Dana Meachen Rau - Whats Up, Cupcake?: Creating Amazing Cupcakes

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Dana Meachen Rau writes about many topics, including food! When shes not writing,shes being creative in other waysespecially in the kitchen. Sometimes she followsrecipes, but other times she experiments with new flavors. And she doesnt need aspecial occasion to whip up a special dessert for her friends and family in Burlington,Connecticut.

Puppies, kittens, and babieseverything is cuter when its small. The same is truefor desserts. Cupcakes are mini-sized cakes. Sure, theyre cute, but there are otherreasons to make cupcakes too.

Cupcakes are fast food.

They cook faster than a big cake.

Cupcakes end arguments.

All servings are the same size, so no one fights for the biggest slice.

Cupcakes keep you busy.

Need something to do on a rainy day? Get decorating!

Cupcakes are creative.

Discover your inner artist. A cupcake may be small, but it has plenty of room for your big ideas.

There are no rules when it comes to cupcake creations. For the cake, use any flavoryou like. Make your own or buy unfrosted cupcakes from a bakery. Cover your cupcakeswith frosting like an artist covers a canvas. Add layers of color with candy andcookies. With a little imagination, your cupcakes will be little works of art.

How to Use This Book

Ready to get started? Its a piece of cake! Start by gathering the supplies you need.You may already have the ingredients in your kitchen. But if not, all the suppliescan be found in grocery stores or the cake-decorating aisles of craft and hobby stores.

Then follow the simple steps for each project to create your cute cupcakes. Rememberto always ask for an adults help if you are using a knife, microwave, or other kitchenappliance.

~ Use Your Imagination ~

The ideas in this book are just thatideas! Dont like a color or decoration we used?Change it! Cant find the same candy? Use something else. The best part of dessertdesigning is getting to be creative. Have fun!

~ fluffy frosting ~

Some dessert fans insist that the frosting is the best part of a cupcake. This sweetgoo also helps hold your creations together. Store-bought frosting tastes great andis easy to spread and pipe onto your cupcake. But if youre eager to tie on an apronand make frosting from scratch, heres a simple recipe. It makes about 2 cups (600milliliters) of frosting.

INGREDIENTS

cup (120 mL) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

teaspoon (2.5 mL) vanilla extract

2 cups (480 mL) confectioners sugar

12 tablespoons (1530 mL) milk

Tools

large bowl
measuring cups and spoons
electric hand mixer

Steps

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and vanilla with the mixer on medium speed untilfluffy.

2. Beating on low, alternate adding sugar and milk until the ingredients are mixedwell. The frosting should be thick, creamy, and spreadable. Scrape the sides of thebowl often with the spatula.

3. Store the frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Bring it to roomtemperature and rewhip before using.

For chocolate frosting , follow the recipe above, and add cup (60 mL) unsweetenedcocoa powder along with the sugar.

DECORATOR'S TOOLBOX

A painter needs brushes and canvases. A carpenter needs hammers and nails. A cupcakedecorator like you needs tools too!

ALOHA LEI CUPCAKES

A Hawaiian luau is the ultimate beach bash. Tropical parties need necklaces of flowersespeciallyones you can eat! Enjoy these tasty blooms, then hula until sunset.

INGREDIENTS

vanilla frosting

12 mini cupcakes

36 jellybeans

96 wafer candies in a variety of colors

18 green wafer candies

1. Frost the top of each cupcake.

2. Place three jellybeans in the center of each cupcake. Surround the jellybeanswith four wafer candy petals. Then add four more petals behind the first ones.

3. With an adults help, gently drag a knife across the surfaces of the green wafersto score them. Dont try to cut straight through the wafers or they will crack.

4. Break the green wafers in half along the scored line.

5. Tuck the green wafer pieces behind the petals to look like leaves.

6. Arrange the cupcakes on a platter to look like a lei.

Makes 12 flower cupcakes

~ A basket of blooms ~

You can also arrange these flower cupcakes in a basket. Cut a block of flower foamto fit tightly in a basket. Cover the foam with plastic wrap. Poke a lollipop stickinto the foam. Place a cupcake on the stick to hold it in place. Repeat with morelollipop sticks and cupcakes until you have a bunch of beautiful blooms.

BERRY BASKET

A tisket, a tasket, a tasty cupcake basket. Serve up these cupcakes for a berry amazingtreat!

INGREDIENTS

vanilla frosting

1 mini cupcake (paper liner removed)

1 graham cracker square

8 vanilla or chocolate cream wafer cookies

1 orange or brown licorice twist

raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries