1. Start out with a good recipe

Sure those mixes in the box are tasty but if you’ve got the time, then splurge for the homemade cupcake recipe version. You’ll be glad you did. Also try to set aside the time to make your own cupcake frosting. Homemade frostings are rich, tasty and most definitely worth the effort.

2. Bake your cupcakes in paper cup liners…and muffin pans

The pan keeps the cupcakes shape while the liners keep them from sticking. It also gives them a protective cover when its time to serve; helping to keep fingers clean.

3. Make sure you have the right equipment

You should use rubber spatulas for spreading the frosting onto the cupcakes. They’re gentler than knives or metal spatulas and you’re less likely to cut the tops of your cupcake. After all you want your cupcakes to look as good as they taste.

4. Frost a cupcake, top-down

It’s best to place a dollop in the center of the cupcake and work your way around by going in a circular motion, a little further out with every turn. By using this method your cupcake will have a smoother top and not have frosting falling of the edges.

5. Select the right decorating tip; one that’s proportional to your cupcake

By using this cupcake decorating tip your result will be much more professional looking. If you use a huge decorating tip on such a little cupcake, it will become overwhelmed with frosting. So when in doubt, leave it out. Cupcakes kept simple with little features, and less of them, will stand out more than so many things on one tiny cake.

I really hope that these tips helped your cupcakes. Just remember, less is better; homemade beats store-made; and most importantly keep even proportions. By following even one cupcake decorating tip your cupcake will be good; follow all the tips and it’ll be amazing! Happy cupcake baking and decorating!

Now, for starters, there are two main types of tips for cupcake decorating. There are those little metal things you screw onto a pastry bag… tips. Or there are those little hints people give you to help you create a smoother, more professional-looking cupcake… also tips.

Well today must your lucky day because you’re learning about some of both. I know in my kitchen, I will take all the cupcake decorating tips I can get!

First off, lets start with the little metal tips you could use to decorate your cupcakes. There are obviously many different types.

First, there’s the star tip; its pretty much a classic. This type of tip gives you piping line that has points on it like a star and its frequently used for large cake borders.

The second tip is called the basket weave which is a type that resembles a thin rectangle. There are two varieties of the basket weave. In one, both of the sides are flat, which gives you a ribbon-like look. The other type has one flat and one rigid edge. This tip uses the rigid edge to create a textured effect, frequently used to give the illusion of a traditional basket-weave.

The flower, leaf, and rose petal tips are fun as well. These tips are commonly used on cupcakes and when you use these tips, it makes a flower or a leaf in one step. When you are mass producing cupcakes, these tips are very useful to keep the designs simple, yet elegant. It is a huge time saver in the kitchen.

The final tip is the round tip. (Of course, there are still many more types of tips out there; but these are the four basics and the ones that I find myself using most often.) The round tip is the most commonly used tip. It is about as simple as it gets. The round tip delivers a round dot, pretty much as large or small as you’d like, depending on the size of the decorating tip. It can make dots or if you steadily move it, it can make lines or letters. If you’d like to write anything on your cakes or cupcakes, I’d definitely suggest this tip. Some choose the basket weave tip with two flat sides but usually that tip is too wide to get a clean finished product. Remember… you are working in a very small area.

So that’s some simple cupcake decorating tips. Are you still looking for something more? If so, it’s possible you were looking for decorating tips; those little hints people give you to help improve your baking and to create the best decorated cake or cupcake you can.

Of course, I want to make sure that I give you what you are looking for so if you are looking for cupcake decorating tips, I have written a second article based on the helpful hints for cupcake decorating in: A Cupcake Decorating Tip On Tips (Part 2) and you’ll surely find what you’re looking for!

I found these cupcakes to be very fun and made them one day for some family friends. They were going down to the lake for a couple of days and these sailboat cupcakes were a great way to let them know that we’d miss them while they were away.

Whether you’re a boating expert, just like to dunk your feet in off the dock, or simply love cupcakes, this sailboat cupcake recipe is sure to please.

Ingredients:

• Pre-made cupcakes
• Blue icing (butter cream with blue food coloring)
• Decorating Tip No. 5
• Red Icing (have fun switching up the different boat colors!)
• Corn starch
• Toothpicks
• Construction paper
• White cellophane tape

Directions:

1. Ice the pre-made cupcakes with blue icing, pulling up a little bit with each wipe of icing to create the desired “wave” effect.

2. Pipe in tip No. 5 oval boat bottom shape on the top of the cupcake (smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch). Outline the shape with tip No. 5 and pipe two more times to build up the boat sides.

3. Cut the sail shapes from construction paper and tape to the toothpick; insert into the boat on the cupcake to finish.

4. Enjoy!

Catch a wave, catch a tan, or catch a sailboat cupcake. These cupcakes are easy, adorable, and great for the marina lover in all of us. This recipe will make you wish you could whip the sail up and go out for the day. Call the office and tell them you’re out baking boat cupcakes… be back on Monday!