That title should read… “How to Make Wedding Cupcakes when You’re Not Really a Professional Cupcake Baker!”
Since I’m always bringing treats to people, those people occasionally ask if they can hire me to make treats. Not really wishing to create a business of making and selling food, I typically decline- however, a very sweet, young teacher at my son’s school was getting married last weekend and asked if I would do the cupcakes for her wedding. (In case you’re not in on the latest, apparently cupcakes are a hip alternative to a fancy wedding cake nowadays). We met and discussed the project, and I found myself agreeing to make 96 cupcakes!
Here are the details:
The bride wanted white and chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting. I tested out some recipes and frosting patterns in the weeks prior to the wedding.
All Recipe Links for Cupcakes and Frosting are at the BOTTOM of this post.
The bride also wanted a combination of white, light blue and light yellow frosting. She chose two different frosting patterns and wanted some with pearls and some without.
Here are some of the pictures…
I used a 1G Tip by Bakery Crafts for this simple swirl. The chocolate cupcake recipe used was excellent. It was really easy to make and it stayed pretty flat on top, making it easier to pipe the frosting.
I used a 2D Wilton tip for this more funky pattern.
I loved the white cupcake… though I’m a little embarrassed to tell you about the recipe. It was a doctored-up cake mix recipe (gasp!!) I know that’s not very gourmet, and it’s completely atypical of how I usually bake, but I’m telling you that these cupcakes were GOOD!! And again, a really easy recipe to make- the tops stayed nice and flat & easy for frosting.
My kitchen and dining room were a sea of cupcakes for the better part of a day!
The bride requested that I make a dozen completely sugar-free cupcakes for a few guests who were not able to eat sugar.
This recipe for sugar free chocolate cupcakes with sugar free chocolate frosting uses a monk fruit alternative sweetener. They turn out pretty delicious!
The bride also asked that I make her a small cake for the top tier of her cupcake display. They wanted to be able to cut into a little wedding cake.
I made a 6-inch two layer cake. I used the same cake recipe as the cupcakes- same frosting recipe too. The tip used for the edging was the Wilton 2D. The bride placed flowers on top of the cake for additional decor.
Though it was a ton of work, it was a fun project to do. And I actually feel pretty good about how they turned out (having never, ever done fancy cupcakes before!) Now that I’m a “paid cupcake-baking professional,” I’m sure that it won’t be quite as difficult to do next time.
If you’re looking for the right supplies to make these cupcakes, here are my suggestions (these are affiliate links to Amazon):
- 12-cup muffin pan
- My suggestion for the cupcake liners is to visit a local baking supply shop where you live. They should carry a good, white liner that won’t have the cupcake turning out greasy.
- Edible sugar pearls
- large plastic disposable pastry bags for piping the frosting
- For icing the cupcakes, I recommend trying either the Wilton Open Star 1M tip or the Wilton Closed Star 2D. Both of these you can usually find at craft or baking supply stores. Or just order a whole decorator tip kit and try out different ones!
- These disposable cupcake boxes are great… because you can bake and decorate your cupcakes, then store them in the boxes and refrigerate them overnight!
Here are all of the recipes:
Chocolatey Cupcakes (not dipped in the ganache)
White Wedding Cupcakes
White Wedding Buttercream
White Wedding Cake
Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes
Sugar Free Chocolate Frosting
If you can have a little bit of sugar in the frosting, I prefer this chocolate frosting recipe
I was just wondering, what was the recipe for the chocolate cake mix that you used?
There are links to all of the recipes mentioned at the end of the post. Mixed reviews on the chocolate cake recipe though as it is baked w/ Splenda. If you’re used to baked products w/ Splenda it will taste good to you.
I love the simple and elegant designs and colors. You are my inspiration for my baking adventure for my sister’s wedding coming up. Some ?s: How far in advance did you make the cupcakes? How did you store them (wrapped or not)? How long can the cupcakes be left out frosted?? Thanks!
Anne- I had to make about 125 cupcakes, so I was able to make them the night before & then frost the day of. I purchased special cupcake boxes at a bakery supply store that held them and kept them safe, and I was able to put those into the refrigerator to keep fresh until serving later in the day (on a hot day). I did keep a few though and didn’t refrigerate those at all. They were still good a couple of days later.
The small 6inch cake using Wilton 2D is beautiful!
1. Could you pls tell me if the tip was used for both the top and bottom edging
1. How did you use the tip to create the edding? I’m new to decorating, would appreciate it, thank you!
Ruby- I’m no expert at cake decorating, believe me! That was the very first wedding cake I had ever done. I pretty much just picked a tip and squeezed away without really thinking about strategy. The same tip was used for both edge and bottom.
As far as practice, it would be good to get some of the cheap frosting in the can and put it into a disposable piping bag (or plastic baggie) with the tip placed into the corner. Practice piping to see what you like best. Good luck!
can you tell me what size the little balls are on the cupcakes? Thanks
Alyson- ummm, no idea. They’re just little sugar pearl balls that are sold in baking shops.
This may very well save my life this weekend! I’m headed out of town for my dear friend’s wedding, and we are making cupcakes the NIGHT before the wedding!! Scary I know… but having stumbled across this made me feel more confident in my abilities. **fingers crossed**
THANK YOU!!!!
Made these last nite as a test for my wedding. This has saved me alot of money! I have been too comfortable with my cakes and desserts that I haven’t challenged myself much with decorating bags and tips. Thank you for taking me out of my comfort zone.
just one more person saying fantastic job!! i’ve been a cook all my life and am now just starting to do pastry seriously. pastry is definately an exact science and an art. great job!
Wow, so delicious!!!! Just wanted to let you know that I made the 3-D Soccer Ball cake, using this recipe for the bottom half. It held up well. I used the boxed cake mix, using the instructions on the box, for the top half. Will be using this recipe for my husbands “Putting Green” cake this week-end.
Fran- that’s so great!! I want to make a fun, homemade cake for my son’s upcoming bday so perhaps I’ll try that out too. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
Incredible work!! All I can say is stunning and a very lucky bride!
they looked really pretty what a team dark and white cupcakes .yummy?
Hey! Thanks for the mention! i just saw this post. Your wedding cupcakes turned out so great. Very elegant and pretty.
Thanks Kristin! Really, you were extremely helpful with all of my questions. Appreciate your expertise!
sooo beautiful! you did an amazing job! thanks for posting! 🙂
What a huge task! Your cupcakes are lovely. What a lucky bride! How on earth did you transport all of those cupcakes??
RobinSue- I had special cupcake carrying boxes that I purchased from a local baking supply shop. That made transportation much easier!
You did a terrific job on these, Lori! Just lovely!
I love the pearls on top! So elegant.
These are beautiful – perfect for a wedding!
They look fabulous! I’m taking a Wilton class next month to get a little better at decorating – really looking forward to it.
Beautiful cupcakes! The small wedding cake is adorable, too!
Will you shipped them to Portugal? Lol! Congratulations Lori, they look great! You did very well, I bet the bride was thrilled!
So pretty! I love the squiggly frosting pattern and the cake looks elegant, but simple.
I’m so impressed Lori, you did a fantastic job!!
Good Job!!! Do you think the white cake recipe is dense enough for a 3-D Soccer Ball Cake?
Fran- it’s possibly not the best cake for shaping as a 3-D sort of pattern. It works well to hold the frosting, but not super dense. It’s more like a light & fluffy cake.
You did a beautiful job. The cupcakes are just lovely.
Michelle
Love this post!!
Lori–they’re just stunningly gorgeous! Any bride would be lucky to have you make cupcake and cake for her.