Decorating Cupcakes
Cupcakes can sweeten birthday parties, bake sales, baby showers and many other occasions. Cupcakes can be decorated in many different ways. Since cupcakes are small and easier to handle than a regular cake, they are especially popular with kids. You can decorate cupcakes in simple ways, or you can choose fancy and extravagant decorations. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Frosting
Every cupcake needs some good frosting. You can use royal, butter cream, chocolate cream or cream cheese frosting. Kids love colorful frosting. Just add a few drops of food coloring to white frosting and you can achieve a rainbow of colors. Frosting can be spread or it can be piped out of a decorator's bag. You can also use a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles come in all shapes and sizes, and you can find them at most grocery and arts and crafts stores. There are different colors of sparkling sugar, from rainbow colors to traditional holiday colors. Sprinkles come in many shapes, including balls, sticks, stars, animals and hearts. Kids can decorate the cupcakes for a particular theme, such as a sports theme, circus theme or beach theme. Choose sprinkles to match any theme or event your kids have planned.
Nuts
Nuts are an option for decorating cupcakes to add both taste and texture. Pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts or almonds are some of the nuts to choose from. They can be raw, toasted or salted. You can also use coconut, which comes flaked, sweetened or natural. (Before using peanuts or other nuts, make sure neither your children or their guests have allergies.)
Fruit
Putting fresh fruit on cupcakes is a great way to help your kids eat more fiber and vitamins. Use fruit that is in season, like berries, peaches, grapes, cherries or citrus fruit. You can also use frozen or dried fruit. Arrange the fruit on top of your cupcakes. Make a pattern, group them together or make a border for each one.
Edible Paint
Edible paint is made for baking, and it comes in a variety of colors. You can spray it on and use it with a stencil, or you can use it with a paintbrush. Your children can paint an edible masterpiece. Edible paint is available in arts and crafts stores.
Rolled Fondant
Fondant is a sugary substance which can be used as a cupcake topper. Kids love to roll out Play-Doh or clay; rolling out fondant is not much different. Use cookie cutters and cut shapes like animals, hearts, flowers and stars. Place the cutouts on top of the cupcakes. Fondant is available in arts and crafts stores.
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