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7th January 2021 // 0 Comments

Beginner Cupcake Baking Essentials!

In 2020 lots of people picked up some new hobbies. We’re predicting that 2021 is going to be just the same. So we thought it’d be handy to put together a post listing some of the tools we can’t bake without. They’re also perfect for beginners. When people get really into a hobby they generally end up buying eevvverything to do with it. Then 5 months down the line they realise how much stuff they never even used! Our list includes the basics that are super useful. No crazy gadgets or odd contraptions… we’ve tried them all.

1 Cupcake baking pan in rose gold

A good cupcake baking pan is definitely a must-have. It pretty much goes without saying that it’s going to keep your cupcakes in shape and mess free! This 12 cavity pan is also in the chicest shade of rose gold. Perfect for the on-trend baker. They’re also easy to clean and store away ready for your next tasty batch!

2 Cupcake cases

This handy set of pink and burgundy cupcake cases are so great. A lot of liners end up see through or flimsy once baked with. These keep the shape of the cupcake incredibly well and they’re a little larger than most (who is going to complain about more cake right?). You can also nab them in a range of cool colours.

3 Ice cream scoop

You wouldn’t think that ice cream scoops would be an essential when it comes to whipping up perfect cupcakes. They’re perfect for filling up cases with batter minus the mess. You’ll also get a more even separation of batter between liners too. This set includes three different sizes… great for baking up mini cupcakes. We’ve linked the set that we use, but if you’re looking around make sure to opt for the one with a release! That’s going to help push the batter out into your cases.

Beginner cupcake baking essentials!

4 Kitchen timer

A kitchen or oven timer is one of those essential purchases that a lot of people forget about. So… it helps to pick out a fun novelty design like this pink strawberry. Using one is easy just twist to the minutes you need and set aside to wait for the alarm. For the baker in your life this is going to also make the cutest little gift in a hamper.

5 Cupcake piping tips

We get asked all the time what tips we use for our cupcakes. Ateco is our go-to cupcake nozzle brand. Their tips are larger than most so no straggly looking swirls on top of cupcakes. These three are possibly our most used. An 809 plain round is perfect for a simple modern look. The 869 or pastry tip adds a cool texture. For a bolder linear look try the Ateco 828!

6 Sprinkles

Sprinkles are always a super fun and quick way to add the final touch to your cupcakes. Simply swirl your finished cupcakes with buttercream and add on top. They’re also perfect on top of cakes or as a little added texture with a fun fondant topper.

6th January 2021 // 0 Comments

Knit Hat Cupcake Tutorial!

With the cold winter months here AND a 3rd strict nation-wide lockdown (in the U.K. at least) we thought everyone would need a project or two! It’s easy to camp out on the sofa with a Game of Thrones box set feeling down, but why not make something fun? Like this cute winter cupcake decorating idea! Plus you get to eat it afterwards. Here is our super easy tutorial on how to pipe a knit hat cupcake. You can even watch a video version on our Instagram reels! It’s fun and pretty adorable too. Plus, like us, if you are missing Christmas you’re going to want to hold on to anything remotely festive.

You’ll need…

Cupcake(s)
Buttercream
Sprinkles
Piping bags
Plain round piping tip
Closed star piping tip
Grass piping tip

1: With a piping bag of buttercream fitted with a plain round tip pipe a ring of buttercream around the top of your cupcake. This is going to be the base of your cute knitted hat!

Note: This part doesn’t need to absolutely perfect because you’ll be covering it with sprinkles soon so don’t worry. You can even use a different piping tip if you like. We used a plain round as we think it gives a nice smooth buttercream surface to work with.

Winter cupcake decorating idea!

2: Pour your sprinkles or sprinkle mix onto a dish or plate. This is going to make it a lot easier for you to coat your buttercream with them. We created a sprinkle mix of our own with sugar pearls, sanding sugar, snowflakes, hearts etc.

Tip: Don’t like sprinkles? Why not op for chopped hazelnuts, desiccated coconut or dried fruit pieces? These will add a fun bit of flavour too!

3: Again, with your buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a round tip pipe a ‘blob’ in the middle of your sprinkled coated circle!

Note: This is going to be the foundation of your hat. If you want to have less buttercream then you can also use a tasty chocolate truffle, medium to large marshmallow or even a fresh strawberry instead.

How to pipe a knit hat cupcake!

4: Now using the ‘base’ you created in step 3 you can being piping your hat! Fit a piping bag with a closed star tip and then add your buttercream. Carefully pipe vertical lines up the ‘base’ to the centre of the top. Work your way around the cupcake until it’s covered.

5: Pipe a small ‘blob’ of buttercream on top using your plain round tip. This is so you have something to pipe your cute pom-pom onto!

Easy winter cupcake decorating idea!

6: Now with a piping bag fitted with a grass piping tip add the fun pom-pom on top.

Tip: Simply pipe onto the ‘blob’ you made in step 5. Have a few practice tries at first if you’ve not used a grass tip before.

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You should now have one cute and winter-y treat in front of you. Or several if you’ve made a few. This tutorial is great if you want to add extra customisation too. Change the colours or sprinkles for different people. Add fondant decorations or characters for some added sweetness. However you decorate yours we hope you have fun!

11th December 2020 // 0 Comments

Melting Snowman Cupcake Tutorial

Perfect for both kids and grown-ups our melting snowman cupcake is going to be one fun treat at the festive table this season! It’s also surprisingly easy to create. Pressed for time? Make a few and mix them in with plain swirled cupcakes studded with snowy sprinkles so you don’t have as many to craft. Box them up as cute Christmas gifts and finish with a festive bow. Or why not nestle each on plates at the dinner table? Have time and want to get extra creative? Then make each snowy character unique with different colours, hats, sprinkles and scarves! To get ready for the holiday season check out our melting snowman cupcake tutorial below!

Melting snowman cupcake!

You will need…

Cupcake(s)
Buttercream
Cupcake piping tip (We used an Ateco 869)
Piping bag
Snowflake sprinkles
Edible pearl sprinkles
Chocolate truffle (we made our own, but Lindor balls are perfect!)
Edible glue
Small sharp knife
White fondant / sugarpaste
Black edible marker
Small amount of orange fondant / sugarpaste
Pink blossom dust
Small food safe paint brush
Pretzel sticks

1: Pipe your cupcake with a pretty swirl of fresh buttercream. You can use any piping tip or nozzle you like! We used an 869 tip by Ateco. The majority of your swirl won’t be seen too much so don’t panic if you mess up a little.

How to make a cute snowman cupcake!

2: Next add some lovely snowy themed sprinkles on top of your cupcake. You can also opt to leave this out, but it’s a cute touch. Why not opt for different styles too. How sweet would little edible stars or glitter look?

Tip: Want a super frosty look worthy of a winter wonderland? Grab a white sprinkle mix, pour a good amount into a small bowl and gently roll your the your swirled cupcake in it.

3: Now nestle your chocolate truffle into the middle of your buttercream piped cupcake. Gently press it in a little too so it’s sticking approximately halfway out.

Tip: Opt for both a lighter coloured truffle AND make sure it’s smooth too. Darker chocolate might be seen from underneath the fondant / sugarpaste. Rough or textured truffles will also affect the fondant making it bumpy looking.

4: Roll out your fondant. Using a small sharp knife cut out a wobbly shape from it. This should be a little larger than your truffle. You can also test this out before hand by simply layering rolled out fondant on top of another truffle and checking the sizing.

Christmas cupcake tutorial!

5: Use your black edible pen to draw on your snowman’s facial features including eyes and mouth!

Tip: If you want to use simple black edible pearl sprinkles to create a face go ahead. You could press them in to make the eyes and a traditional looking coal mouth!

6: For the nose shape a tiny amount of orange fondant / sugar paste into a teardrop-like shape. Indent with lines using your small sharp knife and attach with edible glue!

7: We always love to add a little blush to all our characters. It adds the cutest it of warmth to them. To do this lightly brush some pink petal dust onto the cheeks with a food safe brush.

Note: Food safe brushes are simply brushes bought just for use with food / edible items.

8: Finally, use your pretzel sticks to make some cute twig-like arms! You can poke a little hole in the fondant if it’s in the way otherwise you can just insert them into the buttercream.

Yay! You should now have one cute little cupcake (or several if you’ve made a batch) in front of you. Aren’t they fun? Remember that you can tweak this tutorial to make them truly one of kind. Add top hats or ear muffs on top. Or add sweet fondant mittens not he ends of your pretzel stick arms! There are so many fun ideas out there to make these all your own.

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