There are no hard and fast rules about cupcake frosting. When I make cupcakes for the family I tire of decorating them the same way and look for easy cupcake frosting recipes.
I love the look of a plate of cupcakes with vanilla glace frosting and a cherry on top. Pink food coloring added to the frosting also looks great. Frosting piped onto a cupcake, with a sprinkling of candy confetti, shredded coconut or chocolate is always popular.
And who can say "no" to a butterfly cake that has jam, lemon curd, or cream as it's center? When dusted with icing sugar, butterfly cakes become irresistible.
The other day I was invited out to lunch. It was already late morning so I quickly made a batch of cupcakes. I went to the pantry to get out the icing (confectioners) sugar to discover there was none left. I didn't have time to go to the shop so I improvised. I grabbed a jar of choc hazelnut spread and used it as my frosting. It is a little stiff to spread so I needed a mug of boiling water to dip my knife into to make spreading easier. The cupcakes tasted fantastic. My lunch host was very impressed and asked for my cupcake icing recipe!
If I'm invited to an afternoon tea and want to take a plate of cupcakes that will look spectacular, a really easy alternative is to use fondant for your frosting and decorations.
If the tops of your cupcakes are not flat, slice through the peaks so that you have a nice level surface to work with. Decide on two colors (I love pale pink and pale green) and carefully work a couple of drops of coloring into fondant - you don't need very much fondant. When the coloring has been kneaded in, roll fondant to the desired width and use round cutters to cut circles big enough to fit over the tops of your cupcakes. Be creative with your designs. You can cut shapes in the contrasting fondant or you can use a third color (white is always a good choice) to add dots, lines, flower centers etc.
There are so many different cupcake icing recipes. Often it depends on the "look" you are after and the type of occasion you are decorating for that determines which recipe you will follow. Is it a casual family affair, a children's birthday party or an engagement party?
Below are explanations of the frosting and frosting recipes used on most cupcakes:
Buttercream frosting is, as the name suggests, a very buttery cupcake frosting that tastes yummy and can be easily colored to suit the look you are after. Buttercream is great for piping as it holds its shape very well.
Fluffy frosting is made with egg whites and is best made on the day it is to be served. It has a beautiful, soft, marshmallow consistency.
There is also a glace frosting which is very quick to make. This only requires beating butter, sugar and water or milk in a small bowl and is ready within seconds.
Fondant, which is ideal for Christening, Engagement and Wedding cupcakes, can also be made. I would recommended using fondant with a fruit cake. Fondant keeps well and can be prepared or bought well in advance.
Chocolate ganache is another cupcake frosting alternative. A ganache has a beautiful rich, smooth texture that transforms a cupcake into a magnificent dessert. It is easy to make and I guarantee you'll receive compliments from everyone who tries it.
Cream cheese frosting is a perfect partner for just about any cupcake recipe. You can play around with the quantities of butter and cream cheese to achieve a unique flavor.
Royal icing has an egg-white base that sets hard on standing. It is ideal for frosting cookies.
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