How to Decorate Cupcakes

I always think that deciding how to decorate cupcakes is the hardest part of making cupcakes. There are so many fantastic frosting recipes and decorating techniques that it is difficult to know where to begin.

Decorating cupcakes should be a fun activity rather than a chore.

When it comes to kids decorating cupcakes they want colorful frosting and sprinkles. The best recipe for children to follow is a buttercream frosting which is fantastic as both flavor and color can be added to it. This is the frosting that I use the most as it spreads and pipes beautifully.

As a birthday party activity, I have often made a batch of cupcakes and placed out several bowls of colored frosting and lollies and candies and let the children decorate their own. They love it and they make some very creative cupcakes.

When following cupcake recipes, you really need to follow the recipe closely but when it comes to decorating you can do what you want. Make a basic glace frosting and frost your cupcakes. You can then pile them high with honeycomb, fairy floss, marshmallows and nougats.

My top tips on how to decorate cupcakes are:

• The cupcakes must be completely cool.
• Have all your toppings and candies ready as they need to be added to each cupcake as soon as it has been frosted.
• If adding coloring to your frosting, use a skewer to add a few drops at a time until you reach your desired color. Don't be tempted to pour food coloring straight from the bottle as it is so easy to add too much coloring.
• When coloring granulated or superfine sugar, place the required amount of sugar in a plastic bag and add a drop of food coloring. Work the coloring through the sugar by gently massaging the bag. You can color coconut the same way.
• Browse the candy/lolly aisles of the supermarket for great topping ideas.
• For an easy decorating idea, buy edible sugar decorations.
• When spreading glace frosting have a cup of hot water handy and dip your spreading knife into the water between frosting each cupcake to get a really smooth finish.
• Buy precolored fondant, roll out thinly and create shapes with cookie cutters or a knife.
• Hold a small paper or plastic doily over the top of the cupcake and sprinkle over sifted confectioners sugar.
• Attach a decorative cupcake wrapper around the cupcake. All it needs is a simple piped buttercream frosting
• Frost with fresh whipped cream and berries.