when used as a glaze.
While reading these types of frosting, one can't help but imagine how they're being made, surely there's no pressure to that. With this basic knowledge you can start making beautiful cupcakes that you can sell through the internet. Now you can start your own enjoyable at home business.
With simple familiarization on how to bake cupcakes, the kinds of frostings and where to find the best edible cupcake toppers is all you need to have your own home made cupcake business. Listed are some of the most common frostings that one can use to start cupcake decorating.
Frosting is the most popular choice when decorating cakes and cupcakes. There are different types of frosting: buttercream, whipped cream, royal icing, cooked frostings, ganaches and glazes. It is important that you know the difference before you start decorating.
The classic form of frosting is the glaze. Made from sugar, water and cream or milk this will create a smooth thin texture which by itself can be poured over or drizzled for that hard sweet crust. Chocolate and vanilla can also be added for flavors.
Buttercream frosting is made by blending together butter, powdered sugar, liquid, and other flavoring. The powder sugar helps stabilize the mixture and easily dissolves during the beating process. It is favored because of ease in making, and because the more you beat this mixture, the creamier and fluffier your results are.
Glazes
Whipped Cream Frosting
As the name implies, whipped cream frosting is made of whipped cream instead of butter with powdered sugar and other flavorings. With this frosting, mix the mixture until the frosting separates from the beater when pulled out. To maintain consistency, this mixture should be refrigerated.
Cooked Frosting
Cooked frosting mainly consists of egg whites, sugar and other flavorings that will add flavor like vanilla and chocolate. Depending on the recipe, cooked frostings are usually being cooked around 7 minutes to at least 140 degrees. To avoid burnt taste use a double boiler. The shape of this frosting is caused by the heated egg whites and is thus a little weak. If not eaten within the first 24 hours, the frosting can be absorbed or will lose its consistency and hold.
Royal icing is most commonly used frosting for cake, cookie, and cupcake decorating. It's easy to make with powdered sugar, egg whites, and other basic ingredients. This frosting is easy to make at home and to color with food coloring so you can get more inventive with your decorating ideas.
To do this, just mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and egg whites. It's also advisable to use meringue powder instead of egg whites. Beat until you get the consistency of a pancake mix. Apply this to the cupcake as soon as possible as it dries out quickly.
Ganache Ganache sounds like something fancy but it's just a mixture of heavy cream and dark semi-sweet chocolate. The mixture is stirred or blended thick enough to make truffles or just thin enough to be used as frosting. This frosting by itself can be simple as well as elegant.
Glazes
Glazes are the most simple and easy frosting. Combining powdered sugar and water, milk, or cream creates a thin mixture. Glazes are most often used to pour or drizzle as a topping. Once hardened, the glaze forms a hard shiny crust. Melted chocolate creates the same effect when used as a glaze.
While reading these types of frosting, one can't help but imagine how they're being made, surely there's no pressure to that. With this basic knowledge you can start making beautiful cupcakes that you can sell through the internet. Now you can start your own enjoyable at home business.
About the Author:
Experienced contributing creator Anya really likes giving her helpful imaginative tricks regarding home baking. And her best tip is almost certainly her spot for finding cupcake recipes and snowman cupcake.